X1 Technical Issues

Ok, just "upgraded" to X1 this weekend.  Sorry if these are re-tread questions. 

1. How do I zoom?  My previous Comcast remote had the "HD Zoom" button that would do Normal, Stretch, Zoom 1 and Zoom 2.

2. Where has the "Favorites" button gone?  Clicking this button would allow you to easily surf your favorites channels with one button.  I see a Favorites Option on the guide, but what happened to the Favorites button functionality?

3. How do you power off the box from the remote?  When I click the All On button, it turns the TV and receiver off but leaves the box on.  I see the power saving option, but I do not want the box to stay on one hour before turning itself off.  Also, I know I can walk over and press the button, but where is that function on the remote?

I know that most people (including me) are averse to change, but I have to say that so far I have seen very little improvement over the old system and lots of what I consider "downgrades" and annoyances.  From all the hype, I expected a huge improvement and am certainly surprised at the many items that seem to be steps backwards.

Thanks,

Larry

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@steely4283 wrote:

Ok, just "upgraded" to X1 this weekend.  Sorry if these are re-tread questions. 

 

1. How do I zoom?  My previous Comcast remote had the "HD Zoom" button that would do Normal, Stretch, Zoom 1 and Zoom 2.

 

2. Where has the "Favorites" button gone?  Clicking this button would allow you to easily surf your favorites channels with one button.  I see a Favorites Option on the guide, but what happened to the Favorites button functionality?

 

3. How do you power off the box from the remote?  When I click the All On button, it turns the TV and receiver off but leaves the box on.  I see the power saving option, but I do not want the box to stay on one hour before turning itself off.  Also, I know I can walk over and press the button, but where is that function on the remote?

 

I know that most people (including me) are averse to change, but I have to say that so far I have seen very little improvement over the old system and lots of what I consider "downgrades" and annoyances.  From all the hype, I expected a huge improvement and am certainly surprised at the many items that seem to be steps backwards.

 

Thanks,

 

Larry

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1. zoom: you can zoom in the menu... xfinity button >> gear(settings) >> Device Settings >> Video Display >> select zoom and press ok button to select. Note that some stations are now using almost your whole 16:9 display to display 4:3 content using a feature comcast honors called AFD. Not sure what setting zoom (mine is on None) will do to the display of those 14:9 programs now. Unlike the legacy DVR, the X1 will not pause/blink etc when resolutions change as it puts out a steady 1080i/p if you have selected that.

2. If your favorites are already set you can view guide for favorite channels by pressing guide 2 times and selecting the * (star). to make/unmake a favorite go to the channel in the guide at the current time and press the Left button then OK and select favorite or removeFavorite. You can go into the same settings menu, comcast labs menu and set default guide to what you wish (example: favorites) and that STB will be in that mode next time you press guide.

3. The x1 set top boxes are energy efficient but you can set them to go into power save in the same settings/device settings menu. The difference in power between 'on' and standby if you left the box in standby for 24/7/365 is about $1 total.  You can turn off the clock (DVR only) and power button LED in the same settings window. The boxes are designed to be on 24/7/365.

Auto-extend still does not work.  I missed the end of Thursday night football, again.

Went back and re-set all of my scheduled football recordings with and extra hour instead of autoextend.

Would be nice if this either worked or was removed as an option.

I'm not knocking Comcast but I don't think this will be a simple fix because I'm not sure they know yet how they caused the problem in the first place. So I wouldn't be counting days here.

I have noticed a couple of other strange things that may or may not be part of the issue. When I go to the select your guide view page the highlighted icon always shows the icon to the right of where it was set. So if I had it set to All Channels when I go back to the select page it is highlighting the HD channels icon, if I had it set to favorities and I go back to the set page it is highlighting the trending page. This is a new issue, it would always open at where I set it.

The other thing that is not working, and I don't know if this is related to the channel guide problem is the incoming phone calls don't show on my TV screen even though it is selected in the settings. They used to with the old HD box even with the guide view problem.

Lastly an Xfinity technician came by yesterday while I was out and wanted to add some device to my line. I was not home so it couldn't be installed but I assume it was some sort of signal modulator. Does anyone have any idea why after all these years this is being installed? Does it have anything to do with the upgrade to the XG2 HD box? Thanks

Yeah, the European standard DVR goes by the program listing name, not a set time like the Americans use.

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@workerdummy wrote:

Anyone else having problem changing the channels in the Favorites guiide? When I try to switch to any of the lower channels, 2-12 for sure, a message box pops up saying the channel is not included in my favorites channels, then tells me to switch the guide to all channels. The channels are in my favorites channels.

