Need Advice. Picture problems.

I would still attenuate the signal down to the high 90s for "signal strength." TiVo says that too hot a signal can damage the tuners over time (I have my doubts about that, but feel it is better to be safe than sorry). We have ours down to between 95% and 100% with SNR in the high 30s (needed 12db of attenuation ahead of an 8-way splitter. We get a few corrected errors, but uncorrected stays at zero.

 

I'd get the signal so that it at LEAST hits 99% on a single channel, just to appease Tivo support. Then at least you know it's not TOO hot. Remember, Tivo even states that over 100% is ok as long as it's not too far over 100% (hey Tivo, how about you let the meter SHOW beyond 100%).

From this page:http://tivoproduction.force.com/Sup...oamio-Series-Premiere-Series-and-Series3-DVRs

Personally I can't stand the go-to answer from tech support is your signal is too hot. Tivo won't admit it, but it's their own box amping the signal making it too hot in most cases!!!

Me personally, I put a -3dB attenuator on my line and I still mostly get 100% and 41SNR on most channels....but some do hit 99%, so I'm pleased.

-Kevin

 

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@ kbmb and Diana:

Interesting comments. Can one of you briefly explain what a "too hot" signal does to the tuner, or what other disadvantage there may be? I'm wondering if this is anything I should be concerned about, as all my tuners consistently get 100% signals and ~42-43dB SNR. RS corrected and uncorrected are usually both 0, except on ESPN's channels.

 

According to that page above it "shouldn't" do anything as the components are supposed to "cycle in and out of "protect" mode to prevent damage". But Tivo support is stuck on blaming everything on a hot signal.

If the signal is too hot, other people have had issues pairing cable cards.

I ran a Tivo HD with 100% and 43SNR for 8 years with no issues.

And like you, with nothing my Plus ran the same numbers......just because I like to tinker, I bought some attenuators and brought the level down just under 100%. Figure that's safe enough.

-Kevin

 

Thanks for that. I'll have to read up on it some more, I guess. I get that TiVo likes their "go-to" excuses, and I certainly get that non-optimal signals can cause picture and tuning issues. But I'm still a little confused how a too-hot signal would actually "damage" a tuner.

Your 8 years with that TiVo HD, and mine with my various TiVos over the years, suggests that any actual risk must be relatively small.

 

That's interesting. With my little base Roamio, the only hot spot (and I mean physically hot) is the RF connection. Seriously. My signal is always 90, SNR is 36dB. No errors.

 

Physically hot?? Hmm, I haven't seen that on mine. Do you suppose that's what they mean....components literally overheating?

 

The Roamio Basic doesn't amp the signal nearly like the Plus/Pro do.

I have both. My Plus on an outlet will read 99-100% and 41 SNR. I put the Basic on the same outlet and it will read 93-95% and 36 SNR.

And the RF connection on my Basic is a "little" warm to the touch.....but definitely not hot. Although I have read the threads where others have also said their's run hot.
-Kevin

 

Technically, I don't know the answer. I'm guessing if the signal is way too hot.....like if the meter went beyond 100% and it read 150%, then I'm guessing something about that and the electronics in the tuners would case them to burn out, get too physically hot?!?

The thing that bothers me so much is that it's the Tivo doing it to itself. I even had a Comcast tech out to read the signal on the line and he said it was perfect.

Comcast DVR on the same outlet reads perfect levels.
Roamio Basic on the same outlet reads 93-95%.

Seems to me it's almost a design flaw with the 6 tuner models.

BTW, you don't need to have attenuators....you can just put a splitter on the line and cap the un-used port. That will also drop the level.

I also find it interesting that Tivo would ever deny service because of this issue.....because MOST people don't have any symptoms, like you. Just high levels. And if the Tivo itself doesn't display a message or cut out the tuner, how would a normal person ever know they were too hot.

OK, I'm done ranting.....

-Kevin