HD10-250 issues // Programming random kicks out

[sloan]

I'm not sure if I'm having a unqiue problem

or if its related to this thread:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=317032


Here's the issue:

I just got my HD10-250 box about a month ago.

I programmed a few season passes. And picked a few movies.

Ok...............

Sometimes when it records a movie or something, it will record 1 minute, and then stop.

I think the issue is that... it senses that the picture isn't coming in.

Other symptoms:
Every once in a while, I'll start flipping channels, and I'll get
"Programming not available in your area"
or
just a blank screen.

I've noticed this happens the most predictably when:
Tivo is recording one show.
I'm browsing on the other channel.

If I go in and stop the first show. And then flip channels, they'll all be there again.


Now, thats not always the case. 2 Saturday's ago, I tried everything to watch any d*tv HDTV channel (73-79). But no luck.
I actually had to call them, and they did something, and the channels came on.

It is not Signal Strength or 2nd cable issues. I've got all 90's or better on the signal strength.


The biggest issue is that I don't trust it right now. Unlike my Phillips DSR704 (upgraded to two 320GB drives) which works perfectly, my new HD10-250 is not performing the greatest.


I've also noticed that I find the issue on Saturday. I don't know if that's because I have more time to fool with it, or something happens.

I never get "Programming Not Available in your area" in the OTA channels.
Just the d*tv HDTV channels.
Yes, I understand espn sometimes blocks channels. But this happens in ~all HDTV channels, including discovery and hdNet. Somehow I don't think Discovery channel has blackout areas because of sports rights.
Also, I can flip over to ESPN (206) and the show is coming on.

It acts like it can't figure out whether or not I'm really signed up for HDTV or not.


Also:
It was happening on my "virgin" harddrive, no mods. (The original 250GB drive)
So I got a brand new 320GB drive, and used the InstantCake to bake a fresh drive.
The issues still happen.

Any clues? Tests I can do?


The menu system is very very slow too. I know that's a "normal" issue, but wow, it seems really bad. Like sometimes I can't even pause and startup without multiple remote key-presses.

..

Please help. I bought a HDTV, installed an antenna getting ready for Football and The Office in HDTV, and I can't trust my Tivo yet!

Thanks............

[SoonerDoc]

i have had this happen for the first time ever tonite while recording smallville on the OTA local channel. switched channels and switched back it was there. switched to another channel and back , no signal message. switch and back and the channel is back again....hmmmm

[sloan]

Ok.

Hindsight is 20/20.

I spent about 40 minutes with a CSR (advanced tech support) and this guy actually made a good effort for me.

He did some research, and said "Sometimes when you get the "Programming Not Available" error, (when you know it shouldn't be there) AND you still get good signals on all 3 sats (101,119,110).... He said it could be a early switch failure.

Sure enough....
I swapped out switches, and my problems went away.
Basically, when it was recording a show, the internal switching thats supposed to take place on tuner2 wasn't happening, and it was slowing up the system, I guess it was confusing the tivo as to what was happening.

I'm talking about the small box on the back of my satellite dish, that combines the 101,119 and 110 signals. I have an older elliptical dish, without the integrated head. My LNB's are standalone. If you have an integrated head, you'l have to swap out the whole thing I guess.

Anyway, its running stable now. and what I'd consider a "normal" slow ( v3 hd tivo compared to ver 6.3 on my on HD DSR704 model).

Just to be clear, I wasn't getting issues on my OTA channel changing.


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