i got a motorola dch6416 at garage sale, now how do i get it to work for me?

B

BrettO

New member
too bad you don't have the M card because due to the proprietary disc file structure on these (read all) PVR cable boxes there is no way to get at the data and pull movies off, or record new ones without the 'removable firmware' or if you prefer 'removable bios' that is on the M-card. I have an Aspen unit and when I tried to look at what is recorded on the external hard drive - well, it just looks like random data, not organized even along the lines of a Sony DVD -VR that is unfinalized (there is some hint of recoverable data there).
Any M-card ought to do - the cable provider doesn't have to have the account active, so you wouldn't be getting TV channels for free - but the box should work as a simple recorder for the existing channels that come through - as in analog channels should work, digital (which would have to be activated by the cable service provider), would not.
At least the thing probably has a 80 or 160 Gb drive in it - likely SATA - so it's not a dead loss - that drive is a usable part. Sorry I couldn't give you an easy way to get the unit up and running...
I had good luck with a DVD recorder from a local clearance outlet - cost $70 for a reconditioned Magnavox that can do DVD -R discs, it works OK . The new one I have is a Sony GX350 - ($200) which can use +R as well as -R, and DL discs and I recommend this as a reliable unit that offers great functionality and value for dollar.
 
i connected to my tv and i can get cable channels, but that is about it. i really just want to use it like you would a vcr. it would be nice to be able to set up a recording that would happen every day or every week at the same time but even if i had to set every recording manually it would be ok. but not only can i not figure out how to record anything, i can't even figure out how to set the clock on this thing! i know the manual says never remove the M-card but of course i don't have one. is this thing unusable unless i pay cable company a monthly fee just for it, cause that is what i want to avoid.
actually i just looked at where M-card goes and there was one in there. not sure where that leaves me though.
 
too bad you don't have the M card because due to the proprietary disc file structure on these (read all) PVR cable boxes there is no way to get at the data and pull movies off, or record new ones without the 'removable firmware' or if you prefer 'removable bios' that is on the M-card. I have an Aspen unit and when I tried to look at what is recorded on the external hard drive - well, it just looks like random data, not organized even along the lines of a Sony DVD -VR that is unfinalized (there is some hint of recoverable data there).
Any M-card ought to do - the cable provider doesn't have to have the account active, so you wouldn't be getting TV channels for free - but the box should work as a simple recorder for the existing channels that come through - as in analog channels should work, digital (which would have to be activated by the cable service provider), would not.
At least the thing probably has a 80 or 160 Gb drive in it - likely SATA - so it's not a dead loss - that drive is a usable part. Sorry I couldn't give you an easy way to get the unit up and running...
I had good luck with a DVD recorder from a local clearance outlet - cost $70 for a reconditioned Magnavox that can do DVD -R discs, it works OK . The new one I have is a Sony GX350 - ($200) which can use +R as well as -R, and DL discs and I recommend this as a reliable unit that offers great functionality and value for dollar.
 
too bad you don't have the M card because due to the proprietary disc file structure on these (read all) PVR cable boxes there is no way to get at the data and pull movies off, or record new ones without the 'removable firmware' or if you prefer 'removable bios' that is on the M-card. I have an Aspen unit and when I tried to look at what is recorded on the external hard drive - well, it just looks like random data, not organized even along the lines of a Sony DVD -VR that is unfinalized (there is some hint of recoverable data there).
Any M-card ought to do - the cable provider doesn't have to have the account active, so you wouldn't be getting TV channels for free - but the box should work as a simple recorder for the existing channels that come through - as in analog channels should work, digital (which would have to be activated by the cable service provider), would not.
At least the thing probably has a 80 or 160 Gb drive in it - likely SATA - so it's not a dead loss - that drive is a usable part. Sorry I couldn't give you an easy way to get the unit up and running...
I had good luck with a DVD recorder from a local clearance outlet - cost $70 for a reconditioned Magnavox that can do DVD -R discs, it works OK . The new one I have is a Sony GX350 - ($200) which can use +R as well as -R, and DL discs and I recommend this as a reliable unit that offers great functionality and value for dollar.
 
too bad you don't have the M card because due to the proprietary disc file structure on these (read all) PVR cable boxes there is no way to get at the data and pull movies off, or record new ones without the 'removable firmware' or if you prefer 'removable bios' that is on the M-card. I have an Aspen unit and when I tried to look at what is recorded on the external hard drive - well, it just looks like random data, not organized even along the lines of a Sony DVD -VR that is unfinalized (there is some hint of recoverable data there).
Any M-card ought to do - the cable provider doesn't have to have the account active, so you wouldn't be getting TV channels for free - but the box should work as a simple recorder for the existing channels that come through - as in analog channels should work, digital (which would have to be activated by the cable service provider), would not.
At least the thing probably has a 80 or 160 Gb drive in it - likely SATA - so it's not a dead loss - that drive is a usable part. Sorry I couldn't give you an easy way to get the unit up and running...
I had good luck with a DVD recorder from a local clearance outlet - cost $70 for a reconditioned Magnavox that can do DVD -R discs, it works OK . The new one I have is a Sony GX350 - ($200) which can use +R as well as -R, and DL discs and I recommend this as a reliable unit that offers great functionality and value for dollar.
 
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