Explorer 8300
Encyclopedia
The Explorer 8300 is a digital video recorder
(DVR) manufactured by Scientific Atlanta and used by many digital cable
companies. It works like a regular cable box
with DVR capabilities and features an 80, 160 or 320 GB PATA internal hard drive. Some versions can also be used with an external SATA
hard drive through the eSATA connector on the back. The firmware/software generally comes from one of two sources: the Scientific Atlanta Resident Application (SARA) or the PASSPORT software from Aptiv Digital (a spin-off of Pioneer). The choice of firmware is determined by the cable operator and the equipment available at the cable head-end.
Another model, the 8300HD, is a DVR capable of displaying and recording high definition (HD) as well as standard definition (SD) cable television signals. The 8300HD is generally equipped with the 160 GB PATA internal hard drive that can hold ~ 90 hours of SD or ~ 20 hours of HD programming. The 8300HD also comes with an HDMI
port versus the DVI
port on the older 8000HD model. The 8300HD also will (current software versions) output RF, RCA Composite, S-Video, and Component Video (SD & HD) simultaneously, which the 8000HD could not.
Still another model, the 8300HDC, has the same functionality as the 8300HD. However, it includes a multi-stream cableCARD
. The box is a host for the card, which authorizes the box for use. Security protocols are contained within the card instead of within the set-top box itself (known as "separable security"), as it had been in the past. This was done to be in compliance with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) mandate that all new set-top boxes employ separable security.
The HDMI implementation does not work with all splitters, switches, and switching receivers/converters.
In the United States, these converter/tuner boxes are generally owned by the cable company and rented to cable subscribers. In Canada, they are either owned by the subscriber or rented from their cable company. Those purchased through auction sites such as eBay must be authorized by the cable service provider by giving them the MAC address of the device so that it can be added to your account. They are not however required to allow you to use this equipment, but if you opt to do so they will not be responsible for any service issues you may have.
There is quite a bit of misunderstanding regarding FCC regulations Title 47, Sec. 76.1201, which states the following:
The above quote applies to devices such as third-party digital video recorders (such as TiVo
), and not to contracted second-party equipment such as the Scientific Atlanta 8300 converter box. The reason cable providers are not required to add these boxes as customer-owned equipment (such as they can do with cable modems) is that these boxes are NOT available for retail purchase in the United States, and if they are being sold by a private party, then they have been stolen from the cable provider that owns the box. A cable provider cannot be compelled by any FCC regulation to aid in the illegal use of stolen property.
and Seagate
that are only compatible with boxes running the SARA software. Cable companies have a choice between running their 8300 DVR boxes on SARA or Passport software. Several providers currently support external SATA drives, including Time Warner
, Comcast
, Cablevision, Rogers
and Charter
. Seagate's consumer line of external SATA (eSATA) drives are supported, but its flagship Freeagent Pro drives are not compatible. Western Digital offers My DVR Expander, which is similar to their My Book series of external hard storage, but specifically tested to be compatible with the Explorer 8300 series of DVRs (8300, 8300 HD, 8300 MR, and 8300 HD-MR). Many external eSATA enclosures will work with the Explorer 8300 series of DVRs with generic hard drives besides those specifically certified to do so.
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
(DVR) manufactured by Scientific Atlanta and used by many digital cable
Digital cable
Digital cable is a generic term for any type of cable television distribution using digital video compression or distribution. The technology was originally developed by Motorola.-Background:...
companies. It works like a regular cable box
Cable box
The term cable box can refer to:* Cable box an electronic device that controls cable television in individual homes.* Cable box a box located outside a residence that connects cable television....
with DVR capabilities and features an 80, 160 or 320 GB PATA internal hard drive. Some versions can also be used with an external SATA
Serial ATA
Serial ATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives...
hard drive through the eSATA connector on the back. The firmware/software generally comes from one of two sources: the Scientific Atlanta Resident Application (SARA) or the PASSPORT software from Aptiv Digital (a spin-off of Pioneer). The choice of firmware is determined by the cable operator and the equipment available at the cable head-end.
