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1080p, 2015, Calibration, DVR, How To
1080p, 2015, Calibration, DVR, How To Entries in DVR (10)
Comcast/Xfinity Video Setup
Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 4:19PM Updated December 8, 2015: Charter subscribers report success with similar hardware and technique
If you subscribe to Comcast/Xfinity cable TV service, chances are you have a set top box from the company connected to your television using an HDMI cable. Too many times I've encountered these boxes in a misconfigured state that negatively affected picture quality. Given how expensive a year's worth of HD cable TV service costs, it's worth spending 5-minutes checking some basic settings in that box's 'hidden' menu.
Note: this information applies to regular Comcast/Xfinity set top boxes and not the newer X1 hardware.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
For this operation, you will need the Comcast/Xfinity remote control and the remote control for your TV. If you haven't already, easily configure your Comcast/Xfinity remote to control your TV and other home theater gear!
Step #1
Turn your TV ON and make sure the Comcast/Xfinity box is OFF.
Step #2
Press the MENU button on the Comcast/Xfinity remote.
At this point, the front of the set top box should display the current video aspect ratio (16:9 or 4:3).
The TV screen should now display the 'hidden' setup menu.
If for some reason the TV Type setting is anything other than 16:9, change it to 16:9 to match the shape of widescreen televisions. Next, I would verify the settings under the Additional HDMI Settings menu.
The configuration pictured above is my recommended setup for all modern HD and UHD televisions. Next, Return to Main Menu and configure HDMI/YPbPr Output to Native or 1080i.
The Native output setting passes the video signal to the TV unaltered. Use of the Native setting enables a sub-menu of Native Mode Settings that needs some attention.
In the menu pictured above, select all video formats that the TV supports. Most modern televisions will accept all of the above listed video formats, but some TVs balk at receiving a 480i video signal over HDMI (leave unchecked if this is the case). An alternative to using the set top box's Native video mode is to configure it for 1080i output. Use of the 1080i output option will have the set top box convert all standard and high definition channels into the 1080i video format. The 1080i format is the maximum resolution currently used by broadcasters, and today's TVs are quite good at processing this video format resulting in terrific picture quality. Not only does 1080i convert almost perfectly into the 1080p format, a 1080i signal containing content originally captured at 24 frames-per-second (most movies and primetime TV shows) is easily processed to recreate the source material's natural film-like look.
Step #3
You are done! Press the Comcast/Xfinity remote's Menu button again to exit. If you decided to use the box's Native video mode, confirm that your TV is configured to eliminate overscan with 720p and 1080i channels. Often, a TV's overscan setting (aka Picture Size) is custom for all video formats so eliminating overscan with 1080i channels like NBC and PBS doesn't automatically eliminate overscan with 720p channels like Fox and ESPN.
For more information about TV settings related to optimal picture quality, I've created a short video that will help clarify what needs to be done.
Review: Tablo DVR
Saturday, September 27, 2014 at 9:57AM 
Updated September 29, 2014 - added "More AV Details" section
The digital video recorder (DVR) has freed us from the shackles of watching our favorite TV programs on the broadcasters' fixed schedule. The DVR has enabled TV enthusiasts to capture their escapism and enjoy it minutes, hours, or weeks later – and pause playback at anytime, for any reason. When people think about DVRs, most envision a remote controlled set top box connected to a display device. The Tablo differentiates itself from other DVRs by connecting to a home network and delivering over-the-air (OTA) HD television goodness directly to smartphones, tablets, PCs, and popular streaming appliances connected to traditional televisions.
The Tablo is made for cordcutters that want receive a TV fix on the screen of their choice anytime and anywhere. The Tablo experience included a few quirks but no showstoppers, and steady updates have added new features and improved performance.
Size, style, and setup
The Tablo's compact black chassis measures about 7 inches wide by 4.5 inches deep and 1.5 inches high. The unit's matte finished top helped hide dust and fingerprints while glossy sides and a brilliant blue indicator light added a bit of bling - the latter was easily tamed (if desired) in the settings menu.
Setup is simple: connect an antenna, add up to two external hard drives (up to 2TB capacity each) via the USB ports on the back of the unit, decide between Ethernet or WiFi networking, and connect the power. Tablo's WiFi setup requires a direct connection from another wireless device in order to select a local network – once completed, my mobile device automatically reconnected to my local wireless network.
