Randomly Losing SOME HD Channels in Columbia, SC with Time Warner

[Hokie Fan]

I've been having a sporadic problem with my CableCARDs losing the ability to tune some, but not all, HD channels in my TiVo Series 3. In the past this would happen every few weeks but lately it's been happening every few days. The specific symptoms are:

FOXHD (Channel 820) and CBSHD (Channel 810) will stop tuning. When this happens I also lose the ability to tune HBOHD (Channel 901) as well as ESPNHD (Channel 950). I am however able to tune the other HD networks like NBC (805) and ABC (815). The non-tunable channels will just display a black screen and nothing will record if I have a season pass that's trying to grab something during these episodes.

CableCard/DVR diagnostics indicate that the Cards are in a "Wrong State" or something to that effect when I try and tune to the "non-tunables" but on other channels the diagnostics look fine/typical.

A forced restart of the TiVo will cause the non-tunables to start working once again, usually a few minutes after the TiVo itself comes back up.

This is extraordinarily irritating as it occurs somewhat at random and during prime recording hours. I essentially gave up watching CSI because I kept losing recordings on CBS to this particular issue.

When I call Tech Support they tell me to power cycle the device which "fixes" the problem but it still keeps happening. I've had tech tell me that this is related to TWC fiddling around with the channel lineups - I've not been able to confirm that this happens when new channels are added per se but it seems reasonable. The same tech said that getting a tuning adapter up and running might fix this problem as he felt that this behavior was due to the cards not being able to respond back to certain commands from the headend. I've got an install appointment for a tuning adapter tomorrow (fingers crossed).

Has anyone else had this issue? Please help!

[jmaditto]

I've been having a sporadic problem with my CableCARDs losing the ability to tune some, but not all, HD channels in my TiVo Series 3. In the past this would happen every few weeks but lately it's been happening every few days. The specific symptoms are:

FOXHD (Channel 820) and CBSHD (Channel 810) will stop tuning. When this happens I also lose the ability to tune HBOHD (Channel 901) as well as ESPNHD (Channel 950). I am however able to tune the other HD networks like NBC (805) and ABC (815). The non-tunable channels will just display a black screen and nothing will record if I have a season pass that's trying to grab something during these episodes.

CableCard/DVR diagnostics indicate that the Cards are in a "Wrong State" or something to that effect when I try and tune to the "non-tunables" but on other channels the diagnostics look fine/typical.

A forced restart of the TiVo will cause the non-tunables to start working once again, usually a few minutes after the TiVo itself comes back up.

This is extraordinarily irritating as it occurs somewhat at random and during prime recording hours. I essentially gave up watching CSI because I kept losing recordings on CBS to this particular issue.

When I call Tech Support they tell me to power cycle the device which "fixes" the problem but it still keeps happening. I've had tech tell me that this is related to TWC fiddling around with the channel lineups - I've not been able to confirm that this happens when new channels are added per se but it seems reasonable. The same tech said that getting a tuning adapter up and running might fix this problem as he felt that this behavior was due to the cards not being able to respond back to certain commands from the headend. I've got an install appointment for a tuning adapter tomorrow (fingers crossed).

Has anyone else had this issue? Please help!


I'm in Cola and never had this issue. I would have them install a new CC when they get your TA setup. Very strange to get some of the locals in HD and not all. Let me know how it goes with the install.

[dobbie1]

I am having the same problem on my S3 with various HD channels not being received. I am a Comcast customer. I know I have a hard drive going bad, don't know if that could be causing some issues with the cable card or not. Once I replace the hard drive if I continue to have the problem I plan on getting the cable cards replaced.

[Maggie]

Hello. I am in Wilmington NC. Installed the TA Saturday and realized Monday nigth that FOX HD and ABC HD come in scrambled. TWC has been troubleshooting for 2 days. There are other channels that are scrambled based on their work here. NO answer to the issues. TWC says it is in the Tivo box.

[rainwater]

Hello. I am in Wilmington NC. Installed the TA Saturday and realized Monday nigth that FOX HD and ABC HD come in scrambled. TWC has been troubleshooting for 2 days. There are other channels that are scrambled based on their work here. NO answer to the issues. TWC says it is in the Tivo box.

What do you mean scrambled? Do you mean you aren't authorized for the channel?

[Maggie]

Two of the channels are HD not SD, the others (12) are further up the 900 lineup. I am authorized... TWC did several re-authors today.....

Now seeing if attentuation will do the trick

[rainwater]

Two of the channels are HD not SD, the others (12) are further up the 900 lineup. I am authorized... TWC did several re-authors today.....

Now seeing if attentuation will do the trick

Attentuation is doubtful to fix this issue. When you tune to the channel what do the cablecard diagnostics say on the Auth: line (on the conditional access screen)?

[Maggie]

The fix to our problem was in Video Output Format. It needed to be set to 1080i Hybrid. The channels that were scrabbled were not 1080.