motarolla pvr/cable box help - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Wookie · 12-09-2006, 03:25 PM

just working with some friends to hook up a tv and pvr/cable box thingy.

we're trying to run a dvd player through the motarolla DCT6414 III but can't figure out how to change the source to show the dvd player

any ideas?

getbak · 12-09-2006, 03:43 PM

Are you trying to record the movie as you watch it? I don't think you can do that.

If you're just trying to watch the movie, plug it directly into the tv.

Wookie · 12-09-2006, 03:48 PM

nope, just trying to hook up a dvd player... it's plugged into the back of the pvr (video in) and then trying to change the "source" on the pvr so that it's playing something other then the cable television.

make sense?

it's the same thing you'd do with a receiver... or would this not be possible with this type of unit?

surely it's got different video ins for a reason?

ken0042 · 12-09-2006, 03:51 PM

Not sure about those Shaw boxes, but on Bell those inputs are for digital inputs only; like an HD input.

My 2¢.

getbak · 12-09-2006, 03:53 PM

Why not plug the player directly into the tv?

I'm not sure why there are A/V inputs on the box, but I'm pretty sure they're disabled by default. There seem to be a lot of things on the back on the box that don't actually work.

Wookie · 12-09-2006, 03:55 PM

thanks ken,

but the video in is a yellow.. as well you'd think that you'd be able to change the source regardless of whether it was digital or not. we have'nt even been able to change the source yet,

like on a tv, you can change the video source regardless whether anything is plugged into it or not. it jsut says video 2, video 3, etc.

with this box i can't find anything to change it... so why the video in plug?

ken0042 · 12-09-2006, 04:09 PM

I understand what you are saying Wookie. And as I said I have similar inputs on my Bell receiver. And I know even though they look like regular composite yellow inputs that we've seen for 20 years, the ones on Bell wait until they sense a digital input, and then they allow you to select them as a source.

It could also be something that isn't activated on the Shaw boxes, but somebodt like Comcast or something does use them; and it's easier for Shaw just to use the same box.

Have you done a search on www.digitalhome.ca/forum ? I would think you couldn't be the first one to have tried this.

getbak · 12-09-2006, 04:16 PM

Motorola seems to put these things on their cable boxes in case one of their customers (the cable companies, not the end user) wants to make use of them in the future. It's probably easier to build them directly into the design than it is to try to retrofit them into a design later on.

Each cable company has its own firmware on the boxes, so a Shaw box may look identical to a Comcast box but they might function differently.

Here is Motorola's manual for the 6800 series PVR: http://broadband.motorola.com/noflas...2659-001-a.pdf

There is no mention of how to use the inputs.

Wookie · 12-09-2006, 04:19 PM

Regardless of the video in issues - shouldn't the audio still work

getbak · 12-09-2006, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wookie

Regardless of the video in issues - shouldn't the audio still work

Not if the non-cable inputs are disabled.

Vulcan · 12-09-2006, 04:42 PM

On my Bell receiver I run another source into it by way of RCA or composite cable. I use the channel changer to go to my lowest channel, VID 0-01 or 0-002. It says back panel video inputs on my guide. It works well for a monitor I use as a TV as the monitor only has one input source.

Wookie · 12-09-2006, 05:06 PM

Hmmm..

Okay, finally shaw tech support called me back.

Said "oh people usually don't put the DVD player in the middle. the run right to the TV"

Well we ran cables through the back of the drywall (HDMI) to the TV from the PVR so no one wants cables hanging up and down the wall to the plasma.. it's just ugly.

So he said okay, then you plug into the front or back video/audio in.

Which we did... trying both of them

then he said to change "the source" turn off the PVR, with the power off it should play the DVD player... okay that seemed a bit odd.. but it didn't work.

We then tried using component cables instead of the yellow, red and white.. still nothing..

So shaw tech said, okay it must be an issue with the DVD player not being able to talk to the PVR.. and we can't help, get a new DVD player.. Yeah, nice pass of the buck..

Vulcan, that's interesting.. I forgot the old school go to the lowest channel setting. I'll suggest that next time we work on it.

getbak - if the cables were disable wouldn't the shaw tech have told me?

Ken, thanks for the link.. I'll start browsing through there later tonight!

Thanks again for the quick responses.. you guys rule!