[nmkonaboy]

I'm working on a Pixelation issue on my "2019 TiVo-renewed BOLT 500 GB". First though, I need a little help on this issue - (then I'll update thread with info re the pixelation):

Tivo Bolt+ has the Toshiba 3TB MQ03ABB300 drive in it, that I put in back in 2019 when I got the box. As part of diagnosing the pixilation problem, I swapped out the drive and put the original 500GB drive back in. The Tivo booted, and during boot, gave a msg "updating" on the grey screen. Tivo booted fine, but Cable Card showed not activated, and pixilation problem still there.

When I put back in the 3TB Toshiba drive, I'm now in a boot loop. It shows the Tivo logo, then "starting up". Starting up is there for a few minutes, then it goes back to the Tivo logo, and back to "starting up". Placing the 500GB drive back in, boots fine.

Do I need to clear the 3TB drive somehow? I'm OK losing my recordings on the drive if needed. I want to get back my 3TB drive before I start again on the pixilation problem

thanks much.

 

[nmkonaboy]

I did a little digging in the forum, and decided that I probably needed to put the 3TB drive into a windows PC and format it. Did that, and now I have my drive back and no looping during boot. (edit: Running TE4)

On to the pixilation problem -

1. It started a couple of weeks ago. No known changes in the house related to cables, power, internet etc.
2. Most of house is either normal wired Cat6 ethernet, or Wireless. I do have a Netgear Powerline 2000 that I use to get better wireless internet upstairs in extra bedrooms. Tivo has been accessing internet via wireless downstairs.
3. My Signal Strength for the channel I am testing with (4/NBC) is 92, and SNR 37db.
4. I unplugged the Powerline adapters, to see if that made a difference, and although the Signal Strength and SNR is the same, I did notice a decrease in the pixelation - not as often pixelating, and not as severe.
5. I've tested with a 2nd Bolt+ that I just today reactivated, and it has the same pixelation when connected to the Coax.
6. A week ago I went to Spectrum and got a Cisco DVR, which doesn't pixelate nearly as much. At first I thought it didn't do it at all, but every 10 mins or so, I see a quick pixelation along the bottom of the screen. I went into the diagnostics on that box, and think I found an equivalent #: OOB FDC PWRSNR: is -4.70 dBmV 42.50 dB. I think this is the 6 tuner box since it has the clock on the front of it. Although there are a total of 8 sets of numbers with the 42.5db
7. I've recapped most of the coax with new ends. My next step is to run a new RG6 from entry into house to the Tivo. I can upload a pic of my coax splits if useful - short version is that I have a two way splitter from Spectrum where cable comes into house. One side goes to internet, other to this Tivo. At this Tivo I have split to the Tuning Adapter and the Tivo.
8. I Think that part of the run of the cable to the coax is RG59, since it is thinner than the other cables. House is 30 years old, and that cable was here since then.

I'm not sure if I need to look into any filters or my best bet is to switch to all RG6 and no connectors in between. If any other suggestions, I'd appreciate!