Another model, the 8300HD, is a DVR capable of displaying and recording high definition (HD) as well as standard definition (SD) cable television signals. The 8300HD is generally equipped with the 160 GB PATA internal hard drive that can hold ~ 90 hours of SD or ~ 20 hours of HD programming. The 8300HD also comes with an HDMI
High-Definition Multimedia Interface
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
port versus the DVI
Digital Visual Interface
The Digital Visual Interface is a video interface standard covering the transmission of video between a source device and a display device. The DVI standard has achieved widespread acceptance in the PC industry, both in desktop PCs and monitors...
port on the older 8000HD model. The 8300HD also will (current software versions) output RF, RCA Composite, S-Video, and Component Video (SD & HD) simultaneously, which the 8000HD could not.
Still another model, the 8300HDC, has the same functionality as the 8300HD. However, it includes a multi-stream cableCARD
CableCARD
CableCARD is a special-use PCMCIA card that allows consumers in the United States to view and record digital cable television channels on digital video recorders, personal computers and television sets without the use of other equipment such as a set top box provided by a cable television company...
. The box is a host for the card, which authorizes the box for use. Security protocols are contained within the card instead of within the set-top box itself (known as "separable security"), as it had been in the past. This was done to be in compliance with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) mandate that all new set-top boxes employ separable security.
The HDMI implementation does not work with all splitters, switches, and switching receivers/converters.
In the United States, these converter/tuner boxes are generally owned by the cable company and rented to cable subscribers. In Canada, they are either owned by the subscriber or rented from their cable company. Those purchased through auction sites such as eBay must be authorized by the cable service provider by giving them the MAC address of the device so that it can be added to your account. They are not however required to allow you to use this equipment, but if you opt to do so they will not be responsible for any service issues you may have.
There is quite a bit of misunderstanding regarding FCC regulations Title 47, Sec. 76.1201, which states the following:
No multichannel video programming distributor [Cable Co] shall prevent the connection or use of navigation devices [converter boxes] to or with its multichannel video programming system [Cable TV], except in those circumstances where electronic or physical harm would be caused by the attachment or operation of such devices or such devices may be used to assist or are intended or designed to assist in the unauthorized receipt of service.
The above quote applies to devices such as third-party digital video recorders (such as TiVo
TiVo
TiVo is a digital video recorder developed and marketed by TiVo, Inc. and introduced in 1999. TiVo provides an on-screen guide of scheduled broadcast programming television programs, whose features include "Season Pass" schedules which record every new episode of a series, and "WishList"...
), and not to contracted second-party equipment such as the Scientific Atlanta 8300 converter box. The reason cable providers are not required to add these boxes as customer-owned equipment (such as they can do with cable modems) is that these boxes are NOT available for retail purchase in the United States, and if they are being sold by a private party, then they have been stolen from the cable provider that owns the box. A cable provider cannot be compelled by any FCC regulation to aid in the illegal use of stolen property.
External expansion ports
Certain versions of the Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 8300 (the 8300 HD, 8300 MR, and 8300 HD-MR) DVRs are compatible with external SATA drives so that you can expand the amount of recordable hours of programming that can be stored. At this time there are SATA drives from Apricorn, MaxtorMaxtor
Maxtor Corporation, founded in 1982 and acquired by Seagate Technology in 2006, was an American manufacturer of computer hard disk drives, the third largest in the world immediately prior to acquisition...
and Seagate
Seagate Technology
Seagate Technology is one of the world's largest manufacturers of hard disk drives. Incorporated in 1978 as Shugart Technology, Seagate is currently incorporated in Dublin, Ireland and has its principal executive offices in Scotts Valley, California, United States.-1970s:On November 1, 1979...
that are only compatible with boxes running the SARA software. Cable companies have a choice between running their 8300 DVR boxes on SARA or Passport software. Several providers currently support external SATA drives, including Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
, Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
, Cablevision, Rogers
Rogers
-Places:Canada*Rogers Island *Rogers PassUnited States*Rogers, Arkansas*Rogers, California*Rogers, California, alternate name of Muroc, California*Rogers, Minnesota*Rogers, Nebraska*Rogers, Ohio*Rogers, Virginia*Rogers City, Michigan...
and Charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
. Seagate's consumer line of external SATA (eSATA) drives are supported, but its flagship Freeagent Pro drives are not compatible. Western Digital offers My DVR Expander, which is similar to their My Book series of external hard storage, but specifically tested to be compatible with the Explorer 8300 series of DVRs (8300, 8300 HD, 8300 MR, and 8300 HD-MR). Many external eSATA enclosures will work with the Explorer 8300 series of DVRs with generic hard drives besides those specifically certified to do so.