TiVo Community Forums Archives - After upgrade I just get static: Help!

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After upgrade I just get static: Help!
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Posted by: wchittenden

I upgraded my Phillips SA from 30 hours to 130 hours with no problems. So being the good son, I told my parents that I would upgrade their 14 hour Phillips SA to 114 hours or so. Everything seemed to go fine, but after I put both drives back in and hooked the unit up to the TV, all I get is static. The green power light comes on and the fan turns. I can feel the harddrive vibrating, but no output at all. I have checked the jumpers, connections, everything, but I can't figure out what is wrong. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: FauxPas

If you power off the TiVo, do you still get static? If so, one of your coax cables might have a bent or broken pin.

Posted by: Otto

Did you flip the switch on the back from 3 to 4 by accident?

Posted by: wchittenden

Thanks for both comments, but neither appears to be the case. I checked the cables and everything is fine there. In fact, the cables are hooked up to the RF in and out on the TiVo, but when I put the TV on channel 3, there is no signal from the TiVo box (however, the TV signal appears to be passing through the TiVo, because I can get the local channels by changing the channels on the TV. It appears that the TiVo is acting like a very expensive "cable" right now.).

I tried switching to channel 4 on the TV and TiVo, but that didn't work either. I also tried just hooking the cable up directly to a TV (no VCR, Satellite, DVD player, etc) and I get the same result. Even if the drives were bad, shouldn't I get at least something on the TV screen from the TiVo box?

Posted by: Robert S

You should get at least a 'Powering up' screen. Have you tried the 'two lights' test (hold down pause as you plug the TiVo in. Two amber lights = pass)?

Presumably you're using RF because you haven't got a composite input on the TV. Have you got a composite connection to the VCR?

Posted by: wchittenden

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried the "two lights" test, but no amber lights. Only the green light came (and stayed) on. What does this test result tell me?

I'll be taking the unit home with me tomorrow (we live 550 miles from my parents) and will hook it up to a TV with composite inputs. I have a feeling that the problem is not directly related to the upgrade, but since it happened while I was upgrading the unit, it is my responsibility.

quote:
Originally posted by Robert S
You should get at least a 'Powering up' screen. Have you tried the 'two lights' test (hold down pause as you plug the TiVo in. Two amber lights = pass)?

Presumably you're using RF because you haven't got a composite input on the TV. Have you got a composite connection to the VCR?

Posted by: Robert S

I wouldn't claim to be an expert on this test, but if you search for "two lights test" on the Underground you'll turn up threads like this one. Obviously a successful test is very reassuring, but a failure either means you didn't do the test properly or you need a new TiVo.

Unless you actually touched the motherboard (static discharge) it's more likely that the power cycle killed the TiVo rather than the upgrade.

Check it out at home, but if it really is dead I believe TiVo will fix it for you (for a fee if it's out of warranty).

Posted by: wchittenden

Sorry, I don't know why it didn't occur to me to do a search on the test. Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, no yellow lights. Just one green light on the left. I have tried it several times, but to no avail. Always the same result. Any other suggestions before I give Philips or Tivo a call about repairing it? (I'll need to get it repaired since they have a lifetime subscription on the box.)

quote:
Originally posted by Robert S
I wouldn't claim to be an expert on this test, but if you search for "two lights test" on the Underground you'll turn up threads like this one. Obviously a successful test is very reassuring, but a failure either means you didn't do the test properly or you need a new TiVo.

Unless you actually touched the motherboard (static discharge) it's more likely that the power cycle killed the TiVo rather than the upgrade.

Check it out at home, but if it really is dead I believe TiVo will fix it for you (for a fee if it's out of warranty).