Calling all Tivo Series3/Cisco TA TWC users!

[Klankster]

OK, I'm about fed up with this and would love to get a reality check from any other Tivo Series 3 users who are using Time Warner and the Cisco tuning adapter.

This morning, for about the umpteenth time, we turned on the TV and saw the "A tuning adapter is connected..." message.  This always means something has gone wrong with the Tivo/TA connection.  My wife tried tuning to CNNHD and got a black screen.  I pulled out the equipment tray and, sure enough, the green LED on the tuning adapter was flashing.

After having this happen so damn many times, I knew just how to fix it -- Unplug the USB cable from the Cisco, wait several seconds, then reconnect it.  After a couple of seconds Tivo reported the tuning adapter was connected, I hit LIVE TV and CNNHD came up.

I called Tivo tech support about this a few weeks ago and they said it's a known software problem in the Cisco unit, where it loses sync with Tivo somehow, and that Cisco is supposed to be rolling out a fix for it.

Is anyone else out there having the problem?  It happens to us several times a week, and usually it happens when we're not at home and Tivo is scheduled to record something we really want to see.  Last week, it got the first five minutes of one program then the remaining 25 minutes were black.

Clearly, there is something really wrong with this setup.  The TA should be able to re-sync itself with Tivo, since it knows it's out of sync (flashing green LED).

I just looked at my Cisco's software info and see:

Explorer 1kg6 NGP OS
Flash STA 1.0.0_1520_LR_F.0801
SARA V1.61.36.1

Does anyone else have these same problems?  Has anyone been able to get the "newer" firmware for the Cisco TA?  Any idea what its version number is?

This is so frustrating.  I really would just like my TV to work.

Any help would be appreciated!

[LoadStar]

Absolutely no problems here. Of course, you caught me when I'm rearranging my equipment.  (That sounds wrong. ) I'll let you know about the software versions as soon as I get everything hooked up again.

[Tivoman44]

Yes same problem this morning.  CNNHD recorded last night just fine, but this morning Foxnews HD did not, will unplug it and try that, thanks again.

[Klankster]

I spoke to Josh at TWC this afternoon. After confirming that the TA is plugged into the lower USB port, he scheduled a replacement of the TA for Tuesday.  Somehow, I doubt this will fix the problem.

Before TWC called back, I actually went to the Cisco website to see if they had any information on the STA1520 and its firmware revisions -- Oddly, they don't even list it as one of their products, and a search for STA1520 on their website returns no results.  Like it doesn't even exist...

[LoadStar]

I just looked at my Cisco's software info and see:

Explorer 1kg6 NGP OS
Flash STA 1.0.0_1520_LR_F.0801
SARA V1.61.36.1

That is exactly what I have as well. No issues here at all that I'm aware of.

(Ok, every once in a while I'll come home at the end of the day and get the "This channel is not available. Press select to try again" message, but that's about it. I've never had the tuning adapter disconnect itself from the TiVo like you describe.)