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The Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD is a high-definition personal video recorder (HD PVR) available with many cable subscriptions across North America. It features a 160 GB hard drive capable of recording 90 hours of SD or 20 hours of HD content. The 8300HD has a dual digital tuner that is capable of watching and/or recording two programs at once with only one cable hookup. The dual tuner also allows for picture-in-picture (PIP) functionality. It comes loaded with an interactive program guide (IPG) to navigate channels and initiate recordings. It features a 1/4 display of the current program while in the guide. The 8300HD has many of the same features as the popular TiVo HD including "season pass", pausing, rewinding, fast-forwarding, etc. It is often referred to as the SA 8300HD.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
6 people have already voted. Do you agree?

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Dual tuners can record two shows at once
+3agreedisagree

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Straight-forward operation
+3agreedisagree

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Can record both HD and SD content
+2agreedisagree

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Can get it for free with your cable subscription
+2agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?

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Annoying UI nuisances like search by title
+2agreedisagree

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Jumps to "live" viewing when watching and recording a program and the program ends
+1agreedisagree

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If recording two shows at once, you can only watch those channels
+1agreedisagree

Competing products

Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD is ranked 2nd.  See the top picks in Digital Video Recorders
  1. 100% prefer MythTV 1 vote
  2. 50% prefer TiVo HD 2 votes

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More information

Features

  • dual-tuner high-definition personal video recorder
  • capacity: 160 GB - 90 hrs SD / 20 hrs HD
  • includes interactive program guide with 1/4 screen program preview
  • picture-in-picture (PIP)
  • upgradeable storage with eSATA port
  • video outputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x component, 1 x RCA, 1 x S-Video
  • audio outputs: 1 x digital coaxial, 1 x S/PDIF, 2 x RCA stereo
  • connectivity: USB, Firewire, SATA
  • includes remote
  • output recorded programs to VCR using S-Video

Interactive Program Guide

There are two different interactive program guides that come bundled with the 8300HD:

Figure 1: "SARA" interactive program guide Figure 2: "Passport" interactive program guide

Availability and Pricing

Typically, the 8300HD can be rented from your digital cable provider for a fee, or can be purchased separately for around $600. The box has to be activated by your cable provider before it can be used.

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9 comments about Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300 HD

1.  avatar Erik  Nov 07, 2006 3:29pm

I have the SA Explorer 3250HD and have had thoughts of trying to get it to record HD via the firewire port, but alas, the firmware doesn't enable firewire. This looks pretty sweet. Recording 2 shows while watching a third seems pretty intense, but I'm sure it has it's uses.
2.  avatar desjardinsy001  Dec 07, 2007 12:43am

The Videotron (Quebec, Canada) version enables the eSata interface which lets you add an external hard-drive. You can buy drives from the cable provider, but you can easily make your own by buying an eSata enclosure and a Sata drive from a store like TigerDirect.com.
3.  avatar desjardinsy001  Dec 07, 2007 12:46am

Erik, you mentionned Sara and Passport tv guide, I have only seen Sara version, can I get the Passport or is this depending on the cable provider?
4.  avatar Erik  Dec 07, 2007 9:56am

It's all done by your cable provider. :( The AVS Forum is a fantastic resource for information about the SA 8300HD.

Oh, how I wish they opened up the digital cable box world like what Google is doing with Android. I want to develop my own PVR interface, or better yet get some open-source development action going. Compare the clunky interface on the 8300HD to XBMC and you'll know what I mean.

(I still love this thing, though..don't tell Roger's)

5.  avatar desjardinsy001  Dec 13, 2007 2:47pm

Until we have cable cards here in canada we won't be able to do a real PVR, we can only do Tivo Like PVR with IR Blasters, which kinda suck.
6.  avatar Omar  Dec 18, 2007 3:07pm

@desjardins: What's the difference between "real" PVR and TiVO PVR? After having this box for the past few days I really can't see it getting much better. I mean, you can record 2 programs while watching a 3rd, at the same time! Plus the OnDemand service interface is 100x faster than the standard cable box, which makes it go from supremely annoying to actually usable.

Last night I finally set up the universal remote that ships with the box (from Rogers). It now controls the TV, and the receiver and does a decent job of it. Going from 3-remotes to 1 is a million times better, and I can control each device to a pretty good degree, changing input sources, menu options, etc.
7.  avatar Erik  Dec 18, 2007 3:21pm

Just a minor correction to Omar's point. There are only 2 tuners, so you can't record 2 and watch a 3rd. At any time, you can only be watching, recording (or PIPing) up to a max of 2 shows at once. A little message popups up to warn you if you try and make it 3.
8.  avatar desjardinsy001  Dec 22, 2007 4:13pm

I meant the 8300HD is a real PVR because it is all in one, as for Tivo it requires IR Blaster to control an external source, and building one yourself would be the same way today (unless you don't want digital content and use only basic cable)
9.  avatar tiguy10  Sep 29, 2008 10:15pm

I need help.

I have the 8300hd and tried to connect external drive to it.

When I started the 8300hs it ask to format it, I accepted.

But, I do not know why, it does not work???

I have a Vantec NexStar 3 Hard Drive Enclosure - eSATA, USB 2.0, Aluminum and an SEAGATE hard drive.

Thanks
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    Who else tapped it

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    desjardinsy001

    love, have


     
    Omar

    my setup, love, have


     
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    Key Features:

    Capacity 160 GB
    DVR Features HD, Digital Cable
    DVR Service Cable
    Manufacturer Scientific-Atlanta
    MSRP $600.00

    Sponsors

    Product page stats

    11980 views and 49 edits (see all)
    Created: 11/07/2006 - 1:14
    Modified: 09/29/2008 - 22:15
    Model # variations:

    8300, HD, 8300HD