New TiVo 2 and weird problem with sound
 

Just got my new TiVo 2 a couple of days ago. I bought it online on
tivo.com.

Got it up and running at a friends place since it wouldn't work with my
Vonage VoIP line :-| Now it's working over my network using a DLINK USB
802.11. Nice!

Now the problem: Every now and then, the sound starts getting all
distorted, it sounds like streaming audio over too less bandwidth. It
does that for a while and then reverts back to normal. Rebooting
doesn't help. It is really annoying.

Does anyone have the same problem? Any solution? I am currently waiting
for my device to upgrade to the latest firmware (TiVoToGo) - hope that
helps.

Thanks,
Skeeve

Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 07:16:49 -0800, skeeve wrote:


Every now and then, the sound starts getting all distorted, it sounds
like streaming audio over too less bandwidth. It does that for a while
and then reverts back to normal. Rebooting doesn't help. It is really
annoying.


Is this with Live TV, recorded programs only, or both?

When the audio is 'acting up', how long does the problem last?

If possible, try to check what you're inputting to the TiVo during that
time, to eliminate the possibility that the TiVo is not at fault. That
means, if you use a cable box with your TiVo, try plugging it into the TV
directly during an "episode".


It's with both LiveTV and recorded programs. However, last night, I was
recording a show while watching it and the sound was fine - today, when
I played the recorded show, the sound was broken. I am desperatly
waiting for my device to upgrade to TiVoToGo capability so I can check
the recording on my PC.

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 12:43:25 -0500, Torsten Brasch
wrote:

Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 07:16:49 -0800, skeeve wrote:


Every now and then, the sound starts getting all distorted, it sounds
like streaming audio over too less bandwidth. It does that for a while
and then reverts back to normal. Rebooting doesn't help. It is really
annoying.


Is this with Live TV, recorded programs only, or both?

When the audio is 'acting up', how long does the problem last?

If possible, try to check what you're inputting to the TiVo during that
time, to eliminate the possibility that the TiVo is not at fault. That
means, if you use a cable box with your TiVo, try plugging it into the TV
directly during an "episode".


It's with both LiveTV and recorded programs. However, last night, I was
recording a show while watching it and the sound was fine - today, when
I played the recorded show, the sound was broken. I am desperatly
waiting for my device to upgrade to TiVoToGo capability so I can check
the recording on my PC.


That aint no "upgrade" you're waiting on.

It's crappy code that will likely make your problems worse.

Who is in charge of quality control at Tivo?

Or are they going to make it to profitibaility by letting you users
debug their products?

Tivo is one sorry ass product.

Sean

Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:39:02 -0500, Sean wrote:


Tivo is one sorry ass product.


Just in case you didn't know, Torsten and/or Skeeve, Sean is just a troll.
It's safe to ignore it.

Tought so ;-) Anyway - if I can't get my sound to work, the product is
basically useless.

Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 12:43:25 -0500, Torsten Brasch wrote:


It's with both LiveTV and recorded programs. However, last night, I was
recording a show while watching it and the sound was fine - today, when
I played the recorded show, the sound was broken.


You mentioned in your OP that you just bought the unit from TiVo.com. Did
you buy refurbished or new?

Either way, really, your best bet is to call Customer Service. That's
certainly not a problem with the source (if you can watch it live ok and
have stuttering on playback).

It could be as simple as a hard drive problem, or it could be something
more subtle. It's definitely TiVo's responsibility to fix it, depending on
your definition of "a couple of days ago". (Meaning, if 4 months is "a
couple of days ago" to you, you may be SOL, as well as loony ;)

I received it 4 days ago :-)

The sound problem sometimes shows up during playback only, sometimes
during LiveTV and sometimes both (meaning I hear it live and then
afterwards, when I play back the recording)

Just tonight (while monitoring this newsgroup) I watched (or tried to) 4
recorded shows, 3 of which had partially bad sound. Just imagine how
friggin annoying it is to watch a show 2/3 and then have bad sound
getting so bad that you just end up deleting the show and not watching
it to the end.

It's a refurbished one by the way - I thought it would be OK since they
give you full warranty on the refurbished device.

I called customer service once - not sure if I want to do that again.
The guy was like "uh...uh...eh.....hmmm...uh....you gotta....eh...go
to...ehhh....a friends place....um....to set it up.....aehh....".

I though, just write it on your web site - this device does not work
well with VoIP lines. If I would have decided to get one after all, I
would have at least known about it and wouldn't get all frustrated.

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 20:51:47 -0500, Torsten Brasch
wrote:

Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:39:02 -0500, Sean wrote:


Tivo is one sorry ass product.


Just in case you didn't know, Torsten and/or Skeeve, Sean is just a troll.
It's safe to ignore it.

Tought so ;-) Anyway - if I can't get my sound to work, the product is
basically useless.


Sounds like you're a troll too.

Sean

Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 23:11:46 -0500, Torsten Brasch wrote:


It's a refurbished one by the way - I thought it would be OK since they
give you full warranty on the refurbished device.


Yes. The warranty tells you that if a problem slips through, they'll fix
it. I'd request a replacement.


I called customer service once - not sure if I want to do that again.
The guy was like "uh...uh...eh.....hmmm...uh....you gotta....eh...go
to...ehhh....a friends place....um....to set it up.....aehh....".


Well, the guy doesn't sound very eloquent, I'll give you that ;)

It seems to me, though, like you got a bad unit. I'd say having it
replaced is worth another call.


