I called Cox cable out again yesterday and while they tried 7 different CableCards. I am still having the same issues.
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Dell XPS 420 "No TV Signal" Ati Digital Tuner Problem
I am running the Dell 420 with dual ATI CableCards. I use Cox cable in Oklahoma City. I updated the firmware on my tuners in anticipation for the cable tech. I had a professional come out last week to install the cards. While the tech was courteous, he admittedly had never installed a CableCard into a PC before. In some friendly banter while waiting on the install he openly admitted none of the techs get any formal training on installing CableCards. He said he was told to visit a few websites for information.
The CableCard install took about 2hrs and when the cable technician left it all appeared to be working properly. Soon thereafter the problems began. Anything from a tuner not being recognized by Vista (an unsupported usb device has been installed) to not getting TV signals on certain channels.
Currently both tuners can tune all channels. They can record SDTV channels 2-30ish and surprisingly most HD channels. Unfortunately, while I can tune to the mid range digital channels whenever I record them, after a three second pause, I get the No TV Signal message. Additionally some HD channels give me the pop up message that I need to contact my cable company to activate the tuner. It seems once I get the No TV Signal message on that tuner, I cannot tune any of the "dead zone" channels with that tuner until I unplug it and restart VMC.
Some additional testing with my 360 extender may shed light on the problem as well. If the VMC is tuned to a "dead zone" channel I can tune to that channel from the extender, but once I change the channel from the extender I get a big pop-up message to the tune of "Call your cable company to set up your digital tuner. Then it provides Cox's contact info."
All this leads to me to believe that it is a DRM issue. I think its interesting that when you watch a show in the "*dead zone" you are able to time-shift which means its recording, but once you ask it to truely record and save the show, the tuner wigs out.
Well this is where I am currently at. If you have any info on my situation, help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
-ST
XPS 420 / Dual ATI digital Tuners / 256MB Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
The CableCard install took about 2hrs and when the cable technician left it all appeared to be working properly. Soon thereafter the problems began. Anything from a tuner not being recognized by Vista (an unsupported usb device has been installed) to not getting TV signals on certain channels.
Currently both tuners can tune all channels. They can record SDTV channels 2-30ish and surprisingly most HD channels. Unfortunately, while I can tune to the mid range digital channels whenever I record them, after a three second pause, I get the No TV Signal message. Additionally some HD channels give me the pop up message that I need to contact my cable company to activate the tuner. It seems once I get the No TV Signal message on that tuner, I cannot tune any of the "dead zone" channels with that tuner until I unplug it and restart VMC.
Some additional testing with my 360 extender may shed light on the problem as well. If the VMC is tuned to a "dead zone" channel I can tune to that channel from the extender, but once I change the channel from the extender I get a big pop-up message to the tune of "Call your cable company to set up your digital tuner. Then it provides Cox's contact info."
All this leads to me to believe that it is a DRM issue. I think its interesting that when you watch a show in the "*dead zone" you are able to time-shift which means its recording, but once you ask it to truely record and save the show, the tuner wigs out.
Well this is where I am currently at. If you have any info on my situation, help would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
-ST
XPS 420 / Dual ATI digital Tuners / 256MB Radeon ATI HD 2600 XT
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
If you haven't already check thru the vista cablecard thread.
Some things to check:
-Verify you have the latest firmware on each tuner
-Verify that COX correctly paired each individual tuner with the correct cablecard. If they didn't I seem to remember someone posting that they had similar sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't when it was incorrectly paired.
Some things to check:
-Verify you have the latest firmware on each tuner
-Verify that COX correctly paired each individual tuner with the correct cablecard. If they didn't I seem to remember someone posting that they had similar sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't when it was incorrectly paired.
If you have any 3rd-party software firewalls installed (Norton, or whatever), you should try disabling them. (Personally, I would UNINSTALL them. But maybe that is just me.) If you disable them, be sure to disable them on each of the network interfaces to each of your DCT's.
The DCT's talk to the PC using TCP-IP over the USB connection, and there are reports that some software firewalls will interfere with that communication.
--Don
The DCT's talk to the PC using TCP-IP over the USB connection, and there are reports that some software firewalls will interfere with that communication.
--Don
Thanks for the replies guys. Updating the firmware was the first thing I did, and it is a fresh install of the OS from Dell with no anti/virus.
Sooner any luck on this? I am about to jump ship and order a xps 420 for use with cox in okc. I post over @ the greenbutton with you just wondering if you go it working?
Hey SoonerT, at least you are able to get something out of your tuner. WMC does not recognize any TV signal from my recently arrived ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner on my new Dell XPS 420. I contacted Dell about the problem, who told me to contact AMD. AMD told me Dell is responsible since it shipped OEM as part of a system bondle. What fun!
