Sudden audio problems on playback?

pmk · 12-11-2006, 06:44 PM

My TiVo has started having audio problems when playing back any programme I have recorded from the internal tuner. It does not appear to be affecting programmes recorded from the Freeview box (e.g. Ch5 from internal tuner has problems but Ch5 from Freeview box seems to work fine). Internal tuner on LiveTV has the same problem - Freeview works.

Every 30 seconds or so (can be more, can be less) the audio goes all statically like the speakers are having trouble outputing a too loud of a sound.

Probably coincidence but a new aerial was installed just before I started to have problems. Picture quality has improved, nearly perfect Ch5 picture now even after going through the Freeview and TiVo box.

Does anyone know what could be wrong with my TiVo?

TIA

Pete77 · 12-11-2006, 07:23 PM

Any reason that you don't use the Freeview box for all your recordings though? In my experience the quality of the picture on the internal tv tuner is always inferior.

Do you not get one of the three Freeview Multiplexes that contain Ch 1 to 5?

pmk · 12-11-2006, 07:27 PM

My Freeview box is not very reliable when changing channels / likes crashing especially after a channel displays a red button so I always use the internal tuner for Ch1-5 as I know these always work (or at least used to work).

pmk · 12-12-2006, 01:37 PM

Anyone have any ideas on what this could be? Is the tuner broken or is it something else? TIA

Pete77 · 12-12-2006, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmk

Anyone have any ideas on what this could be? Is the tuner broken or is it something else? TIA

You are probably one of very few people still making recordings form the internal tuner at this stage. I suppose the on board tuner could conceivably be on its way out?

If you replaced your current flakey Freeview box with the Wharfedale DV832BN Freeview box model available from Argos for £30 or so you could get round your tuner problems that way.

Or read other Freeview box reviews at www.digitalspy.co.uk/terrestrial/reviews/

pmk · 12-13-2006, 03:10 AM

Thanks I got the stop watch out and the problems last for 5 seconds every 30 seconds.

Do you know if the boxes from Argos are always the BN model as the web site currently says they are just the B model?

TIA

Mike B · 12-13-2006, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete77

You are probably one of very few people still making recordings form the internal tuner at this stage. I suppose the on board tuner could conceivably be on its way out?

I'd guess that any number of us could have the same issue, but as I'd guess the number of people still using the internal tuner is very minimal then we just wouldn't know.

I do know there was some sort of NICAM bug on some variants of the PVR10UK - could this be that?

What model have you got? (601E,6020/1/2/3 - it'll be part of your TiVo service number)

Rob Nespor Bellis · 12-13-2006, 05:32 AM

This could be another variation of the NICAM bug. Given that you had a new aerial installed at the time of the start of the problems it does seem likely.

It could be one of two things ( but the solution is the same

) :

1. Too strong a signal - easily rectified by fitting an aerial attenuator in-line to the TiVo
2. To weak a signal ( causing NICAM to drop in and out ) - easily rectified by fitting an aerial attenuator in-line to the TiVo

A source of a suitable part would be maplin part no's BW59P 6dB or BW60Q 12dB

Rgds,

R.

Pete77 · 12-13-2006, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmk

Do you know if the boxes from Argos are always the BN model as the web site currently says they are just the B model?

I suggest its safest to buy it in store and ask to look at the product box at the collection desk before you go ahead with the purchase. If they come up with a B you can always ask them to look round the back to see if they have any BNs as well. If you buy online inevitably you will have no control and returning the goods is also a lot more hassle. Its hard to know whether the BN is just improved software (in which case the Bs may get an update over the air in due course) or a hardware modification too. However channel change is meant to be faster so it could be a hardware improvement.

The Tivo Service number (with 601E, 601F, 6020, 6021, 6022, 6023 or 6024 as the 3rd block of 4 digits) is found in System Information.

If if is the Nicam bug Tivo won't fix it now so switching to a reliable Freeview box would be the best solution.

pmk · 12-13-2006, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the suggestions.

Is the model number clear on the Wharfdale box?

My TiVo service number is 6023 so I do not think it is affected by the Nicam bug.

The aerial is going through a passive 4 way splitter, the Freeview box and then the TiVo could the signal still be too strong?

TIA

Pete77 · 12-13-2006, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmk

Is the model number clear on the Wharfdale box?

My TiVo service number is 6023 so I do not think it is affected by the Nicam bug

I imagine its at least on a product information sticker on the outside of the box and/or on a sticker on the bottom of the actual Freeview unit itself.

Some other Freeview boxes are equally as good but more expensive. Whatever you do don't get a Sony Freeview box as they can suffer with a problem with the CBeebies and CBBC text screens showing through broadcasts on BBC Four and BBC Three unless you tune out of the BBC Four or BBC Three channel and then tune back in again manually.

6023s shouldn't suffer with the Nicam bug so you problem must be something else.