[cornflakeGirl]

Hey Guys!

I just recieved my TiVo yesterday via FedEx... set it up, and everything was running perfectly.

I signed up to recieve the latest version of the software (the box I had was running version 5.something) , and was pleased to find it already installed by the time I woke up this morning.

Now I am having audio problems with my tivo!

I can't hear the tivo sound effects, but most importantly, there is no audio when I watch tv!!

I restarted the system, and the audio worked fine for about 5 minutes, and then slowly slowly the problem started up again. It's back to the point where there is no audio.

I checked all my cable connections (and like I said, it was working fine with the older version yesterday). Is this a software problem? Any one have any advice?

Thanks a bunch guys

- Jessica

 

[litzdog911]

How is your Tivo's audio connected to the rest of your equipment (inputs/outputs, cables, connectors)?

 

[crizmon]

Mine (a Tivo series 2) suffers an audio problem as well. Sometimes works perfectly, other times there's lots of static burst and/or audio drop-outs. These don't happen during menus with tivo sound effects. I listened to the various inputs (satellite/aerial) without going through the Tivo and they were fine.

Audio cables are the same as previous Tivo's hookups, they were double checked. Of course, since Tivo sound effects work fine while video feeds are messed up indicates cables are fine.

I tried rebooting many times. The static/sound drop-offs start or start for no apparent reason. In recordings they are recorded as the audio. (repeated listening to sections and the problems are identical).

Don't know if anyone else has a seen a problem like this, would like to hear from you if there are ideas - otherwise this one is getting shipped back.

 

[ydkj0022]

I'm having a similar problem with my 80 hour Series 2 standalone unit. If I'm watching live TV, occasionally the sound will drop out. Seems if I change the channel and change back the sound comes back. I do get TiVo sound effects when my program sound drops out. What is more annoying is when it happens with a recorded program. Sometimes it takes 20 minutes for the sound to come back. My only recourse is to turn on closed-captioning to understand what is going on.

I have a DirecTV external tuner hooked up to my TiVo via RCA autio cables.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[crizmon]

The way I solved my problem was to return the TiVo unit - I had only had it a day or two when this started and after talking to support, I decided that this was likely something that wouldn't just fix itself.

 

[Vyle]

Have the same problem, just cropped up recently. I get recordings with half the audio missing... Audio drop outs seem to last about 30 minutes unless I am there when it happens and I can change channels, immediately restoring audio. Comcast has replaced EVERYTHING for me, bless them, all thats left is my Series2 Tivo that I've had for at least 3 years, I've never had problems with it. Nice software update Tivo. Not.

 

[Leeb]

I have the same problem here. Recently some shows lose all sound mid-show and the sound is usually gone for the rest of the show, but occasionally it comes back.

Cables are connected properly. This is a Tivo problem. How can it be fixed?

 

[Vyle]

Tivo says they can replace the unit, otherwise they have no clue.

 

[SueCookie]

I had the "no audio" issues with my 80 hr new TIVO. The sound crackles and cuts in and out. Would reboot and reset, called support line, tested all connections. Tivo support line finally said they think I have a bad sound card and have told me to send it in for a replacement.

 

[chbrewer]

I had a series 2 Tivo and used it without problems for about 3 years. It died so I got a replacement from Tivo. It had the same issue everyone is discussing here. The sound would pop and crackle or go out completely, but it didn't do it all the time. I tried all of the connection methods and they all produced the same results, but when I tested sound directly from my satelite receiver it was fine. Tivo sent me a replacement which worked for about a week without problems and then started doing the same thing. When I called support they said it was a problem in my house that something was interfering with my Tivo. I think they have a problem with these tivos and they aren't fessing up that they don't know the cause or can't implement the fix right away. I ended up getting a third replacement and it had the same problem. I have found if I reboot it once a week it doesn't seem to have the sound issue. The problem is you never know when a recording will get screwed up. When I talked to Tivo support to get the 3rd replacement I asked them to tell me what could possibly be interfering with the Tivo since that is what they claimed was the problem and he really couldn't give me any suggestions other than other electronic devices too close to the tivo box. So I asked why when I put the repalcement tivos in the exact same spot at my original tivo does the new one have a problem that the old one never had...he didn't have much to offer. I think the bottom line is Tivo has an unidentified problem and they aren't fessing up.