I have updated to the latest firmware on the DCT, have two happy green lights shining, tried every configuration I can think of (w/ CableCARD and without, coax and RCA connections, cable TV and off-air signals), and still no dice.
Anybody have any thoughts?
I have updated to the latest firmware on the DCT, have two happy green lights shining, tried every configuration I can think of (w/ CableCARD and without, coax and RCA connections, cable TV and off-air signals), and still no dice.
Anybody have any thoughts?
I contacted Dell again, after AMD refused to provide support, and they reluctantly agreed to send me another tuner: "... it is actually a retail sale and is not part of the system. ATi should have fully supported this item. I am going to replace it, but in the future you should know this is not covered by us... This item is not an OEM and is supported by the manufacturer."
So, even though Dell lists the product as "TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner for Sale with XPS 420***ONLY****", they do not usually claim responsibility for the item.
More from the Dell rep: "I'm saying if it still does not work, we will not be able to help you, you will have to contact them. They [AMD/ATI] do not supply us with any support documentation and it is not covered by your system warranty."
My new tuner is supposed to arrive in a few days.
So, even though Dell lists the product as "TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner for Sale with XPS 420***ONLY****", they do not usually claim responsibility for the item.
More from the Dell rep: "I'm saying if it still does not work, we will not be able to help you, you will have to contact them. They [AMD/ATI] do not supply us with any support documentation and it is not covered by your system warranty."
My new tuner is supposed to arrive in a few days.
catsquisher: Do the tuners show up in your networking tab? When you run the VMC install I am guessing it doesn't pick up either of them?
PLUCKYHD: I honestly don't think it's Cox's fault they seem to have set things up correctly. Unfortunatly mine still freaks out when it tries to record. I am over on TGB board as well. Let me know if you decide to pull the trigger it woudl be nice to have another user to bounce ideas / test with.
PLUCKYHD: I honestly don't think it's Cox's fault they seem to have set things up correctly. Unfortunatly mine still freaks out when it tries to record. I am over on TGB board as well. Let me know if you decide to pull the trigger it woudl be nice to have another user to bounce ideas / test with.
I'm not sure if this will help you guys, but check out this link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...cablecard.mspx
At the bottom of the FAQ are a set of steps to help you troubleshoot problems. The steps guide you through the built in configuration webserver on the ATI tuners. Hopefully, it can guide you to the source of the problem.
-leonowski
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...cablecard.mspx
At the bottom of the FAQ are a set of steps to help you troubleshoot problems. The steps guide you through the built in configuration webserver on the ATI tuners. Hopefully, it can guide you to the source of the problem.
-leonowski
Another thing I thought of:
I noticed that the ATI tuners use an arbitrary IP address in the 192.168.x.x range. You may want to make sure that these IPs are not part of your current home network's subnet. I'm sure it is unlikely, but, it's worth checking out.
I noticed that the ATI tuners use an arbitrary IP address in the 192.168.x.x range. You may want to make sure that these IPs are not part of your current home network's subnet. I'm sure it is unlikely, but, it's worth checking out.
SoonerT: That is what seems strange to me; the tuner shows up as a network device. I can view its status via its web address. I can see the status of the CableCARD in the same manner. The tuner seems happy in every way except that WMC won't play with it.
Under WMC's Digital Tuner Diagnostics, the tuner shows up as "ATI TV Wonder OpenCable Receiver (3928), U", but every item reads as "Unavailable". The U at the end of the tuner ID is probably the beginning of the word unavailable that gets cut off.
leonowski: I have tried all the troubleshooting tips on the Vista and ATI web sites. My tuner shows up in the 192.168.22.x range, cable modem in the 192.168.100.x range, and home network in 192.168.1.x range, so that should not be the problem. But thanks for the offering up other possibilities.
At this point I am hoping the problem is simply a malfunctioning tuner and that the replacement on the way will do the trick.
Under WMC's Digital Tuner Diagnostics, the tuner shows up as "ATI TV Wonder OpenCable Receiver (3928), U", but every item reads as "Unavailable". The U at the end of the tuner ID is probably the beginning of the word unavailable that gets cut off.
leonowski: I have tried all the troubleshooting tips on the Vista and ATI web sites. My tuner shows up in the 192.168.22.x range, cable modem in the 192.168.100.x range, and home network in 192.168.1.x range, so that should not be the problem. But thanks for the offering up other possibilities.
At this point I am hoping the problem is simply a malfunctioning tuner and that the replacement on the way will do the trick.
By the way, in the epic struggle between Dell and AMD regarding who should provide support for the ATI TV Wonder Digital Cable Tuner, there is still no clarity.
