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Set-tops FAQ’s


  1. Why is the set-top making noise even when it’s turned off?
      2. Like some other appliance in the home, the set-top needs to remain on at all times to connect with the cable plant headend for continued exchange and refresh of data. The DVR set-tops have an internal hard drive and fan which remains on at all times. You will experience a slight humming noise during operation. There is no reason for concern.

  2. Why is my Motorola receiver making a humming noise?
      3. The Motorola receiver includes an integrated hard drive and a fan for cooling. During normal operation, the Motorola receiver emits a low humming noise, similar to a personal computer. The noise varies in volume occasionally when the speed of the internal fan adjusts to changes in the temperature around the Motorola receiver. Please note the hard drive will stay on even when the Motorola receiver is turned off.

  3. Why does the set-top box appear to be warm?
      4. The set-top is an electronic device that gives off a nominal amount of heat. It is fully compliant with UL recommended heat emission standards. In order to ensure reliable and safe operation, we recommend that the unit be positioned to allow air flow around the unit for proper cooling. Please follow guidelines for ventilation in the front section of the User Guide.


      4.0 The User Settings menu options are:

      Setting
      Description
      TV Type Allows you to specify the style of television connected to the Motorola receiver. Options include 16:9, 4:3 LETTERBOX, and 4:3 PAN SCAN. By default, the 16:9 option is selected. The options are used as follows:

      • 16:9 designates that a widescreen television is connected to the DCH receiver.
      • 4:3 LETTERBOX designates that a standard screen television is connected to the Motorola receiver and that widescreen programs should be scaled to fit the screen with black bars above and below the picture.
      • 4:3 PAN SCAN designates that a standard screen television is connected to the Motorola receiver and that widescreen programs should be cropped so that the picture fills the entire screen.
      HDMI/YPbPr Output Allows you to specify the video output format of the Motorola receiver for all content (when the 4:3 override setting is Off) or for all 480p, 720p, and 1080i content (when the 4:3 override is used). Options include 1080i, 720p, 480p, and 480i. By default, the 1080i option is selected. The options are used as follows:

      • 1080i — The Motorola receiver will present programs in the High-Definition 1080i format (1920 x 1080 pixels).
      • 720p — The Motorola receiver will present programs in the High-Definition 720p format (1280 x 720 pixels).
      • 480p — The Motorola receiver will present programs in the Enhanced-Definition 480p format (720 x 480 pixels).
      • 480i — The Motorola receiver will present programs in the Standard-Definition 480i format (720 x 480 pixels).


      Some televisions may only support certain video formats. Please consult your television’s user manual for more information on format compatibility.

      The Motorola receiver can detect when the HDMI connection is in use. If you are not using the HDMI connection on the DCH receiver, the HDMI/YPbPr Output setting will display as YPbPr Output in the User Settings Menu.
      4:3 Override The 4:3 Override setting allows you to specify the video output format of the DCH receiver when it is tuned to a standard-definition program or playing back a standarddefinition program from the DVR. Options include 480i, 480p, Stretch, and Off. By default, the 480i option is selected. The options are used as follows:

      • 480i — The Motorola receiver will present standard-definition programs in the Standard-Definition 480i format (720 x 480 pixels).
      • 480p — The Motorola receiver will present standard-definition programs in the Enhanced-Definition 480p format (720 x 480 pixels).
      • Stretch — The Motorola receiver will automatically stretch all standard-definition programs to a widescreen aspect ratio and present the video in the format designated by the HDMI/YPbPr Output setting. Note that the Stretch option is only available when the TV Type setting is 16:9.
      • Off — The Motorola receiver will create a widescreen version of a standard-definition program by adding black bars to the left and the right of the picture and present the video in the format designated by the HDMI/YPbPr Output setting.


      Some televisions may only support certain video formats. Please consult your television’s user manual for more information on format compatibility.

