CableCARD & TiVo Issue - HELP

[JackSpadesSI]

I have a TiVo Premiere XL (Series 4) with a Multi-Stream CableCARD from Charter Communications (my cable provider). Several months ago, Charter Communications began to use Switched Digital Video (SDV), so I was provided with an SDV tuning adapter.

For over a month now my cable service has been hit-or-miss on my TiVo-equipped TV. Other Charter Communications services/devices are unaffected: two other TVs with generic DVR boxes (which don't use a CableCARD because they are from Charter Communications), a TV with cable but not cable box, high-speed cable internet, and VOIP phone service. Therefore, the issue must lie either with the CableCARD or the TiVo.

Symptoms: channels completely missing, other channels with significant digital distortion.

Attempted solutions so far: replaced CableCARD twice, replaced SDV tuning adapter, and requested dozens of "CableCARD pairing hits" from Charter Communications. The CableCARD pairing hits (which I hear are stronger than a pairing hit for a generic DVR box) seem to help somewhat, but the problem either comes back within a week or never fully fixes in the first place.

I'm desperate for a solution. Charter Communications technicians (either tech support over the phone, or those in person during a service visit) are clueless and incompetent - partly due to their lack of familiarity with CableCARDs. Please offer any help you can, because I'm going crazy!

Two questions:

- How do I fix this problem?

- Is it true that multiple, repeated CableCARD pairing hits sent by Charter Communications can damage the CableCARD or TiVo devices?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Is it true that multiple, repeated CableCARD pairing hits sent by Charter Communications can damage the CableCARD or TiVo devices?

i find this to be extremely unlikely.

CableCARD pairing hits (which I hear are stronger than a pairing hit for a generic DVR box)

i find this to be nonsense, and a continuation of the mythical black box zappers.

i ordered a cablecard and specifically asked for an M card, not a tivo card. maybe you got the wrong one? technically, the most likely problem is your internal wiring. a tech should verify levels and error rates at the outlet.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

I have a Multi-Stream CableCARD in my TiVo. I don't believe there is any such thing as a "tivo card".

 

[BornStar]

There are S cards which TiVo will support two of if an M card isn't available. I assume that's what he was referring to.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

The TiVo Premiere only has one slot - it requires a Multi-Stream CableCARD. That is what I have. Therefore, that is not the issue.

Anyone have any help to offer for the actual issue?

 

[joetekubi]

I also struggled with several install attempts by Comcast for a CableCard in my Tivo XL. Several things I learned - you need a M card - multi-stream. The digital signal matters a lot, and you can access that via the normal Tivo menus. If the signal is too weak or too strong, you will get image and/or sound breakup or missing channels. The cable companies are required by law to supply you with a working solution. In my case, the CableCard works for most of my channels, but some HD channels have significant image breakup. I live with it. I got tired of dealing with the installers.

 

[JackSpadesSI]

Several things I learned - you need a M card - multi-stream.

I have had an Multi-Stream (M) CableCARD since day one.

The digital signal matters a lot, and you can access that via the normal Tivo menus. If the signal is too weak or too strong, you will get image and/or sound breakup or missing channels.

Too strong is a problem? So 100 isn’t optimum? Of my channels that work, they were between 28 and 56.

 

[tw1164]

I would post this question over on http://www.tivocommunity.com/ They're far more knowledgeable about these issues. When I first got my tivos w/ fios I had to use a signal attenuator. The issue was later fixed w/ a firmware update.