Controlling Tablo depends on the viewing plaform. Dedicated apps are available for newer Android and Apple tablets. Roku users can add a custom channel, and a browser-based app that is optimized for Chrome and Safari is for all other mobile devices and PCs.
Channel guide
Tablo includes 30 days of its custom channel guide data service that features high quality cover art and episode synopses. This data also enables recordings that may be scheduled by time, episode, or series. After the trial period, guide data subscriptions cost $5 a month, $50 a year, or $150 for the lifetime of the units associated to a user account. Without guide data, the Tablo offers only basic manual recording.
Tuner tech
The Tablo hardware is available in a 2-tuner and 4-tuner configuration. Its OTA tuners are from MaxLinear and a ViXS transcoding chipset converts broadcast MPEG-2 transport streams into h.264 video for expanded compatibiltity of live and recorded video delivery. Tuner sensitivity appeared good as all of my local HD channels reported full strength reception using a quality indoor antenna – distance and local topography have the greatest influence on OTA channel reception. The Tablo defaults to displaying only HD channels, but it's easy to edit the channel lineup however you see fit.
Up to six devices may access Tablo tuners and recorded content simultaneously. Live program viewing is limited by the number of available tuners, but multiple devices may watch the same tuned channel(s) and recorded content – the channel guide highlights in-use live channels as well as potential recording conflicts. Even on a relatively busy home network, I was able to cleanly stream video to four devices simultaneously. I also found that an Ethernet-connected Tablo was generally more stable when streaming to multiple screens than when using the DVR's WiFi connection – your mileage may vary.
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Remote enjoyment
One of Tablo's most impressive features is its ability to deliver an OTA DVR experience outside of the home – aka Tablo Connect. Setup of this feature involves forwarding three ports to the Tablo's local IP address and selecting a remote streaming quality preset (an auto-quality option is reportedly coming soon). Mobile devices must first connect and sync to the Tablo on the local network, but after that, I enjoyed Tablo's live and recorded programming on my 4G LTE smartphone anywhere I could receive a cell sevice or WiFi. Impressively, the Tablo Connect experience functioned identically to being connected to its local network.
More AV Details
The Tablo's current audio configuration is for stereo output only, but the company is considering support for surround sound as a possible future update.
Also, whatever recording quality level is configured in the Tablo settings menu is how the video is stored on the hard drive. When configured for 1080p recording, all content is transcoded and stored in the 1080p format - including SD (480i) broadcasts.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear!
Playing beta tester
My experience with the Tablo over the last few weeks wasn't all perfect, but regular firmware updates have improved usage to the point were I would recommend it to interested cordcutters. However, even with the latest firmware update (v2.1.16 at the time of this article) that incorporates a Chromecast/Roku streaming quality preset, I continued to experience occasional freezing with Google Chromecast playback. Also, choppy full-screen playback plagued my HTPC's admittedly aging Intel HD 2000 graphics (windowed playback was fine) – I did see this as a good excuse to upgrade the system's GPU.
Mobile performance with an iPhone 4S running Safari on iOS 8 was flawless, but an Android smartphone (OS v4.4.4) required the use of Chrome Beta (v38.x and later) for full functionality.
The Tablo browser interface could use a few tweaks as well. Keyboard cursor support for channel guide navigation is missing, and the mouse cursor remains visible during playback unless moved into the control bar at the bottom of the screen. When selecting a recorded program to view, the large cover art required scrolling on 720p/768p screens to reach the play button next to each recorded episode.
The above issues noted, Tablo has implemented numerous tweaks and improvements related to stability and video quality with every firmware update. Given the complex nature of this network-enable DVR, I appreciate the company's timely response to feedback, community support, and apparent desire to improve their product.
Price comparison
Compared to other OTA DVR options, the Tablo is a good deal. A Tablo with lifetime channel guide data starts at $370 (2-tuners) and $450 (4-tuners) without necessary storage – a new 1TB external drive is less than $65. The Channel Master DVR+ (read review) with an integrated 1TB hard drive is $400 and that includes lifetime guide data, but it lacks the Tablo's useful ability to record only new programs in a series as well as its network/remote streaming features. The TiVo Roamio OTA features four OTA tuners and 500GB of integrated storage for $50 plus $180 a year for channel guide service, or $590 for three years of use. There is no lifetime guide option with the Roamio OTA. Adding a TiVo Stream for downloading and streaming recorded shows to Apple iOS devices adds another $130 – Android support is reportedly coming soon.