      If the HDMI/YPbPr Output setting is 480i, the 4:3 Override feature is disabled and is no longer selectable in the menu. The 4:3 Override feature is available when the HDMI/YPbPr Output setting is 1080i, 720p, or 480p.
      Closed Caption Turns closed captions off or on. The front panel display indicates the status of the closed captions. Defaults to DISABLED. Options are ENABLED or DISABLED.
      Service Selection Sets the service used for closed captions:

      • Analog: CC1, CC2, CC3, CC4, T1, T2, T3, or T4. The default is CC1.
      • Digital: PRIMARY LANGUAGE, SECONDARY LANGUAGE, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The default is PRIMARY LANGUAGE.
      Font Size Sets the font size for closed captions. Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO, STANDARD, LARGE, or SMALL.
      Font Style Sets the font style for closed captions. Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO, MONO SERIF, PROPORTION SERIF, MONO NO SERIF, PROPORTION NO SERIF, CASUAL, CURSIVE, or SMALL.
      Font Color Sets the font color. Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO, WHITE, BLACK, RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, MAGENTA, or CYAN.
      Font Opacity Sets the opacity. Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO, TRANSPARENT, TRANSLUCENT, SOLID, or FLASHING.
      Font Edge Type Sets the edge appearance — AUTO, NONE, RAISED, DEPRESSED, UNIFORM, LEFT SHADOWED, or RIGHT SHADOWED. The default is AUTO.
      Font Edge Color Sets the edge color — AUTO, WHITE, BLACK, RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, MAGENTA, or CYAN. The default is AUTO.
      Background Color Sets the background color for closed captions. Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO, WHITE, BLACK, RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW, MAGENTA, or CYAN.
      Background Opacity Sets the background opacity for closed captions. Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO, TRANSPARENT, TRANSLUCENT, SOLID, or FLASHING.
      Settings Sets the default settings for closed captions (AUTO) or the settings you have configured (USER). Defaults to AUTO. Options are AUTO or USER.
      Restore All Defaults To reset all User Settings to their defaults, select this option and press the key.


  4. How do I turn my Motorola receiver On and Off?
      5. Press POWER on the front panel or remote control to turn the cable box on or off. When using the remote control, be sure it is in cable mode by pressing CABLE before pressing POWER.

  5. What do I do if my Motorola receiver does not power on?
      6. The Motorola receiver may have received a software update and may not power on while the new software is being installed. Try again in a few minutes.

      Verify that the AC power cord is connected to the Motorola receiver and an AC outlet. Unplug the Motorola receiver from the AC outlet, plug it back in, and then press the POWER button.

      If the Motorola receiver is connected to a switched outlet on another unit, verify that that unit is powered on. Unplug the power cord from the Motorola receiver 's AC outlet, plug it back it in, and then press the POWER button.

      Press the POWER button on the Motorola receiver front panel instead of the remote control. The batteries in the remote control may be depleted.

  6. Why are there black bars above and below the picture using my Motorola receiver?
      7. All 4:3 HDTVs display HD programs in letterbox format (black bars above and below the picture) because of the shape of the display screen.

      Turn on the 4:3 OVERRIDE feature in the User Settings menu. This enables most standard screen TVs to display a full screen picture when the Motorola receiver is tuned to a 4:3 program.

      Set the TV TYPE to 4:3 Pan-Scan. This enables the Motorola receiver to remove the black bars above and below the picture when possible.

      Some SD programs are broadcast in the letterbox format with black bars above and below the picture. Some wide screens TVs offer a zoom feature that may be able to remove the black bars (see your TV manual for information about zooming 4:3 video).

  7. Why are there black bars on all four sides of the picture using my Motorola receiver?
      8. This may occur on a 4:3 TV if the 4:3 OVERRIDE setting is OFF. To set 4:3 SD programming to fill the screen, depending on the capabilities of the TV, set 4:3 OVERRIDE to 480i or 480p.

      This may occur on a 16:9 TV if the active video for an SD broadcast is in letterbox format. To confirm, wait for a commercial or look for a graphic, such as a network logo. If the commercial fills the screen from top to bottom, or the graphic appears below the active video, the program is being letterboxed by the broadcaster. You can minimize this by activating the zoom feature on the TV.

      A broadcaster may include black bars on either side of a wide screen broadcast. This is called a "hybrid" aspect ratio and results in a black border surrounding the video on a 4:3 TV. Because this is part of the broadcast, the Motorola receiver cannot correct the video. You may be able to minimize the border using the zoom feature on the TV.

