Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Campbell, CA, USA
Posts: 402

I posted this in the DTiVo forum with no response so I thought I'd try here....What I'm experiencing is a loss of normal audio levels (extremely low audio feed or volume) when watching either recorded shows or live TV on my Sony T-60. The audio just drops, like someone has pushed the mute button. I can correct the problem for a short while by rebooting the machine (unplug it, not restart it through the system reset menu) but the problem reoccurs every few hours. It seems to happen when the system is recording a program. Even more interesting is that once I reset the system to bring back full audio levels and go to the show that was recording when I lost the audio volume level, the show plays back with normal audio. In other words this long drop out doesn't affect the recording.

I've checked the cabling on other audio sources and it works ok. The unit isn't overheating. All calls are completing normally and my signal strengths are just fine. TV volume works fine when disconnected from DTiVo.

Here's more details on my set up:

Sony Sat T-60, modified to 108 hours (has worked flawlessly for 3 months in modified mode, flawless in unmodified mode since Jan 2001)

2.5.2 software version

Connected directly to stereo TV via RCA Cables (TV has no S-Video input)

22 Season Passes set up

It began when I had all 108 recording hours are used either with saved recordings or with Suggestions (suggestions keep rotating out with more recent shows). I have since gone in and shut off suggestion recordings and cleared out a large number of recorded shows.

I called Tivo and they've suggested it might be an audio card going bad. Anyone else have any ideas?

Dan

__________________
Hitachi 57G500 HDRPTV, Sony Sat T-60 since 3/12/01 (108 hrs), Philips DSR6000R since 6/15/01 (35 hrs), Hughes HDVR2 since 12/13/02 (69 hrs), Philips DSR704 since 2/14/04 (35 hrs), Samsung SIR T360 since 2/24/04, another Philips DSR704 since 4/30/04 (35 hrs)

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Alviso, CA
Posts: 888

Dan,

I ran your post by a couple of engineering folks and it didn't sound like anything they had seen before. They did ask me if you tried connecting TiVo to your TV using RF coax wiring rather than composite wiring. The idea would be to narrow down if the low sound is happening at the TiVo side or the TV side.

__________________
Bill Dailey
Project Manager
TiVo Customer Support

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Campbell, CA, USA
Posts: 402

I'll give it a go tonight and see if it helps. Since a re-boot of the D-TiVo seems to be the only fix, I'm not sure I understand how the TV could be the culprit, but I'll try it.

I've also noticed that the appearance of the problem has coincided a move of this box upstairs from the previous location. The combination of higher temperatures upstairs (2-4 degree temperature difference between upstairs and downstairs) and last week's heat wave seems to have moved the system temperature up a bit higher (58 degrees) than the 52 degree regular operating temperature I was accustomed to seeing in the downstairs location. I'm beginning to wonder if the threshhold of a stable two drive system (hacked) is around 52-54 degrees.

Dan

__________________
Hitachi 57G500 HDRPTV, Sony Sat T-60 since 3/12/01 (108 hrs), Philips DSR6000R since 6/15/01 (35 hrs), Hughes HDVR2 since 12/13/02 (69 hrs), Philips DSR704 since 2/14/04 (35 hrs), Samsung SIR T360 since 2/24/04, another Philips DSR704 since 4/30/04 (35 hrs)

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Alviso, CA
Posts: 888

quote:

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Originally posted by Flogduh
I'll give it a go tonight and see if it helps. Since a re-boot of the D-TiVo seems to be the only fix, I'm not sure I understand how the TV could be the culprit, but I'll try it.

Dan

---

__________________
Bill Dailey
Project Manager
TiVo Customer Support

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Campbell, CA, USA
Posts: 402

Bill

I'll report back in a few days to see if the changes I made last night have resolved my issues. Here's what I've done:

Moved the DTivo outside of the armoire - temp lowered from 58 to 48 degrees.

Replaced the cheap composite cables with higher quality cables I had lying around

Noticed satellite signal strength on tuner 1 @ 90 and tuner 2 @ 80 - replaced the RG-6 cable connectors with more reliable fittings - signal strength now 95 on tuner 1 and 90 on tuner 2. I'll be replacing all fittings with upgraded hardware (I have a professional quality crimper to work with this time) just for an added level of assurance.

So far, things are much more stable (knock on wood). We had a problem on Channel 2 last night during the 10 O'clock News, but it turned out to be the DTV feed (lost all audio during commercials (only) in the first half hour) as it happened as well on my other box downstairs. IT was very freaky, I have to say.

