nbrennan
join:2006-10-12
Washington, DC
| [CATV] RCN HDTV problems in Washington DC - 20015
We have used RCN bundled service for several years with no problems but in the last 6 months the quality of both internet and cable TV service has deteriorated dramatically. The biggest problem is with the cable TV service – our HD reception is getting worse and worse, and it used to be perfect. There is constant pixellation on some of the HD channels, esp ABC/NBC/FOX and when the picture pixelates the sound also goes.
Since the upgrade to the new TV guide system the problems have become even worse. Aside from the fact that the new interface is horrible and I can’t stand the multiple second gap it takes for a menu screen to pop up there are other, more serious problems. Now the sound completely cuts out on all (HD and SD) channels several times an hour and won’t return until you change channels. Additionally, the cable box/DVR seems to have become significantly more unstable since the new TV guide. It is basically impossible to watch a recorded program while another program is being recorded – the box just freezes and the screen goes blank.
We have spent hours on the phone with tech support and our box has been refreshed numerous times. Its also not an isolated problem with our house. Our neighbors are having similar problems.
Is anyone else having these problems? I’m pretty desperate and ready to switch back to Comcast.
Thanks |
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saukko44
join:2006-10-11
Washington, DC
| Also DC area
Dont have HDTV, but an having same problems on SD channels since software upgrade- sound drops and have to change channels to restore it, picture freezes when a recording starts or stops, cant watch a recording on one channel while recording on another. Resetting box does not help.
I get the sense from forums that VOD problems may have
prompted switch to passport echo, but their software
seems to be not DVR friendly. |
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lilhurricane
Mallomars
Premium,Mod
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone
clubs: 
 ·Comcast
Host:
TV over IP
Software
RCN
Inside Insight
Team Discovery
2 edits | Please try & keep it to one thread, saukko44  
Assistance is being sought & addressed in this thread for that area:
»[CATV] Video On Demand in D.C. still not functioning correctly |
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saukko44
join:2006-10-11
Washington, DC | Allright then,no worries btw that thread seems to be about VOD problems, not what we're describing here |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
| reply to nbrennan
The sound issue exists when there is a glitch on the channel.
I forgot to mention this in my original "Passport" tips post...
What I usually do to resolve it is press Pause on the channel I'm watching. Then press Swap to go to the other tuner. Sound will come on for that channel, press Swap to go back to the "Paused" program. And then press Play to resume, sound is restored.
This usually only affects the analog RCA outs and not the SPDIF or Optical outputs.
-Derek- |
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NW-DC
@rcn.com
| reply to nbrennan
Thank GOSH I am not the only one having this problem! I too am in 20015. I tried to explain this to the RCN support folks and they said it MUST be customer side and not plant side and offered to book a truck roll. The HD channels worked PERFECTLY before the guide upgrade. Besides the increase in pixelations, the audio muting issue is REALLY annoying. When the HD carrier unlocks because of the pixelation, the audio sometimes (more often than not) will NOT return. Changing away from and back to that channel will restore the audio. I also have a cable card and although it too is experiencing increased pixelation and audio muting, the audio at least comes back without having to switch away and back.
And my DCT-2224 is STILL DEAD. Jason and support have sent MANY updates to that unit but still no pic or audio. Guide is fine. I have concluded the box probably died coincidental to the upgrade. The DCT-6412 is running just fine except for the problems noted above.
I also have 20 MB internet and that is AOK. |
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NW-DC
@rcn.com
| reply to alanisrox69
>>> This usually only affects the analog RCA outs and not the SPDIF or Optical outputs.
We do not use the analog outs at all. Only the SPDIF and TOSLINK digital outputs on the DCT-6412 and the audio muting problem is there as well. When this started (right after the guide upgrades) I was thinking that I MAY have had a problem with one of the coaxial or optical cables. That was not the case because the analog RCA outs were doing the same thing. Also have cable card the audio mutes there as well. |
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nbrennan
join:2006-10-12
Washington, DC | reply to NW-DC
great - I'm not the only one!! And our neighbors are having similar problems so clearly its a neighborhood not an individual issue......hopefully some of the RCN folks who contribute to the forum can help get us to a resolution |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
| reply to nbrennan
Re: [CATV] RCN HDTV problems in Washington DC - 20015
I actually haven't had a problem with the audio muting...
