TiVo can't change channels

My TiVo system suddenly started acting like it can't locate channels.

It's a fairly new (3 months) TiVo-2 connected to Comcast cable. It's
worked perfectly until last week. I swear I haven't touched anything
but the remote.

The symptoms a

1. No matter what channel I select, the cable box always shows channel
42.

2. TiVo seems to think it's on different channels, because it displays
the correct show information, but the scheen is otherwise blank.

3. TiVo tried to record shows like it always has, but when I play them
back, they all have a fixed screen saying "This channel will be
available shortly".

4. We have another TV downstairs connected to cable and that one
works just fine, so I don;t think it's the cable.

Any ideas where I start troubleshooting?

Thanks

--
For email, use Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com

Top Spin shaped the electrons to say:
1. No matter what channel I select, the cable box always shows channel
42.

How are you controlling the cable box? Are you using the serial cable
or the IR blasters? And what model cable box is it?

If you're using the serial cable:

1. Comcast could've disabled the serial port on you, they do that.

2. It may never have worked like you thought. The TiVo has a built in
blaster in the front, behind the 'eye', and sometimes people think
they have the serial cable working when it is really reflected IR.
Then whatever was doing the reflecting stops doing it, and it stops
working.

Basically the TiVo is trying to change the channel on the cable box,
but the cable box isn't getting the notice. Make sure the IR blasters
are connected to the TiVo properly, and positioned in front of the IR
receiver on the cable box.

Also try the cable box remote - does that change the cable box
channels? If it does and the TiVo doesn't, you might need to try
another code after checking all the connections and alignment.

-MZ, RHCE #806199299900541, ex-CISSP #3762
--
URL:mailto:megazoneatmegazone.org Gweep, Discordian, Author, Engineer, me.
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men" 508-755-4098
URL:http://www.megazone.org/ URL:http://www.eyrie-productions.com/ Eris

On 21 May 2004 09:20:18 GMT, (MegaZone)
wrote:

Top Spin shaped the electrons to say:
1. No matter what channel I select, the cable box always shows channel
42.

How are you controlling the cable box? Are you using the serial cable
or the IR blasters?

It's controlled by the serial cable

And what model cable box is it?

It's a Motorola box. I don't see a model number anywhere. It was
installed about 6 months ago.

Based on some other posts here, I unplugged both the TiVo and cable
box for several minutes, then plugged them back in. After they came
back up, everything was working again. But about 4-5 minutes later,
while I was checking out the wishlists etc., both the TV and the cable
box powered off. The cable box came back on in a few seconds.

I seem to have gremlins.

--
For email, use Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com

On Fri, 21 May 2004 09:18:06 -0700, Top Spin
wrote:

And what model cable box is it?

It's a Motorola box. I don't see a model number anywhere. It was
installed about 6 months ago.

Mine is located on the bottom of the receiver, on a white sticker, if
it helps any.