Is The Problem With TiVo Or My TV?

[SpiritualPoet]

A new problem has developed one week into owning a brand new television set. I don't know if the problem lies with the TiVo or the television set. Occasionally I get a black screen and staccato sound. This lasts for a few seconds until the normal picture and sound resume. This problem just began today.

In use: a TiVo HD machine (about 1 month old).
In use: a Sony HD television (about 1 week old).

Connections: Extended basic cable service. (No cable cards in use).
Coaxial input from cable service.

Thanks in advance for any advice/comments.

[berkshires]

What connects your TiVo to your TV? What output format setting do you have on the TiVo? Which Sony model?

If you skip back, does the problem occur each time you play that segment?

[SpiritualPoet]

Coax input to TiVo antenna input.

HDMI cable from TiVo output to TV.

Television is set to 480p for this device since I'm not using cable cards nor an OTA antenna to the TiVo.

TV model: Sony 52XBR6

If I switch the tuner on the TiVo using the button, the problem disappears when switching to the other tuner and back (the problem doesn't resume when returning to the first tuner).

The problem was noticed when the local affiliate of ABC cut into "Good Morning America" for a 5-minute local newscast.

[jrm01]

or does it only happen when you change channels?

[SpiritualPoet]

No. The problem happens when tuned into a channel on an ongoing basis. (not switching channels).

[SpiritualPoet]

I spoke to a TiVo technical support person but he said the database shows nothing about this type problem from other TiVo customers.

[nipster00]

Connections: Extended basic cable service. (No cable cards in use).

Coax input to TiVo antenna input.


try hooking the coax into the cable input not the antenna input..

[nipster00]

Television is set to 480p for this device since I'm not using cable cards nor an OTA antenna to the TiVo.

I am not sure i would set up the tv like this since it is 1080p, it seems wasteful..

Even with extended basic, if you do a manual channel scan you will get hd channels, and some channels broadcast programs in better formats than 480 anyways.

[jrm01]

Considering what you paid for the TV and the TiVo get some cablecards.

Also, you said "the TV is set to 480p". Did you mean the TiVo is set to this?

[SpiritualPoet]

My mistake in saying antenna input. The coax from the cable service is indeed connected to the cable input (I use a splitter to send part of the signal to the HD decoder and part of the signal to the TiVo).

I allowed the TiVo machine to "search" for all available channels through the device.

I do plan to get cable cards in the near future. (budgetary constraints at the moment as I pay down purchase of the television receiver).

The TiVo is set to configure output to 480p temporarily. (since I don't use cablecards).

The television adjusts from 480p to 1080p automatically. (I do have a digital decoder attached to the t.v. for the Hi Def signals).

[nipster00]

try setting the tivo to 1080p, i have the same set up(basic extended-no cable cards) and that is how i run it

[jrm01]

If you did a channel scan on the TiVo you should have found the local HD channels also. To view them properly you need to output from TiVo in HD resolution (1080p in your case). You won't have Guide Data for them but you can do Manual record with them. This would be better than the "digital decoder".

What do you mean by "digital decoder"? Is this an HD tuner connected with an antenna? Something you are using with the cable?

[maartsen]

The Tivo needs to know what it is talking to - the Tivo's output is not determined by its input, but by the connected device. HDMI will do the organizing between the TV and the monitor, that's built into the protocol. I think what you're seeing is the Tivo doing unnecessary conversions. I'll bet that if you set the Tivo to "native output" your problem will go away. You don't need to think for it, it's pretty smart ;)

[SpiritualPoet]

The search for available signals/channels was done long before I owned an HDMI cable. I will rescan the available channels.

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[SpiritualPoet]

Last night I turned off my television during the late news. After a half hour of restlessness, I turned it back on. To my horror, my screen was black (no images/no sound). Switching tuners made no difference. Changing channels made no difference! Strangely, I could access the TiVo menu images, and playback menu, as well as any program recorded! I finally turned off the television and back on. The tuner images finally restored! What could be causing this?????!!!!

[nipster00]

The Tivo needs to know what it is talking to - the Tivo's output is not determined by its input, but by the connected device. HDMI will do the organizing between the TV and the monitor, that's built into the protocol. I think what you're seeing is the Tivo doing unnecessary conversions. I'll bet that if you set the Tivo to "native output" your problem will go away. You don't need to think for it, it's pretty smart ;)

has this been tried.

also try not using the digital decoder at all..

[SpiritualPoet]

There is no Hi Def input going to the TiVo at all. (There never has been!)

What is "native output"? Is that a real label in the TiVo menu? (Or is that some descriptive term meaning something else?)

[hiker]

I would try for now getting rid of the HDMI connection and using component cable (Red-Green-Blue three coax with RCA plugs) from TiVo to TV. After you get things working you can try HDMI to see if it's the problem.

[nipster00]

I would try for now getting rid of the HDMI connection and using component cable (Red-Green-Blue three coax with RCA plugs) from TiVo to TV. After you get things working you can try HDMI to see if it's the problem.

I use the component cables not HDMI.. try this

There is no Hi Def input going to the TiVo at all. (There never has been!)

So, it is all coming in through the coax anyways...right?
With your HDTV and the TivoHD, they should be able to do what you want without the "digital decoder"

What is "native output"? Is that a real label in the TiVo menu? (Or is that some descriptive term meaning something else?)

Click: Messages and Settings -> Settings -> Video -> Video Output Format -> "Native" (it is at the very top, may have to scroll up)