My Comcast DVR lets me down again
I wrote a post months ago about how I loved my Motorola 6412 from Comcast.
Well, I've had it for months and I'm ready to throw it out the window. A bunch of readers left comments on my original
posts about their complaints and I feel for you all now. Last night, the DVR didn't record the last 8 minutes of the NBA All-Star Game. Why not? It started on time and it did not go into overtime. These things are just dumb devices that go off of the programming guide, but still this is very frustrating. The box is slow and "clumsy." It will drop the sound once in a while requiring the box to be unplugged. Personally, I can't wait for those new Panasonic DVRs that Comcast is suppose to pick up soon. Anyone else out there feel the same way?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex D. @ Feb 20th 2006 2:37PM
What makes you think that Panasonic DVR's are going to be so much better? Motorola 6412 or 3412 DVR are really good boxes hardware wise. Software that ported on these set-tops is all Comcast. It's iGuide which is made by GuideWorks. GuideWorks is a Comcast owned company. Panasonic DVR set-tops will be running the same iGuide software from GuideWorks. So regardless of who is the set-top manufacturer the software that drives or will drive the DVR set-tops will be all Comcast. Sucks... I know.
Warren @ Feb 20th 2006 2:58PM
While the Panasonic boxes sound nice, the real question is when are the TiVo Comcast boxes coming?
Randy Stewart @ Feb 20th 2006 3:02PM
I've had the unfortunate privilege of using the Microsoft version of the Moto 6412 for about 6 months now. Having been an UltimateTV user (MS's DirecTV effort), I thought that I might not have all the problems that others were having with the other Moto units and while that is somewhat true, we have our own set of problems.
Basically, users that have used another 'real' PVR (Replay, Tivo, Ultimate) will be horribly disappointed with how awful the cable companies PVRs are. If you haven't used a PVR, users won't know how much greener the grass really is. God, I hope the CableCard Tivo ships soon.
Randy
tommiwan @ Feb 20th 2006 3:05PM
the 6412 has the HDMI output correct?
I have the 3412 (DVI) and let me tell ya... that thing sucks... blame it on motorola or comcast I don't know/care. It just sucks. I've gone through 3 of them before I just accepted the sub-par perfomance.
My plan was to upgrade to the 6412 hoping that the software in it would be a little better, but I guess not. I'm with you, waiting for the panasonic...
joerao @ Feb 20th 2006 3:31PM
I have this box, but not with iGuide, with the MSTV software. So far I only have a few problems.
The sounds sometimes is muted, haven't been able to figure that one out yet. Ususually changing the channel back and forth a few times fixes it.
DVI out sometimes doesn't sync up correctly. Again, flipping the channel fixes this.
The MSTV software is OK, except no 720p resolution or 16:9 on the guide, which makes for a clunky looking interface on your HDTV.
Also, the 120GB harddrive doesn't hold much HD content. I'd throw a 250GB in, like a did with my Tivo, but of course thats not an option with this guy.
Overall I'd give it a 7/10.
Alex D. @ Feb 20th 2006 3:43PM
3412 has HDMI as well. It is an all digital version of 6412. You are talking about 6412 Phase 1 or 2, they had DVI out. 6412 Phase 3 and 3412 have HDMI video out.
scott rc @ Feb 20th 2006 3:51PM
I have two of these boxes through Cox Cable... They're OK for what they do, but there's some serious limitations.
1 Week EPG? Come On. Data is available 2 weeks. give it to me so I dont have to schedule every sunday.
Give me some options on programming i want to save!! I decided to record opening ceremonies at the olympics in HD, and it gave me no warning that it would also wipe out like 3 other movies i had saved to watch at a later date.
Finally, if i hit pause and for some reason it stays on pause for a long period, the machine gets totally broken which causes me to have to cycle the box in order for any PVR functionality to work again.
I'm angry with TiVo with some of their business decisions and their lack of updated high quality equipment, but they sure do have probably the best interface of PVR software. I wish cableco's would faster integrate it.
Tony @ Feb 20th 2006 3:55PM
If you had TiVo, would it have recorded the last 8 minutes? I've never had Tivo so I don't know if its programming is smart enough to know when programs go over?
