HDTV Forum

Time Warner has recently provided me with a Scientific Atlanta 3250 HD cable box with operational IEEE connectivity. I have successfully been able to record HD cable programs on my Mits HD VCR via IEEE but I can not get a JVC HM-DH3000U vcr to work. The JVC unit is linked to a different SA3250HD box and HDTV.

On the JVC unit, I get text messages saying the material is "copy restricted program output 480i video". (The picture flashes on and off every few seconds.) This is not true, since I am recording all Time Warner HD channels on the Mits HD VCR.

At times the message switches to " too many i-link devices". This can not be true, since I have only one IEEE wire connecting the cable box and the vcr.

This message can not be removed without re-booting the VCR. By re-booting, I mean disconnecting the IEEE wire, disconnecting the vcr power plug from the wall, waiting a few seconds, reconecting the power plug back into the wall, and reconnecting the IEEE wire. At this point I am back to the text message " copy restricted program output 480i video".

Has anyone experienced and solved this problem? I am having trouble getting JVC tech support to return my phone calls. I am getting close to throwing the JVC unit in the wastebasket and buying a second Mits HD vcr.
The only value in the JVC unit was the ability to playback DTheater copy protected movies but who needs that when you can now record HD movies off of cable TV.

I gave up trying to get the JVC 30000 HD VCR working with my Time Warner SA3250HD cable box. A local store is selling Mits HD 2000U VCR for $298 this weekend with no sales tax. I bought a unit and it works perfectly connected to the SA3250 box and Sony HDTV via IEEE. I could not get JVC to return my phone calls and I never got a call back from Time Warner about upgrading the software in their SA3250 to make the JVC work. I'm glad this misadventure is over!

JVC HD 30000 VCR
My JVC HD 30000 VCR is finally working. Critical to it working is PASSPORT 3.2 build 023 firmware being in the SA 3250 HD cable box. ( A previous posting by a Time Warner San Diego subscriber in the AVS forum stated this requirement. I asked Time Warner Orange County, CA to upgrade my firmware from 'build 021" to "build 023" and it worked.

Proper connections are also critical:

SA3250 HD box MUST be connected directly to the JVC 30000HD VCR via IEEE.

The JVC 30000 HD VCR MUST be connected to the HDTV via component video (red/blue/yellow connectors). (IF YOU CONNECT THE SA3250 HD CABLE BOX TO THE HDTV VIA IEEE, AND THE JVC HD VCR TO THE HDTV VIA IEEE....THE JVC HD VCR WILL NOT WORK!!!!)

I do NOT have the SA 3250 HD cable box connected to the HDTV via IEEE.
I DO have the SA 3250 HD cable box connected to the HDTV via component video (red/blue/yellow connectors).

IEEE image shows up on the HDTV input location for the component video signal.

ps. The HDTheater pre-recorded videos play-back also.


Mits HS-HD1000 and HS-HD2000 VCRs:

For completeness, Mits HD VCRs connect differently to HDTV sets.

Connect the SA3250 HD cable box to the HDTV via IEEE.
Connect the Mits HD VCR to the HDTV via IEEE.
The Mits HD VCR immediately recognizes the presence of the SA 3250 box, and is seen in the VCR display as a recording option by pressing the "IEEE" button on the Mits HD VCR remote control. (Other options are the normal Ch. 3, L1, L2, F1, F2 etc.)