Latest Ceton InfiniTV 4 Info Thread - Page 125

Haven't got an EPG update in the last few days, the log shows: where xxxxxx is a number I can't remember right now. I believe it's related to provider/location. I'm on Comcast at zip:77346.

Redid the TV setup, and still no go.
Any tips from you guys?

Thanks,
CFC

If you use Windows Update, can that reach the MS servers? Do you have any firewall/internet security software installed?

Yeah, everything is fine with the PC itself. In fact, ran Windows Update last night. Do have default firewall, but haven't made changes. I can shut it off to see if it makes a difference.
From searching the web, seems like the problem could also be tied with changes made by provider.
I'll check again.

CFC

Edit:
Just checked. It's working fine.... of course.

CFC
Edited by CFC - 10/17/12 at 4:50pm

I rcv'd the new one and successfully paired over the phone fast! Replacement has the latest firmware 1.2.1.1. Ceton provided a box with packaging material and shipping label to return the old one that will not update too 1.2.1.1.

I noticed the same issue here which appears to have started around Saturday 10/13... Comcat 77379 here. I also redid TV setup and same issue... seems like I have most of my program data available, however.

I got my new one and I figured I wouldn't have to call the cable company again, but I got one red on "CCV" signal. So, of course, I called the cable company and they had no idea what CCV was. They tried a HIT and REFRESH and of course nothing worked. They insisted that they send out a tech, but I said forget it and I'd contact Ceton.

So, I emailed Ceton and they said they would "investigate". This was two days ago.
I guess I should have scheduled the tech after all.

Depending on the cable operator, this can take a few days. Some are good about turning these requests around the same day - others can take a few days.

I had the same "CCV" signal when I switched my old InfiniTV 4 USB to the replacement one but it went away when I paired it in about a minute over the phone. I am with Comcast and called 1-877-405-2298. I just kept the CableCARD tab displayed in the Ceton Diagnostic Tool during the call to make sure everything checked out. Also, when everything has green check marks, you can also go ahead and enter channels on that tab too make sure they tune in. On step 9 it will show "Tuning channel ### succeeded." Another important note is that the person carefully read the numbers back to me to make sure she entered them correctly in the system. The CableCARD tab also has that info on step 5.
Edited by ChiliBean - 10/19/12 at 6:28am

Thanks for the info Chili.

It's times like this when I wish I had a larger cable company to work with. I am with Insight Cable which is only in KY, OH, and IN.
The second I say cablecard, they switch me to their supervisor. The supervisor usually knows what a cablecard is, but not anything more than "refresh" or "hit". CCV just confuses them.

Do you guys know what CCV means? Maybe explaining that to them will help.

Think it's "CableCard Verification" signal they send. Did they ask you for the info on step 5 on the CableCARD tab to pair again your CableCARD to your new device?

The "Host ID" and "Data" will be different on your replacement device than the old one that is why you have to pair it again.
Edited by ChiliBean - 10/19/12 at 7:08am

... and just like that, it's fixed!

As soon as I said "cable card verification/validation signal", they seemed to know exactly what I was talking about. Within 5 minutes, it was working great! All four tuners are doing their thing. I let Ceton know to close the ticket.

Thanks Chili!

Just a quick update. I went ahead and got the motorola 1 port amp as mentioned in this thread. At first, everything looked much better, but I'm now having a new issue..

1= +2.5
2= +18.1
3= +2.1
4= +19.2

Obviously, I really like the low numbers, but the high numbers are getting some weak signal issues. My next step is to try to increase the splits a bit. I still have a Hauppauge 2250 2 QAM tuner I can install . Will report back with results.

When I'm watching a near-zero signal, the picture is fantastic. No microblocking at all. And quicker channel changes maybe? It's hard to tell.
Overall, I'm still very pleased with the iTV4.

Those numbers vary depending on the frequency that is tuned. You need to figure out (old/bad wiring?) why there is such a discrepancy, and what the affected frequencies are.

I had a similar problem with the higher frequencies being attenuated due to the fact I'm at the end of a long cable run. I added a tilt compensator. This device attenuates the low frequencies 12dB while not attenuating the high frequencies. The effect of this is that it flattens the frequency response for long cable runs. Of course this may also attenuate your signal level to the point of requiring a RF amplifier. I added the Motorola BDA-K1-RA which is available at Amazon to make up for the compensator loss. Check out: http://www.linearcorp.com/pdf/manuals/TC200A.pdf. You can order it through Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/ChannelPlus-TC-200A-Tilt-Compensator/dp/B000VMBS58/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350865942&sr=8-1&keywords=cable+tilt+compensator.

Naturally you should put the amp ahead of the tilt compensator for nest s/n ratio.

The frequency is a big factor in the reception equation. Here is what I did to get a frequency vs signal level chart.

1.Run the Ceton diags and save it to the desktop (or some other place if your prefer)

2.Open the diags zip file and find the channel_map.xml file.

3.Open excel and drag the channel_map file into excel. You might get a couple of error boxes but just answer OK.

4.Sort the excel data on column D (frequency).