John @ Feb 20th 2006 4:02PM
I have the 6412 and I would have to agree that it's software. It got much better when a prior post led me to hacks for a second mute button and channel skipping. I still have mute issues though, half the time I bounce around and it clears up, but reboot is the temporary fix. Another problem is series priority won't work properly. I think I have to at least series on level 4. I have to validate which shows will actually be recorded by checking the guide. When I go to HD channels I loose most guide features. I can use "last" so I jump back to SD for the guide and then jump back to specific HD channels. Speed of response to the control is often very slow which is frustrating. Like everyone I've missed shows or parts of shows I should have gotten. Generally capacity has been enough for me. Overall it's still better than doing without and it's a better deal than buying Tivo so I guess I've settled or at least rationalized this enough to live with it for now.
Alex D. @ Feb 20th 2006 4:03PM
tommiwan wrote:
the 6412 has the HDMI output correct?
I have the 3412 (DVI) and let me tell ya... that thing sucks... blame it on motorola or comcast I don't know/care. It just sucks. I've gone through 3 of them before I just accepted the sub-par perfomance.
My plan was to upgrade to the 6412 hoping that the software in it would be a little better, but I guess not. I'm with you, waiting for the panasonic...
-----------------------------------------
6412 Phase 1 and 2 have DVI video out. 6412 Phase 3 and 3412 have HDMI out. 3412 is an all digital version of 6412 Phase 3.
Brian @ Feb 20th 2006 4:05PM
I've had both the DVI and the HDMI Motorolas. The component output produces a noticably better picture than the DVI/HDMI outputs of both. It's quite disappointing that spending the extra money on the nicer cables for the box to not actually support the technology.
Brian
Joe Eversole @ Feb 20th 2006 5:15PM
I agree with #7. TiVo and the Comcast DVR both just go off the program guide for when a show starts and ends. If the game was scheduled for 8pm-10pm, and it didn't really end until 10:08pm, of course it's going to miss the last 8 minutes. I'm not really sure what you expected.
Jim @ Feb 20th 2006 5:33PM
I've had a 6412 with ComCast since last August and
it's been great. Granted I haven't used the HD yet
(upgrading this fall, I hope) and try to keep it
turned off whenever possible. That's really my only
complaint, when you turn it off, if you want to watch
something it's in "mute" mode. E-mailed Motorola and
they know about this and suggest I leave the machine
on. OK, so the hard drive is spinning 24/7 and it
wears out prematurely? Oh well.....
FDj @ Feb 20th 2006 5:52PM
My Comcast PVR sometimes swaps the field order in recordings. Very annoying jitter effect on playback. Crap.
Griffon @ Feb 20th 2006 6:09PM
You think you have it bad, let me tell you... My 6412 went into some sort of lock mode last night and when I came in this morning it wouldn't play any DVR files. So I rebooted it. It dumped all the saved data (had 3 weeks of shows at about 90% full). I can't begin to tell you how pissed I was. So I called comcast, their answer was I shouldn't have rebooted it because they would have sent a reset signal (that um reboots it as well), and now there is nothing you can do. All closed box DRM laden systems suck and I hate them all. Thank god for bit torrent so I can go take a stab at retrieving all the data that POS 6412 lost.
Comcast? Fuckum. I'm firing comcast this week and going back to my trusty Direct TV HD TIVO. Hd Tivo might be poky but has never once failed to record something, has better conflict management, has a history so you can see why there was a problem if there was one, and just plain worked day in and day out without OS inspired errors. Unlike the marginally peppy 6412 that has become an utter crap shoot, and has some really awful guide data to boot.
Ryan @ Feb 20th 2006 6:37PM
I saw a bulletin at the Insight office I contract out of the other day...these are known issues with the 6412s and they are working on it. Apparently its a software issue.
Dave Zatz @ Feb 20th 2006 7:03PM
The 6412 is probably the best *cable* HD DVR out there at the moment in terms of *hardware*. I think there are at least three versions of software floating around, though most have the iGuide I think. I've found it to be serviceable, but the menus are cluttered and spread out and the guide data is incomplete compared to TiVo's. The UI is speedy (I guess it needs to be since you're clicking a lot) and I like the grid guide with preview window. It's far from great, but dual HD tuners overcomes a lot... (PS A TiVo probably would have missed the last 8 minutes of that game too if it exceeded it's time slot.)
AR @ Feb 20th 2006 7:06PM
I don't care if it is the software or the hardware. The 6412 III HDMI DVR from Comcast sucks and here is why:
1. The interface does not come close to Tivo's
2. Phantom "1989" recordings showing up that cannot be
deleted until you pull the plug on the DVR.
3. Frequent sound drop-out when using the 30 second skip hack with HDMI out. This requires you to turn off the DVR or TV to reacquire the audio signal.
4. NO HDMI handshake to HDMI receivers...only
TVs.
5. (Related but different to reason #4) I would really like to take the HDMI output on the 6412 to the receiver and then output it to the HDTV. Nope (see #4). However, using the HDMI out on the 6412 to my HDMI input on the TV cancels the audio signal output through the component/RCA so you cannot simultaneously send the audio signal to the receiver. Total crap.
6. The fan is located on the bottom of the unit and was so loud that I needed to turn the box upside down to give it enough clearance so it would not whine.
Bottom line is I cannot wait for the Series3 TiVo because the Motorola 6412 III boxes are terrible (IMHO).
If anyone has any advice to avoid the above complaints, I would love to hear it.
Timmay @ Feb 20th 2006 7:43PM
My box is a piece of shit... but's the only DVR box that comcast has. I used to work for TV Guide on Screen and I wish they got off their asses and put their software on something worth two $0.02 (RCA, Sony, and Toshiba aren't publishing it enough).
Timmay
Dave Zatz @ Feb 20th 2006 8:01PM
AR, I think we're all anxiously waiting and hopeful that the TiVo Series 3 HD delivers. I'm also hopeful they get a decent software build on the 6412 for Comcast... if they do, I'll save the several hundred bucks upfront and go with them. Though, TiVo may disable things like TTG and other home media options so they don't canabalize their own sales.
As bad as the 6412 is, it's light years ahead of my buddies Scientific Atlanta Explorer (maybe the 8000) which has graphical elements that look Atari-vintage and any type of pause/ffwd hangs up video & audio for a second or two. Forget trying to schedule recordings.... that thing is a POS.
Mike @ Feb 20th 2006 9:22PM
Alright, listen up. I don't know what exactly you expect your DVR to do, but it can't magically figure out when the NBA All-Star game goes over by 8 minutes. Not Tivo, not ReplayTV, not Motorola, not Scientific Atlanta. These things aren't smart enough to actually analyze the picture and figure out when a show ends or when it's moved or whatever. They all rely completely on the guide data, which is pretty much the same across the various DVRs.
I'm pretty sure the Moto DVR has an option to record an extra X number of minutes after a show is over - this is what you should do whenever you record sports. Got it? Now quit spreading FUD.
fern @ Feb 20th 2006 10:41PM
Reply to 14 the mute is preset from the factory just leave the dvr on all the time and just shut off you tv had my dvr for a year running 26 plus series recording with only minor issues
SonicAD @ Feb 20th 2006 11:51PM
Well, I taped the All-Star game, and not in HD, since my DVR (from Charter) was busy with NASCAR and the Olympics, but even so I doubt it's the DVR's fault... while the basketball game didn't go into overtime, it did run more than 30 minutes over the schedule, so if you only gave 30 minutes of extra time it's your fault, not the DVR's.
Ben @ Feb 21st 2006 7:20AM
This is the only DVR I've ever had (the Moto 6412 w/ DVI out). I'm running mine over the optical audio and component video connections. I think the PQ is great for the hi-def channels. I think for the money (it's $5 extra a month), you really can't beat it. I mean, a dual-tuner HDTV DVR? The HD is a little small, but I think it's a good deal for the money.
Why in the world they cannot simply put some sort of flag signalling when shows begin and end (I'm positive it's there already, but for whatever reason the DVR doesn't look for it when deciding when to record) I don't know, but it's very annoying to set it to record the program after the game too (just to make sure you get it all).
My biggest complaint is how often it seems to lock up, so you'll be pushing CH+ to change channel and it hangs for like 15 seconds and then changes 10 channels in a row.
I leave mine on all the time. I don't think it will wear out prematurely. It's a fairly small buffer it's filling up if you're not recording anything, and I haven't had any issues with the HD wearing out.
WizarDru @ Feb 21st 2006 8:03AM
After having used TiVos for a couple of years, you begin to appreciate how bad the Comcast box truly is.
