Tivopony Please Help Me

[Brian Tierney]

I do not want to return my brand new Series 3 but I have a problem.

ABC is on 8.1. I get a 99-100 signal but no picture. In diagnostics it says: Picture lock: NO.

Please hurry with a response so I can return the Series 3 within the 30 days allowed, if needed.

[Redux]

I do not want to return my brand new Series 3 but I have a problem.

ABC is on 8.1. I get a 99-100 signal but no picture. In diagnostics it says: Picture lock: NO.

Please hurry with a response so I can return the Series 3 within the 30 days allowed, if needed.The many of us who have the same problem wish you well.

[minckster]

If you're talking about WTNH in New Haven, CT, see
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=349702

[Brian Tierney]

If you're talking about WTNH in New Haven, CT, see
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=349702

Yes, I am talking about WTNH in New Haven. I seem to have exhausted reading up on the subject on the AVS forum and the Tivo community forums. I made a last ditch effort to see if TivoPony has anything to say about this problem. I will wait longer to see if he replies but my 30-day satisfaction guarantee ends in 27 days.

Customer support was totally useless. Kept telling me to install a signal booster. Bought a channel master 7777 and it did not help at all. Signal level without the 7777 is 99-100. I knew it was a waste of time and money but I gave it a try.

[AbMagFab]

This usually is an issue with the OTA broadcaster using a secondary sub-channel to broadcast the HD. It's on the broadcaster's end, where they might not have the right PSIP info to do the mapping?

Happened here in DC on DC-20 for a while. They were broadcasting on the 3rd subchannel (who knows why), with nothing on the primary or secondary.

I could prove this by tuning to their non-mapped channel (34), and going to subchannel 3 (34-3), and I could see a beautiful HD picture (of crap programming, but it was there).

I opened a ticket with Tivo hoping they could map it properly (34-3 to 20-1). but I don't think they are set up to remap sub-channels (i.e. -3 to -1), only primary channels (i.e. -3 to -3), and only if a primary exists. So at best I might have gotten 20-3 with program info.

In the end, I think Tivo got DC-20 to fix how they were broadcasting, and put it on the primary channel 20-1, so all was good.

In any case, I wouldn't return the S3. Just get your local affiliate to broadcast properly, and submit a ticket to Tivo to try and help.

[Redux]

Just get your local affiliate to broadcast properlyThe broadcaster's position is that they have many thousands of digital viewers, using digital TVs and digital receivers other than Tivo, and they are all doing fine.

[AbMagFab]

The broadcaster's position is that they have many thousands of digital viewers, using digital TVs and digital receivers other than Tivo, and they are all doing fine.
Then they're lying. The ATSC broadcasts aren't currently being metered separately. For all they know, no one is getting them except via cable rebroadcasts.

DC20 at least admitted that here in DC. Of course, they were the local UPN, so the viewer-issue was compounded.

[Brian Tierney]

<<This usually is an issue with the OTA broadcaster using a secondary sub-channel to broadcast the HD>>

By secondary I assume you mean 8.2 instead of 8.1. Is that correct?

"It's on the broadcaster's end, where they might not have the right PSIP info to do the mapping?"

Tivo support called me today. They had me go into diagnostics. There it did not list a number next to PID. The guy said that means the broadcaster is not sending the right data that will allow the Tivo to decode the signal. That does not really make sense to me because two digital TV's tune 8.1 just fine when the Tivo is out of the signal path. It seems to me that it is tuning the signal, just not outputting it to Tv. Other people have reported the same problem was fixed when they got the box replaced. The first guy that called was a supervisor. The message he left was that it was probably a bad antenna port and he said they would replace the box. The guy I ended up talking to seemed reluctant to replace the box.

<<In any case, I wouldn't return the S3. Just get your local affiliate to broadcast properly, and submit a ticket to Tivo to try and help>>

If I keep the Tivo then I will have no ABC network in February of 2009 when analog goes dark. Also my only choice will be to record analog on ABC until then. Thinking that it is the stations problem is just too far of a stretch because non-Tivo tuners can receive 8.1 properly. Getting my money back until Tivo can get their tuners to work as well as the tuners in my two TV's seems to be the only option at this point.

[Brian Tierney]

<<Just get your local affiliate to broadcast properly>>

That sounds great, but if that is the problem, then they do not know how to do it, otherwise, they would have already done it.