  8. Why won’t my Motorola receiver Remote Control work?
      9. Verify that the remote control is in "Cable" or "STB" mode.

      Verify that there are no obstructions between the remote control and the Motorola receiver. Aim the remote control directly at the Motorola receiver front panel, not the TV or VCR.

      The angle between the remote control and the Motorola receiver may be too large. Stand in front of the Motorola receiver and not too far to either side.

      Press and release operation keys one at a time, firmly and deliberately.

      Try changing channels using the buttons on the Motorola receiver front panel.

      Check the batteries in the remote control. Install new batteries if needed.

  9. How do I adjust the volume on my Motorola receiver?
      10. Press VOLUME + or - on the remote control to adjust the volume. When you adjust the volume, the volume scale is displayed on the screen. Press MUTE on the remote control to turn the sound off and on again.

      Press VOLUME + or - on the remote control to adjust the volume. When you adjust the volume, the volume scale is displayed on the screen. Press MUTE on the remote control to turn the sound off and on again.

  10. Why is there no audio when viewing channels with my Motorola receiver?
      11. Verify that the MUTE button on the Motorola receiver or the remote control has not been pressed. Press MUTE on the remote control to restore sound.

      If the Motorola receiver audio output is connected to the TV, verify that the MUTE button on the TV has not been pressed.

      If the Motorola receiver audio output is connected to a home theater receiver, verify that the receiver is set to the appropriate input source and the mute button on the receiver has not been pressed.

      Verify that you have the correct cables for the audio ports.

      Verify that the audio cables are firmly connected between the Motorola receiver and the audio playback device (TV, receiver, DVD player, etc.).

  11. What do I do if there is no video on my TV screen when it is hooked up to my Motorola receiver?
      12. Verify that the TV is powered on and set to the appropriate input source for the Motorola receiver.

      Verify that the Motorola receiver is powered on and tuned to an authorized cable channel.

      Verify that all video cables between the Motorola receiver and the TV are firmly connected.

      Verify that the coaxial cable feed is firmly connected to the Motorola receiver and the wall jack.

      The Motorola receiver DVI/HDMI output may not yet be enabled. Use the component video (YPbPr) output instead.

      If the Motorola receiver video output is connected to a home theater unit, verify that the home theater unit is powered on and set to the appropriate input source.

      If the Motorola receiver video output is connected to a TV through a DVI connection, power off the TV and then power off the Motorola receiver. Wait one second and then power on the devices.

      Not all HDTVs can display every output format (1080i, 720p, 480p, or 480i) available on the Motorola receiver. To select a different format: 1 Ensure that your Motorola receiver is plugged into a power outlet and is turned off.

      2 Press the MENU key on the front panel. Your settings are displayed on the Motorola receiver front panel display.

      3 Press the and keys to display the DVI/YPbPr OUTPUT setting.

      4 Press the key to cycle through the available output formats until a picture displays on the TV.

  12. How do I connect my Motorola receiver to a HDTV?

      13. Video:
      1 Connect an RF coaxial cable to the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN connector on the Motorola receiver.
      2 Connect the component video cables to the Y, Pb, and Pr connectors on your HDTV and Motorola receiver.

      Or

      Connect a HDMI cable to the HDMI OUT connector on the Motorola receiver and the HDMI-HDTV connector on your TV.

      These connections support only the high-definition video connection between the Motorola receiver and the HDTV.

      Audio:
      Connect the stereo audio cable to the AUDIO R and L connectors on the DCT* and the AUDIO LEFT and AUDIO RIGHT connectors on the HDTV.

      If your equipment supports it:
      The optical (OPTICAL SPDIF) or coaxial digital (SPDIF) audio outputs may be used in place of the stereo audio outputs (AUDIO R and L). In most cases these outputs offer a higher level of audio quality, including support for 5.1 Surround Sound.

