Tivo Not Getting Extended Basic Cable Channels! Please Help!!!

sidp78 · 02-19-2008, 09:39 PM

hey guys ive researched and researched and talked to tivo and time warner 2 dozen times and still nothing. this is my last resort and maybe one of you can help me out. so here is all the info you need:
i had a tivo single tuner 140 hour and it died last week (3rd tivo to die in less than a year!). so tivo replaced it with a dual tuner series 2. the way i have it plugged in is directly into the cable output in the wall. the REASON i have it this way is because i have split the cable signal and have the other coxial going to my time warner DVR cable box. the cable box is NOT connected to the Tivo. they are completely independent of each other. the reason i wanted this setup was so that i can have tivo record all of my shows without problems or conflict, AND i can have the cable box DVR record in high def at the same time (or even just watch live tv in high def) while the tivo is recording. with my old single tuner tivo, this setup worked fine, and i recieved all channels from about 1-76. now the problem is with this new tivo dual tuner, i only get about channels 1-30 and cant get any of the other channels above it. yep i have it setup for NO cable box...yep i double checked and all channels are listed in my channel list...im just SO frustrated and have wasted so many hours on this, but frankly, i love to watch tivo with my wife during quality hours and also download it to tivo to go when we travel. so this is important to me to making it work. anything you can do to help would be SO appreciated.

on a side note: i even set it up the way its supposed to be setup through the cable box, just to see if it worked. i DID recieve the channels above 30, but it created more problems because when the cable box DVR was recording something, the tivo got screwy and couldnt switch the channels on the cable box and would then record whatever the cable box was recording, even though it thought it was recording something else frmo my season pass. this setup just wont work.

some options i have considered: give up on tivo alltogether. get an tivo HD and use cable cards. go back to a single tuner tivo and see if that works again.

im nto sure what else to do but these options are obviously not simple or cheap alternatives. PLEASE HELP GUYS!!!

JonathanMeyers · 02-19-2008, 09:49 PM

Set it up for Cable and just hook it up directly from the wall without going through the cable converter. The have the tivo search for channels. It will find them.

sidp78 · 02-19-2008, 10:30 PM

im sorry can you go into detail. i DO have it setup for cable and i DO have it setup directly in the wall....just as i mentioned in my post. but i still only have channels 1-30. but when you say have tivo search for channels....what do you mean? during guided setup the video feed did not come through for any channels above 30. please let me know what you meant...thanks

JonathanMeyers · 02-20-2008, 12:00 AM

I'm sorry. In your post it says "yep i have it setup for NO cable box...". So I guess I misunderstood.

scandia101 · 02-20-2008, 02:37 AM

You said all of the channels are listed as channels you receive, but on that list are they also marked with a check?

If you connect the cable directly to the tv (no box) do you get all of the channels?

SullyND · 02-20-2008, 04:59 AM

Assuming "Extended Basic" = Digital a Series 2 TiVo will not be able to record them without a cable box, and a DT S2 will only be able to record them on the one tuner associated with the cable box.

omni555 · 02-20-2008, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonathanMeyers

Set it up for Cable and just hook it up directly from the wall without going through the cable converter. The have the tivo search for channels. It will find them.

This should work. I have a S2DT unit connected ONLY to the incoming cable, scanned for channels, and can record 2 programs at a time from channels 2 to 77. I have a HD unit also connected to the same cable (via a splitter) and can record ALL channels (standards, movie channels, HD channels, etc). On another split I have a coax going into my TV, and can use the TV's remote to watch programs on channels 2 to 77 while recording a total of 4 programs (2 from the S2 unit on ch 2-77 and 2 on the HD unit on channels 2-1100+).

WhiskeyTango · 02-20-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SullyND

Assuming "Extended Basic" = Digital a Series 2 TiVo will not be able to record them without a cable box, and a DT S2 will only be able to record them on the one tuner associated with the cable box.

I have to agree with Sully. I've got a S2 hooked up without a cable box and there are a couple of channels that are in the program guide but I can't pick up without the cable box. I'm guessing those channels are not being broadcast with an analog signal that the Tivo can pick up.

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni555

This should work. I have a S2DT unit connected ONLY to the incoming cable, scanned for channels, and can record 2 programs at a time from channels 2 to 77. I have a HD unit also connected to the same cable (via a splitter) and can record ALL channels (standards, movie channels, HD channels, etc). On another split I have a coax going into my TV, and can use the TV's remote to watch programs on channels 2 to 77 while recording a total of 4 programs (2 from the S2 unit on ch 2-77 and 2 on the HD unit on channels 2-1100+).

dear god. its like mission control over at your house! when you say you had the tivo "scanned for channels" what exactly does that mean and how do i do it? honestly i have had tivo "customer support" try to figure this out a dozen times and still nothing. what i dont get is why it worked with the single tuner tivo but not with the dual tuner tivo. do any of you have Time Warner? thats who i use. is there a difference in the signal from the channels 1-30 and the ones above30? all i get is a blank screen and tivo says searching for signal on: basic cable in.

