weird dual LNB problem

[annoyed99]

So I finally after all these years ran another cable from my round dish to my directivo receiver so I can record one channel and watch another. In order to make sure I crimped the new cable ok, I disconnected the original cable and plugged in the new second one. Everything seemed fine so I plugged in the old cable into input number 2.

I then ran guided setup and told it I had two inputs now. Everything went fine.

I then started playing with it, recording on one channel and changing channels. The channels I was changing to were blocky and weird like if there was a super bad rainstorm. I went to the signal test screen and input two has slightly lower reception (like around 83-85) compared to input one (86-87). But in addition, input two keeps dropping to 0 reception, at least every few seconds. I tried swapping the cables in the back of the receiver, and it is still input two that is dropping out. Weird.

Could my crappy crimp job on the new cable be causing this? Could anything else be the issue?

Thanks!
-K

[Tobashadow]

Sounds like tuner two is bad

[mikeandnikki]

Agree that tuner 2 has likely gone bad - just had this happen to me after 4 years of using both tuners. And I found quite a few other folks reporting this as well. If you are using the s-video output, try switching to component output instead. I found that tip on another post from a few months ago and it worked for me. Once S-vid was unplugged, no more problems. If I plugged it back in, the garble started again immediately. I have no idea why it works (and no one else I have found has an definitive answer) but it may get you your second tuner.

You can take a look at the thread I created. It is named "Help please - Tuner gone bad on a series 2" (sorry, as I am new to posting on the site, I am restricted from actually giving the URL)

If you're not using s-video or if it doesn't workaround the problem, all the information I have read says that it is very difficult to fix and likely cheaper to buy a new receiver. Then again, I dropped my research when the workaround worked so maybe there is a way and I just didn't find it.

Good luck!

[mikeandnikki]

There - now I have my 5 posts and can give you the link:
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=333631

[annoyed99]

Thanks for the info!

I read your thread and searched for the other related ones. Lucky for you about the s-video. What a bummer for me though, I wasn't using s-video. And it was a nightmare running that other cable through my attic and down the wall.

I had no idea you can't get these receivers anymore and apparently the newer directv ones suck. I don't understand why everything is getting worse instead of better in electronics. I have the same problem in another area. I use a particular consumer-grade digital camcorder for work. Sony used to make a really good one but the newer models are terrible. I have to roll the dice and buy used junk on ebay to get the good model when I need a replacement.

-K