The Comcast DVR is much harder to navigate. It is much slower. The interface is extremely counter-intuitive. No Wishlists. If there is a season pass feature, I haven't noticed it...it's probably there, but it's so clumsily integrated I haven't noticed it. Manual recording is a hassle. Playback is much jumpier and more eratic than the TiVo. Poor to no conflict resolution. Occasional lock-ups. Periodic reboots, and so forth.
Is the Comcast DVR unusable? Not by a long shot. But after you've used the TiVo, it becomes clear which is the better device, IMHO.
JimF @ Feb 21st 2006 10:06AM
I have the 6412. If I have it set to record something when I'm not home, and I come home and want to watch something else, I can't. It says "MUTE" at the top of the screen and there's no sound.
Also, series recordings are horrible. What's the point of having it if it's going to record every re-run of show when I'd selected "First Run Only"?
Shawn Liu @ Feb 21st 2006 11:54AM
Good rule of thumb whenever im recording live events or a show that follows a live event, I always record an hour of programs that immediately follow whatever it is I want to record. That way, if it goes overtime, I'm still good with the show.
ZipperSeven @ Feb 21st 2006 2:59PM
Moto/Comcast 6412 problems...where to start?
-It has this annoying habit of locking recorded programs...or even worse like I currently have...leaving a 'phantom' listing in the recorded programs list...try to delete it and it just deletes the last recorded program you watched.
-For some reason, this box seems totally incompatible with our local NBC HD feed. OTA HD and the analog (digital simulcast now, actually) are great, but either Comcast has major issues with it or the box doesnt like it. Impossible to tell whether it's the feed or the box because in our market you can't get Comcast HD without getting this box.
-Series records are a pain in the ass if you want to record a currently running program that is also syndicated. For example, Alias runs on our local ABC station during the day, ran on TNT, and new eps show on ABC. Do a series record and it tries to pick up *every* one of these, which could mean a total of 6 episodes, both the HD and non-HD network feeds as well as both TNT's. You can tell it to record *one* station only or *all*, but you can't set a series record for one channel and another for the same program on another channel (say, TNT HD reruns and ABC HD new eps only.)
-See the above...trying to set up series records where an ep will air more than about 5 or 6 times a week (doesnt sound probable but Alias, Gimore Girls, Smallville and others in syndication can air daily on more than one network...) will crash the box trying to 'find' all instances of them in the guide. Sometimes accidentally hitting two buttons on the remote will do the same.
-The box has a freaking hard drive in it...why is it that when the power bounces (as it does here often, espcially in the summer here with daily tropical Florida storms) the guide is *completely* erased?
-When it locks up most of the time you have to unplug it, which leads to my previous point.
-The hardware supports PIP because it has dual tuners. Motorola said the feature is ready to go but Comcast to this day says it's in the works. Yeah, I'll bet they're working on that one. (More of a general gripe than a bug I know, but part of my concerns.)
That's just a brief list of the things that bug me on a general basis...sometimes my current box (which is less than 4 mos. old) acts like an old classic car that has it's own quirks and issues...you never know on a day to day basis whether or not it's going to start and get you where you need to be or not.
Ergin Guney @ Feb 21st 2006 3:02PM
Out of those of you who referred to the "no audio" problem, no one has mentioned so far the surefire solution that I've discovered for it, so here it goes: Go to a pre-recorded show in your list. Start it. The audio will work for the recorded show. Then (as soon as you like) stop it. The audio will stay on for the current broadcasts. This always works for me on the first try.
The only time this does not work (and it never works in this case) is when I leave the unit turned off, it comes on by itself for a scheduled recording, and I return before the scheduled recording is over and the unit is still on. In this case, the only way out for me is to stop the recording (and try the workaround above). I then start a new recording to capture the remaining part of the program that was being recorded. If you do this during a commercial break, you really don't lose much other than having the recording divided up into two on your recording list.
Griffon @ Feb 21st 2006 3:04PM
If you have a MUTE at the top of screen it means the box turned it's self on and muted the audio so as not send signal to a on TV.