Latest word from AMD technical support:
"The TV Wonder DCT is not a retail product. AMD provides firmware updates and presales specifications for this product. We have an agreement with the systems integrator to provide the product as an OEM. Support is done through Dell.
"If [your Dell rep] disagrees with this statement then he can either contact the Dell OEM channel or contact AMD support at 1-877-284-1566."
Neither wants to deal with it.
Latest word from AMD technical support:
"The TV Wonder DCT is not a retail product. AMD provides firmware updates and presales specifications for this product. We have an agreement with the systems integrator to provide the product as an OEM. Support is done through Dell.
"If [your Dell rep] disagrees with this statement then he can either contact the Dell OEM channel or contact AMD support at 1-877-284-1566."
Neither wants to deal with it.
"Under WMC's Digital Tuner Diagnostics, the tuner shows up as "ATI TV Wonder OpenCable Receiver (3928), U", but every item reads as "Unavailable". The U at the end of the tuner ID is probably the beginning of the word unavailable that gets cut off."
Not sure if it stands or Unavailable or not, I think on mine it says "(Unit #1)" and "(Unit #2)". I am at the office so I can't check. Were you ever able to install the tuners w/o the CableCards? Might want to try and take out the cards and test the tuners one at a time with VMC.
Not sure if this will help, but you might want to try completely unregistering OCURs and re-runing TV setup again.
Close Media Center and from elevated command prompt type
net stop ehrecvr
cd \\windows\\ehome
ehprivjob /OCURUnregister
ehprivjob /OCURDiscovery
Wait for a minute, restart Media Center, go to Settings -> TV -> TV Signal
and select Setup TV Signal.
-ST
Not sure if it stands or Unavailable or not, I think on mine it says "(Unit #1)" and "(Unit #2)". I am at the office so I can't check. Were you ever able to install the tuners w/o the CableCards? Might want to try and take out the cards and test the tuners one at a time with VMC.
Not sure if this will help, but you might want to try completely unregistering OCURs and re-runing TV setup again.
Close Media Center and from elevated command prompt type
net stop ehrecvr
cd \\windows\\ehome
ehprivjob /OCURUnregister
ehprivjob /OCURDiscovery
Wait for a minute, restart Media Center, go to Settings -> TV -> TV Signal
and select Setup TV Signal.
-ST
ST: The tuner does not work with or w/o the CableCARD. Tried un and reregistering OCUR, per your suggestion, but I still get no signal. Thanks for the suggestions though.
-cs
-cs
Just from this statement, at a guess, you either have a bad tuner, or poor signal strength.
I have some troubleshooting tips here: http://dondumitru.spaces.live.com/bl...26F8!126.entry
--Don
Quote:
Originally Posted by catsquisher /forum/post/13000478
ST: The tuner does not work with or w/o the CableCARD. Tried un and reregistering OCUR, per your suggestion, but I still get no signal. Thanks for the suggestions though.
-cs
Just from this statement, at a guess, you either have a bad tuner, or poor signal strength.
I have some troubleshooting tips here: http://dondumitru.spaces.live.com/bl...26F8!126.entry
--Don
Don: I just tried a 10 dB on the cable feed, but I still get "A TV signal was not detected." It's looking more and more like it was a "DOA DCT", to use your terminology. On a tangent - you have an attractive house; I like the nice clean lines of the interior.
Of course, they only photographed the "best" scenes of the house. The TV room, for example, is quite a disogranized mess, and there are no pictures of it. ;-) But thank you, we are very happy with the results.
I did have a DOA DCT myself. I was able to isolate it to a DOA DCT, because I had two DCT's, one working, one not - swap the coax cables, the same one keeps working, and the same one keeps not. Ergo, it's not the cabling or the signals, it's the DCT.
--Don
Quote:
Originally Posted by catsquisher /forum/post/13011691
Don: I just tried a 10 dB on the cable feed, but I still get "A TV signal was not detected." It's looking more and more like it was a "DOA DCT", to use your terminology. On a tangent - you have an attractive house; I like the nice clean lines of the interior.
Of course, they only photographed the "best" scenes of the house. The TV room, for example, is quite a disogranized mess, and there are no pictures of it. ;-) But thank you, we are very happy with the results.
I did have a DOA DCT myself. I was able to isolate it to a DOA DCT, because I had two DCT's, one working, one not - swap the coax cables, the same one keeps working, and the same one keeps not. Ergo, it's not the cabling or the signals, it's the DCT.
--Don
I am going to have to agree with dondu, sounds like a bad tuner. I hope you get everything working cat, let us know if the new tuner works.
I should get the replacement this week. Y'all will be the first to hear. Thanks again for all your suggestions.
Happy Mardi Gras!
Happy Mardi Gras!
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