The Differences Between TWC Navigator Program Guide/Box Versions

[Jack 1000]

NAVIGATOR ODN/MDN GUIDE DIFFERENCES (Feel Free to Add or Modify)

MDN=Legacy non-C box that has the older version of Navigator and NOT a Samsung box.

ODN=Newer C-box that has the newer version of Navigator or a Samsung box.

On my MDN box, even when I had No Shows Saved, it always showed 1% of drive space used. MDN gave me the number of shows I had in the show list. ODN does not show the number of shows I have recorded by a number. But it shows 0% when you have no shows saved, and ODN tells you how to record a show if you have no shows saved. Don't recall this on MDN.

MDN guide data is often truncated. ODN is complete with full show descriptions, original air-date going back to anything from 1970, major stars, directors, series premier notice. HD notice, LIVE notice. ODN is almost Passport-like with guide data. ODN just needs MDN's speed!

ODN has a very complete and more detailed Phone Log for Digital Phone subs. MDN just stores the last 10 calls. ODN has an extra step to get to the Call list.

ODN has a sometimes confusing setting called "Devices." that you have to go to for some settings. MDN puts everything in the SETTINGS menu. I like MDN for this, better.

MDN has an animated Caller ID prompt with a moving ringing phone. ODN is stationary.

ODN allows you dark borders that actually fit HD screens, activating a screen saver that covers the screen if a recording is paused or left motionless after about 5 minutes. MDN only has a screen saver that fits SD TV's.

MDN has DVR Compensation exclusive to it, and ODN has Nearest Tune, exclusive to it.

MDN had something I hated! When you delted a show, you would get a message that said something like, "System is updating recordings, Press A to watch TV and check Show List for Recording Conflicts." That message is gone in ODN.

MDN's guide fades in-ODN's guide shows up immediately.

That's all I can think of right now. Someone may want to pin this topic.

Jack

[agrotto]

OK, so I have two SA non-C DVR boxes. Should I look to trade them in for something new? What should I be asking for?

Thanks.

[Jack 1000]

OK, so I have two SA non-C DVR boxes. Should I look to trade them in for something new? What should I be asking for?

Thanks.

If they are working well, I have learned from the advice of several techs to NOT swap them out! You might just wind up getting a box with a new set of problems.

Do you have a DVR? If you do a lot of recording and are running out of drive space, the NON-C boxes, work with expander drives. For expander drives, several of my friends like Western Digital.

The non-C boxes work well with expander drives. The C-boxes and the Samsungs do not work well with expander drives. However, the new Cisco (Formerly SA) boxes are the 8600 series and the Samsungs have twice the drive capacity of the older SA-8240 and SA-8300 boxes. 300gb hard drives, probably up to 40 hours of recording HD compared to a maximum of 20 hours of HD recording on the older boxes, which are 160GB.

****The Fastest boxes are the new Samsungs**** the DVR's have a larger hard drive, and they just look slick. The newest boxes are the Cisco 8600-C series. They are on the slow side, but still have the bigger hard drive. A box software update is supposed to make the ODN boxes go faster-version 4.0.24, but we in Milwaukee have not received it yet. We are still on the widespread build of 3.2.015. This software update has had mixed reviews with regards to the speed boost. Some have noticed a big speed increase, others have not.

If you are a non-DVR user, go for any Samsung series box. They are the fastest models, just like the DVR's. But if your current box is working well, keep it. Note that surprisingly, the OLDER non-C boxes such as the SA 3000-4000 boxes and any DVR non-C at SA-8240 to SA-8300 does not seem to have a speed issue. So if your non-C box is working, keep it. If you are a DVR user, and need a bigger hard drive, I would go for a Samsung. They are harder to get than the Cisco's, but seem to be the fastest at this time.

Very old software boxes, such as any Pioneer models, the SA-1000-2000 or any SA-8000 DVR's SHOULD be swapped. The hardware is too old to run the new Navigator software well.

Jack

[klwillis45]

OK, so I have two SA non-C DVR boxes. Should I look to trade them in for something new? What should I be asking for?

Thanks. You can trade it to me.

I had 2 8300HDs. 1 died and was replaced by a 8300HDC. The C box is definitely slower & more prone to issues.

[agrotto]

Thanks Jack 1000. Both my boxes are DVR's so I'll just hang onto them for now. It sure would be nice to get full show descriptions though. Will that ever be updated for non-c boxes?

[Jack 1000]

Thanks Jack 1000. Both my boxes are DVR's so I'll just hang onto them for now. It sure would be nice to get full show descriptions though. Will that ever be updated for non-c boxes?

I hope so!

There is such inconsistency in division updates. The latest software build for non-C boxes is MDN 2.5, which we got in August. Several months ago, I heard that MDN 3.0 was in development and HOPEFULLY that will have some new features and full show descriptions.

In Milwaukee and Metro Milwaukee, we seem to get our box updates about two months after release. As August was our last MDN box update, we probably won't get another non-C box update till next year, (late first quarter-early second quarter.)

The C-boxes and Samsungs could be getting version 4.0 soon, which might give us the speed boost. This version will prep the DVR's for multi-room service. However, at this time multi-room DVRs are not out for our division. When they come out, a truck roll will be required for multi-room if you want it. (They have to install a special filter/connection) and you will get brand new boxes where all the boxes will be able to talk to each other (i.e home networking.)

