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October 28, 2004

Cox DVRs VS everyone else?

I am looking to get into Digital Cable and also in to a DVR solution as well. Since my cable company is Cox Communications and they offer a Digital Cable Box/DVR for $6 more a month, I am wondering if this is really worth it, or should I just get a digital box and build a PVR, or get a digital box and but a PVR?
-- ZWarrior

October 28, 2004 in DVR

Answers

Do you know what box Cox is using in your area? There are different cable DVRs and some are passable, while others (like the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000) suck badly. This site may give you some insight into what the DVRs offer - and it also covers the SA8000: http://www.pvrcompare.com/

I use digital cable boxes and standalone TiVos connected with S-Video and I'm very happy with them. I'm hoping TiVo releases a CableCARD model, then I'll upgrade to that.

Posted by: MegaZone at Nov 2, 2004 5:01:46 PM

I previously used a series 2 tivo, but i must admit that the Cox DVR is much better. It can record in HD and it can record two channels at once. The only thing that the Cox DVR doesn't have is the wish list and suggestions (both I can do without). I would like to mention that the Cox DVR I have is a Motorola and I believe the DVR software is from Pioneer.

Posted by: No Name at Nov 10, 2004 6:28:06 PM

Got my Cox Motorola DVR yesterday. Fell in love after 15 minutes, although since this is my first DVR/service I have nothing to compare it too.

The price seems right, or at least competitive. No box to buy and I got a new Motorola at no extra charge.

Can record two shows at once. Does HDTV. All the usual frills I've heard about, 7 second back up, fast forward (manually) through commercials, pause, rewind, rewatch, etc.

Set it to record all Star Gates, Star Treks, and anytthing with Angelina Jolie in it. It's amazing how many shows she's actually on.

It has USB, fireware, cat5, fiber inputs and audio/video input but the documentation is very sparse and only covers what Cox advertises and only the jacks you need to use for a basic setup.

Says I can record to vcr from hard drive including some premium channels but I haven't tried that yet.

I had heard that it was an 80 hour box but the docs say that it is a 120GB hard drie and you can do about 50 hours with that depending on whether the shows are digital, analog, or HD.

Costs about the same as Tivo with no box to buy. We fell in love with it in about 15 minutes and they could triple the price and we'd still pay.

Dave

Posted by: Dave at Dec 3, 2004 6:27:59 PM

I just got digital cable last week, and got the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 DVR. I've had a TiVO for over a year. The Explorer 8300 is laughably inferior to the TiVO. Compared to TiVO, it sucks so bad, I hardly know where to begin. Additionally, Cox has failed to include a manual, making the non-user friendly Explorer one of the most frustrating pieces of electronic equipment I have ever used.

Posted by: TheDogfather at Dec 7, 2004 7:14:26 PM

I had time warner's DVR and have since moved to Cox's 8300. This is so unbelievably buggy and inferior to the Time Warner version. As someone else put it, I can't begin to list them (up to 20).

Here's one: On Time Warner fast forwarding and hitting the Right button would jump in 15 min increments. Makes it very easy to get to the middle of a movie. With the 8300 I have to wait like 5 minutes or so before the file gets to the middle. That and no time code. I have no idea where the heck I am- just a cheesy graphic arrow 37.4 mm from the left. Come on!

Another BIG one: no way to record FIRST RUN only. This is a major flaw. My unit is filled up in ONE week just by taping repeats of 3 different shows.

I hate this thing.

Posted by: andy at Mar 9, 2005 9:22:44 PM

Thank GOd they offer the Motorola in my area instead of the 8300. The Motorola blows not only the SA away, but most other DVRs as well.

Posted by: TiaMaster at Apr 6, 2005 1:17:53 PM

Has anyone tried to link up two tvs to the Cox motorolla version? I want to have it in my den with my big screen but hook it up also to my tv in the bedroom so I can watch the recorded tv in my bed. Is this possible?

Posted by: sean Kirkpatrick at Apr 14, 2005 4:58:40 PM

Yes you can hook up two TVs using two different connections. you will need a remote extender to control box from other room. Them you must start to record the new show first before going into list of recorded programs to chooose the one to watch.

to dogfather just hit the ff button three times and takes like 40 seconds to fast forward one hour. As far as knwing where you are? achild can figure that out! if you have a one hour show, half way accross the indicator bar is 30 minutes, 1/4 way is 15 minutes. If the show is 2 hours them double the values.

As far as I know, Tivo does not recoird in HD so to me the caox box rules.

Posted by: danny at May 4, 2005 7:14:56 AM

what you can do is when fastforwarding, just press the left and right arrows to skip in 15-minute intervals (I think it's fifteen minutes)... it goes faster than hitting the FF button four times.

Posted by: Chris at Jun 23, 2005 5:27:19 AM

Got the new Hidef converter. It does have an option to record first run only saving space. I just want them to offer the scifi channel in hidef. It would increase my happiness to no end.

