TWC dropouts?

[flash]

Has anyone else been getting a lot of "Chanel 5xx not available"messages over the last few days?

I've tried rebooting the HD DVR but it seems to happen more in the evenings.

.....just curious.

[klwillis45]

Not here. In fact the dreaded "channel not available" issue has gone away in the past month, for me at least.

[Tivoman44]

I wonder if this is the same thing I am talking about.....lots of my HD channels, with the exception of local and ESPN are temp unavailable.  I reset my Tivo (series 3) to no working, but it doesn't seem to be all SDV channels necessarily, some of the basic SDV channels work fine, and my tuning adapters light is on and the USB is plugged in, etc.

[Klankster]

I haven't had these particular dropouts, but I am seeing pixelation and image breakup (I'm watching SciFi HD and this has been happening a lot tonight).  Using a TiVo Series 3 and Cisco tuning adapter, I was looking at the diagnostics and it is showing the following for both cablecards:

Signal strength fluctuating between 81 and 86.  SNR between 33 and 34DB.  OOB SNR: 26DB.

Do these signal levels look like they're too low?  I'd appreciate some information on what signal level is appropriate/desirable.  Thanks!

[TiVo HD XL]

Has anyone else been getting a lot of "Chanel 5xx not available"messages over the last few days?

I've tried rebooting the HD DVR but it seems to happen more in the evenings.

.....just curious.

Yes. I have a TiVo with cable cards and I thought the two might be related but it sounds like this also happens with their DVR. I get a lot of "This channel is temporarily anavailable..." on channels 568, 544, and 520. The SD channels seem to always work. I think it may have to do with their poorly implemented switched digital video. I hardly ever get the science channel (520) anymore and when I do it'll run for awhile then the picture will freeze and I change the channel then change it back and get the temp unavail message again. I called TWC support and of course some idiot answered the phone and tried to send a signal to restart the TiVo box (which is obviously not possible), then tried to schedule a truck roll to fix the TiVo and also suggested that I take my TiVo (that I paid for) to a TWC service center and exchange it for a "new" box. Where do they get these people from? I wish there was an alternative to TWC because I would definitely abandon their crap for service they don't provide.

[TiVo HD XL]

Here's what I found:

http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org/forums/showthread.php?p=51542#post51542

[Danno321]

I would have to say problems are increasing.  I am seeing the UNAVAILABLE message more, just a blank screen, and the STB just freezing.  Add to that my RR internet having drop out problems now, my eSATA drive being disconnected after sleep command, and I am getting frustrated.  Too bad Verizon FIOS is not available where I live.

[gparris]

Too bad Verizon FIOS is not available where I live.

Amen to that, but as I was told by an ATT rep regarding getting U-Verse in my home, I cannot because my area is served by Verizon.

Verizon told me they will NEVER offer FIOS in Wisconsin (including my Verizon area).:bang:

Ever since SDV for TWC service has been implemented here, I have more DVR box reboots, frozen channels (when I first turn the box to "on") and so on.
When the [HD] DVR box starts to give me "Channel not available, try later", checking the connections and rebooting the box manually (unplugging once again), it comes up (mostly) the first time: I check my other 8300HD DVR box to see if it is receiving these HD channels (and some SD ones are SDV, too).
-IF the other DVR is accessing the "NOT AVAILABLE" channels, then it is a box issue...what fun it all is, huh?:rolleyes:

[samsung46]

I have had intermittant, random "channel not available" messages ever since I got my new hdtv, driving me insane!  It basically ended up to be my fault!  The tech came out on saturday and really knew his stuff.

Just before he came, I had no problem finding a HD channel saying "channel not available".  He ran the diagnostic and it said there were "thousands" of errors for that channel.  The problem was I was using a coax cable that I bought 10 years ago (from radio shack I think)  from the wall outlet to the cable box.  On top of that,  the coax on the wall wasn't tightened all the way.  Being behind a bookshelf, I never really messed with it...

He replaced the coax completely (and tightened it all the way, I might add) I believe, with the box still on.  After that, the diagnostic read no errors.   We then looked for a "channel not available" but still found one.  After rebooting however there we no such messages and there haven't been any all weekend.    Hopefully, I will be able to watch the Brewers in hidef (on the rare occasion the actually broadcast it in HD) and not swear at the tv any longer.

[spolebitski]

Yes I got "Channel Not Available" during the Brewer Game last thursday night in the 9th inning.  Between commercials I tuned to espn for a minute then went back but "Channel Not Available".  How disappointing.

[Jack 1000]

My sound fluctuates like crazy when watching The Price is Right, (and only that show) in both HD and SD broadcasts.  Only this channel (505)-(CBS-HD) and (5)-(CBS) is affected.

Jack

[Danno321]

Yes I got "Channel Not Available" during the Brewer Game last thursday night in the 9th inning.  Between commercials I tuned to espn for a minute then went back but "Channel Not Available".  How disappointing.

Last Sat game in the 9th my box froze and I missed the end of the game.

[Jack 1000]

Yes,  tonight there is a problem. May 10, 2009

Have about 5 HD channels not available.  Not sure about the all the ones that are out, but most are in the 560's range AFTER the PBS stations in the 550's.  I know for sure that Animal Planet HD, (543) Bravo HD, (568)  Sci-FI HD, (562) and Travel Channel HD, (570) are down in my area.  (Channel not available.) in Brookfield.

Jack

[Danno321]

I would have to say problems are increasing.  I am seeing the UNAVAILABLE message more, just a blank screen, and the STB just freezing.  Add to that my RR internet having drop out problems now, my eSATA drive being disconnected after sleep command, and I am getting frustrated.  Too bad Verizon FIOS is not available where I live.

I used a workaround suggested on AVSForum.  I record every episode of ESPN News since it is named the same every hour and only keep one episode.  So far after a week the SA8300HD hasn't frozen or disconnected the eSATA drive.  Probably uses about 15W more constantly.

[gparris]

Yes,  tonight there is a problem. May 10, 2009

Have about 5 HD channels not available.  Not sure about the all the ones that are out, but most are in the 560's range AFTER the PBS stations in the 550's.  I know for sure that Animal Planet HD, (543) Bravo HD, (568)  Sci-FI HD, (562) and Travel Channel HD, (570) are down in my area.  (Channel not available.) in Brookfield.

Jack

Last night I had the same problem and StarzHD was among those was not avaialable, either.
Now I can see something like that going on during a heavy-use weekend during maybe the DAY or early night during the so-called "primetime", but after 10PM?

You know, its been great that TWC Milwaukee finally got its crap together with some HD channel additions (some months ago), but TWC Milwaukee hasn't added ANY new HD channels since, so what's the problem?
Are they doing the testing on late night times when their engineers think no one will be watching anything?
-What are they going to do when the start (whenever that is) adding many more HD channels to match up to U-Verse, Dishnetwork and Directv's HD channel lineups?:huh?: