pixellation that is NOT TiVo's fault; what to do?

[astrohip]

I have noticed on several occasions I will record an HD broadcast, and there will be lengthy segments with pixellation & blockiness. When this happens, the audio will usually cut in & out, and it makes the show unwatchable. It might last anywhere from 10-30 minutes of, for example, a 2 hour movie. I have also seen it live, not just on recordings (although it was via the S3, so I guess technically, it was still a recording). I also have an SA8300HD, and on rare occasions when I have recorded the same show on both, and that show has the pix problem, both DVRs have it. This tells me it is a transmission problem, not a TiVo problem. I have TW cable in Houston.

I have checked the signal strength of the channels, and they are consistently 96-97-98. So that is not the problem. But this happens often enough that it is a concern; plus, when you have recorded an HD movie, and are all engrossed watching it, there is nothing that will p*ss you off more than to hit one of these pix problem areas, and not be able to finish your movie. :(

What do y'all recommend I try? I'm afraid if I call TW, they will give me the brush-off. Especially since it is so sporadic. Ideas?

[geodon005]

You may want to check the actual signal strength; you may actually be getting TOO strong a signal.

The week before I installed my Series 3, I got the exact same symptoms you described (most noticeably on the Food Network, which drove my wife nuts!). I had read on several forums that too strong a signal could cause this problem, and then I recalled that Comcast had installed a Motorola signal booster when they installed their digital phone service. I took the signal booster out, and the problems disappeared - and have not shown up again (including after installation of the Series 3). In fact, the Comcast tech who installed the CableCards in my Series 3 (a very knowledgeable guy, by the way) indicated that I had a very strong signal (this was AFTER I had removed the signal booster).

[TexasGrillChef]

I had this same issue. I had Time/Warner exchange my cable cards & run a new cable line from the "Box" to my house. I also had them change out the cable splitters in my house (total of 4) and replace all the cable runs from the splitters to my TV's and S3's.

I then added the terminator to each of my S3's (I have 2).

Problem is NOW solved, for both S3's and even my 2 cable card TV's (All 6 Cable cards were exchanged by Time/Warner.

TexasGrillChef

[lawilson2]

I too had too strong of a signal coming into my house, and then I had too low; it went back and forth. My cable tech went to the pole and discovered that my connectors were not tight enough; moisture would get in when it rained or snowed! He fixed that problem, gave me a better splitter for my TV and a better cable than the one Tivo provided, and all is right with the world. :)

[monkeydust]

We sure this isn't the S3's fault? Has there ever been an official word on this?

I never have this problem on my other TV's that don't have an S3 hooked up.

[astrohip]

Thanks for all the advice. Some *very* good ideas to try.

I then added the terminator to each of my S3's (I have 2).TexasGrillChef

What is this, and where do you add it? Being an old techie, I am familiar with SCSI terminators, but not cable. :confused:

We sure this isn't the S3's fault? Has there ever been an official word on this?

I can't guarantee that your S3 doesn't have its own issues, but as I stated in my OP, I have seen this happen on the same broadcast at the same time on my S3 and my SA8300HD. On different cable runs. So it ain't the S3. :rolleyes: