Endless resetting

[bsimpson63]

I've had two comcast tivo boxes die on me in the past two weeks. The same (fatal?) progression of problems has come up with both of them.

First, I get frequent black screens where the box was completely unresponsive, resolved by waiting a couple hours for the box to come back to life. Then, the box seems to be stuck in the black screen state so I disconnected and reconnected the power cord. The box is now stuck in a cycle of resetting, where some codes are displayed on the LED with the "Welcome! Starting up..." message on the TV for ~10 minutes and then goes black and then displays "Please wait".

With the first box I got comcast to come out and set up a replacement, and the technician said it was probably a hardware problem. That seems unlikely because I've had the identical problem with the second box. Has anyone else experienced this and/or know of a fix?

[bren924]

I just went throug something similar, and it looks like it ended up being a bad signal coming in to my box that was causing problems.

It took me a few calls and an excellent technician to get things running again for me. The tech who came out ended up replacing the cable run to my house from the pole. I am thinking TiVo is much more sensitive to poor signal than the normal DVR on these boxes.

Haven't had any problems in the week since the signal levels were restored.

[sberube]

I just went through this as well. Went to 8888 then blicked then 8888 then repeat.

I decided to go back to the iGuide software for now. ComcastTivo isn't quite ready for primetime.

[rtudisco]

I just went through this as well. Went to 8888 then blicked then 8888 then repeat.

I decided to go back to the iGuide software for now. ComcastTivo isn't quite ready for primetime.

I am now stuck in the same loop since last night.

How hard is it to go back to iGuide software? Can it be done over the phone?


Rick

[sberube]

I had to bring it in to a local office and get a newb ox.

[rtudisco]

I just went through this as well. Went to 8888 then blicked then 8888 then repeat.

I decided to go back to the iGuide software for now. ComcastTivo isn't quite ready for primetime.

As Posted last week I had the same problem (repeating 8888 and blinking dot). Problem solved last Tuesday by technician replacing box. Supposedly signal strength is fine.

One week later same problem....I have an appt for Thurs evening to replace the box, again. This will be my sixth box since install!

Not sure if I am up to having the Tivo software installed this time. I haven't been able to view much TV since the box fails and gets replaced before I can finish watching my recordings:(

Rick

[bsimpson63]

I ended up going back to the standard Comcast DVR software. It's not great but at least it doesn't have any technical problems (yet).

[rtudisco]

I ended up going back to the standard Comcast DVR software. It's not great but at least it doesn't have any technical problems (yet).

I also gave up. When the tech brought in the latest dvr he looked relieved when I told him I didn't want the Tivo software installed this time!

In my case the hardware seems to fail with the Tivo software. Is that possible?

[Lancer383]

Same problem here -- endless resetting with a blinking dot and 8888's on the box. I am so sick of this piece of junk -- it's really irresponsible to not only bring this to market so long before it's ready, but to also charge people extra for it. I'm sick of making excuses for this -- it doesn't deserve the Tivo name.

[rtudisco]

Same problem here -- endless resetting with a blinking dot and 8888's on the box. I am so sick of this piece of junk -- it's really irresponsible to not only bring this to market so long before it's ready, but to also charge people extra for it. I'm sick of making excuses for this -- it doesn't deserve the Tivo name.

Yeah, the original DVR doesn't seem so bad now. Kind of sad to think I feel good to see it is not flashing "8888" anymore and my recordings are safe.

[Eric90gt]

just read in a memo this morning that this is a known issue ("crazy 8's and reset loop")with the DCH3416 boxes and will be fixed with the new firmware upgrade in early march

[boxerboys]

new firmware upgrade in early march

Where did you hear this (early March)? If this resolves my issues at hand, i will be grateful.

[BlackBetty]

Where did you hear this (early March)?

He told you. He read it in a memo. Eric works for comcast as a technician. He is a great resource to these forums. Thanks for the info Eric.

[Eric90gt]

Where did you hear this (early March)? If this resolves my issues at hand, i will be grateful.

yup, like betty said, it was in a tech bulletin I read yesterday.

I'd scan and post it, but I'm sure its company internal and I like my job :)

[boxerboys]

yup, like betty said, it was in a tech bulletin I read yesterday.

I'd scan and post it, but I'm sure its company internal and I like my job :)

Thanks guys; didn't realize Eric's status with Comcast. Looking forward to the upgrade.

Chris

[mtchamp]

Attention Comcast people, I've got the Crazy Eights Syndrome. I had a power failure here Monday that must have only lasted only 2 seconds. I was busy in an empty room remodeling. I came into the living room and the TV was on but my real TiVo HD was rebooting. So then I knew the power must have failed just enough to cause clocks to blink everywhere and DVR's to reboot and my Comcast TiVo is still rebooting ever since and still showing 4 8's on and off.

I unplugged the Comcast TiVo and tried it again and it still does it. I have 2 TiVo HD's and the Comcast is an experiment for me, so I'm not sweating it. If there is indeed a software fix coming and it will fix a box that already has the 8's, I'll wait, however if it's too late and I need a new box, please tell me what to do. My day off is Monday and I'm usually home all day if you want to come fix it. I live less than a mile from the New Bedford Comcast office if I could just pick up a new box. Since this has been like a beta for so many early adopters and you know the issues, spare me the call center and pm me with some Comcast love. I'll give you some TiVo love back.

[Eric90gt]

Attention Comcast people, I've got the Crazy Eights Syndrome. I had a power failure here Monday that must have only lasted only 2 seconds. I was busy in an empty room remodeling. I came into the living room and the TV was on but my real TiVo HD was rebooting. So then I knew the power must have failed just enough to cause clocks to blink everywhere and DVR's to reboot and my Comcast TiVo is still rebooting ever since and still showing 4 8's on and off.

