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Need help connecting my Panasonic DVR to new Comcast DTA.
I have a Panasonic EH55 DVR that I want to continue to use with Comcast. Comcast just upgraded Digital in my area by installing Pace DC50X DTA box. My Panasonic DVR should be able to change channels by using IR Blaster placed in front of DTA, but none of the IR codes works. Does anyone know the code to program into my DVR to allow this to work?
In general, I'd like to request to Comcast to improve technical support for these new DTA boxes - there is ZERO technical information about these boxes available on Comcast web site, and technical support at Comcast also has no information available. I suspect this will be a common problem for people using TIVO, DVR, etc. with these new boxes.
In general, I'd like to request to Comcast to improve technical support for these new DTA boxes - there is ZERO technical information about these boxes available on Comcast web site, and technical support at Comcast also has no information available. I suspect this will be a common problem for people using TIVO, DVR, etc. with these new boxes.
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The best answer from the company
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Hi Gary,
We are not always provided this information from the manufacturer. Each product 'code' may vary. I have include a few links and codes that may be of assistance.
10748, 10587, 10768, 10865, 10870, 10871, 10872
http://www.comcast.com/corporate/cust...
We have several "Cable Guru Customers" in our Help Forums.
http://forums.comcast.net ; currently you require a internet account to check. we are working towards changing this experience.
Thank you,
George Lunski
Comcast Corporate Office
Comcast Customer Connect
George_Lunski@Cable.Comcast.Com
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Inappropriate?Hi Gary,
We are not always provided this information from the manufacturer. Each product 'code' may vary. I have include a few links and codes that may be of assistance.
10748, 10587, 10768, 10865, 10870, 10871, 10872
http://www.comcast.com/corporate/cust...
We have several "Cable Guru Customers" in our Help Forums.
http://forums.comcast.net ; currently you require a internet account to check. we are working towards changing this experience.
Thank you,
George Lunski
Comcast Corporate Office
Comcast Customer Connect
George_Lunski@Cable.Comcast.Com
The company says
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?The DC50X uses a relatively new protocol called XMP.
XMP is bandwidth intensive, a learning remote with sufficient memory to store dozens of non-XMP commands will run out of memory after learning only a handful of XMP commands.
The latest generation third-party DVRs were designed a while back. Even though Panasonic, Pioneer, Toshiba and others still make DVD/HDD recorders for overseas markets they stopped selling them here in 2006. -
Inappropriate?No kidding, Gary. This is going to be a HUGE problem for Comcast as they render most DVR equipment useless with their service. DVRs have to be able to change the channels on the DTAs to work. I understand that all channels will eventually go digital and require the decoder boxes. Without the technical support available from Comcast to assist those using DVRs with their now required equipment, customers will begin flocking to those who can. Personally I would love to keep Comcast, but I am not tossing my Replay TV in the trash just so I can do that.
If their DC50X boxes can't work with DVRs, then they should provide boxes that can.
So far 20 channels I pay for are no loger useful to me.
I just want to be able to use what I pay for. Is that so difficult?
I’m Disappointed
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Inappropriate?Why do we have to use boxes at all? Is it really an upgrade? The signal strength at my house is already marginal and once I have to put these boxes in (with splitters) it's going to be half as strong. Are you being required to use this box or is it something you asked for? I wish I had the option to dump Comcast like Tom does. It's the only thing available where I live.
I’m fed up with comcast greed
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This answers the question
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Chris,
You need the boxes because Comcast has chosen to encrypt the channels and so you need the decoder boxes. If it was just a digital switch over then any TV with a digital tuner would not require the boxes. Now, even of you have a high end flat screen with a great digital tuner, it's useless. You have to downgrade to the signal from the box tuner.
I do have a satellite service alternative but didn't go that route. The DTA boxes are useless but I did some research and found a way to use another Comcast box that responds to IR blaster codes so my DVR can now change channels on it. Now my DVR can record more channels than before. Comcast was of no use at all resolving this problem though. They are so clueless that they didn't even understand my question much less have an answer. I had to do it all myself. -
I feel for you Chris. We have the same exact problem.
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I really don't know how the Comcast channel encryption policy changes from region to region and over time but I am paying for the 2nd tier and right now my ATSC digital tuners get a mix of analog and clear QAM digital channels that number about 80 which is what I am paying for. All of the channels in the upper tier are encrypted and I can't tune those with my digital tuners. My understanding is that all of the analog channels will eventually migrate to digital but I have not heard whether even the lower tier clear QAM digital channels will eventually migrate to encryption. For now I can continue to get high def on my digital tuners. If I am forced to use the DTAs on my HD TVs then the HD goes out the window and I am reduced to the lowest quality ( only RF modulated output on the DTA).
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Inappropriate?All,
Thanks for your helpful suggestions and comments. I traded the DTA box for a standard Motorola set top box (plus a $6/month charge from Comcast), and with programming code 477 entered in the Panasonic DVR IR Blaster, I could change the channels and download the TV Guide Onscreen. Everything was working just fine until a couple of weeks ago when the TV Guide stopped loading - the DVR searches overnight but can no longer find the encoded information. Is it possible this change is due to analog-digital transition? I live in SF Bay Area - anybody know if the TV Guide info is still broadcast? If so, on what channel?
Gary -
Inappropriate?Hello Gary,
In my area (suburban Philadelphia, PA) I had my Panasonic DVR connected directly to the cable (and NOT the BOX). TV Guide Onscreen programming was working fine. Then, about 2 weeks ago, it stopped loading; about the same time our area experienced a segment of Comcast's analog-digital transition. I tried hooking up to the cable box (with IR Blaster). Could not get TV Guide Onscreen programming to work. Help Help. Did you ever get your Panasonic DVR to load the TV Guide Onscreen programming (cable box or not) ?
Tom -
Inappropriate?I have just hooked up digital cable like this: cable line --> Comcast DTA --> Panasonic DVR --> TV I am able to watch TV fine, but my Panasonic DVR gets no signal. I can't record anything. I can watch my old recordings, so the DVR is fine. Anyone have an idea what I'm doing wrong?
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Inappropriate?I have the same problem - a work around is to program your DVR to channel 3/time/date/etc; then using the remote for TV find the channel you wish to record and leave it on the TV. I have had success recording as long as the channel I want to record is already set when I turn the equipment off and set timer.
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