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 11:51 AM

wait a minute....if im hooking up the tivo directly to the cable output in the wall, do i select digital cable during the guided setup? because i think thats what i did....am i supposed to select analog or something else? thanks

dmlove51 · 02-20-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidp78

wait a minute....if im hooking up the tivo directly to the cable output in the wall, do i select digital cable during the guided setup? because i think thats what i did....am i supposed to select analog or something else? thanks

I don't know the answer to this, but I definitely agree with you that it should work (and I do NOT agree with Sully or WhiskeyTango. I have a single tuner Series 2 connected just like your's (from the wall) with a Comcast DVR connected separately so I can record and watch HD. The TiVO definitely sees, and records, channels 1-99 (actually I think we only get up to channel 82, but it would do up to 99))

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 05:57 PM

thats exactly what im saying...it worked with the single tuner but i cant get it to work with a dual tuner!!! this sucks! any other advice? thanks

dorian · 02-20-2008, 06:07 PM

Go through the guided setup and select an analog cable setup. Then look at what you get. That worked for me when I had a Series 2 on comcast. Of course, I wasn't able to use the digital stuff like on demand and PPV nor was I able to get any channels above 81 or so (only got the standard "non-digital" channels).

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 08:27 PM

i am trying it now but it doesnt give me an option to use analog cable setup. it asks "are you using a cable box?" i select no. then it never asks about digital or analog...

any advice?

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 08:30 PM

can anyone tell me what "scanned for channels" means??? im trying to do the guided setup for the 100th time in the last week....still nothing....

bonz44 · 02-20-2008, 09:48 PM

It kinda sounds like your cable company may have recently moved some of the ex-basic channels to digital to free up bandwidth, on your time warner box they would still be mapped as ex-basic 31-70 whatever, one fairly easy way to check this would be to hook up the coax that you had running to your tivo directly to your tv and run the autoprogram on your tv and see if you come up with the same results. Btw, I'm a cable guy(not with your company) so I'm just using some basic troubleshooting suggestions.

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 10:16 PM

you are right...i ran the cable directly to the tv and only get channels 2-30. what does this mean? what does this tell me now? do i switch back to a single tuner tivo? what do i do???? i HATE TIME WARNER!

ToddNeedsTiVo · 02-20-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidp78

i am trying it now but it doesnt give me an option to use analog cable setup. it asks "are you using a cable box?" i select no. then it never asks about digital or analog...

any advice?

A Series 2 doesn't have a QAM tuner, so it won't be able to pick up digital cable channels right off the wire. (Besides, most of them would be encrypted anyway.) I see now that you've reported your television also only sees lower channels...it too would be at the mercy of only a few digital, unencrypted channels being available (if it has a QAM tuner).

If you had told the TiVo you have a cable box, I presume it would have configured things for you to connect the box to the TiVo's inputs with RCA cables (no coax into the TiVo) and then make recordings by controlling what channel the cable box is tuned to via IR blaster.

ciper · 02-20-2008, 10:27 PM

It might not be as bad as you think. They may have installed a filter on your line which blocks channels above 30. Normally it is for people who buy regular basic cable.

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 11:00 PM

so how do i get rid of this "filter"? any advice on what to do??? thanks

ciper · 02-20-2008, 11:03 PM

Legal way: Call the cable company and tell them "I am paying for extended basic but I only see channels below 30. Did you install a notch filter?"

Illegal way: Open the box and remove the filter yourself. Keys can be easily purchase online.

sidp78 · 02-20-2008, 11:27 PM

called time warner...spoke to wuneta....worlds dumbest human being. not exaggerating. seriously. the world stupidest person. "sir we aynt got nuttin like no kind uh whatchamacallit filter on yo thang. you gon need a cable card"

that clears that up...

Stephen Tu · 02-21-2008, 02:06 AM

Go to avsforum.com , find the "local HDTV info & reception" forum, find the thread for your locale & provider. There should be discussion there if they moved a bunch of channels from extended basic to digital-only, which should clarify your problem & options.

omni555 · 02-21-2008, 05:27 AM

...OK, since the ex-channels seem to be blocked somehow, it must have been done since you replaced your single tuner box, as that box wouldn't work EITHER under the current situation.

One other thing to check is cable/air settings on any of your equipment. I had a 14" TV a number of years back that would see up to channel 30-something when set to "air" but brought in the channels up to 77 when switched to "cable" (NO box connected at any time).

