Directv RCA R10 Tivo problems

[nikki712]

I got my Directv Tivo receiver a little over 3 years ago. Over the past month or so, I've been getting a lot of garbled channels. Lots of pixelation. Also, sometimes when I try to fast forward or rewind, the program doesn't "move". The little arrows (for ff or rw) are there, but the program stays at the same point. It gets stuck sometimes and I have to reboot. I called Directv this morning to order a new receiver and found out that the only ones they have are the regular DVR receivers, and I'm not impressed with the reviews I've read.

What can I do to try to figure out (and fix) the problem? I have 2 dual lnb satellites. I have a multiswitch on one of them, but don't know which. The multiswitch was installed about 6 months ago, but the TIVO problems only started about a month ago, and I haven't changed anything in regards to how it's set up.

Any help would be appreciated. I don't want to go from Tivo to Directv's regular DVR service. Thanks in advance!

[John T Smith]

Could be several things... here's ideas for 2 possible problems

Tuner 2 Problem MAY be due to S-Video Cable
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=318681
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=333631

List of Possible Hard Drive Problems in message#2
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=335120

[nikki712]

Thanks for the info. I've unplugged the svideo cable, so I'll see how that works.

How do I find out which program is recording on tuner 1 and on tuner 2? Also, how do I open the cover to check for dust? I don't think I have the right tools??

Also, any suggestions as to where I can buy another (new) Directv Tivo box?

[JimSpence]

There is no way of telling what is being recorded on each tuner. And, in normal situations it isn't needed to know which tuner is used.

You need a Torx driver to take off the cover. Either #10 or #15, I don't know which at the moment.

[classicsat]

#10 to open the case, #15 to remove the HDD from the HDD bracket.

[nikki712]

Thanks for the replies.

I have been reading and searching this forum looking for info that might apply to my case. I read another post in which the person stated that when the Tivo'd show got to a certain point, the actual tivo box would freeze up. This happened to me the other night. 15 minutes into the show and everything froze up. Couldn't ff, rw, pause, nothing. I had to restart 4 times b/c it would get to the same point in the show and freeze up, and then I finally gave up b/c getting past the first 15 minutes of that show was impossible. Does this sound like a tuner problem or a hard drive problem? I'm having problem with pixelation and a few other things (see first post). I'm trying to decide if I need to buy a new hard drive or a new box (w/o the hard drive and just use mine in it), or if I need to just breakdown and buy one of the brand new ones that are for sale on weaknees. What do you think?

I did CDE about 3.5 - 4 hours ago, and it's still on the same "clearing and deleting everything...this may take up to an hour..." screen. I don't know if this is going to help my problem or not, but at this point, I have nothing to lose.

[JimSpence]

CD&E can take quite a bit longer than the displayed "this may take up to an hour". Wait until tomorrow and get back to us.

[John T Smith]

Also, any suggestions as to where I can buy another (new) Directv Tivo box?
Since they have not been made in over a year, good luck in finding a NEW one

But, read this... Where to I get a DirecTv Tivo?
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316297

[nikki712]

Okay, I finished the CDE and have got everything back up and running. How long does it take for my local channels to come back? I subscribe to MLB Extra Innings, and I'm watching one of those channels, but I have no local channels? Is this something that will correct itself?

Also, before I did the CDE, when I would go to "Read new messages", there would be no messages there, even though on the screen right before it, the little envelope icon would be visible (which meant I should have some messages somewhere). Now it says "no messages" or whatever it's SUPPOSED to say. So at least that's fixed.

So back to my original question - how long before I get my local channels back, or do I need to contact Directv?

Thanks in advance!

[73cuda]

Try this....

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=337180&highlight=local

Post #2

Works for me

[JimSpence]

After a CD&E, the unit has to index all of the guide data, which can take a day or so. Then you'll be able to use Season Pass and Wishlist lookups.

[nikki712]

Thanks so much 73cuda! Worked for me too!

[nikki712]

Thanks Jim. So far, the CDE seems to have done the trick. Too early to tell now, but I have my fingers crossed. :)

[Dkerr24]

C&DE may work for awhile, but don't count on it. Once a hard drive starts going bad, there's no stopping it.

[nikki712]

Yep, you're right. CD&E worked last night, but when I got up this morning, my TV was on channel 2 (which isn't even a local channel or anything). We couldn't get the TV to change channels or anything. It was just stuck on channel 2. So do you guys think this is a hard drive problem? Do you think that if I bought one from weaknees that it would fix things? I just don't know what to do at this point. I do NOT want to go to Directv's dvr service. What should I do?

Also, the TV kinda pauses for a second during shows. So that stuff is starting up again.

[JimSpence]

Can you bring up any of the TiVo menus? You said you couldn't get the TV to change channels? I hope you meant that the TiVo wouldn't change channels? Try another simple restart.

[nikki712]

Yeah, I meant that the TIVO wouldn't change channels. I couldn't get to the menus or anything. I pressed almost every button on the Tivo remote and nothing worked. I restarted it, and so far it's working fine. I can't help but think that it's on it's last leg.