Advice on what is broken

[self]

I've commented on this before, but it's getting worse: several channels (but not all of them!) get frequent bit errors. The SciFi showing of "Tin Man" was unwatchable because the audio and video errors occurred more than once a minute for the first 5 minutes, and then I gave up.

When I'm watching live TV, I get brief (far less than a second) flashes of a message telling me it's searching for a signal on tuner 2. If I'm watching it, then I don't get that -- I just get to see the errors happen.

I've swapped the cable with one that worked without problem on the standalone DirecTV receiver. I've watched the signal strength, but I don't know which satellites and transponders should or should not work. (A couple of them gave me no signal whatsoever, on both tuners, even after a couple of minutes.)

So I presume I have one of three problems: bad disk drive (but why does it only affect some channels?), bad tuner (again, why does it only affect some channels?), or I need to re-point the antenna (but why does it only seem to affect the one tuner?).

Should I have someone come out and deal with the antenna? Or should I buy a refurbished d'tivo from weaknees? Or simply replace the disk drive?

Thanks!

[markbox]

This is going to sound crazy but... if you are using the S-VHS
connection between your DirecTiVo and the TV try disconnecting
it and using the regular RCA video connection. Myself and others
have done just this and resolved our pixilation / signal dissruption
issues. There are other theads discussing this issue. For more
information use the search feature for "S-VHS".

[self]

No, I'm using just the normal RCA connection at this point. And again, note that this only seems to happen on some channels. (Doesn't seem to happen at all on the SF Bay Area local channels; happens consistently on SciFi; happens intermittently on HBO.) It's repeatable: I can rewind to the trouble spot, and single-step through the problem area.

[JimSpence]

Check your signal strengths again. On 101 the spot beam transponders are 4, 12, 18, 20, 2, and 28. On 119 they are 23, 25, 29, and 31. These can have values of 0, low, or 100 depending on location. Try swapping the input cables to see if the problem moves to the other tuner.

[self]

I went through all the transponders. Other than some which had a strength of 0, they were all 80 and above. Tuner 2 varied more than tuner 1, but it never seemed to drop significantly.

I haven't tried swapping the cables yet, other than what I described, so I suppose I should do that next.

[Tim Weaver]

I have the Samsung SIR-S4080R (Series 2) DirecTV Tivo system and have encountered what sounds like a similar problem starting around October 15th.

In my case, the signals on IN2 for transponders 6,13-16, 21-24, and 29-32 drop out several times per minute when running the signal test process. This does not happen on LN1 or on the other transponders on IN2. When watching Live TV, the picture breaks up. Recorded programs also breakup and sometimes freeze. I swapped the cables conected to IN1 and IN2 and the problem remains on IN2. The other basic receiver in the system works fine.

I used the Guided Setup process to disable IN2 and the problem disappears, but I lose capability to record one program while watching another.

I seems odd, that the transponders experiencing the problem are in blocks of 4 spaced 4 transponders apart except for transponder 6. I double checked the 5-8 and only transponder 6 is failing.

Samsung will not accept the unit for repair saying I need to call DirecTV. DirecTV says my only option is to replace it with an R15-500, but the reviews I have seen on that model are pretty bad.

[rbtravis]

The following company does repairs:
http://www.ccscorporation.net/
good luck.:)

[Tim Weaver]

Thanks for lead.

I switched from S-video to composite as discussed in another thread but this did not fix problem.

[Barryrod]

I had the same problems as you and found I was not using RG6 cable, I was using what was in place when I had cable, RG59 (or 58 can't remember which). Replaced with RG6 and all channels come in great now. Was strange that only certain channels did not work.

[Tim Weaver]

I have clean RG6 quad shielded cable runs from the antenna to the STB with a multiswitch and three connectors in the configuration. No staples or tight turns. overall run is under 175 feet. System was installed in 2005 and operated without problems until this fall. When I swap cables the problem persists.

[gbdude]

I live in Sacramento and I have the same issue. Everything is fine with tuner 1 but tuner 2 exhibits the same symptons that you are experiencing. However, tuner 2 works fine when I am on local channels. For us in Sacramento that's channels 3 - 58. But if I change to any station from 200 - 655, the screen pixelates and is unwatchable. If I test the signal strength of the transponders and tuner 1 is strong on every one but tuner 2 has no signal on 3 or 4 of them. I have no idea how any of this works but I suspect that the problem is not with the receiver but with the software update that was sent to the receiver earlier this year.

If I want to record a show that is on a channel in the 200-655 range I must first make sure my receiver is on tuner 2. Then I set it to a local channel. The receiver will then use tuner 1 to record the program.

It's not the coax cable, it's not the video cable, IT'S THE SOFTWARE.

