“New” Spectrum DVRs

herbs

I find the new DVRs being installed by Spectrum to be less than as functional and user friendly as the “legacy” DVRs. I would go back to legacy without question. The DVR shuts off after a few hours and I do not want that but there is no way to disable that. The menus that used to be so useful and quick are now cumbersome and take way too much time to find something or to change some settings. What happened to the “Movie” search and “Sports” search, etc., that showed everything currently playing in those categories? If I have a series of a show recorded and finish one episode, I do not get an option to delete and leave, but I can delete and watch next making me have to then wait for it to start, exit and save recording. WTH? So many useful and easy things in the legacy DVRs are apparently gone forever as we continue to pay higher prices for less desirable service without any input or consent.

Satch

Hello @herbs

Here's how to disable power shut down on a Xumo box:

To disable the auto-shutoff or energy-saving on your Spectrum Xumo Stream Box, navigate to Settings > System Management > Power Preferences and disable "Auto Standby" or "Auto Power Down". Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• Access Settings:
  • Press the "Menu" button on your Spectrum remote. 
  • Navigate to "Settings". 
  • Select "System Management". 
  • Go to "Power Preferences". 
• Disable Auto Standby/Power Down:
  • Find the "Auto Standby" or "Auto Power Down" option. 
  • Set it to "Off" or disable the feature. 

Was this a new install or a box swap? You can go back to a traditional DVR, just go back to a Spectrum store and say you are having non-stop issues with the XUMO box and you want a traditional DVR back.

That should be fine. If for some reason they won't do that, call customer care and mention the problems you are having with the Xumo box and that you want a service call and a standard DVR back.

The tech will come out, and check for any issues and give you a standard DVR.

Satch

Kelly_M

Hello @herbs and Welcome to the community forums!

We understand that sometimes changes aren't always something people are ok with, but hopefully we can help ease some things!
When you refer to the box turning off, perhaps are you referring to the power saver option? That's a setting if so within the box that you should be able to turn off!

As for the delete and next episode option, we will forward the feedback in regards to it!

herbs

Yes and thanks for the instructions on disabling that and the possibility of going back to the legacy boxes. I might do that. I do have a legacy though that seems to have determined its favorite channel and without instruction after a few hours changes to that channel. I do not know why that happens. Do the Uxmo boxes have a bigger recording capability or multi recording capability than the legacy boxes? Just wondering what benefits theee are to the newer boxes, not being a fan of streaming formats.

Satch

Good Evening Herbs,

There are pros and cons to streaming boxes, but this is the new route in technology that all the TV vendors are gradually moving to as they rely more and more on Internet and streaming technology. The XUMO moves the customer from a cable TV box experience to a streaming box experience. There is a learning cure with the guide and remote being different. Let me provide some pros and cons of XUMO boxes.

Pros:

1.) TV services stay exactly the same.

2.) The old cable box channels and streaming apps are all in one place.

3.) Shows are stored online in the cloud with two DVR options from Spectrum:

A.) Cloud DVR- Store 50 shows for 90 days.

B.) Cloud DVR Plus- Store 100 shows for a year. (Best value)

4.) Because shows are stored in the cloud, you don't lose them if you have to trade in your XUMO Streaming box.

5.) The cost is cheaper than a traditional box or DVR.

Cons:

1.) The Guide interface and buttons are very very different, and some say too basic compared to the box concerning guide data descriptions.

2.) The new system takes more steps to do tasks that on a standard DVR box you could do with shorter steps.

3.) Old School cable TV people and elderly people have reported frustrations in using the XUMO box concerning usage and navigation.

4. Standard) DVR's in general can be more reliable that streaming boxes/cloud DVR's because they are hardware-based. Streaming boxes depend solely on the quality of your signals and Internet WIFI.

5.) No previous channel recall button on Xumo remotes.

6.) Subscribers who subscribe to Spectrum Voice (Landline Phone) will lose the Caller ID on TV prompt on a XUMO box.

Satch

herbs

In this thread is a list of steps to disable power shut don by going to settings and system management. System management does not exist as an option under settings on my DVR and there is really not a close second option.

After all the exchanges of the legacy boxes to streaming boxes, almost every time we ty to watch anything on demand, the product is so pixelated that we cannot watch it: I am extremely disappointed with my Spectrum system that has “improved” so much over the years that I now get no more than Basic service while paying for premium.

Satch

@herbs,

On Demand pixilation is almost never a box problem, regardless of whether you have a traditional DVR or XUMO streaming box. Pixilation is almost always a signal or line problem.

