UPC HD+ Box; BEWARE - it has only one active output connector

Joemagic

For anybody thinking of upgrading to UPC’s HD+ service, be warned that although the box has a HDMI and a Scart output, both will not work at the same time. The model number of the box is 8485DVB.

I upgraded from my old NTL digital box to the new HD+ box yesterday and am no longer able to record any digital channels on my DVD Recorder. Very unhappy - as this means I can no longer make a permanent copy of a TV program and also now have a redundant DVD recorder !. With the old box, NTL supplied a ‘split’ Scart cable which allowed the box to output to both the TV and the DVD Recorder.

Before I ordered, I checked out the instruction manual for the HD+ box and was happy to see it had both a HDMI and a Scart connection. Just what I needed, the HDMI to connect to the TV and the Scart for the older DVD recorder. However, after it was installed I discovered that both will not work at the same time. With the HDMI cable connected (even with the TV switched off), the Scart outputs audio but no video. If I unplug the HDMI, the Scart works perfectly. UPC Technical Support say that this is a hardware constraint on the HD+ box and can not be changed through the set up procedure for the box. Does anybody know different ??.

My experience with the installer also suggests that the installers are under instruction not to point this out to the customer. My installer was very friendly and helpful, answering any questions I asked and appearing to do a very thorough job. I had a tangle of coax cable and splitters which had grown over the years to connect TV’s in other rooms, Tuner/AMP, etc. Without prompting he ripped all this out and did a very neat replacement job. It was only when he left that I discovered the Scart connection to the DVD Recorder was left dangling!.

Can anybody suggest how I can get my DVD recorder going again. My Sony TV (KDL 40W4500) is no help. Though it has a Scart output, the instruction manual confirms says that it “outputs whatever is being viewed on the screen EXCEPT SIGNALS FROM HDMI INPUTS”. Help !

By the way, the box also has a USB connector and two Ethernet connectors, which as far as I can establish, do not function either.

ROVER

The only way I think you can make a permanent record on your DVD recorder is to first record on to your HD box. Then remove HDMI from TV and insert into DVD recorder if no HDMI on recorder use Scart. Then play on HD Box and record on DVD recorder in real time.

ceebee1981

I think you've both answered my question, thanks.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056046749

JDxtra

Joemagic wrote: »

By the way, the box also has a USB connector and two Ethernet connectors, which as far as I can establish, do not function either.

They are "for future use". The question is, will we ever see that future?

You can probably charge an MP3 player from the USB port.

watty

They are supposed to be launching a VOD service next year. Logically that would need UPC Broadband and in "upgraded" DOCSIS 3.0 areas that are fibre back haul.

Kensington

From a financial point of view, UPC would much rather you pay an extra €5 for a second box from them, rather than feed an extra TV via the extra outputs. You could do any archiving you want late at night when everyone is in bed and the TV off. If you wanted to record something to DVD as you watched it, some TVs will let you loop the scart off the TV so the TV will feed whatever it is receiving down the Scart to the DVD.

As far as I am aware, their UPC branded boxes have a DOCSIS cable modem built in so they are VoD ready. The Ethernet ports are to allow UPC to double the STB up as a cable modem so they could provide you internet and digital TV through just the STB - no standalone cable modem required. In practice, they don't do this as they dish out a standalone cablemodem with a phone adapter onboard to make it a lot easier should you wish to take phone services with them.

USB could be for anything - dongle to pick up DTT signals (save them the bandwidth to carry the RTÉs on the cable networks), dongle to provide wireless internet similar to the Ethernet option, external hard drive, keyboard/mouse - the list is endless.

Joemagic

Kensington wrote: »

From a financial point of view, UPC would much rather you pay an extra €5 for a second box from them, rather than feed an extra TV via the extra outputs.

You could do any archiving you want late at night when everyone is in bed and the TV off.

If you wanted to record something to DVD as you watched it, some TVs will let you loop the scart off the TV so the TV will feed whatever it is receiving down the Scart to the DVD.

Thanks for your comments Kensington.

Your first comment is even more reason to believe that this is a configuration setup option chosen be UPC for marketing reasons rather than a hardwired constraint. I had hoped someone would know how to undo/reset this. Mayby I'm just too optimistic or too naive.

Point taken re archiving but its not enough to just turn the TV off, the HDMI has to be unplugged. A pain in the .....

My Sony TV does not loop the HDMI inputs to it's Scart output. The manual confirms this. I suspect it's to prevent copying od DVDs. The TV will loop/transmit other inputs OK, eg analog channels.

By the way there is also an optical audio output on the HD box which does work !

hmmm

Does this mean a Slingbox is also out of the question?

Antenna

Kensington wrote: »

From a financial point of view, UPC would much rather you pay an extra €5 for a second box from them, rather than feed an extra TV via the extra outputs.

In contrast, Sky box users can have HDMI, SCART, RF modulator all active at once!


Plugging and unplugging any time the user wants to record on their own DVD (or VCR) ? :rolleyes::mad:

How long will it be before HDMI connectors get damaged doing this?

Joemagic

Antenna wrote: »

In contrast, Sky box users can have HDMI, SCART, RF modulator all active at once!

I wish i knew then what I know now !. When my 12 months UPC contract is up I will be moving to Sky.

Re Slingbox - I know very little about it but have no reason to think it will be any different. The problem is thet the UPC box will only drive one connected device at a time - it doesn't matter wha the connected device is. The only possibility is if you can loop the HDMI output to your TV through the Slingbox. The Slingbox would need HDMI In and HDMI Out connections to support that.

kellsum

I'm not sure if I have come to the right place, but I have just upgraded to HD+ and on receiving and installing it and still after a few days it still is rubbish.

when ever I scroll across the channels it takes about 7 seconds to move then gets muddled and if I try to press ok it keeps scrolling. It is driving me up the walls, has anyone else experienced this or is it just me?

DavidCochrane

hmmm wrote: »

Does this mean a Slingbox is also out of the question?

I have a UPC HD+ box and I'm using a Slingbox with it- but I had to buy a HDfury to split the HDMI cable coming from the UPCHD to to the slingbox (then split again into RGB connections) and to the Television set - it cost about €150 extra. But well worth it - I'm able to set the box to record from the SlingMobile iPhone application - but I can also watch tv on my laptop - it's exceptionally good.

It wouldn't have killed UPC to have the HDMI and Scart connections working together though.

djimi

kellsum wrote: »

I'm not sure if I have come to the right place, but I have just upgraded to HD+ and on receiving and installing it and still after a few days it still is rubbish.

when ever I scroll across the channels it takes about 7 seconds to move then gets muddled and if I try to press ok it keeps scrolling. It is driving me up the walls, has anyone else experienced this or is it just me?

Most people have the same complaint. The EPG is a complete mess.

hmmm

DavidCochrane wrote: »

I have a UPC HD+ box and I'm using a Slingbox with it- but I had to buy a HDfury to split the HDMI cable coming from the UPCHD to to the slingbox (then split again into RGB connections) and to the Television set - it cost about €150 extra. But well worth it - I'm able to set the box to record from the SlingMobile iPhone application - but I can also watch tv on my laptop - it's exceptionally good.

Thanks, I already have a Slingbox and would hate to lose it in the upgrade to HD+. Seems like a pretty big omission by UPC.

ted1

regarding the remote. It uses a weak ir signal and flat screen television cause ir interference. Move the box as far away from the television as possible try putting it on a shelf. Put a bit of insulation over the ir recevoir. This should get your remote working. You can see some of the interference through the screen on your phone. Turn on your camera and look at the tele through your camera screen.