[pauldtaz]

I'm in the Phoenix area and I have the same problem.
It started after the software update.
I get problems on tuner2 with channels over 200.
I had the same problems with Tin Man so I put tuner2 on a local channel and set tuner1 to SciFi and it was fine.
The problem is how to record unattended, it is a crap shoot.

[chuckg]

I have the Samsung SIR-S4080R (Series 2) In my case, the signals on IN2 for transponders 6,13-16, 21-24, and 29-32 drop out several times per minute when running the signal test process. This does not happen on LN1 or on the other transponders on IN2.

When you say "signal test process" presumably you mean signal strength. I am reasonably sure it is measured about 2/3rds (functional block diagram) of the way through the digital satellite tuner chip, U2001 a CX24108.

Because the signal "drops out several times per minute" it could be the 13 VDC/18 VDC source is "strobed" to the other voltage at that rate by the software. Which in turn selects the other set of transponders. This might be detectable with an analog VOM or perhaps a DVM.

Or it could be the Local Oscillator frequency (which determines which transponder is selected) receives a software command to select a different transponder before quickly (the strobe) receiving the correct command which in turn probably will result in a momentary signal dropout.

I don't know whether the software sets these two parameters once and then forgets them or periodically "refreshes" them. I think your problem is software, as quite few have reported comparable problems with the 6.2 to 6.3e upgrade.

Of course, if all was well before the software upgrade :o I would make arrangements with WeaKnees to have 6.3e replaced with 6.2. And disconnect the phone line. Fixed all of my 6.3e troubles. :up:

[chuckg]

I seems odd, that the transponders experiencing the problem are in blocks of 4 spaced 4 transponders apart except for transponder 6.

This is a natural consequence of a binary sequence where the truth table uses the polarization (odd-even transponders) as the LSB. Four bits, 1, 2, 4, & 8, are used for transponder select (16 transponders per polarization) which become weights 2, 4, 8 & 16 in the truth table. The 2-weight bit is set for alternating blocks as you describe starting with transponder 5.

If the software or hardware decides to transpose the 2-weight bit from a correct one to a zero and send it, quickly followed by the correct value, a one, then the PLL in the tuner chip will momentarily lose lock as the VCO is tuned to another frequency, momentarily, and then reacquiring lock which in turn restores the signal.

Interesting problem. Been thinking about it for several days. How numeric entry in remote control is turned into polarization select, transponder select, channel select when DirecTv can move a channel to different number or to a different transponder or different channel on a transponder virtually at will.

Havn't given any thought to the channel 6 exception.

But your information has helped me fill in the details on how DirecTv on our units works. Something I cared less about until 6.3e. :eek:

There is a database/lookup table on the hard drive. It maps the channel numbers to the bits that need to be set in registers in three chips which in turn, in combination, select a particular channel.

This is only applicable to SD on 101 of course.

[self]

Hm... getting it with 6.2 installed, now that's an interesting option. I don't think there was a whole lot in 6.3 that I wanted.

And it'll work without a phone line?

[BPK72]

I have the same issue running 6.2 so I don't think the software is the issue for me. Transponder 32 on both satellites drops in and out (from 95 to zero and back) and disrupts channels 264 and 540, which the CSR confirmed are on transponder 32. The problem only occurs on tuner 2 and the other tuner works fine with no drop outs. I swapped the cables and the problem is definitely in tuner 2. I have a recently upgraded hard drive purchased from the store on this website but I can't exactly pin down the time the problems started.

[Tim Weaver]

I had this problem with a Samsung SIR-S4080R unit and lived with it for about a month before I found time to understand what was happening. I followed the suggestion of rbtravis (earlier in this thread and sent it to CSS Corporation (800-354-3114) for repair. I had it back in less than a week and it is now working fine (using S-video and 6.3e). The repair was accomplished without clearing the hard drive. They charged $100 including return shipping. It was a great service experience!

Thank you rbtravis for the good recommendation!
Yhank you chuckb for the technical analysis and insight!
Thank you Nick & Viki at CSS for the good service!

[chuckg]

I had this problem with a Samsung SIR-S4080R unit and lived with it for about a month before I found time to understand what was happening. I followed the suggestion of rbtravis (earlier in this thread and sent it to CSS Corporation (800-354-3114) for repair. I had it back in less than a week and it is now working fine (using S-video and 6.3e). The repair was accomplished without clearing the hard drive. They charged $100 including return shipping. It was a great service experience!

Thank you rbtravis for the good recommendation!
Yhank you chuckb for the technical analysis and insight!
Thank you Nick & Viki at CSS for the good service!

Would be interesting know which chip(s) they replaced. Probably U2001, the CX24108.