Since 6.3e, Tivo's freezing - Page 5

m17_jeff · 10-08-2007, 05:14 PM

I've caught my R10 rebooting several time now... Right before the reboot it displays "Searching for Signal from Satellite..." then the reboot...
I've seen this on recorded shows as well as live TV...

Dad440 · 10-09-2007, 01:12 AM

I live in New London, CT and mostly have just noticed the freezing video, with sound still playing. Have two R-10's, and have to unplug to resolve it. Has been happening every morning for last 7-10 days on 6.3e

Never any problem previously. Called DTV, asked to talk to service plan escalation who said the 6.3e was installed between Aug 2 to Aug 22. If that is true, my problems with freezing don't go back that far. I asked him to fill out "escalated report" which he did.

How do we revert software back to 6.2 if we wanted to?

rbtravis · 10-09-2007, 01:25 AM

you should use Instantcake from www.DVRupgrade.com They are currently distributing 6.2a the new disk should be larger because this is an upgrade program. it is less than $20.00. after the initial setup unplug the phone line. that will prevent software updates. if you want to order PPV do it through the www.directv.com website. good luck you will find instantcake very easy to install.

jrock · 10-09-2007, 04:46 AM

I live in Old Saybrook CT and yesterday morning all of my Tivo 6.x receivers froze and they just had a black screen and the red record light was on but nothing was partially recorded. I had to unplug all of them to restart them. I have 2 HR10-250's, 2 HDVR2's, and 1 R10. They have been pretty good other than the HR10-250's rebooting occasionally. This time all of them froze though. I also have 2 HR20-700's and they haven't had any of the freezing or rebooting problems.

Malolo · 10-09-2007, 08:06 AM

I too live in CT and have a friend who is experiencing problems as well. i am very interested if, Connecticut State Attorney General (Richard Blumenthal) will do anything. he is usually very good at pursueing consumer related issues.

RLJinCT · 10-09-2007, 08:27 AM

My sister called yesterday for the 4th time, they are sending an installer to her on Thursday with (supposedly) a new TiVo DVR (the first time I've heard this one). If the installer shows up with anything other than a TiVo DVR, she will refuse it. I decided instead to try to replace my stock 35 hr drive with a new bigger drive from Weaknees, and I just won't connect the phone line until these problems have been resolved, if ever.

swspjcd · 10-09-2007, 09:08 AM

I also noticed alot of the same problems mentioned here after my HR10-250 upgraded to 6.3e. I just assumed it was a software problem but then after it got worse and worse, I took out the drive and ran the manufacturer's low level diagnostic software (Data Lifeguard diagnostics since it was a Western Digital Drive) on it. The quick test says that the "Raw Read Error Rate" and the "Multi Zone Error Rate" are both below threshold. Also when I boot up with the drive attached the bios says "The Primary IDE master hard drive SELF MONITORING SYSTEM has reported that a parameter has exceeded it's normal operating range." I realize that it is probably just coincidence that this just happened to start after the 6.3e upgrade but I just found it odd that it all started around the same time.
I have since replaced the original 250G drive with a larger one and reimaged with a fresh 6.3d image and have had no problems yet. We'll see what happens if/when the slices for 6.3e get pushed out.

Jon J · 10-09-2007, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swspjcd

We'll see what happens if/when the slices for 6.3e get pushed out.

Disconnect the phone line and it will not be instructed to install.

swspjcd · 10-09-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon J

Disconnect the phone line and it will not be instructed to install.

I already have bootpage set to "upgradesoftware=false" so it won't install without me controlling it first, but thanks.

pbod153 · 10-09-2007, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swspjcd

I already have bootpage set to "upgradesoftware=false" so it won't install without me controlling it first, but thanks.

How exactly did you do that?
I may be wrong but if I unplug the phone line The schedule won't update either. Setting the update to false seems like a good solution.

Also, is this a CT issue? I live in CT as well. This started about a week or two ago. First it was just freezing up, not it freezes and then reboots itself several times a day. I emailed Direct tv and sent a written letter but don't expect much in the way of a response.

