Weird Digital Cable + TIVO Issue

BarTopDancer · 11-10-2009, 11:45 AM

I broke down and got digital cable again. It took me 2 hours to hook up (by myself) but it WORKS! YAY!

I am having a very weird issue though, and it may be with the cable box.

I run the cable box through my TIVO - and on most stations it synchs up correctly if I use the TIVO remote to change the channel, however when I get to specific stations (Comedy Central, SciFi and E! - which are next to each other) the cable box is one station off.

For example: SciFi is channel 61. When I use my TIVO remote to change the station the cable box changes it to 60 or 62 while TIVO brings it to the correct station (61). If I use the cable box remote it changes both correctly.

This wouldn't be an issue except when the TIVO is trying to record something on one of those stations.

I've already rebooted both machines and checked the channel line up, both are correct - it seems that the TIVO is sending the wrong information to the cable box.

Any ideas what/where the issue may be? I don't have an issue calling for support, but I need to figure out if I should call TIVO or call the cable company (who will probably say they don't support TIVO issues and I should buy their DVR).

Andrew · 11-10-2009, 11:51 AM

How is the TiVo connected to the cable box? By which I mean, how is the TiVo changing the channel on the cable box?

BarTopDancer · 11-10-2009, 12:03 PM

A serial cable (that came with the TIVO) from TIVO to Cable Box

Moonliner · 11-10-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

A serial cable (that came with the TIVO) from TIVO to Cable Box

Are you getting IR bleed where your signal to the TIVO is being picked up by the cable box?

BarTopDancer · 11-10-2009, 12:31 PM

Ghoulish Delight · 11-10-2009, 12:36 PM

He's wondering if maybe your cable box is inadvertantly responding to the remote.

BarTopDancer · 11-10-2009, 12:42 PM

Oh. Um. I don't know. But I'm pressing the numbers 6 and 1 to get to channel 61 so I don't think the cable box would see that as 60 or 62... would it?

It also happens when I go to the TIVO Guide and select the station I have to manually change the station on the cable box. It's only a handful of stations, none of the "broadcast basic" (NBC, CBS, Fox 11) stations. They aren't digital cable stations either.

I wouldn't have noticed it except it recorded something on SciFi instead of The Soup on Friday. TIVO displays the info as Comedy Central - 60, but the recording was on SciFi.

BarTopDancer · 11-10-2009, 08:38 PM

Ok, I just watched this happen.

Here is what I did:

Turn on TV
Use TIVO remote to change from some channel to 61.
Watched TIVO change to the correct channel
Watched the cable box change to 61 on the display and the tv then 2 seconds later (literally) it moved to channel 62.

2nd example:
Use TIVO remote to change from 61 to 22.
Watched TIVO change to the correct channel
Watched the cable box change to 22 on the display and the tv then 2 seconds later (literally) it moved to channel 21.

So I think the issue is with the cable box. Not sure how to explain the issue to the cable company though. It doesn't happen if I change the channel on the cable box first. BUT if I change the channel on the cable box first the TIVO doesn't update to reflect what the cable box went to.

Andrew · 11-10-2009, 08:59 PM

Does it happen on all channels? If not, is there any pattern in the channel numbers in which it happens?

You mentioned a cable--have you tried replacing the cable? A bad cable or connector might cause spurious signals, but that would probably affect all channels.

lashbear · 11-10-2009, 08:54 PM

watch DVD's. They're easier.

11-10-2009, 11:45 AM	#1
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Weird Digital Cable + TIVO Issue I broke down and got digital cable again. It took me 2 hours to hook up (by myself) but it WORKS! YAY! I am having a very weird issue though, and it may be with the cable box. I run the cable box through my TIVO - and on most stations it synchs up correctly if I use the TIVO remote to change the channel, however when I get to specific stations (Comedy Central, SciFi and E! - which are next to each other) the cable box is one station off. For example: SciFi is channel 61. When I use my TIVO remote to change the station the cable box changes it to 60 or 62 while TIVO brings it to the correct station (61). If I use the cable box remote it changes both correctly. This wouldn't be an issue except when the TIVO is trying to record something on one of those stations. I've already rebooted both machines and checked the channel line up, both are correct - it seems that the TIVO is sending the wrong information to the cable box. Any ideas what/where the issue may be? I don't have an issue calling for support, but I need to figure out if I should call TIVO or call the cable company (who will probably say they don't support TIVO issues and I should buy their DVR). __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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11-10-2009, 11:51 AM	#2
Andrew Making Good Girls Go Bad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 734	How is the TiVo connected to the cable box? By which I mean, how is the TiVo changing the channel on the cable box? __________________ -- Andrew Just Andrew. Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.) -- Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
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11-10-2009, 12:03 PM	#3
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	A serial cable (that came with the TIVO) from TIVO to Cable Box __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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11-10-2009, 12:31 PM	#5
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Wha? __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
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11-10-2009, 12:36 PM	#6
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	He's wondering if maybe your cable box is inadvertantly responding to the remote. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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11-10-2009, 12:42 PM	#7
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Oh. Um. I don't know. But I'm pressing the numbers 6 and 1 to get to channel 61 so I don't think the cable box would see that as 60 or 62... would it? It also happens when I go to the TIVO Guide and select the station I have to manually change the station on the cable box. It's only a handful of stations, none of the "broadcast basic" (NBC, CBS, Fox 11) stations. They aren't digital cable stations either. I wouldn't have noticed it except it recorded something on SciFi instead of The Soup on Friday. TIVO displays the info as Comedy Central - 60, but the recording was on SciFi. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
	Submit to Quotes

11-10-2009, 08:38 PM	#8
BarTopDancer Prepping... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Here, there, everywhere Posts: 11,405	Ok, I just watched this happen. Here is what I did: Turn on TV Use TIVO remote to change from some channel to 61. Watched TIVO change to the correct channel Watched the cable box change to 61 on the display and the tv then 2 seconds later (literally) it moved to channel 62. 2nd example: Use TIVO remote to change from 61 to 22. Watched TIVO change to the correct channel Watched the cable box change to 22 on the display and the tv then 2 seconds later (literally) it moved to channel 21. So I think the issue is with the cable box. Not sure how to explain the issue to the cable company though. It doesn't happen if I change the channel on the cable box first. BUT if I change the channel on the cable box first the TIVO doesn't update to reflect what the cable box went to. __________________ Spork is the new MacGyver Postcards From My Edge
	Submit to Quotes

11-10-2009, 08:59 PM	#9
Andrew Making Good Girls Go Bad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 734	Does it happen on all channels? If not, is there any pattern in the channel numbers in which it happens? You mentioned a cable--have you tried replacing the cable? A bad cable or connector might cause spurious signals, but that would probably affect all channels. __________________ -- Andrew Just Andrew. Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.) -- Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
	Submit to Quotes

11-10-2009, 08:54 PM	#10
lashbear SwishBuckling Bear Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In Isolation :) Posts: 6,597	watch DVD's. They're easier. __________________ *I Heart* my Husband - I can't think of anyone I'd rather be in isolation with.**
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