Screen goes blank

[ufauxreal]

Every once in a while, for no apparent reason, my TV screen just goes blank. This occurs when watching live TV. When that happens, all the channels are blank, although the header states the channel/show. I can get to the Tivo Central, and can watch previously recorded shows. I've tried pushing every button on the remote, and the only thing that restores the picture is to unplug the Tivo and reboot.

Has this happened to anyone else. Is there a solution other than rebooting, which is annoying and time consuming.

Thanks!

JB
TivoHD
Software version: 11.0b-01-2-652

[bkdtv]

The loss of the analog tuners -- with gray screens -- is a known issue introduced with the 11.0 software. It does not affect digital channels. If you are using basic cable (i.e. analog channels only), this issue can be very frustrating.

TiVo is working on a fix for this issue but there's no specific timetable for release. We could see it tomorrow...or it could be a month from now. For now, you can restore the analog channels without rebooting as follows: Settings -> Channels -> check the Channel strength for a few channels.

Have you considered doing more of your recording from digital channels, either QAM or from a set-top antenna? If you record from digital channels (ex: HD channels), you'll never see this problem.

Assuming you have basic cable, you could temporarily upgrade to digital cable with a CableCard. Alternatively, you could add a set-top antenna to receive all your local digital channels in HD. If you live within 15 miles of your broadcast stations, you might try this $11.99 antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) from Radio Shack. You would connect it to the ANTENNA input on the TiVo and then re-run guided setup, selecting both cable and antenna.

[RustySTL]

Do you have a DVR Expander? If so, many people are having similar issues since the latest software update. It seems to go away when the DVR expander is removed from the TiVo.

[ufauxreal]

The loss of the analog tuners -- with gray screens -- is a known issue introduced with the 11.0 software. It does not affect digital channels. If you are using basic cable (i.e. analog channels only), this issue can be very frustrating.

TiVo is working on a fix for this issue but there's no specific timetable for release. We could see it tomorrow...or it could be a month from now. For now, you can restore the analog channels without rebooting as follows: Settings -> Channels -> check the Channel strength for a few channels.

Have you considered doing more of your recording from digital channels, either QAM or from a set-top antenna? If you record from digital channels (ex: HD channels), you'll never see this problem.

Assuming you have basic cable, you could temporarily upgrade to digital cable with a CableCard. Alternatively, you could add a set-top antenna to receive all your local digital channels in HD. If you live within 15 miles of your broadcast stations, you might try this $11.99 antenna (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103077) from Radio Shack. You would connect it to the ANTENNA input on the TiVo and then re-run guided setup, selecting both cable and antenna.

Thanks so much for all the good advice... I am saving your post. I will try the antenna.... for $12 it's not much of a risk :) While watching live TV (yes, I STILL watch live TV) how do I switch from watching cable stations to OTA stations?

Thanks again.

JB

PS... I don't think I have a DVR Expander... I just have what came with the Tivo.

[bkdtv]

Thanks so much for all the good advice... I am saving your post. I will try the antenna.... for $12 it's not much of a risk :) While watching live TV (yes, I STILL watch live TV) how do I switch from watching cable stations to OTA stations?After you re-run guided setup and select "antenna and cable," both will be listed in the guide. Integration is seamless so there's nothing you have to do to switch between the two. To you, it will appear like all channels come from the same place.

Here are two screenshots showing how both are integrated:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TiVo/small_400/guide1.jpg (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TiVo/large/guide1.jpg) http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TiVo/small_400/guide2.jpg (http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm314/ilovehdtv/Other/TiVo/large/guide2.jpg)
Click for larger version.

In the above pictures, channels 4-1, 5-1, 7-1, 9-1, 26-1, and 50-1 are HD channels from an antenna, while 570 and 600 are cable channels. After you re-run guided setup and select "antenna and cable," you can pick and choose what OTA channels you want to appear in the guide under Settings -> Channels -> Channel List.

As always, just create the season pass on the channel you want it to record from. If you want to record House in HD, you'd create the season pass on the over-the-air FOXHD channel.

[ufauxreal]

That's great. Thanks again!

JB