If I set up networking on my unit will it automatically update the software as well or just the schedule?

rbtravis · 10-09-2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbod153

How exactly did you do that?
I may be wrong but if I unplug the phone line The schedule won't update either. Setting the update to false seems like a good solution.

For a Directv Tivo the schedule comes through the Satellite so unplugging the phone, it will just keep sending reminder messages which you can delete. If you want to order pay per view just do it through Directv website at no charge.

stlfan62 · 10-09-2007, 12:08 PM

This is going to sound a little far-fetched, but I've been keeping a log of my reboots and lock-ups over the past week, and I've noticed a specific commonality across each one: One (or both) tuners tuned to a local channel.

I kid you not, I went almost the entire weekend with no reboot/lock-up issue, and never once tuned to a local channel. Sunday night, my wife set the unit to record off our local ABC affiliate, and the unit was frozen when we woke up. I restarted it, then tuned both tuners to "cable" channels (TBS and Comedy Central). Everything was fine all day yesterday until my wife switched to a local channel to watch "Dancing w/Stars", and it rebooted within 10 minutes. After the reboot, she continued watching on a non-TiVo TV, and I reset the tuners to TBS and Food, this time. It ran all night, successfully recorded "Daily Show", and is still running. Since I've been tracking this, all of my other reboots/lock-ups occurred when we were watching (or had the other tuner tuned to) our local NBC or CBS affiliate.

If you're in CT, I strongly urge you to try to track this the same way, if possible. It's a little tricky: you have to remember to set the other tuner to a non-local channel (especially after a reboot), and you have to recognize when you are recording from one of those channels. I'd be curious to hear some results.

I know there are going to be replies that I'm nuts, and I would agree that this may be entirely coincidental. There are too few data points so far to draw any conclusions. But I've yet to encounter a reboot or lock-up when both tuners are set to "cable" channels.

Mark W · 10-09-2007, 12:17 PM

It's not crazy, it's good to post some theories. There sure seems to be a stangely large number of CT people reporting here.

pbod153 · 10-09-2007, 02:18 PM

RBTRAVIS,
Thanks for the info. Think I will redo the hard drives with IntantCake and unplug the phone line.

One more thought about putting pressure on DTV.
I wrote an email to the cnet editor. If they wrote an article on the matter I bet that could have some pull.

jrock · 10-09-2007, 02:43 PM

I really don't think DirecTV much cares about the TiVo receivers anymore. Every time I call about a problem they try to replace it with there new DVR and say they don't offer them anymore. I end up having to fix them myself just so I can keep the TiVo DVR's.

I have 5 TiVo DVR's and 2 New DirecTV DVR's. The new ones work fine but they don't have the wish lists and the 30 second slip is annoying compared to TiVo's 30 second skip.

BEP · 10-09-2007, 04:25 PM

So is it a good thing my DirecTivos modem has failed and cannot make a call.
Do I have to worry about this problematic update?????????

rbtravis · 10-09-2007, 05:48 PM

Is my hair growing back? the answer to both questions is NO.

kward3332 · 10-09-2007, 07:25 PM

I live in Ct and this has been happening to me too. It also started with freezing and now is also rebooting. the theory about local channels sounds interesting since mine has been locked up when it was supposed to record a local station. It also hasn't happened two weekends in a row but as soon Monday rolls around it starts all over again.

Dad440 · 10-09-2007, 08:17 PM

So far, I have to agree that this seems to be related to one or both tuners being on a local channel....mostly NBC. Although I recorded "Chuck" "Heroes" and "Journeyman" last night without any rebooting.

I have finally figured out every morning for the last 7-10 days, my wife puts the Tivo R-10 Directv on local NBC (Channel 30 - WVIT or Chanel 10 WJAR) news here in New London, CT, and it freezes between 8:20 to 9:00am on the local news. She watched it happen this morning.

Tonight, I was watching Fox News, and the other tuner was on the local NBC WJAR Channel 10 ("The Singing Bee"), and it rebooted. No messages appeared, nothing being recorded on either channel. Came back on with both tuners set on Fox News....but I know the other one had been on WJAR because I switched tuners about 30 mins previously.