  13. How do I connect my Motorola receiver to an A/V Receiver, TV, and VCR?
      14. 1 Connect an RF coaxial cable to the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN connector on the Motorola receiver.
      2 Connect a stereo audio cable to the AUDIO OUT R and L connectors on the Motorola receiver and the INPUT R and L connectors on the A/V receiver.
      3 Connect a video cable to the VIDEO OUT connector on the Motorola receiver and the CABLE/TV VIDEO connector on the A/V receiver.
      4 Connect a stereo audio cable to the VCR AUDIO OUT R and L connectors on the A/V receiver and the INPUT AUDIO R and L connectors on the stereo VCR.
      5 Connect a stereo audio cable to the OUTPUT AUDIO OUT R and L connectors on the stereo VCR and the VCR AUDIO IN R and L connectors on the A/V receiver.
      6 Connect a video cable to the INPUT VIDEO connector on the stereo VCR and the VIDEO VCR OUT connector on the A/V receiver.
      7 Connect a video cable to the OUTPUT VIDEO connector on the stereo VCR and the VIDEO VCR IN connector on the A/V receiver.
      8 Connect a video cable to the INPUT VIDEO connector on the stereo TV and the TV/MONITOR OUTPUT video connector on the A/V receiver.

      If your equipment supports it, the optical (OPTICAL SPDIF) or coaxial (SPDIF) audio outputs may be used in place of the stereo audio outputs (AUDIO R and L). In most cases these outputs offer a higher level of audio quality, including support for 5.1 surround sound.

      If your equipment supports it, S-video connections may be used in place of the standard RCA video connections. In most cases, S-video offers a higher level of standard definition video quality than RCA video.

      The optional connections marked with an * allow you to use the Motorola receiver and TV without powering-on the VCR and A/V Receiver: Connect an RF coaxial cable to the TO TV/VCR connector on the Motorola receiver and the CABLE/ANTENNA IN connector on the stereo VCR. Connect an RF coaxial cable to the TO TV connector on the stereo VCR and the CABLE/ANTENNA IN connector on the stereo TV.

      *The video connection method does not support high definition video.


  14. How do I connect audio on my Motorola receiver to and A/V Receiver?
      15. There are three options available for audio connections to your A/V receiver:
      Optical (OPTICAL SPDIF)
      Coaxial (SPDIF)
      Stereo audio (AUDIO R and L)

      If your equipment supports it, the optical (OPTICAL SPDIF) or coaxial (SPDIF) audio outputs may be used in place of the stereo audio outputs (AUDIO R and L). In most cases these outputs offer a higher level of audio quality, including support for 5.1 surround sound.
      Optical SPDIF: Connect the optical SPDIF cable to the OPTICAL SPDIF connector on the Motorola receiver and the OPTICAL connector on the A/V receiver.
      SPDIF: Connect the digital audio cable to the SPDIF connector on the Motorola receiver and the DIGITAL INPUT COAX connector on the A/V receiver.
      Stereo audio: Connect the stereo audio cable to the AUDIO R and L connectors on the Motorola receiver and the AUDIO LEFT and AUDIO RIGHT connectors on the A/V receiver.

  15. How do I connect my Motorola receiver to a Stereo TV, VCR, and DVD?
      16. This cable configuration may be used for a mono or stereo VCR, because the VCR audio and video jacks are not used.

      If your TV supports multiple sets of video and audio inputs (such as VID1, VID2, etc.), see the diagram Connecting a Stereo TV and Stereo VCR to connect your Motorola receiver, VCR and TV. When you have completed those connections, refer to the diagram illustrated here to connect your DVD to your TV.

      1 Connect an RF coaxial cable to the cable wall outlet and the CABLE IN connector on the Motorola receiver.
      2 Connect an RF coaxial cable to the TO TV/VCR connector on the Motorola receiver and the CABLE/ANTENNA IN connector on the VCR.
      3 Connect an RF coaxial cable to the TO TV connector on the VCR and the CABLE/ANTENNA IN connector on the stereo TV.
      4 Connect a stereo audio cable to the INPUT AUDIO LEFT and RIGHT connectors on the stereo TV and the AUDIO OUT ANALOG R and L connectors on the DVD.
      5 Connect a video cable to the INPUT VIDEO connector on the stereo TV and the VIDEO OUT VIDEO connector on the DVD.
      Or
      Connect an S-video cable to the INPUT S-VIDEO connector on the stereo TV and the VIDEO OUT S-VIDEO connector on the DVD.

      The video connection method illustrated here does not support high definition video.


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