Odd Audio Dropouts

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I agree that CBS is pretty bad, but I mostly record CBS. I do most real time watching on TWC and MSNBC.

 

Same here, I have yet to notice any video issues when I have a dropout, it's always audio only.

 

Same here, audio dropouts only. (If I see a video problem, it's always an issue with my antenna reception and can be repeated on replay. But I often have audio dropouts that cannot be repeated on replay.)

I have my TiVo connected to my TV via HDMI and to my Pioneer receiver via optical audio (Toslink).

 

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A response from a TiVo rep,

https://forums.tivo.com/pe/action/forums/displaypost?postID=11272364#e11272364

 

If it makes anyone feel better, I can attest that TiVo is working on this problem. But don't put me in the optimist column. This doesn't feel like a firmware problem. I never have a dropout on my Premiere.

 

tivocustomers, can you please provide me a private message with your TiVo service number so that we can investigate this issue?

 

I have had a Tivo Basic for a little over a year now. It replaced an S3 that was still going strong, but I wanted more tuners to avoid recording conflicts.

I've been experiencing the same audio dropout issues described in this thread. I also have been having a lot of video stuttering and streaking as well.

My Tivo is connected via HDMI to my Onkyo AVR and then to my TV. All other components connected to my AVR do not exhibit any of these issues.

I called TWC and they came out and ran new cable from the street to the service entrance at the house. That boosted the signal a bit, but still did not fix the problem. TWC said that all signal levels etc. were okay.

I also called Tivo support and they think it might be a Tuning Adapter issue.

I've checked all connections, changed cables and everything else that I can think of, and still I'm having audio/video issues.

Last night, I watched the Packers/Bears game and the problem was really bad.

I noticed that when playing back a recorded program, and I experience audio/video problems, I can't reproduce the issue when I back up and replay at the same place on the recording, which indicates to me that it is a problem with the Tivo. Tivo offered to replace the Tivo for a fee (I'm beyond the warranty period), but then I would loose all recordings on the hard drive. I can't copy the recordings over to another Tivo because TWC has almost everything copy protected.

Then, I just happened to find this thread, and it looks like I'm not the only one having similar issues.

Hopefully, Tivo can get this problem fixed soon.

Regards...

 

I hope so also. Question: does your basic Roamio count RS Corrected errors?

 

Since you are having audio *and* video issues, it sounds more likely that it's a feed/signal issue especially since it's saved in the recorded program and perhaps not related to the other audio-only issue reported here.

Scott

 

Yeah, I agree. I have some similar issues that happen on my channels above 560 and they are part of the content feed. I was just curious how many Roamio basic models don't have the ability to count RS Corrected and have a OOB SNR of over 300 dB.

 

I just got a v2 Mini. I had two audio dropouts in an hour. It connects to a small HDTV via HDMI. I was using a v1. Next week I'll get the v1 back and see if it has dropouts. I only use the Mini for a few hours in the morning. BTW, The dropout was at least one second, longer than the Roamio.

 

Thanks for the reply. However, the audio/video issues are not saved in the recordings. That's why I don't think it is a signal issue.

TWC is sending another tech Monday to check for any signal issues. They are also supposed to bring a new Tuning Adapter since Tivo support thinks that the TA may be the problem. I think that changing out the TA is just a shot in the dark, but I guess it's worth a try.

Another reason not to suspect the signal is that I have another Tivo S3 running in a different room, and there are no issues with it. Also, I have TWC phone and Internet and no issues with those either. I realize that the Roamio might be more sensitive to signal problems than other devices, but to date, all troubleshooting points to the Roamio itself.

TWC has checked the amp/splitter in the attic that feeds the rest of the house. They changed out the cable drop to the Roamio. They bypassed the amp to see if that made a difference. None of those changes helped.

The TWC tech says that the signal to the Roamio, as checked at the Raomio, is fine.

This is the 4th truck roll in the last 4 weeks, and I'm not even sure it's their problem since TWC techs say the signal is good, and the TIVO/Cablecard/TA diagnostics indicate the same.

I've had numerous phone calls with TWC Cable Card Services and Tivo Support. All calls have been helpful in attempting to determine the problem by running diagnostics on their end and having me run diagnostics on my end. So far, all diagnostics indicate that there are no signal issues.

For awhile, I thought that perhaps the Roamio hard drive was going bad. But since the recordings don't exhibit the dropouts at the same place in time, I don't think that the HD is the issue. I have a new, larger hard drive available just in case the original hard drive kicks the bucket.

As a last note, the dropouts are random and I get more dropouts on my locals than I do on other channels. Sometimes the dropouts are frequent, but on a different day, only occasional. According to TWC, my HD locals go through the Tuning Adapter the same as the SDV channels.

I've used Tivo powered DVRs since way back when DirecTV used Tivo. When I switched to TWC, I purchased my first Tivo S3, and soon after added another S3 for a different room. The only time I've had issue worse than these is when TWC went to SDV and I had to get a TA...but that's a long story for a different day.

Although these dropout issues aren't the "end of the world", it's somewhat baffling to be sure.

If changing out the TA makes a difference, I will post a follow-up.

Thanks...

 

Yes, my basic Roamio is always zero RS corrected, unless I unplug the coax from the Roamio and re-connect.

 

I obviously read your original post wrong so sorry (reading can instead of can't!)!

Scott

 

Yes, it is most definitely a TiVo problem that they don't understand yet and the first line CSRs are deflecting because they don't have the right answer and in fact, are extremely likely not to be even aware of the problem.

Since everything one views on a TiVo is from the hard drive, a recording, it stands to reason if the dropout doesn't happen when played back a second time it means it was never a dropout when initially recorded. This means that it's a problem with the TiVo audio decoding and/or processing.

I also think it happens a lot more than you would think judging by the limited number of complaints here, I think folks are just missing it or forgetting about it happening or don't really care that much about it to post a comment about it. In the grand scheme of things, it really isn't that big a deal, but that's not the point, it shouldn't be happening at all.

 

Most TV shows have quiet periods, even though they are very short. But when watching a football game or a program with music the dropout can be very irritating.

 

Do you mean the RS Corrected count item isn't there or that the count is always zero? In over 3 months I can't recall a RS count (corrected or uncorrected) that was anything but zero on my Roamio basic. But I still get occasional video glitches with the amount varying with channel. I'm hoping the RS counters are actually working -- which implies the glitches are in the signal feed.

Given the absurd OOB SNR value, one does wonder if the RS counts can be trusted.

Non-zero counts were somewhat rare on my previous TiVo, a TiVo HD, except when on an antenna channel.

 

I have a Premiere and Roamio on the same line coming into my house. The only difference is that last three feet where the line splits. The Premiere counts RS Corrected and Uncorrected. It has an OOB SNR of 2db, which is that same as another Premiere on a different tap from outside.

If I go outside and pull the RG11 feeding my box, killing all signals, my modem and all three TiVo have RS Corrected and Uncorrected errors, numbering in the millions. The exception is the Roamio which has RS Corrected at zero. I had my drop fixed a few months ago and observed the same thing. Now I don't get many errors on my Premieres since my drop was fixed, but they are usually non-zero except if I restart the box (or change channels). The Roamio is more forgiving and seldom has RS Uncorrected unless I'm messing with the cables.

I think my diags are not to be trusted and another user on this forum has observed the same behavior. It will be interesting next week since I will be getting a new Roamio. I don't know the odds it will behave the same, but I hope not.