OT: Anyone know about digital cable boxes?

[aircooled]

I posted this in off topic originally with no response. Since it is hardware (just not computer hardware), I'll post it here too....


I just got digital cable, and when the installer was here he hit some code to get into a diagnotic screen that showed the signal strength and stuff.

The cable box is a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2100.

Anyone know the code to enter this screen???

Any forums around about digital cable??

 

[Erasmus-X]

I use that same converter box my digital cable service. I would assume that the code for the diagnostic screen would vary by cable provider though.

Try asking your question at the Home Theater Forum. A lot of its regulars are very knowledgeable on these types of subjects.

 

[Sukhoi]

Hmm. I have an Explorer 3100 and I don't know of anywhere to enter a code. Where did he enter it from?

 

[aircooled]

Thanks for the link Erasmus-X

Sukhoi, He punched it into the remote. It was showing my signal strength in real time and sevral other things.

 

[Raincity]

I have the Scientific Atlanta Explorer 2000, To access that menue screen you need to press the middle button with a cirrcle on it in between the channels and volume and the button at the left with this symbol on it ^ at the same time and wait 3 to 5 seconds.

Rain

 

[aircooled]

My remote is the Checkmate III, and I don't see those buttons on this remote control. Sounds like the right direction though.

 

[Raincity]

Sorry for the confusion im talking about the buttons on the front of the digital box. I have also seen the cable guys access this menue from the remote but I dont know how they did it. Anyways the menue will show your dig box ip addresse along with alot off stuff I have no idea whats its about.

Rain

 

[Sukhoi]

Hmm, on the box I tried holding down the middle button and the volume button (volume down) to the right of it, and the little message LED started blinking. :Q Luckily it stoppped once I hit the middle button again.

What's that middle button for anyway?

Ok, that message LED starts blinking when I hold the middle button and either the channel up, channel down, or volume up buttons. Volume down doesn't do anything.

I want my diagnostics screen!

 

[Raincity]

Ok I will be more descriptive. I was alittle hammered from the Becks when posting yesterday. On your digital box if its the same as mine you have two channel buttons that go up and down and two volume buttons that go left and right. all four buttons have arrows on them. In the middle of these four buttons there is a button with a circle marking on it and to the left of the four buttons there is a button all alone with this ^ symbol on it as two of them connected together " sorry there is no way to reproduce this symbol on a keyboard" Look to the left and you will see it all alone. Just hold them two buttons for 5 seconds and you will se the diag screen appear, Use the volume and channel buttons to select from the different diag screens and options selections.

Rain

 

[Sukhoi]

Dang, on the Explorer 3100 there is no button to the left of the circle set. I'll try holding the middle button and some of the bottons to the right of it.

Edit: It seems that even holding the middle button alone will cause that message LED to turn on. This also happens when holding the middle button and most other buttons. But when holding the middle button and two or three of the other buttons, the message LED doesn't start flashing. Could this mean something?

Does anyone know what the message LED means anyway?

 

[aircooled]

My 2100 dosent have any buttons to the left that you describe, but I did manage to do a hard reset of my box by hitting one of the buttons with the power button (it went through the initial screens as if I had unplugged it).

Also, What can be done with the USB jack and card card in the front of these boxes??

 

[Sukhoi]

I've been wondering about the USB port and PCMCIA slot too. I really have no idea. You could try plugging a USB NIC in and seeing if you get any kind of connection. I think the PCMCIA slot is too skinny for a PCMCIA NIC, but I'm not sure.

 

[Raincity]

The PCMCIA slot does take a nic. I was having alot of trouble with my digital box picture freezing up and my cable modem would not stay aquired to the network even when the levels where in spec. The HDTV tech connected a laptop to the digital box via the PCMCIA slot and left it in my home for three weeks to collect data to help trouble shoot the issue the users where having on this node.

Rain

 

[Sukhoi]

Hmm. How thick is your PCMCIA slot? Mine is really thin...credit card sized. I didn't know PCMCIA NICs were that skinny. Though I also have never seen a PCMCIA NIC so I really have no basis for my question.