Bottom line
If you want to get rid of an expensive cable, fiber, or satellite subscription and you happen to live near free-to-air broadcast towers, cordcutting becomes an increasingly viable option. The Tablo is a uniquely capable multi-tuner DVR that can feed a decent sized household live and recorded television entertainment throughout the home or on the road. Tablo also keeps things simple by focusing on being a good DVR while avoiding the urge to pile on unnecessary or unwanted apps – at least so far.
Review: Channel Master DVR+
Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 1:07PM Updated October 27, 2014 - clarified file transfer to PC
Anyone thinking of ditching an expensive cable, fiber, or satellite TV subscription and becoming a cordcutter faces a major hurdle: the lack of easy access to live television programming. If you are lucky enough to live in an area covered by the free-to-air transmissions of local broadcasters, then receiving at least some live programming is as easy as connecting a simple indoor antenna and performing a quick channel scan.
Every HDTV sold today has a built-in digital television (DTV) tuner for receiving this free content, but these same TVs lack necessary and useful features like the ability to record a show for later viewing or “pause” live TV like a TiVo digital video recorder (DVR).
The selection of set top over-the-air (OTA) TV tuners that provide even the most basic of recording capabilities is limited at best, and very few of these products feature two or more tuners for the most critical DVR function: recording one channel while watching another live. The DVR+ from Channel Master elevates future expectations by delivering a multi-tuner OTA DVR in a svelt, easy to use package.
Package and ports
Unboxing the DVR+ reveals a compact slab of dual-tuning goodness that measures approximately 10.5 inches (W) by 8 inches (D) by 0.5 inches (H). Audio/video connections on the rear of the unit include HDMI and an optical audio output. An Ethernet port provides a network connection, and dual USB ports are for connecting an optional wireless adapter and external storage. Channel Master offers the DVR+ with a remote control starting at $250, and a bundle package for $50 more adds a Wi-Fi adapter and 12 foot HDMI cable.
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
Setup
Setting up the DVR+ is simple: connect an antenna and HDMI cable, scan for available channels, and enjoy! Video output supports HD resolutions up to 1080p at 60Hz. The most affordable DVR+ packages lack internal storage, and Channel Master now offers a DVR+ with 1TB of built-in storage. When adding your own USB-connected drive, the DVR+ requires at least 80GB of storage space and the media is formatted prior to use.
Optimizing antenna placement with the DVR+ was a bit convoluted as the signal strength meter is buried in the setup menus, and it only displays info for the currently selected station – checking the signal strength of another station required completely exiting the setup menu, changing channels, and then making the trip back into the depths of the menu system.
Remote goodness
The DVR+ remote is a thin baton-style stick that can be programmed for basic TV operation. Enlarged navigation controls, including the channel guide button, were an appreciated touch. The remote's aspect ratio control button enabled quick scaling of squarish standard definition channels into a wide screen HD format. Dedicated 10 second skip forwards and backwards buttons are sure to please DVR enthusiasts. A recent firmware update improved menu navigation performance, and interactions with the remote proved consistent and quick.
Fee-free channel guide
Accurate and updated channel guide data is critical for any DVR experience, and the DVR+ includes fee-free channel guide information provided by Rovi. The grid-style layout of the DVR+'s channel guide was nicely detailed on a 1080p screen and included station names, channel numbers, and colorful station logos when available.
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Remember that when comparing competing OTA DVR products to be sure to always factor in the cost of channel guide information: often billed as a monthly fee or lump sum for updates over the life of the product.
Usage
Scheduling a recording was as simple as selecting a program in the channel guide and choosing a record-once or record-all option. I would have also preferred an option to record only new episodes of a particular program, and this is something that could be added in a future update. Conflicts related to needing a tuner when both were in use were addressed with easy to follow pop-up messages. One benefit of using an external hard drive with the DVR+ was that recorded programs could be accessed from my Windows PC with an ext2 file system driver making it easy to copy the transport stream files for backup or other use.
Update: Channel Master has announced an update for the DVR+ that will add a much requested Series Record (records only new episodes) that will be available November 2014.
