Are the two boxes the same models? If not, then swapping parts may not work. If they are the same model then I would start by swapping out the power supply first. That doesn't require any soldering. You might also swap out the hard drive. I can't say for sure that the hard drive would cause the bad video but it could if the "live buffer" that gets recorded is what you are viewing. Another thing to try is to see if the feedthrough RF port on the Tivo has good or bad video. It should go directly into the Tivo and be split off to go out again. Also, have you tried using a different set of output ports from the Tivo (e.g.: the S-video instead of the composite)? Good luck.
Series 2 tuners going out
I have a Series 2 Tivo with lifetime subscription. Over the last few months, the picture quality has started going bad and with static, looking similar to if I was using a bad or cheap coax cable. At first it seemed like it was just a couple channels this was happening on, but now, it's all of them, with some worse than others.
I wasn't sure if it WAS the Tivo to begin with since I had it connect to my bedroom tv. But I just switched it to another tv that had a second Tivo Series 2 that was working properly, and it is just as bad, if not a little bit worse.
Can these tuners be swapped out for good ones? Repaired? If not, then I've got a boat anchor that has a lifetime subscription on it. LOL.
The second Series 2 is on monthly, and fixing to be cancelled since I just got a new premiere, so I could possibly scavenge parts from it, maybe?
Thanks
I wasn't sure if it WAS the Tivo to begin with since I had it connect to my bedroom tv. But I just switched it to another tv that had a second Tivo Series 2 that was working properly, and it is just as bad, if not a little bit worse.
Can these tuners be swapped out for good ones? Repaired? If not, then I've got a boat anchor that has a lifetime subscription on it. LOL.
The second Series 2 is on monthly, and fixing to be cancelled since I just got a new premiere, so I could possibly scavenge parts from it, maybe?
Thanks
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
series 2 has analog tuners, they are now obsolete. If you are using a cable box, simply use the composite inputs (yellow, with white, red audio) you would need to run guided setup to reflect the change.
Thanks for the tips.
It will be tomorrow morning before I have the chance to check the other outputs. Please check back for my reply to you.
Also, this unit has cable plugged straight into it, no cable box since it is analog cable channels only.
Thanks for pointing out the need to run guided setup for the change to take, I would have never thought of that.
I know that analog is obsolete, but with me still having 2 tube tv's and this Tivo with a lifetime sub, I was hoping to have it live a little longer.
My second unit is also a series 2 just like the one that is having issues.
@lillevig, you suggest changing out the power supply - I don't understand why - could a bad PS affect the tuner?
It will be tomorrow morning before I have the chance to check the other outputs. Please check back for my reply to you.
Also, this unit has cable plugged straight into it, no cable box since it is analog cable channels only.
Thanks for pointing out the need to run guided setup for the change to take, I would have never thought of that.
I know that analog is obsolete, but with me still having 2 tube tv's and this Tivo with a lifetime sub, I was hoping to have it live a little longer.
My second unit is also a series 2 just like the one that is having issues.
@lillevig, you suggest changing out the power supply - I don't understand why - could a bad PS affect the tuner?
A flaky power supply can cause all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems.@lillevig, you suggest changing out the power supply - I don't understand why - could a bad PS affect the tuner?
Understood.A flaky power supply can cause all sorts of seemingly unrelated problems.
I finally got time to do the change. Changed out to RCAs and then SVideo cable.
Did the guided setup both times.
Nothing changed - there was a very slight improvement, but still static showing on all 3.
Also, used a completely different input to rules out that, Plus the other Tivo works fine on the input that I used for this trial.
Any input?
Did the guided setup both times.
Nothing changed - there was a very slight improvement, but still static showing on all 3.
Also, used a completely different input to rules out that, Plus the other Tivo works fine on the input that I used for this trial.
Any input?
Is video ok from the RF output port with the Tivo in Standby? If not, then the problem is probably pre-tuner. If it is ok, then the next easiest step is to swap power supplies. Make sure the supplies have had sufficient time for the capacitors to drain before touching anything near them.I finally got time to do the change. Changed out to RCAs and then SVideo cable.
Did the guided setup both times.