Follow these steps re remat the MUTE buttoen from your TV to the cable box, this will let you take it out of Mute mode (yest this is really stupid design along with not being able to turn the box of while recording, should just kill A/V out and keep doing it's job)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorola_6412#How_To_Add_A_Dedicated_STB_Mute.2FUnmute
Tyler Durden @ Feb 21st 2006 3:04PM
I don't have the 6412. I have Cox's 8300HD. It does not have many issues other than occasionally dropping a audio clip or two. The main issue I have with it is that it does not even come close to the beautiful interface of my DireTiVo. Man, I loved that thing. It was damn near perfection. I especially loved the 30-sec. skip. This thing doesn't have shit on the TiVo. How I long for the Series 3...
Warren @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:28PM
Also, shame on you for not knowing that for sporting events, award shows, etc. - set the DVR to tape 30 min. longer than the actual end time.
Jeff Johnson @ Feb 22nd 2006 3:58PM
wow. I didnt realize all the comcast hassles, mostly since i have adelphia HD with a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 cable STB tuner DVR. It only does 1080i, so it places grey bars around the sides of 720p stuff, and quite frankly, i do not like 720p at all, since its is less than 1/4 of the 1080 resolution, it just doesnt feel like HD seeing 720p on this box. I have an LCD westy 1080 37" with DCDI as my monitor and use it to edit HD video.
Explorer 8300: It records HD ok but it is as perfect as the original broadcast sometimes, i suspect that is due to compression, and me being a picky guy using 1/2 speed slo-mo to see stuff sometimes., most people do not notice the artifacts, i have to point them out.... INHD and HDnet look great. The interface is ok, it sometimes takes a couple seconds to figure out what remote button does what since they are multipurpose and use varies dramatically dependant on what menu you are in, i would have coded it differently.
Nigel Pond @ Feb 22nd 2006 5:19PM
I have the component only 6412 and I must be lucky - works pretty well. Yes I wish it had the additional flexibility of a ReplayTV or a Tivo, but at least it does need an IR blaster and changes channels properly.
Nigel Pond @ Feb 22nd 2006 5:38PM
Oops re 34: make that "...at least it does not need an IR blaster..."
Wayne @ Feb 24th 2006 6:10PM
Everyone should read the Wikepedia entry for the Moto 6412 (it's listed in post #31). The Wikipedia entry covers the "mute" issue and the PiP swap issue. Comcast, and any other cable company, is full of crap if they say that the PiP swap isn't a feature. It's integrated into all of the Phase III boxes (with the HDMI out). It's a software upgrade for the Phase II boxes. They are simply failing to program their remote controllers to use the feature. Same for the "30-second skip" feature.
I haven't had any issues with my box in the month I've had it once I learned to leave the box on so that the audio/video didn't drop out when turning it on.
I just wish the hard drive was bigger.
Seriously, everyone go read the Wikipedia entry.
AR @ Feb 25th 2006 8:13AM
Wayne, thanks for the Wikepedia link. It is the most comprehensive article on the 6412 that I have found without wading through dozens of posts on AVSforums.
I still cannot believe that there is no work around for the Dolby Digital 5.1 HDMI issue and the lack of HDCP handshake to receivers.
As I mentioned on post 19, you may only output HDMI to a TV. If you try to go to a receiver, you get 2 seconds of video and then the screen goes blank with some protection warning displayed on the TV. What a complete joke on the part of Motorola.
Therefore, you have to send audio output back from the TV to the receiver if you want to use the HDMI. I have also had extreme difficulty getting the 5.1 audio signal at all (especially on recorded shows). It seems that any firmware prior to 12.22 on the 6412 makes this nearly impossible if you use the HDMI output. My firmware is 12.18 (To see which version you have, power the box off and hit SELECT on the box immediately. Use the channel down button on the box to go to D08 and hit SELECT. You should see the version number there. Push POWER to exit). Comcast customer support in my area do es not even know what firmware is, let alone when the 12.22 update will roll out.
I am so annoyed with Motorola and Comcast regarding these bugs. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE Series3 TiVo! I will be the first in line to drop $750 or more just to have equipment that works as it is supposed to.
Wayne @ Feb 25th 2006 11:20AM
I have version 12.31 of the firmware and they disabled the "30-second skip" feature. Bastages! It worked for a week or so.
For the record, I use the HDMI out to the TV and the optical out to my receiver.
Ty @ Feb 25th 2006 12:11PM
Mine used to drop the sound all time time... turns out my splitter (one to the modem one to the DVR) had a loose cable, i tightened it up and havne't had that problem since.
