Bad HD Locals on Tuner 0 Only

[TexasAg]

Tuner 0 started pixelating very badly a couple days ago. The picture cuts out and has very little audio. If I'm in the Diagnostics screen, it shows the signal strength varying randomly between the 70s and 90s and occassionally loses signal lock all together. Tuner 1 never has this problem.

I can't decide if it is a hardware or software problem.

It might be a hardware problem since:
(1) It always happens on Tuner 0, not Tuner 1 (even after I swap the CableCards in the slots). It's been happening for days and is always on Tuner 0.
(2) If I put both tuners on the same local HD channel, Tuner 0 is unwatchable, but Tuner 1 is crystal clear. The Diagnostics screen shows Tuner 1 with a strong signal and constant signal lock.

It might be a software problem since:
(1) It only happens on local HD channels. Tuner 0 can tune to TNT, ESPN, HDNet, Discovery, and other HD channels just fine.

Anybody have any idea what could be causing this? I have Verizon Fios in Dallas if it helps.

[r11roadster]

wonder if it is related to this in any way? something odd with tuner 0 IMHO

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=323265
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=318365

[TexasAg]

Now I'm really not sure what to make of it. Both tuners now work for all HD locals. No glitches on either tuner. The only things I did today was pop out one of the cards and immediately put it back in, and I viewed some photos from my desktop.

[TexasAg]

Well, it's still doing it. I've looked into it some more, and the problem occurs on the HD locals and a weather station in the 500-525MHz range. Anybody with any ideas why this would happen on one tuner and not the other?

[r11roadster]

Well I would call Tivo and have the problem documented and get a case #. There is an update coming out soon that MAY fix this problem.

[drowe]

I'd put my money on a bad tuner. In fact, bad tuners might explain a lot of the problems described in this forum...

[TexasAg]

I don't think it is a tuner problem since it happened mostly on Tuner 0 but sometimes on Tuner 1.

Actually, I think I fixed the problem. I put a resistive terminator on the OTA antenna input connector on the S3, and the problem seems to have stopped (or at least been greatly reduced).

[SoCalCraig]

I'm having similar problems with my 1st S3, but with both Cable and OTA HD channels and also Cable Digital (non-HD) channels. But my problems were ONLY on tuner 0. I tried everything I could think of including adding and removing splitters, adding and removing my video amp, and even swapping the CableCards. All to no effect. Called TiVo and after a short discussion with the CSR describing all that I had already tried, they said it was probably a bad unit and it should be replaced.

But I had not tried adding a terminator to the OTA input (since I currently have an antenna attached). I may try this even though a new unit is on the way.

[r11roadster]

Actually, I think I fixed the problem. I put a resistive terminator on the OTA antenna input connector on the S3, and the problem seems to have stopped (or at least been greatly reduced).

Why is it when you don't need something you continuously come across it, but soon as you need the friggin thing it is nowhere to be found? wonder why this works? wonder if Tivo will be sending me one in the mail? :)