Nothing changed - there was a very slight improvement, but still static showing on all 3.
Also, used a completely different input to rules out that, Plus the other Tivo works fine on the input that I used for this trial.
Any input?
Try hooking up the cable straight to the TV and see if there is improvement. If not, may be a bad cable.
I do know for a fact that the cable from the cable company is excellent. I have tried this Tivo unit on two different spots in the house. The TV that it is currently connected to had just the cable before I hooked this Tivo up to it, and was fine, perfect picture.
Also, while go through guided setup, all the Tivo cartoons and logo had a perfect picture, if that tells you anything.
Also, while go through guided setup, all the Tivo cartoons and logo had a perfect picture, if that tells you anything.
Tivo is just as crappy while in standby.
This is not necessarily true. Some of the cable companies still do send an analog signal. So if you have one of these cable providers then you can connect the cable from the wall directly to the Tivo and the tuners inside will work. I did this as recently as 2010 with Time Warner Cable. It was okay for a while but the tuner inside my Tivo did go bad.series 2 has analog tuners, they are now obsolete.
I would not recommend switching out the internal Tivo tuners. That might work if you are good with a soldering iron, but if it doesn't work then you might be creating an even bigger problem for yourself.
Another possibility, just get a cheap tuner box from the cable company and connect the red/white/yellow outputs from that into your Tivo box. The cable company will rent you one of the basic boxes cheap if you take a standard definition, single tuner with no DVR. I have this setup at my house and the picture quality is fine.
TC
Is that with the TV hooked to the RF output of the Tivo? If so, that is significant information because the signal should be a feedthrough from the RF input. That is, it is not going through the tuner first.Tivo is just as crappy while in standby.
If you just want to try another tuner you can hook up the Y/R/W outputs of the good Tivo to the Y/R/W inputs of the bad Tivo.Another possibility, just get a cheap tuner box from the cable company and connect the red/white/yellow outputs from that into your Tivo box. The cable company will rent you one of the basic boxes cheap if you take a standard definition, single tuner with no DVR. I have this setup at my house and the picture quality is fine.
TC
This is probably your problem.^^^^Also, this unit has cable plugged straight into it, no cable box since it is analog cable channels only.
Can you verify if this your current setup....
wall cable wire-->tivo-->television
If so, you need to try
wall cable wire-->cable box-->tivo-->television
You may need to go through the guided setup again. If this works good then you will know for sure that the internal Tivo tuner is indeed your problem.
In order to fix that problem, you might try changing your power supply. This is pretty easy to do. You can find used power supplies on ebay pretty cheap. Or if you tell me your model number then I might have one for you. Just make sure that you get the power supply which corresponds with your exact Tivo unit. Your Tivo model # is on the back and it should be something like TCDxxxxxxx.
For me personally, I have a series 2 tivo, and I use the second setup that I described above. The main downside with that is that you lose your dual tuner capability. That is, if your Tivo is receiving its signal from a cable box then you can only watch and record one live show at a time.
TC
You could do this as a test.If you just want to try another tuner you can hook up the Y/R/W outputs of the good Tivo to the Y/R/W inputs of the bad Tivo.
However, this might not be a long term solution, because the original poster said that he/she was about to cancel the subscription on the good working Tivo.
Also, another thing that could be done as a test........ record something on the "good" Tivo, and then transfer it to the "bad" Tivo. If a transferred recording works well on the "bad" tivo then this will be a further confirmation that the tuner is acting up.
TC
I am about to hit the hay. Sorry if I missed anything or duplicated any comments here.
One last thing...... do not connect any coaxial cable wires to the Tivo. Not for input or for output.
I would get a cable box and use white/red/yellow wires to connect it to the "bad" Tivo.
Then use white/red/yellow cables to connect the "bad" tivo to the television.
Sometimes on these Tivos the RF input or RF output can be the problem.
TC
One last thing...... do not connect any coaxial cable wires to the Tivo. Not for input or for output.
I would get a cable box and use white/red/yellow wires to connect it to the "bad" Tivo.
Then use white/red/yellow cables to connect the "bad" tivo to the television.
Sometimes on these Tivos the RF input or RF output can be the problem.
