Why does my DVR no longer record HD channels?

Your DVR make/model number? What firmware/IPG does it use?

You likely need to turn on Auto-Tune to HD in Settings.

It's Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8240 HDC. I have no idea about the firmware/IPG it uses. It is the DVR issued by COX.

Thanks. I just checked and it's already turned on. I can access the HD channels, but when I click on one of them to record, it automatically selects the non-HD version of that same channel to record. Any other ideas?

I have the same box as you, the 8240 HDC. It runs on the Rovi/Passport firmware/IPG. As does yours since you say that you have the Auto-Tune to HD feature turned on. The other firmware/IPG, Contour, doesn't have Auto-Tune.

I tested your recording problem on my box. I don't use Auto-Tune but I enabled it for this test. I brought up the guide, and selected a show on an HD channel, 1031, to record one hour from now.

I pressed SELECT and the usual recording options came up. With one addition I had never seen before. At the top, although not the default option which was and always has been "Record This Show", there was an option to "Record This Show In Standard Definition", which appears to have come because I enabled the Auto-Tune for this test.

I did of course chose the "Record This Show" option, the show on the HD channel was highlighted in red, and the little REC was there next to the show name and in the INFO box at the top of the guide. Everything indicating an HD recording. But I did skip down in the guide to the corresponding SD channel and it too was highlighted to record. Weird.

However, when I went to the "Scheduled Recordings" section of the DVR List, almost all of the shows (History and A&E were still showing the HD channel, 1055, 1033, I don't know why) were now set to record on the Standard Definition channel, 7, 31, 55, etc. But next to the SD channel number it says HD, for example, CNNHD*31. Also weird. It does have the HD in the little rectangle at the beginning of the show description as well.

So the show I'm testing it on has been recording for about half an hour. The HD channel and show is still highlighted in the guide. In the DVR List under "Recorded Shows" it says it's currently recording the show on CNNHD*31. So now for the real test.

I stopped the recording and under "Recorded Shows" it says "Today   Anderson Cooper 360" and in the info section it says CNNHD*31 and the time of the recording. So I scrolled to AC360, pressed SELECT and then pressed SELECT again on the PLAY option.

Well whaddya know, it definitely recorded and is playing back in HD. The box, the TV, and my eyes all say it's in HD. It seemed to be a question with all the conflicting indicators during the test.

Another thing I saw that I hadn't noticed before was when playing back a recording if you press the info button it will not show a channel number in the description, only a station identifier such as CBSHD or CNNHD.

You say your recorded shows in your DVR List say they recorded on the SD channel. Well, so did mine, but it actually recorded the HD channel. So I have to ask: Were you basing your concern that the shows were recorded on the SD channel solely because of the channel number in the DVR List or did you ever play back the recordings to get a visual confirmation?

I'm guessing your previous recording attempts have actually gone exactly the same way as my test did. The cable box giving conflicting info but doing what you told it to do nonetheless. I am certain that all of your suspect recordings were recorded in HD.

What to do to erase the uncertainty in the future? Go into your menu and disable the Auto-Tune. I re-disabled mine after I concluded the test and all the info in the DVR List is back as it should be showing HD channel numbers only.

Jerry -- you're amazing! I followed your instructions and it worked! I just needed to turn off the Auto-Tune. Thank you so, so much, for taking the time to think through this and test it out. I really do appreciate the time and effort you took to assist me.

All the best!