TiVo Community Forum banner

9.1 update has brought pixelation back to my S3

1424 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Espo
Got the new 9.1 update last weekend on my 2 S3's & unfortunately it has caused a couple of my HD channels to have pixelation/picture & sound breakup. This is after I've been completely free of any video problems since last winter's update. I'm using them with OTA + cable & have had them since last Fall. To be clear: I didn't change any of my setup, I've had most of the Tivo models they've sold, it's present on both units, & it started occurring directly after the updates (updates were on different days). On my NBC channels (D.C. & Balt), the break-ups are the same as what many have discussed with the new HD models - every 3-4 minutes with severe pixelization with a skip of sound/video. This was what had me return a HD unit after trying it for a week. This break-up also is similar to what I experienced with the S3's pre-8.3 & on my previous HR10, so I'm very familiar with this flaw. This only occurs with HD shows & NOT SD material airing on the same HD channels. On the CBS channels, the pixelization is totally different. No breakups, but instead it appears as video noise or random blocks of digital artifacts. I haven't seen any problems yet with the ABC or FOX channels (related to 720P?). I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this. If 9.1 doesn't include support for M-cards or TTG & just adds wishlists features, I would much rather have my 8.3 back!
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Give me some examples of OTA programs you've recorded and from what affiliate and I will compare. I've recorded a number of programs this past week off WJZ (Balt CBS) and WRC (DC NBC) but haven't viewed all of them yet.

I know that one or two programs I recorded from WJZ exhibited mass pixelization that would come and go. I assumed the issue was my antenna (and that still could be the cause), but The Unit and Moonlight recorded without a single instance of pixelization.
A Tivo rep told me that this latest update 9.1 was not aimed to correct the pixelation issues that have plagued the Tivo for a year now...

But we do have an "enhanced wishlist"...
bkdtv said:
Give me some examples of OTA programs you've recorded and from what affiliate and I will compare. I've recorded a number of programs this past week off WJZ (Balt CBS) and WRC (DC NBC) but haven't viewed all of them yet.

I know that one or two programs I recorded from WJZ exhibited mass pixelization that would come and go. I assumed the issue was my antenna (and that still could be the cause), but The Unit and Moonlight recorded without a single instance of pixelization.
Did you receive 9.1 on a S3? CSI on WJZ was really bad on Thu. WRC's Bionic Woman, Leno, Conan, Journeyman, etc (I watch a lot of NBC, though some were from WBAL).
Also, this is not a response to the OLD problem of pixelization, this is a new problem of it occurring after the new update, when there was absolutely no presence of it before.
Espo, just so it's clear, are you using CableCards? If so what brand?
Espo said:
Got the new 9.1 update last weekend on my 2 S3's & unfortunately it has caused a couple of my HD channels to have pixelation/picture & sound breakup...
I had no pixelation on my TivoHD since the prior update (the one specifically to address pixelation on the SA cards) but now with 9.1.L5-01-2-652 I am seeing it again. It's nowhere near as bad as it was previously but it had been completely gone before this most recent update :mad: :mad:

I hope Tivo is able to replicate this and get it fixed soon.
moyekj said:
Espo, just so it's clear, are you using CableCards? If so what brand?
1 with Motorola cards, 1 with just OTA. I'm testing more using OTA, so as to eliminate any possible artifacts the cards may be causing. When I heard Tivo was merging the S3 & HD platforms, I assumed they would just move the HD software to match the S3's, since the 8.3 has been fairly clean of any video problems (I won't mention the cable card conflicts). However, it's now clear they've made changes to how the 8.3 software decodes data. For instance, with 9.1, when you start to play a show, it inserts a very brief black screen before it begins. Not annoying, but definitely a change from 8.3.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top