5.Open the Ceton diag tool again and click on the Devices tab and then the go to Infinity web page and click on the Tuner tab.

6.Select a program number from column E on the spreadsheet for each frequency and type it into the Channel box on the Ceton web page and click the tune button below it. The Signal Level and Signal to Noise ratio will be displayed on the web page below the channel input box .

7.Record the frequency, signal level and Signal to noise ratio on a new spread sheet.

8.After testing and recording the data on all available frequencies plot the data.

In my case the Signal levels varied form +10db for the lower frequencies to 0db for the higher frequencies.
Edited by Paw Paw - 10/22/12 at 2:54pm

I am not getting EPG data in Houston.

I have seen in this forum and on TGB that I am not alone with this issue.

I noted that one person on TGB backed off his recent Microsoft updates and was able to receive the EPG.


Does anyone know which update potentially broke the EPG?


Any status from Microsoft?

Try running through TV setup again

That took care of it. I will monitor for the next few weeks to be sure I am getting the updates

Thanks for the help

You guys having issues in Houston Area go through the tv signal setup wizard again and this time use zip code 77584, this worked for me and provided me a new headendid and also new channels.

I went through TV setup again for my same zip code and still go the same error message that the MCUpdate failed based on some headend Id. Anyways, I let it sit the next day and it fixed itself. They must have been messing with the line up at the time and I know Comcast moved some channels around (TCM moved for me) so it's probably all related to that.

Hate to pick at a scab, but where do things stand with macro-blocking and copy-once channels?

Wondering as well. I am seeing it now after RMAing my old card where I never had the problem. I am on a newer firmware now, same hardware version as before. I have recently tightened up my cables and made sure coax isn't near the PC PSU - can't say yet whether this made a difference.

xnappo

So after watching more protected recordings tonight, I am 100% sure that I now have this issue. I *never* saw it on my old card.

Here is the email I just sent Ceton - will see what they say.

---

Hello,

Thanks for the excellent RMA support - however - unfortunately I am having a problem with the new card.

The problem I am having seems to be somewhat common - at least on the user forums, but I never had the issue with the old card.

I am experiencing 'line across the screen macroblocking on protected channels'.

This looks *exactly* like the third post down from Eric Kotz(quoting another user) here:
http://experts.windows.com/frms/windows_entertainment_and_connected_home/f/115/t/100923.aspx?PageIndex=10

I have checked my signal levels and connection and everything looks fine (level 2db SNR 35 on Comedy Central which shows the issue).

Now - I am sure that there are other things you will want me to try(datalogs etc etc) - but please before doing so can you look up the new (refurbed) card and see if this is the reason it was returned in the first place?

The serial number of this card is:

Again - in all the time I had my old card I never saw this issue, and now I am seeing exactly what other are describing.

So - on to the other possibilities (not a hardware problem)

1. My old card was running various firmwares, and I never saw this, but I obviously never ran the latest firmware since the reason it was RMAed was because it would not longer upgrade
2. It may be possible MS pushed something out in an upgrade that broke it, but seems like that is a stretch since others have been seeing it for a long time
3. It may be possible TWC has changed something in the encrypted channels - but that would be a big coincidence.

Really hope you can help here - honestly I would rather be stuck not being able to upgrade firmware that have this annoying/nebulous issue!

FWIW - I have always had the macroblocking problem (not a GPU issue, I see it on extenders as well). I've also gone through several RMAs (Ceton support is great - BTW) for different reasons which offered me the "opportunity" to have different HW revisions of the card - i.e. original "stacked" HW build, and a few different new HW revisions (thin). In any case, my point is that I used to think it could be a physical HW issue but I'm fairly convinced now it's a FW issue somewhere.

Microblocking here too on a brand new, up to date (betas) USB iTV4. I've pretty much accepted the fact that that line will always be there. It's a shame.

That is interesting - because I definitely did not have the issue on my old card(fw 1.1.7.10). I watch 'The Daily Show' every day (well you know what I mean) and *never* saw this until I got my replacement card - now I see it at least 2-3 times an episode.

I suppose it is possible TWC changed something - but again that would be quite a coincidence. Certainly Comedy Central has always been protected and SDV.

xnappo

Maybe you mentioned earlier, but are you running the exact same FW *and* HW version as before (not to confuse HW version with HW revision)? The latest FW (1.1.8.2) introduced other HW versions for specific cards so I'm wondering if the HW version is slightly different. But I agree, I doubt it's coinicidence.

No - I am *not*. Previously I was running 1.1.7.10 and was stuck on that version (which is why I RMAed in the first place). HW version is the same (6110 off the top of my head, that may be wrong).

xnappo

tgrinch and xnappo, I watch the Daily Show on Comedy Central as well, and it's the ONLY channel where I've seen macroblocking. And it's relatively frequent too. I'm on Charter and Comedy Central is Copy Once here as well. The funny thing is that I have never seen macroblocking on any other channel, copy protected or not. Not even on the movie channels. Fortunately it doesn't annoy me. My Firmware is 1.1.7.2 (I think that's the latest stable one) and Hardware Version is 5124.