It sounds like your signal level is low causing the breakups. Try securing all connections, using a short cable run to the HD DVR. Also, remove those stupid silver "barrel" things from all connections. They cause the signal level to drop at least 2-3db, and may introduce interference. It may take pliers to remove them as they are usually screwed on super tight.
-Derek-
--
CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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topcatvtech
join:2005-07-20
Chicago, IL | barrels do not have 2-3db loss. less than 0.2db installed properly |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
| reply to nbrennan
I took mine off and instantly got +2dB difference on the HD channels. You check the dB level in the service meny on the Moto 6412's.
Anyways, why install something that is completely useless for the customer and it's just "another" device the cable has to pass through before hitting your box.
-Derek-
--
CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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nbrennan
join:2006-10-12
Washington, DC | reply to NW-DC
Re: [CATV] RCN HDTV problems in Washington DC - 20015
just out of curiosity, have these problems improved for anyone? Without a service call the picture quality has improved dramatically? |
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pmp888
@rcn.com | No - If anything, the problems have gotten worse over the past couple weeks. The problems with breakup (blockiness in video and no audio) seem separate from the audio cutouts. The audio cutouts definitely seem to be coming more frequently now. |
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alanisrox69
join:2005-03-29
LHV, PA
·RCN CABLE
| reply to nbrennan
Are the breakups on all HD channels or just certain ones?
Back in September, in my area, the WTXF FOX out of Philly was having their OTA signal interrupted by interference. I talked to their engineer and he wasn't aware of the issue, but once I spotted it out, he got it fixed within a week.
But if it's all the HD channels, then I'm betting you guys are having seperate issues at the head-end. Or perhaps if it's just a few HD channels, it could be ones grouped into the same QAM frequency.
-Derek-
--
CHECK YOUR FSLC TAXES!!! |
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nbrennan
join:2006-10-12
Washington, DC
| reply to pmp888
yeah, I spoke too soon - thursday night featured pixellation and sound cut outs again
one thing I am wondering is if it is related to the DVR - it seems to worsen if we are recording one channle while watching another - almost as if the DVR is overheating or something |
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pmp888
@rcn.com
| reply to alanisrox69
I can't day if it's on every single HD channel, but it's definitely occurring on multiple HD channels (5 at least).
I need to check to see if the blockiness occurs on non-HD channels as well. I know that the audio cut-outs definitely occur on non-HD channels as well as HD ones. Over the past two weeks, I've checked all the wiring, and reduced cable length as much as possible. The signal strength on the box (a Moto 6416 DVR box with the Passport software) indicates that it's in the "fair" range. Occasionally it indicates "good" SNR. That's as good as it gets (even connected via a short cable directly to the box on the side of the house, which I did as an experiment). |
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NW-DC
@rcn.com
| reply to nbrennan
one thing I am wondering is if it is related to the DVR - it seems to worsen if we are recording one channle while watching another - almost as if the DVR is overheating or something
Yeah, the pixelation was pretty bad last night in NW-DC. That and the audio muting issue. It SEEMED to be better a few days last week. I use the HDMI output on a 6412. That and the DVR and any background tasks running on the 6412 it makes me almost wonder if the new software is hogging too much CPU to do all the features simultaneously. |
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artjohn
join:2000-11-17
Chevy Chase, MD
| reply to nbrennan
Add another one in 20815 area noticing random pixellation and dropped sound.
This is on our 6416 DVR; the display is connected with HDMI; Optical sound out to the receiver.
Also, for the first time, we are noticing sound drop outs on replay of recorded program; pause, then "rewind" and the problem temporarily disappears, only to reappear again.
We couldn't hear Betty, but she is even uglier with the added pixellation!  |
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