Our native mobile app has a new name: Fora Communities. Learn more.

Bad Picture Quality (Time Warner Cable) and Possibly Damage to Pioneer Elite

4051 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by BeachComber, Jan 4, 2009

JC-TX

Discussion Starter · Jan 3, 2009

I have Time Warner cable and the internet went down, they came and checked lines and said the line that was hooked into internet was bringing in the signal but not taking it out, spliced a couple places in the attic with no resolve, so they connected the internet to another coax line. Another words put the line that was not taking signal out and put one of the TV's on it. I don't know for sure which TV. Ever since they did that my picture went from a 9 (on scale 1-10) that I could see every pore and hair on a woman's face to a dingy dark picture of about a 4-5 on a scale of 1-10. I have a 50 Pioneer Elite Plasma and it has always had an incredibly bright and detailed picture. I run it on the pure setting and it is very natural. Time Warner has sent 2 techs, one said there was a line problem, one said it was my TV adjustments and that their signal was fine. The old CRT doesn't seem to be affected, but the little office HD TV was so dark I had to turn the brightness and contrast all the way up to somewhat see the picture. I refuse to change the settings on my Elite nor will I watch it because it looks so bad and I am afraid if it is getting voltage from the power amplifier that it might do more damage. Any ideas other short of hooking up Direct TV? I have called my TV guy to check out the Plasma and I called Direct TV and plan on switching after I find out if Time Warner damage my TV. I didn't want Time Warner to put the blame on Direct TV if there is damage that was caused by Time Warner.

I have attached the wiring schematic to see if there is any obvious problems. I fear that maybe they unplugged the power amp and possibly did damage to my Plasma, is that possible or do you think it is a line leak or signal noise?
Attachment 128394

Thank you in advance,

Janice

See less See more

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

mjones73

· #2 · Jan 3, 2009

What make and model cable box do you have? Many let you in to their diag menus to see the signal strength you are getting. I highly doubt they damaged your TV, sounds like they screwed up the signal though.

Save

JC-TX

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 3, 2009

It is a SA 8300HD. I swapped it tonight and they gave me a 8240 HDC and it looks much worse. They claim that it is the newest one and it does show a manufacture date of 7/08. TWCable tested the signal strength and said it was not the signal, but what about SNR or BER could this be an issue? They even mentioned voltage damaging a TV. I am bummed to the point i won't even turn on the TV. Seems like I should start over and run all new lines and fittings.

Save

videoguy60467

· #4 · Jan 4, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC-TX /forum/post/15445518

It is a SA 8300HD. I swapped it tonight and they gave me a 8240 HDC and it looks much worse. They claim that it is the newest one and it does show a manufacture date of 7/08. TWCable tested the signal strength and said it was not the signal, but what about SNR or BER could this be an issue? They even mentioned voltage damaging a TV. I am bummed to the point i won't even turn on the TV. Seems like I should start over and run all new lines and fittings.

If the TV has a digital tuner, I'd try to hook up to an antenna, do a quick scan and see hot OTA looks. If your tv works OK off air, then there is still something amiss with the Cable set up.

Save

BeachComber

· #5 · Jan 4, 2009

Internet (OBVIOUSLY) needs 2 way communication. Actually, so does the TV STB to ask and receive authorization etc. An original cablecard is the only thing that does not need 2 way communications.

I find it difficult to believe you only had 1 way communication on your internet as it would have never worked - so there seems to be something more to this story than what you have stated here.

But I sure would not have the Power Inserter running through the 4 way splitter, regardless of how it may be labelled with a DC pass through (especially as the amp will take a direct remote power input).

But regardless, if there really was damage, the way you have it connected up, it would have damaged the STB or your Receiver - not the Plasma.

Save

JC-TX

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 4, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by BeachComber /forum/post/15452499

Internet (OBVIOUSLY) needs 2 way communication. Actually, so does the TV STB to ask and receive authorization etc. An original cablecard is the only thing that does not need 2 way communications.

I find it difficult to believe you only had 1 way communication on your internet as it would have never worked - so there seems to be something more to this story than what you have stated here.

But I sure would not have the Power Inserter running through the 4 way splitter, regardless of how it may be labelled with a DC pass through (especially as the amp will take a direct remote power input).

But regardless, if there really was damage, the way you have it connected up, it would have damaged the STB or your Receiver - not the Plasma.

This is TWC's wiring not mine. Power amplifiers concern me especially when you have techs that are trained a day or two then sent out to folks house to work on customer lines who have thousands of dollars worth of equipment hooked to them.

The tech unplugged the coax(at the 4-way splitter) that receives voltage from the wall and powers the cable amp then plugged it back in while the STB, receiver, and plasma was turned on. I threw a fit and told him that equipment needs to be powered down before he unplugs anything. What do you think the chances are that the receiver has been damaged or do you think it is more likely that this is a wiring/signal issue? Is there a way to test for damage on the receiver. I have the pioneer Elite VSX84 and I know it does some video conversion (not to 1080p) but I currently have it turned off. The picture quality on a small HDTV with a straight coax feed (no STB) also went down to the point we have to turn up the contrast and brightness all the way up for it to be light enough to see the picture. Would this make you think it is a signal/wiring issue? How would you recommend I change the wiring? Thanks I appreciate all the advice i can get at this point I pretty bummed and will not even turn the Plasma on.

See less See more

Save

BeachComber

· #7 · Jan 4, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC-TX /forum/post/15452751

This is TWC's wiring not mine. Power amplifiers concern me especially when you have techs that are trained a day or two then sent out to folks house to work on customer lines who have thousands of dollars worth of equipment hooked to them.

The tech unplugged the coax(at the 4-way splitter) that receives voltage from the wall and powers the cable amp then plugged it back in while the STB, receiver, and plasma was turned on. I threw a fit and told him that equipment needs to be powered down before he unplugs anything. What do you think the chances are that the receiver has been damaged

Zero to none the way you are wired.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC-TX /forum/post/15452751

or do you think it is more likely that this is a wiring/signal issue?

yes

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC-TX /forum/post/15452751

Is there a way to test for damage on the receiver.

Bypass the receiver.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC-TX /forum/post/15452751

I have the pioneer Elite VSX84 and I know it does some video conversion (not to 1080p) but I currently have it turned off. The picture quality on a small HDTV with a straight coax feed (no STB) also went down to the point we have to turn up the contrast and brightness all the way up for it to be light enough to see the picture. Would this make you think it is a signal/wiring issue?

no - wiring issues do not cause brightness/contrast issue. Digital is either there or its not - the picture does not fade down low if there is a signal problem.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC-TX /forum/post/15452751

How would you recommend I change the wiring? Thanks I appreciate all the advice i can get at this point I pretty bummed and will not even turn the Plasma on.

Take your receiver out of the loop.

Get a long run of RG6. Plug it in where the RG6 comes in from the tap (before splitter). Run it to the STB and then TV.

If that does not work, then you have eliminated everything in between as the cause.

If that does work, then start slowing adding in the other elements, starting with your receiver.

See less See more

Save

1 - 7 of 7 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month