CableCARD Troubleshooting

[DaveLinger]

Recently bought a Series3 HD 32hr, and I took the CableCARD out of my TV and put it in slot 1 on the TiVo. A few of the low channels work (analog probably), but most channels 10 and up throw me out to the CableCARD setup page. I went to the CableCARD setup page and called Time Warner. At first they didn't want to activate it over the phone, but he talked to his supervisor and decided to just do it; so I read him the Host and Data numbers, and he said he'd call me back in a few minutes. A few minutes later, he called back and asked me if it worked. So I tuned in channel 275 (which I remembered from like a year ago when I had a different HD setup on Time Warner), and HD Theater showed up and looked great. So I told him that it worked, and got off the phone.

But when I went back and tried normal channels like Fox News, Discovery, Comedy Central, etc. - they still go to the CableCARD setup page.

So I called back, and got the first guy's supervisor, right off. He recognized me and asked me to try channel 751. I tried it, and it didn't work (Setup page). He talked to the rep who had helped me, and asked me to try it again. Then channel 751 worked. He said that it might still be downloading the data or something, and that the TiVos take especially long to do so.

But now it's been like 5 hours, and those channels still don't work. So I've taken photos of my CableCARD setup pages for you guys to examine:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davelinger/3080813043/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davelinger/3081653172/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davelinger/3081654850/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davelinger/3081656758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/davelinger/3081658462/

[jrm01]

While you're waiting for someone to examine your photos (I'm too tired) here is a link to a page that will help you to check them to determine what is wrong.

http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/hdandcablecards/How_to_troubleshoot_using_CableCARD_MMI_screens.html

BTW, the cablecard that you took out of your TV is probably a s-card meaning that you will only be able to use the TiVo as a single tuner. You need two of the s-cards, or one m-card to use both tuners.

[DaveLinger]

While you're waiting for someone to examine your photos (I'm too tired) here is a link to a page that will help you to check them to determine what is wrong.

http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/technicalsupport/hdandcablecards/How_to_troubleshoot_using_CableCARD_MMI_screens.html

BTW, the cablecard that you took out of your TV is probably a s-card meaning that you will only be able to use the TiVo as a single tuner. You need two of the s-cards, or one m-card to use both tuners.

Okay it seems that it should be saying Auth:SUBSCRIBED, but it's saying State: CA Disabled.

Also, it says Host Validation: Unknown 01 when it should say Valid. I'm guessing I should call the cable company?

[DaveLinger]

Called Time Warner, the tech support guy said that he was sending a re-authorization signal and that the channel should flicker in a moment. It never did, and nothing changed. He said that there is currently a nationwide problem with cable cards. (?) So he scheduled a tech to come out tomorrow and take a look (at least then it's THEIR problem, not mine.)

[jrm01]

There is a nationwide problem with cablecards and the problem is that the cable company techs do not properly pair and authorize them. In your case it appears that they were not properly paired to the host devce (TiVo). Many times this is as simple as a transposition of numbers when they enter the host and data numbers into their system.