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Problem w/ Samsung TV and Scientific Atlanta Cable Box

6012 Views 13 Replies 8 Participants Last post by n3vino, Aug 16, 2011

cb2367

Discussion Starter · Aug 13, 2011

I am having a problem with being able to view cable TV programming. Two days ago, the picture kept freezing on certain channels along with the audio. On other channels, the audio would continue while the picture remained frozen.

I have Time Warner Cable, so I called their support line the first time that this issue happened, and they sent a refresh signal and asked that I unplug the box and then plug it back in after a few seconds. I had to wait for the configuration process to finish. The problem seemed to be fixed after this, but then came back the next day. I again called support and again a refresh signal was sent and I had to go through the process of unplugging the box and plugging it back in and waiting for the configuration to finish.

This is where my latest issue developed. After this refresh signal, I turned everything back on and the picture and audio came up for two seconds. Then the box switched inputs from 1080i to 480i and the TV went to a black screen. The TV is a Samsung LNT4661. The message being displayed on the TV was 'not supported mode.' Prior to the picture freezing problem, there were no problems with the setup.

I've tried switching HDMI inputs on the back of the TV (only two inputs). When I switched it to another input, I watched the cable box go back and forth between 1080i and 480i before settling on 480i. I've connected composite cables to the front of the box and have connected the other end to the AV composite inputs on the side of the TV. This connection method resulted in a 'weak or no signal' message.

I was informed by Time Warner support that I can bypass the cable box and connect the cable to the back of the TV. There are two coax connections on the back of the TV -- air and cable. I connected the coax to the cable connection, but got no picture or sound. The TV displayed a message stating there were no inputs connected.

The HDMI cable runs from the cable box into my receiver to the Cbl/Sat input. The receiver has four HDMI inputs -- Game/TV (IN 4); Cbl/Sat (IN3); VCR/DVR (IN2); and DVD (IN1). There is also simply an HDMI out. There is an HDMI cable running from HDMI 1 on the TV to HDMI out on the receiver. This was all connected in this manner by the cable tech doing the install. This setup also worked just fine without any issues for 3-4 weeks.

At this point, I have no cable TV at all using composite cables or connecting the coax to the TV. If I leave everything as is, all I get is audio. I switched out the box in the hopes that would fix the problem, but it didn't. The soonest I can get a cable tech to come out is next week

, but in the meantime, what else can I do? Would changing the HDMI cable work? Subsequent refresh signals have not brought the box back online. It seems to be a coincidence that the cable box stopped working after the latest refresh was sent.

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domino92024

· #2 · Aug 13, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by cb2367 /forum/post/20815886

At this point, I have no cable TV at all using composite cables or connecting the coax to the TV. If I leave everything as is, all I get is audio. I switched out the box in the hopes that would fix the problem, but it didn't. The soonest I can get a cable tech to come out is next week

, but in the meantime, what else can I do? Would changing the HDMI cable work? Subsequent refresh signals have not brought the box back online. It seems to be a coincidence that the cable box stopped working after the latest refresh was sent.

You haven't told us what happens when you use component (not composite) instead of HDMI.

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txrose

· #3 · Aug 13, 2011

IMO the problem is the signal on the cable is too low. Try 1) Replace the cable from the wall jack to the cable box, 2) try a connection to another jack in the house or 3) check the cable connections outside to see if there is a bad connection by disconnecting and reconnecting the cable and any splitters.

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cb2367

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 13, 2011

I don't have component cables, so I'm not able to test this connection.

How can everything work just fine for three to four weeks and then all the sudden the signal is too low? After the box has finished the configuration process, Time Warner support claims to be getting a strong signal from the box.

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Ratman

· #5 · Aug 13, 2011

Have you tried unplugging the TV from wall power for 10 minutes? Sometimes a hard power reset resolves quirky issues.

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Weags

· #6 · Aug 13, 2011

Even though you cannot see a picture can you manually input a channel on the remote to a channel that you know is an hd channel. Hopefully this gives you a picture so that you can change the resolution settings on the box. It sounds like they reverted back to 480i for non hd channels. A lot of samsung TVs do not accept 480i for some reason and will give you the "not supported mode" message.

At the very least if the above doesnt eork ,try just taking a video RCA cord from the back of the box and hook it to your TVs rca video input just to change the settings.

Or if your cable box has a coaxial output connect that and tune your tv to channel 3 or 4. This should also give you a pic and let you change settings.

When you change settings make sure you choose anything besides 480i. Also keep the appt for the tech as you may have signal issues that caused the original problem.

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cb2367

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 13, 2011

I got component video cables from the cable company and connected them to the TV and cable box. I was able to get a picture and access the cable box settings.

