Comcast starts offering multiroom features, 500GB hard drives with AnyRoom DVR
By Richard Lawler 
posted July 1st 2010 6:21PM
posted July 1st 2010 6:21PM
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Update: Check after the break for specs on the main DVR and networked set-top boxes. (Thanks, Robert!)
Host box
Dimensions:
- 15 x 10.5 x 3.25
- Coaxial RF
- IEEE-1394
- Multi Stream Cable Card
- S-Video
- IR Receiver
- USB 2.0
- Ethernet
- Digital Audio Coaxial (S/PDIF)
- Digtial Audio Optical (S/PDIF)
- eSATA
- HDMI
- DVR
- Supports 3D Programming
- DCX 3400: 250GB Hard disk drive; DCX3400M: 500GB Hard disk drive,
- 256MB RAM, HDMI, eSATA, 1GHz in-band, legacy OOB, XMP1 protocol remote control
- DOCSIS, MPEG-4/ AVC, RJ-45 Ethernet interface
- Front panel display
- Energy Star compatible
The DCX3400M includes everything listed above, as well as:
Moca Capable
AnyRoom DVR
Networked boxes
Dimensions:
- 15 x 10.5 x 3.25
The TiVo guide is currently not compatible with this converter.
Available Outputs:
- Coaxial RF
- IEEE-1394
- Multi Stream Cable Card
- S-Video
- IR Receiver
- USB 2.0
- Ethernet
- Digital Audio Coaxial (S/PDIF)
- Digtial Audio Optical (S/PDIF)
- HDMI
- Supports 3D Programming
- Single 1 GHz digital video tuner, 64 MB Flash, 256MB DRAM, HDMI
- DOCSIS, MPEG-4/ AVC, RJ-45 Ethernet interface
- No Front Panel buttons
- Energy Star compatible
- External Power Supply
- Deployed with legacy firmware with native a25 2.2 guide
- OCAP capable
- Tru2way support
- Supports Switched Digital Video (SDV) solutions
The DCX3200M includes everything listed above, as well as:
Moca Capable
AnyRoom DVR
Comcast Adds Remote DVR Scheduling, AnyRoom DVR Viewing and Upgrades On-Screen Program Guide in Oregon and SW Washington
New Enhancements Make It Easier, Faster and More Convenient For Customers to Schedule, Record, Manage and Watch Favorite Programs
BEAVERTON, Ore., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comcast today announced the launch of new features to its DVR service, including AnyRoom DVR, as well as on-screen program guide that will bring more choice and convenience than ever for Digital Cable customers in Oregon and SW Washington. The additions, which will improve the overall customer experience and make future enhancements – like interactive television – possible, are part of Comcast's recent launch of XFINITY TV. XFINITY is about offering customers more HD, more speed, more choice and more control over their services.
"Our Digital Cable customers in Oregon and SW Washington will see significant value and convenience from these new features," said Hank Fore, Regional Vice President in Oregon and SW Washington. "We remain committed to providing our customers with the ultimate TV viewing experience, and AnyRoom DVR, the enhanced DVR functions and new on-screen program guide technology join a long list of value-added features that make watching favorite programming easier and more enjoyable than ever."
Comcast AnyRoom™ DVR Service
This new DVR service allows a customer to view DVR recordings on any networked set-top box in the home, and to finish watching a saved recording in one room that was started in another.
Equipment
AnyRoom DVR is comprised of one HD/DVR set-top box as the primary outlet and up to three additional HD set-top boxes that can play back content recorded on the DVR on the primary outlet.
AnyRoom DVR Functions
The primary DVR controls all DVR recording functions - scheduling, deleting, recording settings and more.
The networked set-top boxes can be used to view, sort, play, fast-forward, rewind, pause, skip ahead or skip back within DVR recordings, and give you the same control no matter what TV you are viewing from.
New On-Screen Program Guide Features
Customers do not need to add equipment to take advantage of these enhancements, which are completely free of charge.
Watch in HD Button
The new Watch in HD button feature allows customers to quickly switch to the HD version of the program they are watching and eliminates searching for the HD version of the channel.
The Watch in HD Button cuts scroll times and allows customers to jump from the SD channel to the corresponding HD channel faster.
On Demand Skip Ahead/Skip Back
On Demand Skip Ahead and Skip Back enables customers to skip ahead or skip back in five minutes increments while watching On Demand programming by using the Page Up (skip ahead) and Page Down (skip back) arrows on the remote control.