Multi-room DVR might start rollouts first to second quarter of next year.

Currently,TWC Multi-room DVR service is only available through TWC's Charlotte North Carolina's Division as part of TWC's new "Signature Home Project." It's like "All The Best" except all equipment in the house can go through a home network. The modems for Signature Home can deliver supposedly up to 50GBS! But this might be a sales pitch. This new project is still being evaluated.

Reviews for Signature Home have been lukewarm. Customers are complaining about the slowness of the guide and that the new modems are regularly dropping off connections. I wouldn't expect something like that for us until next summer or fall. Still a lot of bugs that need to be worked out.

Charlotte North Carolina is a main TWC Test division. They have main engineering headquarter labs there, so they test stuff for about six months and than start national rollouts.

Jack

[agrotto]

Thanks for the info. Coincidentally I got a robo call from TWC today saying that the boxes would reboot 2x tonight for a software update. Wonder what that's all about?

[Talos4]

Same here update between 1a @ 5a.

[agrotto]

I checked both SA8300HD's this AM and didn't notice any changes.

[Jack 1000]

Got updated this morning. Box does not to be slower or faster, almost as if the previous version never left.

Jack

[Jack 1000]

Got updated this morning. Box does not to be slower or faster, almost as if the previous version never left.

Jack

The update was for HDC boxes and Samsungs only.

Jack

[Jack 1000]

Got updated this morning. Box does not to be slower or faster, almost as if the previous version never left.

Jack

I did have to go in and reset my Output Resolutions. The box was still outputing to 1080i, which I have, but I had to go in and save it again before it held. The box was switching resolutions before, even when I only had 1080i selected. It works now.

Jack

[ddeerrff]

On the Samsung H3260 box, the update seems to have added a bunch of entries to the diags page (1900). Reference to MR-DVR, MoCA radio, and Cable Card MAC that I hadn't noticed before. Perhaps related to multiroom DVR. ODN Ver 4.0.2_4

Just recently got this Samsung box. When automatically switching to a channel that has been set up with a 'reminder', my older 3250 box switched right on the scheduled time. This Samsung box makes the switch 30 seconds early. Somewhat annoying.

[Jack 1000]

On the Samsung H3260 box, the update seems to have added a bunch of entries to the diags page (1900). Reference to MR-DVR, MoCA radio, and Cable Card MAC that I hadn't noticed before. Perhaps related to multiroom DVR. ODN Ver 4.0.2_4

Those added pages are for multi-room DVR, which TWC will be calling "Whole House DVR." It will allow all boxes in the home to communicate with each other through a multi-room DVR and filter. Wisconsin does not yet have this. A truck role will be required for the new filter and boxes when Whole House DVR comes out. (Lets hope that these units have faster Navigation!!!!!)

Jack

[Jack 1000]

On my SA-8300 MDN, I could adjust the Vol control through the box buttons for the box volume. On my SA-8300 HDC, I still output the volume to the TV, but the volume controls on the front of the box don't work.

On my MDN box, I could do a soft reboot by pressing Vol+/-/Info, and the box would reboot instantaniously. For a long time, I could not use the POWER button on the box by holding it in to reboot.

On my HDC, a soft reboot requies holding the power button in until a little flashing icon shows on the box. Than, after you release it, the box will reboot about 30 seconds to a minute later. VOL+/Vol-/Info has no effect on my HDC box, and other customers have reported the same thing.

Jack

[Brendan]

I just got the auto call today. I only have the SA 8300HD (no C), so I don't know if this new update will affect me or not.
I actually requested and got a SA 8300HD a while back. I originally had one, which had some issues and was replaced by a "C" model. The C had more issues than my original ever did, so I asked for another 8300HD. They guy that helped me at the TWC store dug around back and found the last one they had in stock, and commented that he preferred that model too.

[Jack 1000]

I just got the auto call today. I only have the SA 8300HD (no C), so I don't know if this new update will affect me or not.
I actually requested and got a SA 8300HD a while back. I originally had one, which had some issues and was replaced by a "C" model. The C had more issues than my original ever did, so I asked for another 8300HD. They guy that helped me at the TWC store dug around back and found the last one they had in stock, and commented that he preferred that model too.

Brendon,

Yes, a lot of people like the non-C boxes better for speed and reliability. Although the C-boxes are getting better. Cool that you found an office that had an MDN box!

Because the MDN (non-C, no Samsungs) are so few, post any new features that you find after the update. I think channel 1900 is the Diagnostics Channel. If you go to that channel and scroll to page 6. (I think) The pages are numbered at the top, there will be a software version. The latest that I know of is MDN 2.5.049. Let us know if you get any new features!

If you see things like Complete Program Descriptions, or Nearest Tune in the Settings, or any new features, let us know. Post the new version of the software after the update, which should be found on Diagnostic channel 1900.

Jack

[gparris]

My 8300HD is much faster, no lag time between commands, but the other box, the 8300HDC, is clunky, moves very slow and when it comes time erase things I have seen on the faster DVR in the other room, forget it, my patience wears thin.:bang:

If this newer upgrade is for the 8300HDC's, it better be for the speed!:mad: