deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
|  [TIVO] Signal Quality problems
Tonight my wife tried to watch the American Idol recording from channel 513 and there is a TON of audio cutouts and video breakups.
So I go into the S3 Tivo diagnostics and I see the SNR at 35 and jumping down often to 33 or even 31 and the "signal strength" (up to 100) showing 90+ most of the time, but dipping into the low 70s and even high 50s.
None of the wiring has changed.
Will a reboot of the Tivo or re-seating and re-initializing the cable cards help? Or is this just a physical problem somehow? If so, does this mean there's a problem with the fiber? ONT?
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
joe01880
join:2007-10-26
Wakefield, MA | This topic has been discussed many times, do a search on Tivo signal or atenuator |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| said by joe01880  :This topic has been discussed many times, do a search on Tivo signal or atenuator This Tivo and the wiring and the whole setup have been functioning flawlessly for 1.5 years. Is this something that can happen over night for no reason?
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to joe01880
Also, the mentions of the attenuator are for a different scenario:
If you are having pixelization issues on a certain channel that the tivo reports with a signal level of 99-110, that might be worth trying. Tune to the channel and adjust the dial. My signal level is 90-96 but drops as low as the mid-50s. That's a different problem.
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to deblin
Also, the RS uncorrected value is huge (341937) and the RS corrected value is an order of magnitude higher (~3150000).
The corrected RS seems to be going up about 150 per second or so.
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
| said by deblin :Also, the RS uncorrected value is huge (341937) and the RS corrected value is an order of magnitude higher (~3150000). The corrected RS seems to be going up about 150 per second or so. The RS Uncorrected is a sure sign that the Tivo needs to be attenuated.
It is not uncommon for my signal quality to be in the low 50's and get a perfect picture. |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| said by Hooper :The RS Uncorrected is a sure sign that the Tivo needs to be attenuated. So for some reason, over night, my signal has become too hot?
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to Hooper
Actually, tonight is one of the coldest nights in forever.
And if I'm not mistaken, colder temperatures will mean less signal loss and hence a "hotter" signal, requiring the attenuator?
I saw mention in another thread of a variable attenuator from radio shack, but could not find it via their web site. Anyone have a direct link or information about cost?
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
| reply to deblin
said by deblin :So for some reason, over night, my signal has become too hot? I know it seems absurd.
I can tell you that my signal to this day still fluctuates by time of day and year. Sometimes Discovery HD is 100% normal, and sometimes it still pixellates (albeit minimally now) even after attenuation.
Check out some of the channels in the same frequency. Usually where there is one with a problem, you will see it in another channel close by.
RS Corrected value increases when the Tivo can handle the error whereas RS Uncorrected is well a measure of you guessed it.
Let's put it this way. An attenuator can't hurt, even if the problem is transitory. |
|
Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
| reply to deblin
said by deblin :I saw mention in another thread of a variable attenuator from radio shack, but could not find it via their web site. Anyone have a direct link or information about cost? Most folks use these:
»www.smarthome.com/7800/Signal-St···g/p.aspx
The Verizon tech left me some after install for free. I imagine a local Radio Shack will have some. |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to Hooper
said by Hooper :Let's put it this way. An attenuator can't hurt, even if the problem is transitory. But it can, can't it? I mean, when it's 95+ this summer, won't the attenuators rob signal strength when the signal isn't as "hot" because of the heat?
I mean, I suppose at some point, the temps will be high enough that I can just remove the attenuators. But if I have to screw around with the level of attenuation all the time, that's just going to suck.  Especially if I wind up recording something only to see it's fubar and have to mess with the attenuation level.
I'm sure you all know the wrath of $wife when american idol or one of their shows isn't recorded or is unwatchable. 
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to Hooper
Thanks for the link. $13 isn't bad.
Out of curiosity, what is the target SNR and/or "signal quality" on the S3 Tivo "DVR Diagnostic" page? I'll use the reported SNR at the cold times and warmer daytimes to figure out which attenuator to start with.
Thanks again!
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
| Folks have reported 31 as the target SNR on the Tivo. I just went based on viewing experience. If the Tivo pixellated I would add more till it stopped on the offending channel.
Supposedly the S3 handles this better than the TivoHD, so you may only need a small amount unlike me. In my old house, I only needed around 6db of attenuation. It all depends on the ONT and cable run.
In my new place, I have about 15ft of coax from the ONT to the Tivo. In the old house I had about 150 ft. |
|
joe01880
join:2007-10-26
Wakefield, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
1 edit | reply to deblin
no problem..was just trying to help, Verizons signal is hot, tivos have signal amplifiers, to much signal from verizon can play havock with Tivo, - atenuators reduce the signal from Verizon and Tivo's seem to work better as a result. At least thats whats been posted in this forum in the past! |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to Hooper
Ok, thanks. I'll start with 3 dB and go from there. It's ok to daisy chain these, right? If so, the possible values I can try given 2x3dB 2x6dB 2x10dB and 2x20dB are:
3
6
9
12
13
16
19
20
23
...
I'm guessing I won't need more than 3-9, so the other values are just theoretical.
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE
| reply to joe01880
said by joe01880 :no problem..was just trying to help, Verizons signal is hot, tivos have signal amplifiers, to much signal from verizon can play havock with Tivo, - atenuators reduce the signal from Verizon and Tivo's seem to work better as a result. At least thats whats been posted in this forum in the past! Thanks, didn't mean to dismiss your post. You were spot on. Seems the colder weather is probably pushing my normally ok signal a bit too hot for my S3 Tivo.
--
He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have. -Socrates |
|
Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
1 edit | reply to deblin
said by deblin :Ok, thanks. I'll start with 3 dB and go from there. It's ok to daisy chain these, right? If so, the possible values I can try given 2x3dB 2x6dB 2x10dB and 2x20dB are: 3 6 9 12 13 16 19 20 23 ... I'm guessing I won't need more than 3-9, so the other values are just theoretical. Yes, you can daisy chain, but you most likely won't need to. This isn't an exact science really. |
|
deblin
Dark Side of the Moon
Premium,MVM
join:2001-09-01
Middletown, DE | Yeah was just thinking if 6 didn't cut it, I could go to 9 instead of 10... 
Thanks! |
|
keyboards
join:2001-02-14
Doylestown, PA
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| The difference between 9 dB and 10 dB of attenuation is:
-9 dB is 1/8 (0.125) the original signal strength
-10 dB is 1/10 (0.100) the original signal strength.
The world would little note nor long remember the difference
--
REMEMBER: Stupidity should be painful !! |
|
JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE | reply to deblin
Deblin,
Yes, with a Tivo, this can happen overnight.
One of the main reasons I sold mine. I couldn't stand the unpredictable pixellation.
--
"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" |
|
