Cablevision (Tivo + 8300hd on demand) = Card issues

Kshacknj · 10-09-2006, 09:16 AM

I guess this isn't a tivo issue as much as a cable card issue, but ill tell you a interesting problem that I see a connection to.

Tivo is very solid (except for the very little 1 second audio drops that I hear everyonce in a bluemoon). I barely watch on demand at all, but lately I've watched 2 on demand movies on my Scientific Atlanta 8300hd box in my bedroom at night.

I noticed that everytime I watched a on demand from the previous night, my cable cards lose the premium channels on my Tivo, when i check it in the morning. Theres a simple way to fix this (just restart the tivo).

Has anyone else had this problem or something similiar?

IceStorm · 10-09-2006, 09:32 AM

When you say "premium", do you mean any channel with a CCI byte set to 0x02? Does it affect your HD channels?

In what manner does the TiVo lose the channels?

- Do you get the CableCARD screen that says to call Cablevision?
- Does the TiVo put up the banner that says you can't view the channels on the output you've selected?
- Does the TiVo tune the channel, but just give you a grey screen and a message stating it can't tune then channel?

I'm interested to hear as I have a Series 3, 8300HD, and 4200HD with Cablevision, and I "lost" all my CCI 0x02 channels four days after install. Tuning from a CCI 0x00 channel, a 0x02 channel would tune for three seconds or so, then up came the CableCARD screen telling me to call Cablevision. Removing the SA 8300HD didn't clear the problem, but I never did try removing the 4200HD and that's on a feed driven from a splitter in the basement. To resolve the issue I had to have new CableCARDs installed.

Kshacknj · 10-09-2006, 09:38 AM

Well premium channels like HBOHD ShowtimeHD CinemaxHD (The channels that require the cable card to descramble).

Ive had the message pop up saying I need to call the service provider.

When I view the channels its black.

Kshacknj · 10-09-2006, 09:46 AM

If I where you, try connecting your tivo series 3 directly to your cable without any splitters or any other boxes. Then call cablevision have them update the cards (or send a signal to the cards).

If after 10-15 mins after they send the signal and all the channels work then rehook your old configuration back up and it should work (from what I read).

If it doesnt, then Its an install issue.

From what I hear your signal needs to be its strongest when they program (or send the signal to the cards).

Try not to use any ondemands on the other boxes and tell me if that works. Im currently no using any ondemands and so far so good.

razor237 · 10-09-2006, 09:49 AM

I had a similar trouble last night, on my card 1 i couldnt get HBO HD or any premium channels but all local hd and basic channels worked fine. I switched tunners and all channels ok. I went to the cable card screen and for card one i had no host id screen is said trouble with card call cable co, when i got to the CP screen is says not Auth. I check card 2 and everything is ok & says auth rcvd. I reboot my Tivo and when it comes up all channels working fine on bth cards & i have host ID and auth rcvd

-Mike

Kshacknj · 10-09-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razor237

I had a similar trouble last night, on my card 1 i couldnt get HBO HD or any premium channels but all local hd and basic channels worked fine. I switched tunners and all channels ok. I went to the cable card screen and for card one i had no host id screen is said trouble with card call cable co, when i got to the CP screen is says not Auth. I check card 2 and everything is ok & says auth rcvd. I reboot my Tivo and when it comes up all channels working fine on bth cards & i have host ID and auth rcvd

-Mike

Yes rebooting seems to fix some issues. Did you happend to have a cable box in the house watching a on demand movie by any chance (right before you lost the channels)?

razor237 · 10-09-2006, 09:59 AM

I forgot to add that part. This is the only cable box i use. I was playing WOW over the internet at that time but that souldnt do anyting

-Mike

IceStorm · 10-09-2006, 09:59 AM

HBO HD and Starz HD have a CCI value of 0x00. If your card's authorized (EMM/ECM are incrementing) but CP Auth cannot be obtained, you'll see those just fine.

Most HBO SD channels, all Starz SD, all Encore SD channels, and BBC World (the one I watch most often) have a CCI value of 0x02. If your card's authorized and EMM/ECM increment, then the channels will show if CP Authorization can be obtained from the headend. If not, though, and the cards are in a Waiting for CP Auth state, the channel won't show for more than a few seconds, then one of the CableCARDs will pop up a screen telling you to call Cablevision (it says which card on the bottom of the screen). CCI 0x00 channels, though, will show just fine without CP Auth, making it hard to know one/both of the cards are out of whack unless you regularly tune two CCI 0x02 channel to check. Nowadays I try tuning HBO (82) and BBC World (104) at the same time every day or so to verify the cards.

When I had my problems, both cards were authorized (EMM/ECM incrementing) but neither could get CP Authorization from the headend. Reboots/powercycles/goat sacrifices/removal of the 8300HD had no effect, although I never did try removing the 4200HD. Sounds like next time I may want to try that (I'm assuming there will be a next time).