Hi All,

I am having a problem with my HDTV and its driving me up a wall. I’ve been trying different things to fix it over the past month and nothings worked, so I’m turning to the real experts (you all). I am sort of a noob with all this, so I may need things explained in a bit more detail. But if anybody could take some time to help me or offer advice Id really appreciate it.

MY SETUP:
My TV is a Samsung LNT4665F 47”HDTV.

I have a Sony STR-DG910 Receiver. Everything is connected to it and it connects to my TV via HDMI (in the HDMI 1 slot). Connected to the Sony Receiver is:

SONY PS3 (VIA HDMI)
NINTENDO WII (Via the 5 composite cables)
TIVOHD (which connects to a slingbox via the 5 composite cables, then out via 5 composite cables to my Sony Receiver).

I have everything plugged into a Monster Surge Protector, including the coax video cables which then connect to my TIVO HD. Ok, that covers the setup… so now my problem.

MY PROBLEM:
I am getting a 6 inch bar which is lighter than the rest of the picture and slowly scrolls down the TV when watching live or recorded shows on my TIVO HD (which uses a dual receiver M CARD) to get channels. It does not show up when I use the PS3 to play a game, or watch a DVD or Blueray disk. Nor does it show up when I play the Wii. Therefore I believe it must have something to do with the TIVO or my cable service (FIOS). If the program is displayed in 4:3 and it puts the black bars on the side of the picture, the bar only remains in the portion which has the picture. Since it doesn’t go out into the black bar part of the screen I assume it means it is also not the TV causing the problem. However, if I watch a show that had the bar on my bedroom tv (a SYNTAX HDTV) via the slingbox/catcher over my home network it does NOT have the bar. So I am totally stumped as to what the problem could be.

TROUBLESHOOTING:
I read that it could be interference. I have already tried changing the splitters for my cable line to the ones especially for digital cable and it made no difference. So I went back to the regular 1000Mhz splitter. I checked all the channels on the TIVO HD and they all get 100% signal.

It doesn’t seems to matter if its an HD channel or an SD one. I also read that recording could cause the issue so I tried watching a show both with the TIVO recording on one channel, and without. Neither made a difference and the bar was still present.

I can’t really think of anything else to do. The fact that it does it on the show in the main room, but not with the same show when “slung” to the bedroom tv makes me think it isn’t the TIVOHD. Its just very frustrating and I am going crazy trying to remedy this so the wife will stop complaining. :o) If anybody has any thoughts, advice, or could point me in the right directing id be forever grateful. Also if there is any more info you need please let me know and ill post it right away.

Thanks in advance!

You've got a ground loop issue that is causing interference with your analog connections.

The quickest fix (which isn't really a fix, but it avoids the problem) is a HDMI connection from the TiVo. You won't see interference due to a ground loop with a HDMI connection. If you need a source for quality, affordable HDMI cables, see Monoprice.com.

You can still connect component to the Slingbox, just don't connect the Slingbox to your A/V receiver.

Thanks for the reply bfdtv.

I am confused though. You said I can still keep the component out of the tivohd going to the sling box. I didnt think you could use two outputs at the same time. Meaning, if I connect the HDMI cable it wont work while the component out is still connected to the slingbox. Is that not correct? Can i have things plugged into both outputs of the HDTIVO and use them both (just not at the same time)?

Thanks for the reply bfdtv.

I am confused though. You said I can still keep the component out of the tivohd going to the sling box. I didnt think you could use two outputs at the same time. Meaning, if I connect the HDMI cable it wont work while the component out is still connected to the slingbox. Is that not correct? Can i have things plugged into both outputs of the HDTIVO and use them both (just not at the same time)?All the TivoHD outputs are active at the same time.

The TivoHD will output HD through both component and HDMI at the same time, while also outputting SD through s-video, composite, etc.

I did not know that. I will try it tonight, and update later.

Thanks!

Brilliant that worked!

I think that our house is not grounded. But this is the perfect fix for the moment.

Thanks again!

Brilliant that worked!

I think that our house is not grounded. But this is the perfect fix for the moment.

Thanks again!
Next time do not cross post the same topic in two forums. The other topic has been deleted.