Posted by: John at Oct 6, 2005 8:55:59 AM

We're old people and want something easy to use. Everyone we know uses TIVO and sings its praises. For that reason i think we want to go with TIVO. However, we would have to have a telephone line put in near the television. We have Cox Cable. Is there a difference in set up and user friendliness? Should i go with Cox (who said they believed was a Motorola box)? What do i need to know to make the decision?

Posted by: Bob at Jan 9, 2006 2:28:35 PM

The Tivo is about the easiest DVR out there, that being said, the Cox DVR is not really difficult to use. For someone who is just starting out using one, I would, unfortunately have to suggest that they go with the Cox DVR. In this case there is only one box to deal with, no phone cords required, a monthly fee, that if you decide you hate it, you can take it back, then go out and buy a Tivo.

I also must say that having two tuners in the Cox DVR is awesome. Record two things at once, or watch one thing while recording another. Until you try it, you just don't know what you are missing.

Posted by: Dash at Jan 24, 2006 3:12:32 PM

I have the COX DVR with the Pioneer software (Motorola box).

I have noticed a few problems here and there with it, but most seem to have been resolved through software updates.

Sometimes when FFing through commercials (on a HD recording) and then going to far I tend to use the replay button repeatedly to get back to the end of the commercials. This will sometimes cause the show to start going through at about triple-speed with no sound. Everything indicates it should be paused, though. Will not respond to buttons.

Sometimes this ends in the box power-cycling (which will cause recording shows to be disrupted) and sometimes it clears itself up after a minute. Weird.

We've also had a couple of times where it completely stops recording. Time for a show will come and it won't start recording. Manually starting a recording won't work, either. This has happened to us twice. The first time Cox flashed the box and it fixed it. The second time, the guy had me unplug the power from it and wait a minute and plug it back in. That fixed that problem.

My only gripe is that it needs a bigger hard drive. We've got new HD channels here in Roanoke and they have great shows on them.. but when you record HD shows, it racks up space like a mofo.

They advertise an estimated 50 hours of recording time on the box, but I've never gotten anywhere near that, even without any HD recordings. When I've got HD on the box, I get about 10 hours.

I'd buy a big hard drive myself if they would support my putting it into the box.

Posted by: Jack at Jan 31, 2006 12:38:54 PM

why does cox only allow 1 DVR per house hold?

Posted by: MATT at Feb 23, 2006 11:46:47 AM

First I had Adelphia, they had a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8000 DVR. Easy to use, seemed great. Then I moved and had Comcast, they used the Motorola 6400 DVR. At first, I hated it. Menu's were clunky, buttons were different, and for a long while I couldn't figure out how to record entire series. But after playing around with it for a few hours, I got the hang of it, and loved it. I suddenly understood the menu's, the way Motorola does things, etc. now I just moved back to my hold home, and got another Scientific Atlanta Explorer, a newer model that supported High Definition. And I HATE it! I want my motorola back. The SA won't let you search for a Series/Show by more than the first letter, the Motorola let you put up to the first 5 letters to narrow what you were searchin for. When listing the episodes the SA has stored, it doesn't show you available disk space, or the Title of that episode, just the date. The Motorola shows you how much space you're using, and the Show/Series and the title of that specific series. It's real easy to look for duplicates/reruns and delete them. With the SA, you have to play each recording to see if it's a rerun. Luckily, about 15 minutes ago, I discovered Adelphia offers the same Motorola, and I've been smiling since. I can not wait until Monday to swap my SA out for the Motorola. Adelphia also offers a DVR called "Moxi" but I'm not adventerous enough to get it and see if I like it. Based on the 3 different DVR's I've had, 2 SA's and 1 Motorola, the Motorola takes the cake!

Posted by: Deon at Mar 3, 2006 2:52:38 PM

You can get additional DVR's through Nebraska Furniture Mart or other retailers that distribute Cox DVR's.

Posted by: Darrell at Mar 20, 2006 11:32:20 AM

I recently purchased two URC 100 Remote Controls to use with two Cox DVR's. I also have a MRF 100 Expander so the Cable Box can be hidden behind a wall. The problem I have is when using the romote in Room A, it is controlling the Cable Box in Room B.

Does anyone know if there is a way to change the IR Codes to these boxes so each remote is independent of eachother?

HELP!!!!

Posted by: Darrell at Mar 20, 2006 11:37:55 AM

i am thinking of getting cablevision digital tv.what information i want is the scientific atlanta 8300 series dvr converter worse than the tivo i have with direct tv?i know the scientific has 100 hours of programming, i have 35,but the tivo has a wishlist and a bar at the bottom that has the time elasped on it.can you give me some input before i move to cable tv.

Posted by: ed at May 13, 2006 8:42:32 PM

Hi, I have the DTV DVR and it is great, just wish that it had more space to record on. The other thing is that to record two shows at once you have to have a certain type of dish. I am getting Cox in the fall, to try out their service to be able to say which one is the best between cable and satellite. I would like to know if the Cox DVR is worth getting?
Lyndon Dunbar

Posted by: Lyndon Dunbar at Jul 18, 2006 9:56:32 PM

I have a Cox Motorola DVR and I love it. The only thing I would like to see improvement on is the memory, I am constantly deleting things I haven't been able to watch yet, because of the lack of space. Question: someone said that they record anything that has Angelina Jolie in it-HOW??

