Up for a CHALLENGE?

jetjock34 · 09-27-2006, 07:39 PM

I'm not gonna waste allot of time relaying my experiences over the last 2 weeks, my attempts to have my new Series 3 operational with 2 cablecards from TimeWarner (Comcast until a couple of weeks ago).

Here's the problem... and if any of you have the knowledge to help and/or suggestions.. I'd be forever grateful.

Currently there is an operating cable card in slot 1. Multiple attmepts to install a card in slot 2 results in the screen going directly to an error code 161-52 (as of a few days ago.. Tivo claimed not to know what that code is). The screen says to contact the cable co. and that programming would not be available, along with the code. Inserting the card into slot 2 also causes the cable card in slot 1 to no longer work. The power and cable have to be disconnected, reconnected, and then card re-inserted in slot 1 and process repeated... which gets me back to the one card in slot 1 working.. and no card in slot 2. several cards have been tried.

During the original "10" attempts to get a card working in slot 1, inserting a card in slot 2 would bring up the correct screens to allow the cable guy to give the appropriate numbers to his coworker on the phone. The screens for both cards would just sit on the spinning disc saying retrieving channels.

Now, since getting a card to work in slot 1, those screens no longer appear upon the insertion of a card in slot 2. The screen described above with the error comes up.

Any ideas? Is slot 2 on the DVR messed up from the constant inserting and removing of cards by the technician? Anyone have any insight that even the technicians at TIVO don't seem to have? ANYTHING? PLEASE!

THANKS!!!

Gregor · 09-27-2006, 07:43 PM

Does the Tivo say there's a card in slot 2? Does the slot light up on the Cable Card screen?

Does this happen with all cards?

jetjock34 · 09-27-2006, 07:45 PM

No.... as soon as you slide the card into the slot... the screen with error code pops up... any and all attempts to bring up a screen for slot 2, brings up this same error code/page.

jetjock34 · 09-27-2006, 07:47 PM

and yes... several cards have been used... the old red and black as well as the newr versions (about 6 in all)

Gregor · 09-27-2006, 07:51 PM

Weird. Why not RMA it as it's clearly not working correctly?

Dan203 · 09-27-2006, 07:53 PM

You may simply have a bad slot. Your best bet is probably to exchange the TiVo.

The only other thing I can think to try is doing a full Clear & Delete Everything and then start over. I guess it's possible that something in the software got confused and is preventing the second card from working right.

Dan

jetjock34 · 09-27-2006, 07:54 PM

Thats my plan unless someone reading this has a solution. Didn't want to have to wait a long time for a replacement.. have heard there is a backlog for purchases... don't know if they reserved some for returns.

ChuckyBox · 09-27-2006, 07:54 PM

Sounds like you might have a defective TiVo. RMA is a good idea.

But... have you tried putting another card in slot 1, getting it going, and then putting the card you know to be good in slot 2?

jetjock34 · 09-27-2006, 07:58 PM

Pardon my ignorance... I've had a Tivo for over 5 years (2 series 1, 2 series 2. 1 series 2 recorder, and 1 series 2 duak tuner) but I'm not necessarily knowledgeable......

"clear and delete" Is that an option on the same page as restart?

jetjock34 · 09-27-2006, 08:00 PM

That made sense to me also... but when I contacted TW, they said that the card is tied to the slot and that "I" can't talk to the people that the installer talked to... the one who reads the numbers off the screen" A technician is coming out again tomorrow... hopefully he will be willing to do it... the last guy (today) was not.

Thanks.. and keep the ideas flowing

jodell · 09-27-2006, 09:52 PM

jetjock34,

Yes, clear and delete everything is an option on the same screen as the restart. There are a couple levels of clear and delete. The *everything* option does just what you would expect, it returns the TiVo to the factory settings, erases all recordings, preferences, thumbs, etc.

Jeff

jfh3 · 09-28-2006, 02:05 AM

161-52: "Read Error occurs after completion of any transfer from POD to Host"

Pretty sure the english translation is: "The Series 3 can't read the information sent to the cable card".

I'd interpret that as a bad slot and RMA the box.

votsgirl · 09-28-2006, 02:20 AM

I had a similar problem where the cableguy could not get the card to work in the second slot. I figured there must be something wrong with the Tivo when he was able to put the card from slot #2 into slot #1 and the card worked fine (except for showtime). I returned my Tivo and got a new one. The cable guy came back the next day and we had no problems getting both cards to work perfectly.

moyekj · 09-28-2006, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by votsgirl

I had a similar problem where the cableguy could not get the card to work in the second slot. I figured there must be something wrong with the Tivo when he was able to put the card from slot #2 into slot #1 and the card worked fine (except for showtime). I returned my Tivo and got a new one. The cable guy came back the next day and we had no problems getting both cards to work perfectly.

This and other anecdotes don't exactly inspire confidence in good QA on these boxes... amazing (but not surprising) that the box is not tested to be functional with both CC slots.

jetjock34 · 09-28-2006, 10:23 AM

Just wanted to thanks everyone that tried to help!!!

TW called today instead of sending a guy out. The dispatcher agreed to try placing the card that worked into slot 2, after setting up another card in slot 1. As you all suspected... that didn't work either. Tivo is RMAing it. With the delay (for backorders) will hopefully have another chance at this in less than 2 weeks.

Again thanks for your help!

bobura · 11-29-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetjock34@comcas

I'm not gonna waste allot of time relaying my experiences over the last 2 weeks, my attempts to have my new Series 3 operational with 2 cablecards from TimeWarner (Comcast until a couple of weeks ago).

Here's the problem... and if any of you have the knowledge to help and/or suggestions.. I'd be forever grateful.

Currently there is an operating cable card in slot 1. Multiple attmepts to install a card in slot 2 results in the screen going directly to an error code 161-52 (as of a few days ago.. Tivo claimed not to know what that code is). The screen says to contact the cable co. and that programming would not be available, along with the code. Inserting the card into slot 2 also causes the cable card in slot 1 to no longer work. The power and cable have to be disconnected, reconnected, and then card re-inserted in slot 1 and process repeated... which gets me back to the one card in slot 1 working.. and no card in slot 2. several cards have been tried.

During the original "10" attempts to get a card working in slot 1, inserting a card in slot 2 would bring up the correct screens to allow the cable guy to give the appropriate numbers to his coworker on the phone. The screens for both cards would just sit on the spinning disc saying retrieving channels.

Now, since getting a card to work in slot 1, those screens no longer appear upon the insertion of a card in slot 2. The screen described above with the error comes up.

Any ideas? Is slot 2 on the DVR messed up from the constant inserting and removing of cards by the technician? Anyone have any insight that even the technicians at TIVO don't seem to have? ANYTHING? PLEASE!

THANKS!!!

I had this problem. It turns out its an easy fix. The firmware was at 8.1, it needs to be at 9.4. You can force a software download. First check your firmware by going to the information section. If its not 9.4 that's your problem.

You can force a connection to TiVo by accessing the internet section of set up (I assume you have wireless) and selecting Connect to TiVo. After it is complete go back to internet and see if the status is need restart. If it is in progress select the status and wait for it to complete. When it is complete the status needs to say needs restart. You may need to connect to TiVo a couple of times to get that message.

When it says needs restart, restart your TiVo as it powers up it it will eventually show that it is installing a service update. This could take up to an hour. When complete your card will work. It may take 10 or 15 minutes because each channel updates one at a time. You may also have to call Comcast for "Hit."

jhimmel · 11-29-2008, 06:09 PM

You are responding to a post that is more than two years old!

Jim H.