 

I've tried rebooting the X1, but it doesn't solve the problem

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I think it's a known issue and has another active thread dedicated to it. A Comcast employee there said it was being worked on.

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@PhilipCataldo wrote:

 

 

Lastly an Xfinity technician came by yesterday while I was out and wanted to add some device to my line. I was not home so it couldn't be installed but I assume it was some sort of signal modulator. Does anyone have any idea why after all these years this is being installed? Does it have anything to do with the upgrade to the XG2 HD box? Thanks

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He may have been stopping by to add a POE filter to your line.... if you are new to X1 this should have been installed at install time.

Still happening to me, but my phone calls do display on the TV. Can you pick up the POE filter at a Comcast store location, and put it on yourself? X1 box was mailed to me, and I set it up myself.

Thanks for the tips

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@good_1 wrote:

Still happening to me, but my phone calls do display on the TV. Can you pick up the POE filter at a Comcast store location, and put it on yourself? X1 box was mailed to me, and I set it up myself.

Thanks for the tips

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I hadn't thought of that. I will stop by the local Comcast store and see if they will give it to me. Might be they only allow techs to install them.

I did call Xfinity on a different issue and while I had them on the phone asked and they confirmed that tech had order to install POE.

I've had the X1 platform for a couple of year and there was no mention of a need for a POE, but now that I switched over to the XG2 HD anyroom box they want to install a POE. No idea if this is a coincidence or not.

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@Rustyben wrote:

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1. zoom: you can zoom in the menu... xfinity button >> gear(settings) >> Device Settings >> Video Display >> select zoom and press ok button to select. Note that some stations are now using almost your whole 16:9 display to display 4:3 content using a feature comcast honors called AFD. Not sure what setting zoom (mine is on None) will do to the display of those 14:9 programs now. Unlike the legacy DVR, the X1 will not pause/blink etc when resolutions change as it puts out a steady 1080i/p if you have selected that.

2. If your favorites are already set you can view guide for favorite channels by pressing guide 2 times and selecting the * (star). to make/unmake a favorite go to the channel in the guide at the current time and press the Left button then OK and select favorite or removeFavorite. You can go into the same settings menu, comcast labs menu and set default guide to what you wish (example: favorites) and that STB will be in that mode next time you press guide.

3. The x1 set top boxes are energy efficient but you can set them to go into power save in the same settings/device settings menu. The difference in power between 'on' and standby if you left the box in standby for 24/7/365 is about $1 total.  You can turn off the clock (DVR only) and power button LED in the same settings window. The boxes are designed to be on 24/7/365.

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Rustyben,

Thanks very much for your reply.  With regards to zoom, I found the item you mentioned.  What I am talking about was a button on my old Comcast remote that we I used to zoom in on a play during a football/baseball game.  It was great to check to see if a player was in bounds, safe/out etc.  Zoom 1 would zoom in a little while Zoom 2 took you in even closer.  I don't see this functionality with the X1 zoom in the video display.  As for the favorites, I would press the "Favorites" button on the remote and it would automatically change the channel to the next channel in my favorites list.  Once a favorite channel was setup, you no longer had to go to the guide to access it.  The option was there to surf via the Guide without actually changing the channel, but you could also use the Favorites remote button to surf via changing the channel (via one button).  It appears the X1 system retains the Guide method of surfing, but removes the one button functionality I used.  I got it on the power setting.  Just weird to have somehitng without a power button. 🙂

I thought my family would give X1 a chance for a month and see if it was for us.  So far, the most common complaint in the family is the giant Play, Pause, Rew/FF buttons that linger on the screen after you have pressed them.  The coolest feature (according to my seven year old) is the voice remote feature

Thanks again for the reply. 

Larry

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@steely4283 wrote:

 

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@Rustyben wrote:

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1. zoom: you can zoom in the menu... xfinity button >> gear(settings) >> Device Settings >> Video Display >> select zoom and press ok button to select. Note that some stations are now using almost your whole 16:9 display to display 4:3 content using a feature comcast honors called AFD. Not sure what setting zoom (mine is on None) will do to the display of those 14:9 programs now. Unlike the legacy DVR, the X1 will not pause/blink etc when resolutions change as it puts out a steady 1080i/p if you have selected that.

2. If your favorites are already set you can view guide for favorite channels by pressing guide 2 times and selecting the * (star). to make/unmake a favorite go to the channel in the guide at the current time and press the Left button then OK and select favorite or removeFavorite. You can go into the same settings menu, comcast labs menu and set default guide to what you wish (example: favorites) and that STB will be in that mode next time you press guide.

3. The x1 set top boxes are energy efficient but you can set them to go into power save in the same settings/device settings menu. The difference in power between 'on' and standby if you left the box in standby for 24/7/365 is about $1 total.  You can turn off the clock (DVR only) and power button LED in the same settings window. The boxes are designed to be on 24/7/365.