First try resetting your modem and router. Unplug each for five minutes. First modem, than the router After five minutes. reconnect modem first than the router. If you are still having On Demand problems, call Spectrum to check the signals going to your On Demand channels. Tune to an On Demand Channel when the tech is there so that he/she can take a signal reading. Could be ingress in the lines.

Satch

herbs

How do I know which wifi signal in my home the XUMO DVR is connected to? I have a primary signal, an extender signal and some audio and security devices that produce or extend wifi signals. I have not seen a menu or setting where I can connect to a signal or identify which signal the DVR is on.

Satch

Good afternoon @herbs ,

If you log in to your Spectrum Account and select Internet/WIFI you should be able to see all the devices on your network and what they are connected to by device name. They may also be represented by company brand. Your main devices that are Spectrum's should be on the main signal. If you purchased a WIFI extender, that might be on a different network. The device listings should provide these details in My Account Settings/Internet WIFI.

Smart TV's phones, PC's, MAC's have a My Networks Setting, which will allow you to search for the devices on your WIFI network. If it says, "Connected" that device is using your WIFI. If it says, "Not Connected" or "Disconnected", that device is not a part of your WI currently. You might also see icons that show neither a connected signal notice or disconnected signal notice, those are neighbors that are within range of your router's WIFI signals. The name given at registration or installation in the title of those devices that you recognize is your equipment.

Satch

herbs

Thanks.I was wondering if my DVR is occasionally connected to a weaker signal bc I get pixilated “On Demand” very often. Some times I can try later and the show streams fine. I have several plaster walls and ceilings and that’s tough on signals:l. I put the main router in the attic on a cardboard pedestal to limit wall pass throughs.

Satch

Thanks.I was wondering if my DVR is occasionally connected to a weaker signal bc I get pixilated “On Demand” very often. Some times I can try later and the show streams fine. I have several plaster walls and ceilings and that’s tough on signals:l. I put the main router in the attic on a cardboard pedestal to limit wall pass throughs.

Yes,

On Demand is almost always a signal problem and not an equipment problem. When was your last signal and line check by a Spectrum tech? If it has been several years, or the On Demand pixilation gets worse, I would set up a truck role to get Signal readings for your On Demand channels. When the tech is there, ask if he/she can put a signal amp on the line to improve its quality.

You can rent signal range boosters from Spectrum for a few bucks a month or get a signal booster from some place like Amazon. If it's from Spectrum, you can have a Spectrum tech install it near an outlet that is really close to your cable or streaming box. The signal amp on the line might be another option or an additional upgrade upgrade that could be done by a Spectrum tech at the same time. If you watch a lot of On Demand, I would consider getting this done.

If you have a XUMO streaming box, because XUMO's are totally dependent on Internet strength and signals, a range extender purchase and or rental from Spectrum would be the best "medicine" for signal problems. Set that close to your DVR or streaming box. You will get better quality On Demand performance and if you have a XUMO with Cloud DVR service, better cloud DVR service as well.

Satch

herbs

thanks

Satch

Herbs,

Years ago my DVR would pixilate and miss recordings. Tech came out and found our cable lines were over thirty years old! He replaced the drop line and updated some other wiring and I can not recall a missed recording since. On Demand now works great as well. With aging lines, On Demand is often of the first source of problems. Set up a service call to check your On Demand signals, line drop, and wiring. Remove splitters, Splitters can decrease signal strength by up to ninety percent.

I also bought a range extender from Amazon because my laptop signals were weak at the other end of the house far away from my modem and router. Look for one with a lot of reviews, averaging 4.5/5 stars. A 2G internet signal booster expander gives you wider signal range, A 5G gives you more signal power on the device to which it is connected, but covers less range. Connected the range extender to my wireless network, for my laptop and it brought my laptop up to full signal strength.

Satch

herbs

OK, good info. I suspect my cabling is two decades old, minimum. When the techs come out, they measure signals at the house and devices and do not pay attention to the cabling to the house. We have had the house since 2008, so know the cables are that old plus. We have also had a lightning strike within 10 months causing some TV, DVRs and splitters to be replaced. Nothing was done to the “pole to house” cabling.

Satch

OK, good info. I suspect my cabling is two decades old, minimum. When the techs come out, they measure signals at the house and devices and do not pay attention to the cabling to the house. We have had the house since 2008, so know the cables are that old plus. We have also had a lightning strike within 10 months causing some TV, DVRs and splitters to be replaced. Nothing was done to the “pole to house” cabling.

Great updates!

Yes, get rid of those splitters! They cause problems. You need a line drop and wiring check for the cable devices in your home. A tech will need to be dispatched. The service call will be free. The writing's on the wall. Your twenty year wiring configuration and drop line needs updating. It will only get worse if it is not updated.

Satch

herbs

thanks much!