 

[SSSEGraves]

I've been a Tivo user since earlier this year, and our first box (Series 2) was fine until the hard drive crashed (everything just froze) so we got a replacement around September. The new one (also Series 2) worked fine for awhile, then we got issues with the sound: crackles, intermittent sound, then no sound at all after some minutes. Nothing else had changed (all the other equipment was the same, etc.) and I switched out all the cables, same problem. Sound was gone on live TV, recorded programs and even the Tivo sounds (cartoon intro, menu noises, etc.) I could get the sound back if I unplugged the Tivo, even with the signal still running through the Tivo unit itself. Also, sound would come back temporarily after powering down and starting it up again.

Anyway, I got a replacement for that unit (Series 2 again) and after about a week, it started exhibiting the same problem. Support's suggestion was that it was "environmental" and asked that I set the Tivo up somewhere else to check. I did set it up in another room (and still had the problem), but wasn't about to move the Tivo to somebody else's house and ask them to watch it for a few days to see if the problem reappeared. I was about to move, so I just boxed the thing for a few weeks and set it up in my new place. Sure enough, 24 hours after starting it up again, the problem reappeared. All new cables (we went from satellite to cable when we moved) new home, exact same performance issues. I even went from RF cable to RCA connections and once again, half an hour of good sound was all I got. I'd received an assurance when I boxed the thing up before moving that if the problem persisted in the new location we'd get a free exchange, but I had to haggle in order to make them follow through. For some reason, they seem certain it's my fault. Now I'm told that if I still have the same problem with the new one another exchange will cost about $50.

Of course, if this one has the same problems, I think I'm just going to dump Tivo. It's a shame, we're really fond of the service, but if it's not going to work and they can't resolve performance issues, I don't need the aggravation.

 

[rocco86]

I keep looking in these forums for a definitive answer. I don't think there is one.

I had a Series 2 that worked perfectly through June 2005. I left the country for a year and it wasn't really used by my wife. When I returned, it had the amber light so I replaced the power unit and everything worked fine...for a while.

Since July 2006 I've been getting the same problem as others. Sound will drop out, usually at a commercial break. If I change the channel - sound returns to normal. If Tivo's recording a show, obviously it doesn't change the channel, so the sound drops out for anywhere from 15 minutes to 1/2 hour - typically returning again at the end of a commercial break. It happens on all channels (I assume).

Throughout these symptoms, Tivo sound effects work fine. We all know it's NOT the connection or cables, it's NOT the audio settings, and now we know it's NOT the power unit. I had Comcast test the line, and mine was remarkably good - so it's NOT signal strength.

This problem seems to be quite widespread and I've read elsewhere on this forum of the same occuring on S3's. It's remarkable to me that I haven't found a fix anywhere (I assume there is one, maybe I just don't see it), but judging from people's quotes of the Tivo service rep's response, it seems fruitless to call them.

I can't return my box because I added a Hard Drive in 1994 - and I doubt the hardware is a problem anyway.

If this is a persistent problem that also bleeds into the S3, I have to think twice about upgrading. We use our Tivo's to record shows and it's more than a little frustrating to know you have about a 50/50 chance of being able to watch any program without reverting to subtitles halfway through - not what we signed up for.

All I need to know is that Tivo understands there's a problem and is working on it. I have patience if there's a solution in my future.

Otherwise, I'll have to move out of the country again.

 

[chbrewer]

I think Tivo is using a common tech support trick. When you don't know the problem blame the user.