[Redux]

Then they're lying.Kinda hard for me to say that to the local broadcaster with any real conviction, since I have three other receivers and a TV that receive and display their digital channel just fine.

But you're right, maybe tomorrow I'll just call and scream "you're lying" and we'll see how that goes.

Tivo, OTOH, wants me to install a "booster" because it's a weak signal problem. See, it's not significant that I get 98-99 on the meter, it's the "swing" in reading that means I'm getting an unstable signal. Yeah, swinging from 98 to 99 is a HUGE problem. Or sometimes they say it's a cable company problem (hey, I hate cable as much as anyone, but hard to imagine how they could be screwing up my OTA).

Other than stall me along so I'm probably past the point of being able to return this thing, Tivo has done nothing _but_ lie (because I do not believe they could be as incompetent as they pretend).

I have reached the point I'm considering turning in my official Tivo fanboy badge and begging Evoniac to forgive me and accept me into the ranks of the DirecTV-branded-HD fanboy club.

[ZeoTiVo]

Kinda hard for me to say that to the local broadcaster with any real conviction, since I have three other receivers and a TV that receive and display their digital channel just fine.

But you're right, maybe tomorrow I'll just call and scream "you're lying" and we'll see how that goes.
I read the tech stuff over at AVS but from memory I may get some of this wrong but the general gist is.

They are not so much lying as either not knowing or not telling the whole truth. There is a standard for broadcasting the sub channels on digital. some broadcasters are not adhering to the standard like they should be. TV tuners are not so picky about the standard as they just display what they get. This is a main reason why the broadcasters do not see a problem with ignoring the standard. The TiVo is currently picky and adheres solely to the standard as the correct way to tune it. To fix "this problem" TiVo would have to loosen up the rules it uses to tune the digital channel. They have a choice to make; get the broadcasters on the right track or give in and not follow the spec.

I do not think an answer will be available within 27 days so do what you think you need to.

[Brian Tierney]

<<Their is a standard for broadcasting the sub channels on digital. some broadcasters are not adhering to the standard like they should be.>>

Could you elaborate on that?

<<The TiVo is currently picky and adheres solely to the standard as the correct way to tune it>>

How do you know that?

[ZeoTiVo]

<<Their is a standard for broadcasting the sub channels on digital. some broadcasters are not adhering to the standard like they should be.>>

Could you elaborate on that?

<<The TiVo is currently picky and adheres solely to the standard as the correct way to tune it>>

How do you know that?
I read it in the AVS forum. could not find it now. I only could sort of keep up with what others were posting, so can not elaborate. Take it for what it is is all I can say

[GoHokies!]

<<Their is a standard for broadcasting the sub channels on digital. some broadcasters are not adhering to the standard like they should be.>>

Could you elaborate on that?

<<The TiVo is currently picky and adheres solely to the standard as the correct way to tune it>>

How do you know that?
Because it's been discussed here and over at avs time and time again. Tivo actually expects broadcasters to correctly follow the specs - other devices are coded differently (and more sloppily in my mind) to allow for incorrect data to be parsed.

[snathanb]

Because it's been discussed here and over at avs time and time again. Tivo actually expects broadcasters to correctly follow the specs - other devices are coded differently (and more sloppily in my mind) to allow for incorrect data to be parsed.


I've got a total of 7 OTA tuners in my house.... and 1 local channel that is notorious for f**king up their PSIP data from time to time (if you are in DFW you know I'm talking about 27)

My receivers all react different. Some display it no problem. Some display it, but on actual frequency instead of of 27-1. Some won't display it at all, period.

So, yes, it is very possible that:

1) The PSIP data is mucked
2) Plenty of people (including the OP) see it just fine on other tuners
3) The TIVO won't display it
4) TIVO is not at fault.

[hdhdliving]

Because it's been discussed here and over at avs time and time again. Tivo actually expects broadcasters to correctly follow the specs - other devices are coded differently (and more sloppily in my mind) to allow for incorrect data to be parsed.


Correct.

But why are all you guys answering. Didn't you see he wants an answer from Pony? :D

[bareyb]

Correct.

But why are all you guys answering. Didn't you see he wants an answer from Pony? :D

LOL. I won't hold my breath. There's a reason his screen name is Tivo PONY. And it's not because his last name is Pony-atowski. :D