Other New DVR Service Features
Customers do not need to add equipment to take advantage of these enhancements, which are completely free of charge.
myDVR Manager
myDVR Manager is a new feature that allows customers with a Comcast DVR and high-speed Internet service to remotely schedule and adjust their recordings online using Comcast TV Listings. Comcast customers can logon to www.comcast.net/tv to add programs to their recording list and manage their scheduled DVR recordings as well as change the priority of recorded series. In addition, customers with an iPhone or iPod Touch can remotely schedule their DVR recordings using the Comcast Mobile App.
DVR Search & Record
DVR Search & Record enables customers to search for a program by actor, title, director and keyword. For example, if a customer searches for "Clint Eastwood" all programs Clint Eastwood acted in or directed that are in the TV Listings would appear. If the customer saves the Clint Eastwood search, the DVR would automatically search for new matches and schedule recordings anytime a Clint Eastwood program aired on any channel.
DVR Skip Ahead/Skip Back
DVR Skip Ahead/Skip Back allows customers to skip ahead or skip back in five minute increments by pressing Page Up and Page Down arrows on the remote.
DVR History, Cleanup and Folders
DVR History displays information on already recorded, watched and deleted programs.
DVR Clean Up allows customers to manage their DVR by deleting in bulk programs they no longer want to save.
DVR Folders - When customers record more than one episode of a series, DVR Folders will automatically create a folder where programs are stored.
For more information on the new program guide customers can visit www.comcast.net/newguide or to order Comcast Digital Cable service, customers can call 1-800-COMCAST or visit www.comcast.com.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation's leading providers of entertainment, information and communication products and services. With 23.5 million cable customers, 16.3 million high-speed Internet customers, and 7.9 million Comcast Digital Voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of cable systems and in the delivery of programming content.
Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, Golf Channel, VERSUS, G4, PBS KIDS Sprout, TV One, 11 regional sports networks operated by Comcast Sports Group and Comcast Interactive Media, which develops and operates Comcast's Internet businesses, including Comcast.net (www.comcast.net). Comcast also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, which owns two professional sports teams, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, and a large, multipurpose arena in Philadelphia, the Wachovia Center, and manages other facilities for sporting events, concerts and other events.
Time Warner will you please join this party.
@jduley Ditto... pretty please.
You forgot to mention the Dish Network VIP 922! That bugger has a 1TB Hard Drive!
http://dishtvhdstore.com/receivers/dish-922/
@jduley lol time warner.... if you have the phone internet combo router they wont let you inside it even if you knjow what your doing
I wonder if it will work with HD Tivo's? They're already network connected.
@wryker No. It uses MoCA (meaning networking over cable). Also its proprietary. As is Tivo of course. But they're different.
@Fanfoot I already have MoCA connected w/my comcast. I bought some MoCA boxes to get wired internet in all my rooms so my Tivo's are all wired connections. If I already have this I wonder if it'll work with Tivo?
neat
Aww I miss Oregon, not for comcast though.
@SskyNnet
I dont miss either, spend the first 25 years of life in the Rose city and dont miss it one bit (except being 90 minutes from the beach was nice)
I have a Dish Network HD-DVR that does 2 rooms which is pretty cool, so this sounds even better!
@Pojomofo just switched from comcast to dish network. Best decision of my life. Comcast customer service is a joke, and they royally rip you off. Stay with dish.
@Ntovorni
Do you have any other reasons to use Dish? I'm thinking about switching.
The problem I have is that Comcast's internet service is AWESOME, but their DVR service is way behind.
So now I need a network connection in every room.
@AlwaysThere No. MoCA runs over the same coax you need to hook up the cable to each STB. You don't need a separate network connection. It just uses the frequencies over 1GHz that aren't used by the regular cable TV signals.
Now it plays nice?
IT'S COMCASTIC!!!!
But seriously, no it's not. :(
Which Bay Area!?!?!? Washington ?
@R E
There is only one Bay Area. Tampa's does not count...
@citizen929 Yep, I live in the SF Bay Area and i'm having this installed tomorrow
I can do all of the above plus watch and pause live tv with Windows Media Center and an XBOX 360.