I unplugged the Comcast TiVo and tried it again and it still does it. I have 2 TiVo HD's and the Comcast is an experiment for me, so I'm not sweating it. If there is indeed a software fix coming and it will fix a box that already has the 8's, I'll wait, however if it's too late and I need a new box, please tell me what to do. My day off is Monday and I'm usually home all day if you want to come fix it. I live less than a mile from the New Bedford Comcast office if I could just pick up a new box. Since this has been like a beta for so many early adopters and you know the issues, spare me the call center and pm me with some Comcast love. I'll give you some TiVo love back.

Ive read a few posts here and on AVS forum about these 88:88 boxes coming back to life on thier own, plus like has been said, the new firmware in supposed to be relased soon so you might try to wait it out a week or so.

[Oknarf]

Just got back from vacation. Prior to leaving we had 3 of the comcast boxes installed and all was well when we left. This morning we have 1 that is flashing 88:88, the other 2 functioning normally. I'm chatting with tech support now. We'll see what they say.

[sjashe]

Funny thing.. when mine went to the blinking 8888s, they called the day before the tech was coming out to ask if it had fixed itself...

I think the tech looking relieved because you didn't want the tivo software only had to do with his hating to wait the 45 minutes doing nothing while it downloaded.

The tech here went on to another case and then called to check in with me to see that it had completed. Worked out fine for me

[cypherstream]

Is the flashing 8888's a symptom of the software/firmware etc.. failing docsis set top gateway registration at the cmts?

[HiDefGator]

Attention Comcast people, I've got the Crazy Eights Syndrome. I had a power failure here Monday that must have only lasted only 2 seconds. I was busy in an empty room remodeling. I came into the living room and the TV was on but my real TiVo HD was rebooting. So then I knew the power must have failed just enough to cause clocks to blink everywhere and DVR's to reboot and my Comcast TiVo is still rebooting ever since and still showing 4 8's on and off.

Yet another reason to put electronics on a UPS. Think of all the trouble a $30 UPS could have saved you.

[tivosag]

Yet another reason to put electronics on a UPS. Think of all the trouble a $30 UPS could have saved you.

I had 3 boxes fail on me, with the exact same symptoms, while there were no power outages. In any way, imagine if your desktop/laptop crashed into an un-recoverable state after each power outage - i don't see any reason for those boxes to perform so poorly.

[Oknarf]

After two conversations via chat with tech support last weekend, both tried to send a signal to the box and requested a re-start of the box to no avail. A tech is scheduled to come out tomorrow and replace the dead box as this is the only solution according to the rep I spoke with this AM. I left it on and re-booting for almost a week hoping it would come back to life but no luck. Let's hope the March update will fix this.

[dotorg]

Same problem here.

Tech is here now installing #7 and #8 since mid-January.

And, of course, he can't get one of the boxes to flip.

[Oknarf]

...And, of course, he can't get one of the boxes to flip.

Sounds like someone is clueless. Our new box was installed and flipped Friday evening. The guy was here for 45 minutes total.

All is well .... for now.

[Calmante]

You can add me to the growing list of 8888 victims. What is up with that? I'm kinda starting to reconsider this whole thing unless the fix comes imminently. This will be my fourth box!

[mikesam]

Well the update that Comcast claims "is coming in mid-March" either hasn't reached me yet or doesn't work. Today is Tuesday, March 18 @ 9:45 p.m. and my Comcast Tivo has gone CRAZY 8's again!!! :mad:

This is the second box that has crapped out in less than 3 weeks. My original Tivo box is 5 years old and has NEVER had a problem!

I will give Comcast ONE more try - then back to Tivo - I only hope she'll forgive me for cheating on her with Comcast!

[Eric90gt]

Well the update that Comcast claims "is coming in mid-March" either hasn't reached me yet or doesn't work. Today is Tuesday, March 18 @ 9:45 p.m. and my Comcast Tivo has gone CRAZY 8's again!!! :mad:

This is the second box that has crapped out in less than 3 weeks. My original Tivo box is 5 years old and has NEVER had a problem!

I will give Comcast ONE more try - then back to Tivo - I only hope she'll forgive me for cheating on her with Comcast!

2 posts and both identical.......

[Calmante]

That is IT! I am DONE. Crazy 8888's, and screw this. Box # FIVE??? Seriously? I am livid. It's back to iGuide and Comcast will be lucky if I don't wake up tomorrow and switch to DirecTV.

[Eric90gt]

call and request a dct3416, seeing as its the 5th time, you should have no problem getting it escalated, what town are you in ?

[mogulbumm]

That is IT! I am DONE. Crazy 8888's, and screw this. Box # FIVE??? Seriously? I am livid. It's back to iGuide and Comcast will be lucky if I don't wake up tomorrow and switch to DirecTV.

There has got to be something wrong with your signal or even a power issue there. I have the generic Comcast Tivo bugs, but I think to go through FIVE boxes there is an underlying factor involved. Has the Comcast tech measured the signal and power there?

[Calmante]

The signal has been fine... Power has been fine, too. I have not had problems with anything else. These boxes work fine until they are "upgraded" to Tivo. Everything has been triple inspected from the street to the box. They work fine for a couple of weeks, and then go 8's on me. I am back to iGuide, which has never given me a problem in the past, but it is really hard to go back to this clunky interface. The one good thing is that I have DD5.1 with the DCH-3416.