Dan

__________________
Hitachi 57G500 HDRPTV, Sony Sat T-60 since 3/12/01 (108 hrs), Philips DSR6000R since 6/15/01 (35 hrs), Hughes HDVR2 since 12/13/02 (69 hrs), Philips DSR704 since 2/14/04 (35 hrs), Samsung SIR T360 since 2/24/04, another Philips DSR704 since 4/30/04 (35 hrs)

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 238

Dan,

I've found that if the temp gets over 55C in my Dtivo, things get hokey. So I am not surprised that you were having some issues at 58C. Right now I'm dealing with a total loss of Dolby Digital output on my T60 and my temps are around 51C (as mentioned in another post).

Oh, and thanks again for the BBQ.

Dan

__________________
'69 Hemi Charger Daytona
1 Sony SAT-T60 (since 12/00 - 143 Hours)
1 Philips DSR6K (since 11/01)

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Campbell, CA, USA
Posts: 402

Dan

My pleasure on the BBQ. Did you get the DD back from the shop? Did you ever find the R&T article I mentioned at the BBQ?

Dan

__________________
Hitachi 57G500 HDRPTV, Sony Sat T-60 since 3/12/01 (108 hrs), Philips DSR6000R since 6/15/01 (35 hrs), Hughes HDVR2 since 12/13/02 (69 hrs), Philips DSR704 since 2/14/04 (35 hrs), Samsung SIR T360 since 2/24/04, another Philips DSR704 since 4/30/04 (35 hrs)

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 238

Dan,

If all goes well, I should be able to pick up the Daytona this Friday. I visit it every week and it is slowly coming along, but I'd rather that they take the time to do the job right than rush it and not be satisfied. I was unable to locate that article, I think I just missed it on the news stands.

Dan

__________________
'69 Hemi Charger Daytona
1 Sony SAT-T60 (since 12/00 - 143 Hours)
1 Philips DSR6K (since 11/01)

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Fort Myers, FL
Posts: 972

quote:

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Originally posted by Flogduh
Bill

We had a problem on Channel 2 last night during the 10 O'clock News, but it turned out to be the DTV feed (lost all audio during commercials (only) in the first half hour) as it happened as well on my other box downstairs. IT was very freaky, I have to say.

Dan

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That sounds like a feature I wouldn't mind having.

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Listen to my music here - Free MP3's

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 8

quote:

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Originally posted by TiVoBill
Dan,

I ran your post by a couple of engineering folks and it didn't sound like anything they had seen before. They did ask me if you tried connecting TiVo to your TV using RF coax wiring rather than composite wiring. The idea would be to narrow down if the low sound is happening at the TiVo side or the TV side.

---

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Alviso, CA
Posts: 888

quote:

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Originally posted by javo


TiVoBill, I don't want to turn this into a TiVo CS board, but while your running audio problems by your engineers, my Phillips 312 lost all audio the other day. I tried both coax and rca outs, neither had sound. No sound on live tv or shows in now playing. When I take out the TiVo and just have the sat box feeding the TV, perfect sound. I also tried unplugging the TiVo for five minutes, but when it booted back up, still no sound. Everything else is working perfectly. I've been around for a long time and never heard of this problem. I have a lifetime subscription on the box, so if something burned out then I will get if fixed, but even then I have no idea where to send it for repair.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me......

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__________________
Bill Dailey
Project Manager
TiVo Customer Support

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location:
Posts: 8

No TiVo sounds either...

I will give Phillips a buzz, but if anyone out there has ever heard of this happening I'd love some feedback (it was my first machine so I am emotionally attached to it)

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Campbell, CA, USA
Posts: 402

Thought I'd report back on my T-60 audio issue so that someone might be able to use my "resolution" it if the situation ever occurs with someone else.

Well, after changing the RCA cables, re-crimping all coax lines, and a delete all reset (as well as a number of other possible remidies), I took the box back downstairs to connect it to the surround system and RPTV in the main room. One last attempt before I sent it back to Sony and paid $150 for a repair. I figured that since it originally worked OK down in the main room, I'd return it to my original location as see what happened. My thought was that since it appeared to be a hardware issue, maybe it was confined to the RCA connectors, that maybe, just maybe, the Optical Out hardware audio connection was independent of the RCA hardware audio out connection. Two different technologies may mean two independent hardware interfaces to the MB? Worth a try.

Sure enough, the optical our connect works just fine. Moved the other box upstairs.

__________________
Hitachi 57G500 HDRPTV, Sony Sat T-60 since 3/12/01 (108 hrs), Philips DSR6000R since 6/15/01 (35 hrs), Hughes HDVR2 since 12/13/02 (69 hrs), Philips DSR704 since 2/14/04 (35 hrs), Samsung SIR T360 since 2/24/04, another Philips DSR704 since 4/30/04 (35 hrs)

Last edited by Flogduh on 10-18-2002 at 09:59 PM

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