I called Directv again today, got put through to the service plan support dept. , and the gentleman said he had no awareness of this issue or any problem with software version 6.3e, and recommended that I reformat my hard drive. I asked him to escalate it which he said he would....and after calling back, this time I asked to speak to a supervisor. Yesterday, I was told it was most likely due to solar flare activity which should end on Oct 10th.

Tonight I was then transferred to a service plan supervisor (John) who was able to check other resources, and did say it was a reported issue, may be related to 6.3e, and promised to escalate it to the software team. I gave him as much information as I could and he seemed genuinely concerned and aware of these forums.

This is the 5th phone call I have made, and this supervisor was the first one who is now considering that this really may be a software issue with Tivo users.

Dad440 · 10-09-2007, 08:23 PM

I'm also considering ordering that InstantCake and having it install 6.2 (have to search for where to get it, and how). I don't use PPV, is there any other consquences of disconnecting the phone line, one your initial verification is done?

Just to try and figure this out, I took a brand new R-10 that I had in the box which I got as a backup when I saw the writing on the wall, and have that running in another room with software 6.1, and I disconnected the phone line. Gonna see if it has any of these issues develop.

pbod153 · 10-09-2007, 08:29 PM

Go here
https://www.dvrupgrade.com/
Look under software.
Best to use a spare computer so you still have internet support just in case when setting up the new drive.
good excuse to increase capacity

Dad440 · 10-09-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbtravis

you should use Instantcake from www.DVRupgrade.com They are currently distributing 6.2a the new disk should be larger because this is an upgrade program. it is less than $20.00. after the initial setup unplug the phone line. that will prevent software updates. if you want to order PPV do it through the www.directv.com website. good luck you will find instantcake very easy to install.

I made other posts about things I noticed about the freezing and rebooting earlier, but I'm gonna order this InstantCake. I don't use PPV. Are there any other problems with not having the phone line plugged in such as local Tivo programming for content?

I also had an R-15 on another TV, and hate using their crappy software so much, it has essentially become only a single channel display TV. Last night, I took a brand new R-10 I had as a backup when I saw the writing on the wall, and put it in service instead of the R-15. It has a 6.1 version software, and after authorizing the phone connection, I unplugged it.

Should I use the InstantCake to upgrade that one to the 6.2, or does it not matter if it stays on 6.1?

pbod153 · 10-10-2007, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dad440

I made other posts about things I noticed about the freezing and rebooting earlier, but I'm gonna order this InstantCake. I don't use PPV. Are there any other problems with not having the phone line plugged in such as local Tivo programming for content?

I also had an R-15 on another TV, and hate using their crappy software so much, it has essentially become only a single channel display TV. Last night, I took a brand new R-10 I had as a backup when I saw the writing on the wall, and put it in service instead of the R-15. It has a 6.1 version software, and after authorizing the phone connection, I unplugged it.

Should I use the InstantCake to upgrade that one to the 6.2, or does it not matter if it stays on 6.1?

Basically from what I have told in a different thread, the only thing the phone line does is download updates and order ppv

dtremain · 10-10-2007, 07:02 AM

I had my first freeze and then my first re-boot yesterday. The freeze definitely occureed while one tuner was recording off-the air. Not NBC, however, but the NYC CBS local (It messed up Judge Judy, my wife is not pleased.)

When I discovered the freeze, about a half hour later, I re-booted the unit by pulliong the plug. Not long after that, it re-booted itself. That was around 5:30 yesterday evening.

As of 5:00 this morning, it hadn't happened again. I know because I set the channel filter setting to "baseball" and it hadn't defaulted back to "movies."