Posted by: Jackie at Aug 22, 2006 3:57:10 PM

I am on my 2nd Cox DVR, BOTH Motorolla / Pioneer. The 1st one lasted 8 months then erased everything on its own and started erratic behavior. I liked the operation but it could be improved. The new unit is a Motorola DCT 6416 III, 160g HARD DISC. There are problems but could be system related not DVR.

The biggest thing is; If you have good phone technical support and the DVR works well you should be happy. The COX phone support is the worst.

By the way my understanding is that both Comcast and Cox will start using Tivo DVR's in '07.

j

Posted by: John at Aug 27, 2006 4:41:01 PM

Help we have a cox moto DVR in south Louisiana, its great but I cant seem to find a way to transfer off. cox says all usb,firewire, ethernet ports are disabled. any one have a workarround? I need to transfer stuff, HD is too dam small

Posted by: Bill at Oct 28, 2006 9:34:12 PM

We have gone through 3 of the Motorola DVRs, losing our programming each time. None of the USb, Firewire, or network jacks work, so the only way i can see to get my shows off is to pull the HD out. That's too time consuming atm for me to bother with, as the thing is always recording for us. Maybe inconvenient would be a better word. If it wasn't for their middle of the night updates to the thing, it'd prolly be stable all the time. Each time it's gone bad, it's been from them pushing an update to the box. Not happy about that part, but it's been a good set of boxes overall. Just winh the damn ports they put on there worked. I think it's really stupid to put ports on a device then disable them.

I was told that the firewire port will stream whatever is going to the tv, but haven't had it work.

Posted by: Adam at Dec 4, 2006 6:34:38 PM

I just got a nice new 300GB HD for Christmas, and from what i hear, i cant transfer recorded shows to it. If anyone knows of a way to activate any of the ports, i would greatly appreciate some instructions. as to 50 hours of recording, thats total bs. i dont think i have much more than maybe 12 hours of recording. Hi-def programing takes up a TON of space.

To matt: you actually can check the space left on your HD very easily, i would tell you, but i dont remember by heart, and i'm too lazy to go into the other room and check.

Posted by: CooperR at Dec 29, 2006 7:16:52 PM

I have a cox motorola dvr and have had nothing but problems. I am now on my 4th box. The box will work fine for a few weeks and then all of a sudden the recorded shows wont play back. THe audio and video skips and will eventually lock up. I'm sending mine back for good this time.

I cant speak for any other units.

Posted by: Kevin at Jan 23, 2007 7:22:07 AM

Help! I have had 4 scientific atlanta 8000 dvr's go bad in less than 2 months!! these things are pieces of JUNK. I come from a tivo background, and there is just no comparison. My tivo unit is already 2 and a half years old, and still does circles around SA junk. I insisted to cox that they bring the 8300 series this time. Does anyone know how the 2 units compare? Anyone have any ideas?

Posted by: tommy at Mar 7, 2007 7:58:14 PM

I have a DCT6416 III from Motorola thru Cableone. The firewire port is not disabled. I have the software from the net to transfer saved files to my computer, got it to work about 3 weeks and then I was out for 3 weeks. I can not get it to work again. Though I know it is talking to the DCT6400. I do not have a manual for this unit, so I do not know what input goes into each input. The first time I got lucky and got it to work using one input at the time. The name of the program is CapDVHS (search the internet for its location, it's free.}. If anyone gets this unit and learns how to work it, please give a call if you are willing to share. I will be happy to compensate.

Bobby Hall
103 Grace Lane
McComb, MS 39648
(601)684-5833

Posted by: Bobby Hall at Mar 22, 2007 12:14:01 PM

I have the Cox DVR SA 8300....just got it...I am leaving town next Sunday. Is it possible to set a recording for Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of the same week? And do you do it? Thanks for any help?

Posted by: Mike at May 4, 2007 7:21:19 PM

I ah cox scientific atlanta...their new software update shuts down my tv...they have given me the runaround for 3 months trying to fix the problem...the problem is i pay for a service and they decide to shut off my service if i am not in the room to push a button to continue the feed...charge me for the feed or charge me for the use...there solution is to have a rep work me through a number of hoops only to nave the same proble, 4 months later...this needs to stop!!!!!

Posted by: boopaz at May 25, 2007 11:15:37 PM

i need to clarify my statements...50 phone calls to cox to correct the problem...never corrected...they control my tv...shuts it down 4-6 times per day...cannot watch programs...cannot have your tv stay on if you are not in the room to push a button to keep it active...I pay for their service, i pay for the dvr rental (they shut it down to save the hard drive, even though i have the original equipment i rent and pay 18 for the dvr and and additional for the the cable tv service) The reps are worthless and will take you through months of exercise for their own protection...BE WARE AND IF YOU USE THEIR SERVICE...KEEP YOUR RECORDS

Posted by: boopaz at May 25, 2007 11:27:07 PM

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