AnyRoom DVR is coming out in Michigan in August or September, depending on when the inventory is available. 500GB HDD is true, only downside is it's still a dual tuner, but that will probably change.
whatever. i'll still keep my 4tb tivo from weaknees
will we see it within the next 10 years. i know how much comcast blows when it comes to hardware implementation.
@sroach23 People still watch cable?
I got this the day it came out 2 days ago. So far it is way better than the old hd dvr. It does have a 500 gig hdd.
I'll never see this in Manteca, Ca. Haha. Seems like the last market to get upgrades in Northern California. Our Xfinity upgrade was on June 16th, but we got notified that not all channels were upgraded and will happen soon, end of August. Lol.
@skuDZ lol what is xfinity upgrade? No sign of such upgrade, reporting from marin county, bay area.
@skuDZ
Well, Im in Lathrop (Norcal), which is right next to Manteca and called Comcast today and they are coming out to install AnyRoom DVR setup next Wednesday. You might want to check again with Comcast...
@Mrv9292 You haven't had xfinity yet? It's the upgrade for more HD channels.
@Celeb What? Really?! Did you just call in after reading this? Did you just ask for anyRoomDVR or did you get something in the mail? I want to get it. Did they say it will be rolling out soon to everyone or only those that call in to request it?
@skuDZ
I called customer support and asked about it. The rep did a double check to make sure it was available in Lathrop. She did say that it was just rolled out in the SF bay area like last week but wasn't sure about central California. Luckily, she confirmed it was available for my home address and I quickly scheduled an appointment for the install. Oh and no, I ordered it in the early afternoon and didn't know it was posted on Engadget and the rep didn't say it was only available to those that requested it, I think the biggest hurdle is just making sure Comcast has rolled out the service in Manteca. Call Comcast and good luck!
@skuDZ
Oh and also I was thinking about switching to U-Verse because of the whole DVR function but I decided to search google before I changed over to AT&T. I even went through the entire checkout process on the U-Verse website to get pricing but it's hard for me to switch to a 25Mps internet with U-Verse when I currently have 50/10Mps with Comcast. I'm sure glad I did that google search before committing the change to U-Verse.
@Celeb I just called and I am able to get it, too. I was told it was an additional $20/mo. I thought it was $20 for the DVR, which replaces your current DVR, so it would be an even trade. Apparently not. I'm not gonna pay another $20 a month for this. Way overpriced comcast. I liked U-Verse, but the only thing that sucked was the HD quality.
Are the "other room" DVR's HD capable?
@Jordus
The "other room" boxes are HD media hubs that access the main HD/DVR.
I've been doin this a while with DishNetwork.
@benchase7
Does Dish require you to have a set-top box for each TV?
@Ryan Deen
I got two tv's and one box for my place and i can access dvr from either tv. Start a movie in living room... and finish in bedroom. All with one box.
@benchase7
ditto. been doing this for the last couple of years with uverse.
I'm so glad I tipped Engadget on this at the beginning of May when it launched. Two months is the standard delay, right?
To bad the ui looks like shit on the dvr boxes here.
Is there a price increase on the monthly fee for a 500GB box compared to a 250GB?
@beano311
It's 19.99 per box but the other boxes cost the same as your current hd boxes at 8.00 per box. If you have the Premier Package the DVR is free. and any other Triple Play packages Preferred and Above get it at discount.
I do not want a one room fits all DVR!
I want a separate HD DVR in each room. There should not be any reason why these devices can't "talk" to one another. They are, after all, on the same Comcast Network.
@Coach George
But with that sort of mindset what is to stop your neighbor down the street from seeing your "The Real L Word" recordings?
@maythetechbewithyou
The box's have individual ID's that can be seen by Comcast. I suspect the box's could be programmed to only see the ones in my house.
Frankly, I don't really care if my neighbors box could see what is recorded on mine. There isn't any information on the box that is sensitive.
And seriously ""The Real L Word"??????
Oooooh, another reason to pay Comcast EVEN MORE money per month?! Lemme jump on that ASAP. Because I'm a top notch, grade-A, full-fledged a-sh-le. Comcast's top target.
Hmmm... Hulu costs $9.95/mo. AnyRoom DVR costs $19.99?! WTF. Who is driving this pricing strategy, Stevie Wonder?
@wizrdry Agreed! Comcast is already so expensive. We need cheaper solutions. Is there an engaget comparison with the other competitors?
Yawn... Uverse has had this features for years and they never made you pay for the boxes... I fail to see the excitement here at all...