Pixalation and Pauses When DVR is Running
MDTuba5
Enthusiast - Level 1

okay, so this may refer to the same issue that other posts have done, but its got a bit of a twist.  We have noticed that when our DVR is recording a program(s) and we are watching a program at the same time, we get major pixalation and audio drop-out on both the live feed as well as the recorded feeds (when we watch them later).  This issue is on a Samsung TV connected directly to the DVR box.

But here are the twists - first, we dont get pixalations, but we get serious pauses when we watch under the same circumstances when in multi-room mode on another television.  And this TV is an Insight (Made by LG).  Second, when the DVR is not recording, we dont have any issues on any TVs - everything works fine.

All TVs are connected via HDMI cables.

So is this a component cable fix, or could we have a bad DVR box?  After reading other posts, I am thinking its the latter....

Any ideas?

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Re: Pixalation and Pauses When DVR is Running
kevinb
Contributor - Level 2

Usually pixelation is a signal problem to the STB. Any signal issue coming in to the STB will cause it to record the distortion. When these recordings are played back it will show the distortion that was recorded, regardless of the STB it is playing on.

Check your SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) .. while the STB is on, hit Power , Select , Select (one after each other) on the front of the STB . This should bring up a diagnostics menu. If it doesn't come up, then turn on the STB again, wait for a picture, and try Power, Select, Select again.

Once diagnostics is up, scroll to "Inband Status" and hit Select.

Now here you'll have the statistics for the 2 tuners in your DVR - take note of the SNR for both tuners, as well as the uncorrectable error count.

If your SNR is <30db , then there's a problem with the signal coming into the STB.

If the uncorrectable error count is high but the SNR is also high, then there could be a problem with the STB itself.

(This part you can do regardless of SNR / Errors) unplug the STB from power, then reseat it's coax connection running between the STB and the wall.

All else fails, call in for a truck roll.

Message Edited by kevinb on 05-22-2009 12:26 PM
Re: Pixalation and Pauses When DVR is Running
MDTuba5
Enthusiast - Level 1

Kevin -

Thanks.  This was very helpful.  I did the diagnostics, and my SNR was listed at a "Good" 37 db.  No uncorrctable errors, but a number of correctable errors were showing.  What does that indicate?

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Re: Pixalation and Pauses When DVR is Running
cjacobs001
Contributor - Level 3
Try re-seating your coax connections for the DVR.  start at the wall jack; unscrew it all the way off the jack, then screw it right back on, making sure it is good and tight.  then do the other end of the same coax cable, ususlly screwed onto your STB.   it may even be necessary to go all the way back to both sides of the splitter, and even to your ONT where the coax originates from.
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Re: Pixalation and Pauses When DVR is Running
kevinb
Contributor - Level 2

Sounds like a possible STB issue.. duplicate the pixelation issue and check the error count again.
Either way, you may want to call in for a STB shipment or tech visit.

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