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Apps
When I previewed the DVR+ at CES, Channel Master promoted the unit's ability to run popular streaming apps. Vudu and Pandora are the only two apps currently available on the DVR+, and these apps are accessed as channels in the guide instead of a dedicated app menu. If comprehensive app support is must for your home theater needs, an Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, or Roku 3 will better provide that functionality.
Update: Channel Master announced the addition of YouTube streaming to the DVR+ with an update due November 2014.
Bottom line
The DVR+ from Channel Master will please anyone looking for a hassle-free, subscription-free, dual-tuner DVR for managing and enjoying over-the-air television programming. Channel Master has a track record of being proactive in dealing with the minor issues DVR+ owners have encountered so far, and my own experience using it over the last few weeks is the best I've had with such a device. Compared to building and managing a PC-based OTA DVR, the Channel Master DVR+ is a cost-effective and well-crafted alternative for cordcutters.
My Home Theater PC v2.0
Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 3:39PM Updated July 3rd, 2015
It's been about three years since I replaced a cable television DVR (digital video recorder) that I was renting with a custom-built PC (original article archive: part one and part two). It was the introduction of multi-tuner CableCARD host adapters that made it easy to turn a Windows PC into a powerful home theater centerpiece that convinced me to craft my own super-DVR. That initial build using the unlikely union of an Intel Atom processor and Nvidia ION graphics technology resulted in excellent energy efficiency and solid 1080p video playback, but the system's ability to smoothly multitask was constantly challenged.
For version 2.0 of my home theater PC (HTPC), I vowed to maintain excellent energy efficiency while significantly improving its performance.
Parts list
The complete parts list for my current HTPC build:
Case: Thermaltake Luxa2 LM100 Mini - discontinued but some refurbished units remain
CPU: Intel Core i3-2100T - an i3 is plenty powerful for HTPC duties
Mobo: Intel DH67CF Mini-ITX - this mobo had consumer IR built-in
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB)
Storage: SSD (boot) + HDD (DVR)
ODD: Slim BD/DVD/CD
Bluetooth Adaper
I've come to appreciate the design of the Thermaltake Luxa2 LM100 Mini case - it's brushed aluminum exterior ages gracefully, masks fingerprints and dust, and provides a perfect home for a Mini-ITX mobo and related components. With the LM100 now discontinued, I'm on the hunt for a successor.
With two years of near-continuous operation to its credit, HTPC v2.0's performance gains over its predecessor are a credit to its Intel Core i3 2100T (Sandy Bridge w/35W Max TDP) processor and solid state drive (SSD) - SSDs make any computer feel twice as fast!
Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear
Cooling upgrade
A hot-running tuner card prompted a case cooling upgrade: additional (2) 50x50mm fans to fill the remaining exhaust ports at the rear of the chassis (also preventing backflow). The Thermaltake LM100's air inlets are located on the bottom of the case in the motherboard mount area, and the new fan setup reduced the tuner's operating temperatures from 65-70C to a far cooler 40-45C without an obvious increase in fan noise.
Hardware and software
My tuner hardware includes the following:
Ceton InfiniTV 6 PCIe - 6-tuner CableCARD host adapter
SiliconDust HDHomeRun EXTEND - 2-tuner over-the-air (OTA)
SiliconDust HDHomeRun PRIME - 3-tuner CableCARD host adapter
All of this hardware needs good software to make it work:
Windows 7 64-bit - Windows 8 with the Media Center Pack option works too
My Movies - how I manage my movie collection
ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater - No longer updated (see note below)
Ceton Companion - my favorite smartphone remote control app
SoundGraph iMON Manager - VFD and IR remote signal management
SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive - a great virtual drive program
Note: ArcSoft has abandoned TotalMedia Theater leaving CyberLink PowerDVD Pro, Ultra, and Live as the remaining recommended options for PC Blu-ray disc playback.
Add to this several terabytes of network attached storage (NAS) for my music, photos, and movies and I'm one happy (couch) camper.
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Control
Control-wise, I'm using the aforementioned Ceton Companion application as well as a Logitech Harmony 650 universal remote control. The Bluetooth adapter also allows me to easily connect a wireless keyboard when the need arises. Also, I've recently added the Logitech Harmony Smart Keyboard that provides Bluetooth and RF control options as well as an updated smartphone control app - it's proven to be a terrific HTPC control option.