...Actually, I am looking at that set NOW, and when I press the "ca/air" button on the remote once, it shows "air" on the screen and the higher channels disappear from my lineup, but when I press that button a second time "cable" appears on the screen and all the channels are back.

growthweb · 03-27-2008, 01:45 AM

Hello, I just got a DUAL TUNER TIVO and ALSO I CAN not get my extended channels from my time warner cable. Iam in San Diego 92111. WORKS FINE WITH THE SINGLE TUNER TIVO. After channel 25 I do not receive any other channels except for 47 and a couple others. AS I MENTIONED works fine with my old SINGLE TUNER TIVO. AND MY TV PICKS UP ALL MY EXTENDED CHANNELS WHEN I CHANGE THE INPUT TO REGULAR TV. This I see is a major problem and there must must be a solution. I do love having a dual tuner tivo but need to get my extended. Please anybody have the solution? thanks .... P.S. I must stress as sidp78 mentioned previously we are receiving all our extended channels on the tv and on a single tuner tivo, just not on a dual tuner tivo.

jrm01 · 03-27-2008, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by growthweb

Hello, I just got a DUAL TUNER TIVO and ALSO I CAN not get my extended channels from my time warner cable. Iam in San Diego 92111. WORKS FINE WITH THE SINGLE TUNER TIVO. After channel 25 I do not receive any other channels except for 47 and a couple others. AS I MENTIONED works fine with my old SINGLE TUNER TIVO. AND MY TV PICKS UP ALL MY EXTENDED CHANNELS WHEN I CHANGE THE INPUT TO REGULAR TV. This I see is a major problem and there must must be a solution. I do love having a dual tuner tivo but need to get my extended. Please anybody have the solution? thanks .... P.S. I must stress as sidp78 mentioned previously we are receiving all our extended channels on the tv and on a single tuner tivo, just not on a dual tuner tivo.

Actually your problem is different from sidp78 since he said that he did not receive the extended channels when hooked directly to the TV.

If you get these channels when you hook directly to the TV it would appear that something went wrong during guided setup. Have you tried to rerun Guided Setup, being sure you select Cable Without Box and also select the proper provider and package.

Just to be on the safe side I would suggest restarting the TiVo before running Guided Setup (pull plug, wait 20 secs and replug).

growthweb · 03-27-2008, 11:33 PM

Thanks for your suggestion. I did do the guided setup very carefully several times and did the plug unplug several times. Iam a long time tivo usera and very familiar with all the setups and workings. Strangest problem. If anybody else has any ideas please let me know. thanks much

scandia101 · 03-27-2008, 11:42 PM

Can you tune the channels above 25 by entering the channel number with the remote?

Did you check the list of channels you receive to make sure the appropriate channels were selected?

telcoman · 03-29-2008, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omni555

...OK, since the ex-channels seem to be blocked somehow, it must have been done since you replaced your single tuner box, as that box wouldn't work EITHER under the current situation.

One other thing to check is cable/air settings on any of your equipment. I had a 14" TV a number of years back that would see up to channel 30-something when set to "air" but brought in the channels up to 77 when switched to "cable" (NO box connected at any time).

...Actually, I am looking at that set NOW, and when I press the "ca/air" button on the remote once, it shows "air" on the screen and the higher channels disappear from my lineup, but when I press that button a second time "cable" appears on the screen and all the channels are back.

The reason the channels came back is you switched the TV RF input from "antenna" to "cable." When a TV, VCR, or Tivo is set for Antenna RF input you are only going to receive the OTA channels. It used to be 2-13 & UHF 14-83
When you select cable you will receive all the analog cable channels on 2-99.
Many cable companies have begun migrating their analog channels to the digital spectrum and do their own mapping.
For all those having difficulty be sure your device is set for RF cable and not antenna input.
The advantage of the HD dual tuner series 3 Tivo is you can record 2 channels at once and you don't need a cable box. If purchased thru Tivo you can get a lifetime sub & just pay once and be done. I just got mine with a M Card and it works great.

Telcoman

growthweb · 03-31-2008, 12:43 AM

"For all those having difficulty be sure your device is set for RF cable and not antenna input." .... Thank you for the above post. I did all that is mentioned. I still can not receive channels above 25 (except for a couple). My DUAL TUNER tivo just wont recognize them. Even though I put in my zip code 92111 and Time Warner cable in the setup and do everything else mentioned in this thread. Now by switching to a single tuner tivo and doing exactly the same thing I then get all my EXTENDED time warner channels above 25. So this is really strange. Anybody else have this type of problem? I sure would love to keep my dual tuner tivo and get my extended channels.