Series3 is rebooting with OTA signal

slicnic911 · 07-30-2010, 06:14 PM

Hello all. I have a series 3 TiVo that is constantly rebooting when connected to my OTA antenna. The TiVo tech recommended an attenuator (a 6dB one). I actually ended up getting the first unit replaced because it also failed a kickstart hard drive test, but the replacement that just came in is rebooting like crazy also.

When it stays on long enough to get to DVR Diags, I find the strength to be in the mid 90's and the SNR hovering at 30-31. Does this sound correct for an OTA signal? Now that I've pretty much ruled out the box as the problem, I'm getting frustrated on how to calibrate the signal so the TiVo will like it. It's also frustrating and confusing that it worked without a hitch for the first four months I owned the first box...

My setup is just an antenna on the roof with no amplifier, about 25 ft of RG6 to a splitter (have tried none, 3-way, and 8-way for different signal strengths) then about 20 ft more to the box.

Thanks for any help!

slicnic911 · 07-30-2010, 08:07 PM

Okay, I was just able to get into the Diagnostics again and it had a strength of 92 with an SNR of 30. The RS corrected was up in the mid-1000 range and uncorrected was 0. Does any of this sound problematic?
It also installed software 11.0 today.

hmm52 · 07-30-2010, 08:15 PM

absolutely not
11.0h

TolloNodre · 07-30-2010, 08:41 PM

I thought RS corrected/uncorrected would only register with cable signals, but maybe I'm wrong.

FWIW, my OTA have signal 92-94, SNR 29-30 and zero for both RS settings.

I would guess bad ground on the antenna. If it 'ran fine' for a while and now two different boxes are having issues with your antenna setup, something in that chain is broken.

slicnic911 · 07-30-2010, 09:29 PM

update number two.
Tollo, there is no ground on the antenna mast but the cable does go through a grounded grounding block. Nothing was changed physically by me last weekend when the freezing and rebooting started. maybe a squirrel chewed on the cable in my attic...
I noticed that both the tuners were on an HD channel when it was constantly rebooting. Putting them both on SD channels seems to have helped the reboot issue. However, one of the channels still has a climbing RS corrected rate and the other stays at 0.

steve614 · 07-31-2010, 02:36 AM

The signal you're getting should not be causing the problem. You have a great signal strength and your RS numbers are exactly what you would want.
Explanation of what the RS numbers mean.

The recent software update is more likely the cause of your problem. The hard drive partition that this update downloaded to was probably harboring some flaws and exposed them.

You might try using some of the TiVo kickstart codes. Maybe 54 or 52.

Might be time for a new upgraded hard drive.

TolloNodre · 07-31-2010, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve614

The recent software update is more likely the cause of your problem. The hard drive partition that this update downloaded to was probably harboring some flaws and exposed them.

On two different boxes? His old box (likely before the software update) was having this problem and now his new box (with or without the software update) is exhibiting the exact same problem. Right slicnic911?

I would still check your antenna setup, especially the grounding block. I experienced a similar problem to you and even though I hadn't 'touched' anything and everything 'looked fine' it turned out the interior of the grounding block had disintegrated. Looked perfectly new on the outside, but was junk on the inside.

slicnic911 · 07-31-2010, 10:45 AM

That's kind of right. The old box just started last weekend which was well after 11.0h. This box has been rebooting since it was first hooked up which was with 9 and now 11.
I'll check things with the grounding block today. Thanks for helping!

Also, I ran the overnight 54 kickstart test and it passed. the SMART test is running now

slicnic911 · 07-31-2010, 07:46 PM

The new box has passed all the SMART and overnight tests.
It continues to reboot constantly on its own. If I can get it on two SD channels it seems to stay running a little longer.
I have a good ground from the antenna mast to the grounding block and the grounding block to a pipe going into the house. I don't find that ideal, but it's what was there and what the DirecTV guy used when the antenna mast used to have a dish on it.
I also disconnected the cable from the antenna and the tivo and used a multimeter to verify the outside and core weren't touching somehow down the line. they weren't.
Any ideas? i can't imagine an attenuator is needed because the strength is always in the 90's. if the ground connection is no good and causing the problem i would think it would have been doing it the whole time. thanks again!

steve614 · 07-31-2010, 08:15 PM

Do you have an indoor antenna or do you know anyone with an indoor antenna that you could use for testing? That could rule out the main antenna causing the problem.

Edit:

If not you can build one yourself...

Homemade HDTV OTA antenna

I made this one over a year ago and it has served me well.

Older version

slicnic911 · 07-31-2010, 08:23 PM

i do not have another antenna to test. i will try to get that test going next. thanks for the idea

The antenna seems to work cause when it's plugged into my tv all the channels work fine. somehow it became incompatible with tivo since last weekend.

TolloNodre · 07-31-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slicnic911

I have a good ground from the antenna mast to the grounding block and the grounding block to a pipe going into the house. I don't find that ideal, but it's what was there and what the DirecTV guy used when the antenna mast used to have a dish on it.

First off, most dish installers will do the most expedient thing - not the electrically correct thing. I'm not an electrician and I don't know what the code is but normally a ground wire should run to a ground 'rod' physically driven into the earth. Not a pipe running into the house (?). That could be your issue right there...

But steve614's suggestion is the easiest - just try running on an indoor for awhile and see if that makes a difference. I'm still guessing the ground block is bad and needs to be replaced...or maybe you have a bad plug in the house?

slicnic911 · 07-31-2010, 08:44 PM

Yeah, my guess is it is not code. I have also seen that a new grounding rod should not be put in but that the existing house's ground should be used. I'm not really keen on the whole electrical scene.

The grounding block is good. It's actually a new one I got four months ago when i was taking down the satellite equipment and putting up the antenna. I tested it with the multimeter just for kicks and it was fine.

I have also tried the tivo on and off the surge protector in both plugs on the outlet.

I will see about getting my hands on an antenna. i could play the scumbag card and buy one to test and return it within the thirty days.

slicnic911 · 08-05-2010, 09:00 PM

I know you have all been dying for an update...

TiVo labeled the second box as DOA. My replacement came yesterday and has worked seamlessly. Maybe I had no antenna issue after all just two dud boxes. Anyways, thanks for everybody's suggestions. I now have a grounded antenna mast because of it.

TolloNodre · 08-06-2010, 08:42 PM

vman41 · 08-06-2010, 09:01 PM

My house was built in the days when using the cold water pipe for ground met code. There is a 4 gauge aluminum wire connecting the pipes on either side of the meter.