I though, just write it on your web site - this device does not work
well with VoIP lines. If I would have decided to get one after all, I
would have at least known about it and wouldn't get all frustrated.


Don't they?

Let's see...

First reference I found:
http://www.tivo.com/1.3.asp
The page title is "What do you need?" One item listed is a "standard phone
line". That may not be explicit enough, but it seems pretty clear to me.
Do you consider what Vonage provides a 'standard phone line'?

Well... looking at it, I suppose TiVo really ought to just say outright
that Vonage isn't supported, but I can't say that it's really a problem
that they don't already.

You might be right - im my excitement about getting a TiVo, I may have
just thought that a "standard" phone is not a cell/satellit/whatever
phone but one where you can plug in a "standard" phone and use it ;-)

"Torsten Brasch" wrote in message
...
Lenroc wrote:
On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 12:43:25 -0500, Torsten Brasch wrote:


It's with both LiveTV and recorded programs. However, last night, I was
recording a show while watching it and the sound was fine - today, when I
played the recorded show, the sound was broken.


You mentioned in your OP that you just bought the unit from TiVo.com. Did
you buy refurbished or new?

SNIP


Just tonight (while monitoring this newsgroup) I watched (or tried to) 4
recorded shows, 3 of which had partially bad sound. Just imagine how
friggin annoying it is to watch a show 2/3 and then have bad sound getting
so bad that you just end up deleting the show and not watching it to the
end.

SNIP

Try this site http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/

There was a discussion a while back about garbled audio. I had noticed it
too in the beginning, although it seems to have gone away as I haven't had
the problem in a few months. There was a theory that it had to do with the
audio feed from the cable company. Are you using cable or over the air
broadcasts? For me it seemed to happen on HD channels every now and then. I
know with my cable box (a Comcast Motorola device) there are some settings
for audio regarding the amount of compression. The effect of this is that
depending on how I set the compression (lite, moderate or heavy) it has an
impact on the loudness of the audio. You might also double check your audio
connections. Are you using RCA inputs or just the co-ax feed (assuming
you're using cable)?

Hope this gives you some ideas
Cheers
TC

Tony Clark wrote:
"Torsten Brasch" wrote in message
...

Lenroc wrote:

On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 12:43:25 -0500, Torsten Brasch wrote:



It's with both LiveTV and recorded programs. However, last night, I was
recording a show while watching it and the sound was fine - today, when I
played the recorded show, the sound was broken.


You mentioned in your OP that you just bought the unit from TiVo.com. Did
you buy refurbished or new?


SNIP


Just tonight (while monitoring this newsgroup) I watched (or tried to) 4
recorded shows, 3 of which had partially bad sound. Just imagine how
friggin annoying it is to watch a show 2/3 and then have bad sound getting
so bad that you just end up deleting the show and not watching it to the
end.


SNIP

Try this site http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/

There was a discussion a while back about garbled audio. I had noticed it
too in the beginning, although it seems to have gone away as I haven't had
the problem in a few months. There was a theory that it had to do with the
audio feed from the cable company. Are you using cable or over the air
broadcasts? For me it seemed to happen on HD channels every now and then. I
know with my cable box (a Comcast Motorola device) there are some settings
for audio regarding the amount of compression. The effect of this is that
depending on how I set the compression (lite, moderate or heavy) it has an
impact on the loudness of the audio. You might also double check your audio
connections. Are you using RCA inputs or just the co-ax feed (assuming
you're using cable)?

Hope this gives you some ideas
Cheers
TC


Thanks for this information - I took a closer look at my cable box's
settings (Motorola). I have found some settings regarding the sound, one
of which was a setting to set the volume to "optimal stereo", it kind of
hardcodes the volume which is fine because I have the whole thing hooked
up to a receiver. Somewhere else I read that if the volume of the cable
box is too high or too low, it might influence the sound quality on the
TiVo. THe sound on my Motorola was also set to some "special" format. I
can't look it up right now since my TiVo is recording.
So I set those settings to "normal". Let's see if that helps. I'll keep
you posted.

Try this site http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/

There was a discussion a while back about garbled audio. I had noticed
it too in the beginning, although it seems to have gone away as I
haven't had the problem in a few months. There was a theory that it
had to do with the audio feed from the cable company. Are you using
cable or over the air broadcasts? For me it seemed to happen on HD
channels every now and then. I know with my cable box (a Comcast
Motorola device) there are some settings for audio regarding the
amount of compression. The effect of this is that depending on how I
set the compression (lite, moderate or heavy) it has an impact on the
loudness of the audio. You might also double check your audio
connections. Are you using RCA inputs or just the co-ax feed (assuming
you're using cable)?

Hope this gives you some ideas
Cheers
TC


Thanks for this information - I took a closer look at my cable box's
settings (Motorola). I have found some settings regarding the sound, one
of which was a setting to set the volume to "optimal stereo", it kind of
hardcodes the volume which is fine because I have the whole thing hooked
up to a receiver. Somewhere else I read that if the volume of the cable
box is too high or too low, it might influence the sound quality on the
TiVo. THe sound on my Motorola was also set to some "special" format. I
can't look it up right now since my TiVo is recording.
So I set those settings to "normal". Let's see if that helps. I'll keep
you posted.

It is still working without the weird sound - I'll monitor it another
couple of days or so and then post my exact Motorola cable box settings
here.