Ron Devious @ Mar 1st 2006 8:50AM
In addition to the problems mentioned here, many of which I have experienced with my comcast Moto, I also stopped being able to record off the Firewire (IEEE 1394) jack some time ago. Any other Comcast customers have the experience of being able to record off the firewire output originally and then have it stop?
By 'stop' I mean: although my Mac "sees" the moto as it always has, when I record the stream the output .ts file is 0 k. Before roughly summer of '05, I got actual output files I could use. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.
catbertz @ Mar 1st 2006 4:41PM
my two SoCal 6412 boxes are a pain in the ass :)
Crashes, regular remote command overloads, sound drops and tiling every few minutes.
The programing just sucks so bad. Series recording picks up all the repeats episodes, even when first run only selected..blah blah blah.
Hope this comcast/Tivo thing works out well.
Courtney @ Mar 1st 2006 10:36PM
I was a dual tuner TIVO user with Direct TV for months. I loved it and so did my wife, it was very user friendly and never had a problem.
Than I bought and HD TV and had to get the new Direct TV HD DVR but it cost about 400 and had a 2 year contract to upgrade. So we looked into cable and purchase comcast. In the two months that I have had comcast I have had to get two new boxes and two weeks of not having HD service. The box first just shorted out and stopped working now it has a crazy pixelation going on but the menu box is fine. Both times the DVRs are on backorder and this time I am a getting a single turner until they get the dual tuners (which according to comcast is the same price cause some people do not want a dual tuner hard to believe)Oh and they idea when they will get these dual tuners in stock. I guess the KC metro area is having the same problem.
Jim Judd @ Mar 7th 2006 9:54PM
I have the comcast DVR and I recorded 24 last nite.
When I went to watch it tonight I pressed play and it
went right to that little delete window that comes up
at the end of the program. I tried to play from the start and got the same thing. Even though the my dvr menu says 120 minutes are recorded it seems like nothing was recorded. Has anyone had this problem?
Does anyone know if it could be a bad box? I have the tech coming out tomorrow and will ask for a new box.
Could this be some sort of block put on by Fox?
HK @ Mar 10th 2006 1:24PM
I have a Moto 6412 phase III from RCN using optical and component to a Toshiba 52HM94 (HD DLP 52") and a Yamaha surround sound. I had a Tivo but they are too slow getting an HD box out. No major problems after reading all the material available for this box both from RCN and the internet. The mute button on my remote works when the volume controls are set to control the 6412 and NOT the TV. The mute function follows the volume control function. As mentioned, you can just leave the box on if you don't have a cable mute/unmute function. The hard disk turns whether the box is on or not - same with my Tivo that ran ok for 7 years. Since the RCN remote is not programmable for 30 second skip, a friend who has Comcast reported his remote lost and they sent him a new one (to send me since they won't sell me one). The software version on RCN and Comcast are identical in our two locations and the internet reports good results using the newer Comcast remote (with the DVR controls on the bottom) on RCN. The newest software has only rare 2 or 3 second sound dropouts and I have not had to restart the box at all in 3 weeks. The interface is not as good as Tivo but it's useable. Yes, there are season passes but there are also hidden rules. For instance, the season pass will not record an HD program if you have "save all episodes" set but will on non hd. Just set it to save only 1 or 2. This is an example of a programmer needing to get out more and look around!! I'm sure the software will continue to improve. I really like recording 2 shows at once!!
Friend of the Annoyed @ Mar 15th 2006 1:52AM
All I have to say is you know it is bad when someone working for a cable company doesn't like the DVR... That is all I have to say...
Bob H @ Apr 1st 2006 8:08AM
I have experienced issues recording Survivor and Amazing Race (tile box interference that can make them unwatchable). There is no problem when recording the shows on after these two (e.g. CSI). Is it a coincidence that both these shows are offered "On Demand" for $0.99????
Andreas Graham @ Apr 19th 2006 3:07PM
I am on my 4th box and counting. I was using Component Video, but that broke after 3 days, then switched to HDMI, which is meant to be better. Great for the HD channels but sucks big time for the analog channels. How difficult is it to get this stuff right. HDMI is a recognized technology, the hardware is not that complicated. TIVO has the Software and Comcast supposedly has a deal with them, what is the problem. I would gladly pay more for a decent box and software that worked. The Cable companies are so intent with wiping out the competition, i.e. Tivo, that they push sub-par products on the market.