TiVo Community Forums Archives - Anyone working on the Channel 26 problem?

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Anyone working on the Channel 26 problem?
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Posted by: TiVoLance

I just switched from digital cable to analog cable and now I have the lines that appear on channel 26 (Oxygen on m y cable). I read a while back that this is a series 2 bug. Does anyone know if TiVo is working on fixing this? I know the recent software update did nada to help.

Posted by: trojanrabbit

Your only fix is to either boost the cable signal, or get one of the new series 2's that appear to generate less noise. Although I thought it was a channel 27 problem.

Software updates don't fix RFI issues.

Posted by: TiVoLance

ok maybe 27 :) That's sad news indeed that my friends with a series 1 have better cable (on that channel) than me with my newer model :(

Posted by: biospud

In my case, channel 27 is the Discovery channel, so all of my Showcase items look like they were broadcast from 100 miles away. Plus I like the normal shows on that channel too. Yuk.

Posted by: zaknafein

Call TiVo and complain. You have a defective peice of equipment, and they should replace it.

Posted by: timdthomas

I don't think TiVo is going to admit there is a defect here, unless they want to replace gobs of machines. I've also had the channel 27 problem for quite a while.

Posted by: trojanrabbit

Their admission of a defect is that they redesigned the box, and the new ones don't have that problem.

Their response has been use a signal booster (to get the signal above the TiVo's processor noise)

Posted by: Crrink

This is what made me return my 60 hour for an 80 hour - I was fortunate enough to find out about the defect while I could still do this.
TiVo refuses to admit that there is any problem at all with the boxes, and instead blame the 'weak' signal coming into it. Their recommendation is that you incur the additional cost of a signal booster, which is very disappointing, IMO.
From what I've read, a signal booster will help the problem but it will not solve it, so you are, unfortunately, stuck with it.

If I had not had the option to exchange my unit, I would have fought with TiVo for a good, long time to get some satisfaction. It is utterly irresponsible of them to sell a defective product and to do absolutely nothing to help their paying customers - at the very least the company should provide a signal booster free of charge to people experiencing this problem.

I made all of my concerns known to TiVoPony. He did kindly make it possible for me to get the 3.2 upgrade early to see if that would help, but as you know, it didn't. My final contact with him on the matter was letting him know that TiVo was really dropping the ball on this one, but he didn't reply, so I don't know whether he agrees with me or not...

Sorry, folks. It shouldn't be this way.

Posted by: jackcs

Tivo refuses to acknowledge or repair an obviously defective product. Their accountants have calculated that it is cheaper to lie and cheat.

For my part, I will happily switch to a competitor as soon as its products equal or surpass Tivo's. Thats one reason I have a monthly subscription.

Sounds fair to me.

Posted by: Crrink

jacks, I agree.
I realize that the Ch. 27 problem affects a small number of TiVo users since most people use TiVo with a set top box of some sort, but it's still inexcusable that they won't do something to fix the defect.
As I said, I'd probably settle for TiVo supplying affected users with a signal amplifier at TiVo's cost - but I'm only willing to do that because I know they're a small company that isn't raking in the dough yet.
If it were Sony, I'd demand a properly functioning unit, or my money back.

TiVo's handling of this problem will most definitely weigh heavily on my mind when I finally decide to fork over the dough for a second PVR. If Replay or anyone else has a competitive product by then, I'll be giving them a closer look than I would have otherwise.

Posted by: jcblack

quote:
since most people use TiVo with a set top box of some sort

What? Really? Why do you think that? (did I miss a post w/ numbers?).

Call you cable company. They usually do what they can to make sure you're getting a strong signal....just tell them that its not strong enough when it goes through tivo. signal strength matters to them. They'll check splitters and cables.

Posted by: papabrody

quote:
Originally posted by trojanrabbit
Their admission of a defect is that they redesigned the box, and the new ones don't have that problem.

Their response has been use a signal booster (to get the signal above the TiVo's processor noise)

Yeah, there wasn't a problem with the series 1 modems either! :D

Posted by: Crrink

quote:
Originally posted by jcblack
What? Really? Why do you think that? (did I miss a post w/ numbers?).

Call you cable company. They usually do what they can to make sure you're getting a strong signal....just tell them that its not strong enough when it goes through tivo. signal strength matters to them. They'll check splitters and cables.

Well, I don't have any hard data, but the reason I think that most TiVo users have a set top box is because the threads on this problem are never all that big compared to the more general interest type threads (and compared the 'the IR blaster stinks!' threads). Although, now that I think about it, that could be because only owners of the old 40 and 60 hour units were affected....in any case.... at least one of the guys in the old Ch. 27 thread did call his cable company to come out and test his signal. They did, signal strength was well within normal levels, and his picture still stunk.

Blaming 'poor' signal strength is so disingenuous of TiVo - my TV didn't have a problem with signal strength, and neither did my VCR.
An S1 TiVo wouldn't have had a problem with signal strength, and surprise surprise, my new 80 hour doesn't have a problem.
Kinda hard to conclude that signal strength is to blame when only one type of TiVo with a particular circuit board has the problem.

Posted by: cebtjr

I just bought a 60hr at Best Buy and have the ch. 27 problem too. First of all, now that I have a Tivo, there is clearly no way I can go back to regular TV!

I originally set up Tivo with my digital cable box (Scientific Atlanta Explorer 4200), then changed the setup to RF with no cable box to check on this issue. Cablevision was in my home a month ago replacing all of the wires for digital cable so I know the signal strength is as strong as they can get it. I also have been upgraded to software v3.2 already and I still have the problem. I can see very faint vertical lines on ch. 27. This problem doesn't exist when I'm using the digital cable box.

My question is does anyone think the resale value of the unit would be any less because of this problem?

I still have 10 days to return the unit to Best Buy. I didn't want to spend the extra $50 for the 80 hour since I hope to upgrade the capacity down the road (the 40 hour unit is the best value in that scenario but I was given gift certificates to Best Buy as a present).

Posted by: zaknafein

Aren't the new AT&TiVos using the new form factor of the 80-hour units?

Posted by: Coulazz

why r u watching oxygen any wase?

Posted by: zaknafein

quote:
Originally posted by Coulazz
why r u watching oxygen any wase?

Ummmmmm.....yeah.