Costs and options
The cost of this system at the time including software easily exceeded $1000 - not a trivial expense even if amortized over several years of use. For HTPC v3.0 (hint, hint), I'd consider reducing costs by eliminating the slim optical drive altogether as I find I seldom (never) use it. Use of NAS storage for TV recordings could eliminate an extra HDD from the system further reducing costs and space requirements. At that point, I'd consider an optimized micro-PC like the new Intel Next Unit of Computing (NUC) as it features similar computing power as my current HTPC in a package that is but a fraction of its size.
For more information about my HTPC setup, please read this follow up article exploring a brief experiment with Windows 8.
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Cord Cutting, DVR, HTPC, How To My HTPC: Win7>Win8 - UPDATED
Friday, November 2, 2012 at 3:49PM Updated October 7, 2014 to note that Windows 8 support has improved
Today, I made the decision to transition my home theater PC (HTPC) back to Windows 7. Microsoft's new operating system has been terrific in terms of stability and ease of use, but a few nagging issues prevented me from using my HTPC the way I could under Windows 7.
For the curious, here was the final straw...
I'm going going back back to Windows 7...That lovely message appeared after adding the SiliconDust HDHomeRun PRIME CableCARD tuner to my setup...inducing a mix of fast-fading rage with some sadface. By the way, I absolutely love how there is just one file on the SlilconDust software page that installs and updates the entire lineup of HDHomeRun tuners! Seriously, it's a bit of programming magic that I've come to appreciate!
Note: Ceton has since added Windows 8 support for most of its InfiniTV CableCARD tuner products.
See Robert's Favorite Home Theater Gear!
ISO issues
One other major issue that I've had with Windows 8 since the beginning of testing is that the OS crashes/reboots whenever a large ISO file is mounted to a virtual drive. My ISOs are stored on a local NAS, and I've experienced this issue using virtual drive programs such as SlySoft's (otherwise) excellent Virtual CloneDrive program.
I could forsake the luxury of a 9-tuner HTPC (7 CableCARD + 2 OTA) and make the sacrifice to the Win8 gods. Sigh. Never. I'd rather have my lossless video library (powered by MyMovies) working properly and the choice of having a bajillion CableCARD tuners all recording at the same time - if my HTPC's Core i3 can handle it! Oh for the love of Mini-ITX and ultra low-power CPUs!
The SliconDust HDHomeRun tuners were ready to go from day one with official Windows 8 support, and I'm still waiting for a similar update from the good folks at Ceton.
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Update - November 3, 2012: The ISO-crashing issues that I experienced appear to be related to Virtual CloneDrive and not Windows 8's integrated image file support. I tested the playback of several successfully mounted Blu-ray movie image files and ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater v5.3.1.172 gave me this error each time:
Playback of the main .m2ts file from the mounted images using TotalMedia Theater or VLC worked, and playback of mounted DVD image files in TotalMedia Theater functioned just as if a physical disc were present. The version of TotalMedia Theater that I'm running in Windows 8 is newer than the version I ran with my Windows 7 setup. I was planning on rebuilding my HTPC from a clean Windows 7 install, and I'l be checking ISO file playback first thing upon reinstall.
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Update - October 7, 2014: The now abandoned ArcSoft TotalMedia Theater (and likely all remaining consumer Blu-ray player software) added Cinavia anti-piracy technology to all versions after v5.3.1.146. ISO files created from Cinavia-enabled discs will eventually cease playback and display a related message. Software such as SlySoft's AnyDVD HD and DVD-Ranger's CinEX HD utility offer a work-around for dealing with Cinavia-enabled content. Also, SlySoft has since updated its excellent Virtual CloneDrive (virtual optical drive) program to improve compatibility with Window 8.
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I remain convinced that that Microsoft's latest OS offers an efficient, well-implemented, customizable, Windows environment infused with touch interaction. I'm also finding few limitations for the OS in more traditional computing environments - my workstation and notebook PC configurations could easily be mistaken for Windows 7-based systems at first glance.
Thankfully, installing Window 7 or Windows 8 via USB flash drive to a SSD boot drive takes only minutes...please stay tuned.
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Cord Cutting, DVR, HTPC, How To 