TC
What is the model number of the lifetimed TiVo?I have a Series 2 Tivo with lifetime subscription. Over the last few months, the picture quality has started going bad and with static, looking similar to if I was using a bad or cheap coax cable. At first it seemed like it was just a couple channels this was happening on, but now, it's all of them, with some worse than others.
I wasn't sure if it WAS the Tivo to begin with since I had it connect to my bedroom tv. But I just switched it to another tv that had a second Tivo Series 2 that was working properly, and it is just as bad, if not a little bit worse.
Can these tuners be swapped out for good ones? Repaired? If not, then I've got a boat anchor that has a lifetime subscription on it. LOL.
The second Series 2 is on monthly, and fixing to be cancelled since I just got a new premiere, so I could possibly scavenge parts from it, maybe?
Thanks
What is the model number of the other S2?
Do you have any experience with de-soldering and re-soldering surface mount devices? (the lifetime is tied to the crypto chip, which can be transplanted by someone who knows what they're doing)
This unit is being used in my kitchen/dining area.
Yes, it is cable straight from the wall into the Tivo unit, NO cable box, and YES
Atlantic Broadband here in Carolina stills uses analog channels.
3 channels(that I know of) Nickelodeon, VH1, MTV - are only broadcast on these lower, analog channels -(Channels 51,57,58) ONLY the "other" Nickelodeon, and the other MTV/VH1 channels are broadcast on the higher Digital channels(VH1 Classic, MTV2, etc)
The location I am using this in will not allow me to use a cable box + a Tivo, it's either one or the other.
This Tivo has the Lifetime subscription, and I was just hoping to cheaply milk extra life out of it. In it's current state, I can't even sell it for very much. Being analog only - doesn't make sense to spend more $$$'s to fix it. So, I found the "rock and the hard place". That's why I was hoping swapping tuners might be a somewhat easy option. I "do" have some soldering skills, but haven't used these skills in several years - if tuner is easy to get to and doesn't use the "tiny, micro" solder joints, I could probably do it. I wouldn't consider doing it with the tiny solder joints.
It would be perfect if Tivo would be customer friendly enough to swap the lifetime from my dying unit, to my other monthly unit. Bad thing is, I hear that when I go to cancel the monthly, they will probably offer me a lifetime subscription for $99 -- which IF I do get, will still leave me in the same place with this broken unit. I'd hate to junk it IF it can be fixed reasonably.
Yes, it is cable straight from the wall into the Tivo unit, NO cable box, and YES
Atlantic Broadband here in Carolina stills uses analog channels.
3 channels(that I know of) Nickelodeon, VH1, MTV - are only broadcast on these lower, analog channels -(Channels 51,57,58) ONLY the "other" Nickelodeon, and the other MTV/VH1 channels are broadcast on the higher Digital channels(VH1 Classic, MTV2, etc)
The location I am using this in will not allow me to use a cable box + a Tivo, it's either one or the other.
This Tivo has the Lifetime subscription, and I was just hoping to cheaply milk extra life out of it. In it's current state, I can't even sell it for very much. Being analog only - doesn't make sense to spend more $$$'s to fix it. So, I found the "rock and the hard place". That's why I was hoping swapping tuners might be a somewhat easy option. I "do" have some soldering skills, but haven't used these skills in several years - if tuner is easy to get to and doesn't use the "tiny, micro" solder joints, I could probably do it. I wouldn't consider doing it with the tiny solder joints.
It would be perfect if Tivo would be customer friendly enough to swap the lifetime from my dying unit, to my other monthly unit. Bad thing is, I hear that when I go to cancel the monthly, they will probably offer me a lifetime subscription for $99 -- which IF I do get, will still leave me in the same place with this broken unit. I'd hate to junk it IF it can be fixed reasonably.
It is connected - cable straight from the wall, into the Tivo "coax in", and then a coax cable from the Tivo "coax out".Is that with the TV hooked to the RF output of the Tivo? If so, that is significant information because the signal should be a feedthrough from the RF input. That is, it is not going through the tuner first.
Both tuners are fuzzy looking, but when going through guided setup, all the Tivo logos and the Tivo cartoon were perfectly fine, good looking.
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
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