I attempted to change the input resolution to 1080i and briefly got the box to accept it before it reverted back to 480i, which is exactly what it's doing when I turn on the box. Leaving the box unplugged for 10 minutes and plugging it back in does not fix the problem.

According to the troubleshooting tips in the TV manual, "not supported mode" means that I need to check the maximum resolution and the frequency of the video adapter, and then compare the values with the data in the display mode.

As suggested, I tuned to a known HD channel and got a picutre back. So now the question is how to fix the box so that I can just turn it on and have a picture regardless of what channel it's on.

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Perfectionist2

· #8 · Aug 13, 2011

I'll bet the problem is with the cable box, not your TV.

1. Have you set the cable box to a fixed resolution rather than letting it auto select?

2. Does the box reset to 480i when you turn it off regardless of where it was running when it was working? THis is common in the boxes with problems.

3. Have you tried a different HD TV?

4. could be a signal strength problem but unlikely if the box is reading correctly, however, sometime the signal is too strong. Needs to be in the proper range. The technician can adjust this with a filter or amplifier.

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Weags

· #9 · Aug 13, 2011

As far as the "not supported mode" issue it is definitely not a signal issue. It is a resolution issue. It may be a combination of the box resetting the preferred resolutions during HDMI handshake process and the fact that the tv will not accept a 480i signal.

Do as suggested and make sure the resolution is not set to auto or native. Or Use the setup wizard and make sure to deselect 480i resolution and check off the others 480p, 720p and 1080i. To enter setup wizard power down box on the box itself. Press guide/info. Choose advanced setup and follow instructions on screen.

If that doesn't work and your box keeps reverting back to 480i , refer to this thread to see if any of that helps.

Www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=767661

As far as the original issue, you may still have a signal issue that was causing your picture to freeze up. I would keep the tech appt just in case to make sure you have good enough signal.

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Ratman

· #10 · Aug 13, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by cb2367 /forum/post/20816846

Leaving the box unplugged for 10 minutes and plugging it back in does not fix the problem.

As suggested... try the TV also.

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cb2367

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 14, 2011

Well, after a box exchange and several calls to Time Warner Tech Support, I got a Time Warner representative on Twitter that provided some helpful information on how to fix the problem I had. It seems that the display settings checked were 1080i, 480p, and 480i. The box was configured to always tune to an SD channel when turned on. I don't know what settings were in place for the display prior to changing the box, but after de-selecting 480p and 480i, I was able to once again view all channels. I was uanble to get the advanced settings menu up on the box by pressing guide/info, so my guess is there must be some other button combination.

Another thing I noticed is that as far as the sound display on the receiver, it used to say CBL/SAT. Now every channel is CBL PLII Movie. I have to keep the sub off because on CBL/SAT and CBL PLII Movie, there is a lot of bass coming through the sub.

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Weags

· #12 · Aug 15, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by cb2367 /forum/post/0

Well, after a box exchange and several calls to Time Warner Tech Support, I got a Time Warner representative on Twitter that provided some helpful information on how to fix the problem I had. It seems that the display settings checked were 1080i, 480p, and 480i. The box was configured to always tune to an SD channel when turned on. I don't know what settings were in place for the display prior to changing the box, but after de-selecting 480p and 480i, I was able to once again view all channels. I was uanble to get the advanced settings menu up on the box by pressing guide/info, so my guess is there must be some other button combination.

Another thing I noticed is that as far as the sound display on the receiver, it used to say CBL/SAT. Now every channel is CBL PLII Movie. I have to keep the sub off because on CBL/SAT and CBL PLII Movie, there is a lot of bass coming through the sub.

Well good to hear you got your pic back. Now as for the bass from the sub, is there only heavy bass when using the cable box versus a DVD or blu-ray? Most of the homes I see, people set their sub bass levels, overly high. You could try adjusting the bass on the sub to more preferable levels.

You should also check your audio settings on the box and see if it is set to Dolby digital or PCM. Set it to the opposite of whatever it is currently on and see if that makes a difference.

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gbynum

· #13 · Aug 15, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by cb2367 /forum/post/20821725

I have to keep the sub off because on CBL/SAT and CBL PLII Movie, there is a lot of bass coming through the sub.

I haven't followed where your sub is driven, but often there are (software) crossover as well as level adjustments on HT receivers. Them many subs have level adjustments (knobs or switches) on them. Sometimes the crossover frequency is a function of other speaker SIZES ... they make assumptions on bass level.

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n3vino

· #14 · Aug 16, 2011

Quote:
Originally Posted by cb2367 /forum/post/20821725

I was uanble to get the advanced settings menu up on the box by pressing guide/info, so my guess is there must be some other button combination.

The cable box needs to be turned off before pressing guide/info. It won't work if the box is powered on. Do turn on your tv so you can see what you are doing.

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