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Rustyben,

 

Thanks very much for your reply.  With regards to zoom, I found the item you mentioned.  What I am talking about was a button on my old Comcast remote that we I used to zoom in on a play during a football/baseball game.  It was great to check to see if a player was in bounds, safe/out etc.  Zoom 1 would zoom in a little while Zoom 2 took you in even closer.  I don't see this functionality with the X1 zoom in the video display.  As for the favorites, I would press the "Favorites" button on the remote and it would automatically change the channel to the next channel in my favorites list.  Once a favorite channel was setup, you no longer had to go to the guide to access it.  The option was there to surf via the Guide without actually changing the channel, but you could also use the Favorites remote button to surf via changing the channel (via one button).  It appears the X1 system retains the Guide method of surfing, but removes the one button functionality I used.  I got it on the power setting.  Just weird to have somehitng without a power button. 🙂

 

I thought my family would give X1 a chance for a month and see if it was for us.  So far, the most common complaint in the family is the giant Play, Pause, Rew/FF buttons that linger on the screen after you have pressed them.  The coolest feature (according to my seven year old) is the voice remote feature

 

Thanks again for the reply. 

 

Larry

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try the new version of video playback controls (the screen stuff when you pause/RW/FF) by pressing the xFinity button >> gear(settings) >> Comcast Labs >> "New Video Playback Controls" (hit ok button after highlghting).

It does a good job of getting out the way quickly or press UP for instant dismissing of the bar. If you want to see where you are in a recorded show (or if viewing 'inside the buffer' on a live show) just press the ok button and the UP button will make it instantly go away.

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@Rustyben wrote:

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@steely4283 wrote:

 

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@Rustyben wrote:

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1. zoom: you can zoom in the menu... xfinity button >> gear(settings) >> Device Settings >> Video Display >> select zoom and press ok button to select. Note that some stations are now using almost your whole 16:9 display to display 4:3 content using a feature comcast honors called AFD. Not sure what setting zoom (mine is on None) will do to the display of those 14:9 programs now. Unlike the legacy DVR, the X1 will not pause/blink etc when resolutions change as it puts out a steady 1080i/p if you have selected that.

2. If your favorites are already set you can view guide for favorite channels by pressing guide 2 times and selecting the * (star). to make/unmake a favorite go to the channel in the guide at the current time and press the Left button then OK and select favorite or removeFavorite. You can go into the same settings menu, comcast labs menu and set default guide to what you wish (example: favorites) and that STB will be in that mode next time you press guide.

3. The x1 set top boxes are energy efficient but you can set them to go into power save in the same settings/device settings menu. The difference in power between 'on' and standby if you left the box in standby for 24/7/365 is about $1 total.  You can turn off the clock (DVR only) and power button LED in the same settings window. The boxes are designed to be on 24/7/365.

---

Rustyben,

 

Thanks very much for your reply.  With regards to zoom, I found the item you mentioned.  What I am talking about was a button on my old Comcast remote that we I used to zoom in on a play during a football/baseball game.  It was great to check to see if a player was in bounds, safe/out etc.  Zoom 1 would zoom in a little while Zoom 2 took you in even closer.  I don't see this functionality with the X1 zoom in the video display.  As for the favorites, I would press the "Favorites" button on the remote and it would automatically change the channel to the next channel in my favorites list.  Once a favorite channel was setup, you no longer had to go to the guide to access it.  The option was there to surf via the Guide without actually changing the channel, but you could also use the Favorites remote button to surf via changing the channel (via one button).  It appears the X1 system retains the Guide method of surfing, but removes the one button functionality I used.  I got it on the power setting.  Just weird to have somehitng without a power button. 🙂

 

I thought my family would give X1 a chance for a month and see if it was for us.  So far, the most common complaint in the family is the giant Play, Pause, Rew/FF buttons that linger on the screen after you have pressed them.  The coolest feature (according to my seven year old) is the voice remote feature

 

Thanks again for the reply. 

 

Larry

---

try the new version of video playback controls (the screen stuff when you pause/RW/FF) by pressing the xFinity button >> gear(settings) >> Comcast Labs >> "New Video Playback Controls" (hit ok button after highlghting).

It does a good job of getting out the way quickly or press UP for instant dismissing of the bar. If you want to see where you are in a recorded show (or if viewing 'inside the buffer' on a live show) just press the ok button and the UP button will make it instantly go away.

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Rustyben, does the giant button in the middle go away for you instantly when you press up?  It does not for me.  That removes the bar across the bottom third, but the giant circle in the middle still remains for a couple seconds even when I press the up button.