It recorded House and Dancing with the Stars, both on locals, with no problem at the same time last night.

scburdet · 10-10-2007, 08:40 AM

This is a slightly edited version of a post I made on the DTV forum, where discussions on this problem are ongoing:

Earlier posts in the DTV forums suggest customer service has been instructed to tell customers that they have no plans to fix the problem on R10s, and the only solution is to take the DTV DVR. I (foolishly) have been waiting to see if DTV would come up with a software update to correct the problem, but this seems increasingly unlikely. I finally called customer service and got the same "advice" that others have reported, specifically that I reset the unit or arrange to get a new DTV DVR replacement. I expressed extreme skepticism that a reset was going to accomplish anything based on what I've been reading in the forums. The rep was also quick to note that most customers dislike the new DVR units available from DTV. I did reset the unit, and the only thing that seems to have accomplished is the deletion of all the data, and now most of my local channels aren't coming up anymore (since the reset yesterday, I still only have CBS and a blank screen for NBC; Thanks DTV!!!). This is of course my favorite thing about customer service in general, DTV along with everyone else. They know the stuff that's readily available in the manuals and online, but as far as any real issues, I always seem more knowledgeable than the person on the other end of the line (and that's not saying much). If what recent reports prove to be true, and DTV won't be actively trying to fix this problem, then I suspect many of us are going to be facing a choice soon. Even if it is fixed, how long until the next major issue arises? What is best of a lot of bad options?
Here are my issues:
1. My R10 is less than 2 years old. If I stay with DTV am I going to have the same problem a year down the road when they decide it's time to support a different type of hardware? This isn't the first software issue I've had, although I would say my experience has been rather pain free compared to other posters. I think at the very least DTV should run their operation like the cell companies who give you new equipment every couple of years as technology changes. It doesn't make sense to me that DTV can expect to keep customers if it screws them out of equipment charges every couple of years.
2. The majority of the reviews of the new DTV DVRs are negative. Am I looking at getting a crappy replacement unit? Maybe it won't soft reset, but if it sucks (and may not actually fix the original problem anyway), what's the point in getting a new unit?
3. I've done a little digging and Dish doesn't seem to fair much better with hardware/software issues. The cable companies are not an option, I have had way too many problems with cable in the past. As far as I can tell though, that's the only option if you want TIVO without prohibitive cost and hassle setting up the system.
4. Why are these software updates so critical to begin with? Everything was working fine. I see the point of updating virus software on a computer, but it's unclear to me what I'm getting from these software updates other than headaches.

I noticed several people mentioning the "local channel" reboot (esp in CT). I get reboots on non-locals as well, but with less frequently. It does seem that anytime the satellite signal becomes weak, it initiates a reboot. I can rationalize this behavior because I think the source of the local channels is somehow different than the commons, and it's more common to see interference (weather, non-specific) when watching the locals when things were working properly.

That's my $0.02, more of a rant than anything else...

ssorrell · 10-10-2007, 09:03 AM

I've been having these issues for a month or so now, but my wife and I have noticed that it happens mostly, if not all of the time, on NBC. We are in an area where we do not receive any local NBC affiliate, so we only get the NYC and LA feeds. Last night we were watching the recording of Chuck, and it froze worse than ever before. Usually we could wait it out and it would indeed start playing again, but last night I had two reboots within 30 minutes. We record shows on many other channels with no problems at all. I was about to come online and research the newest and latest DVRs at Best Buy, but now I guess it doesn't matter...I'll wait it out and see what happens.

Mark W · 10-10-2007, 09:31 AM

I have not checked specifically, but it does seem that many of my reboots and freeze ups have happened while on NBC.

lmd · 10-10-2007, 09:41 AM

I live in CT too. Unfortunately my TiVo just froze on VH1. DTV is sending a tech out on Sat - not sure why because I won't take their DVR. Maybe it is time for all of us to contact Blumenthal. DTV has no problem taking our money for TiVo and they are not providing service <sigh>.

scburdet · 10-10-2007, 10:26 AM

I wouldn't stake too much hope on the AG office.

stlfan62 · 10-10-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmd

I live in CT too. Unfortunately my TiVo just froze on VH1. DTV is sending a tech out on Sat - not sure why because I won't take their DVR. Maybe it is time for all of us to contact Blumenthal. DTV has no problem taking our money for TiVo and they are not providing service <sigh>.

What was the other tuner tuned to?