Recently I've been having problems with my digital cable. I'm getting interruption a lot during watching digital channels. What happen is that I'll get a line across the screen and it lasts about 1 sec or 2. The line is made up of green boxes and other colours. In the last few days, it's even worst since I get more than just 1 line, also the entire screen will go black for few seconds. During the blackout, I can still get sound no problem. What do you think the problem is? All analog channels are working just fine though.
Cable technicans come so far 3 times but they couldn't figure it out what is happening. It's getting really annoying as it happens every 2 min. It used to happen maybe once a week and I can accept that, but not for every 2 min.

Any idea as to what might caused that would be greatly appreciated. Will I have the same problem if I switch to dish?


Simon Ngan

Simon,

How is your box connected to the TV? And have you changed that connection to eliminate a problem with the connector at your set?

I am betting it is just a lousy signal from the cable company.

review these forums for opinions on the sat. services.

I use dish network and have had one occurrence, during a thunderstorm which produced a tornado, where my signal cut out.

Mason,

I have had the digital box since summer of 2000 and it was working okay. I split the incoming signals into 2, one goes to the digital box, the other goes to the VCR1, VCR1 then goes to VCR2, VCR2 then goes to receiver for FM. The video out (S-Video) of the box goes directly to the TV and digital audio goes to receiver.

I have tried to connect the box from different outlets and eliminate the splitter, but it didn't change anything.

They're gonna come again next week and I really hope they can sort it out.

Thanks for your response.

The only other thing I can think of is to eliminate the splitter and if your TV and cable box both have composite video or RF connectors, use those and see if the picture continues to bite.

If so, the problem is either your box or just a lousy signal.

That gives me another idea. What kind of picture do you get if you bypass the cable box altogether and plug your cable feed directly into your TV?

Well Is your cable company AT&T and is your TV a Sony. That would explain it. Also tell us your brand of cable box.

Your problem is called pixelization. Let me try and describe what it is I think you are seeing. At times the image "breaks up" into square boxes ususally green in clor but, boxes of other colors exist as well. The picture becomes frozen or partially frozen like a slow foward on a dvd player picture..kind of frame/pause/frame. If that's what you got, nobody coming to your house is gonna fix it..not if they come out 100 times. That's digital cable. It's coming from the broadcast and the hardware. The DTV box you have is still not perfected..none of them seem to be, and the broadcast from the cable company downright sucks. How do I know? I had DTV and cancelled it after many picture lockups, freezes and pixelization. Had to reset the box by unplugging it, do diagnostic checks blah blah blah. Live with it or go back to analog cable, thats the only choice for now. One more thing..only certain DTV channels are in digital. These are the ones that will be affected. The local channels are in analog and should not be affected. If this is happening on only a few channels, I would venture to bet it isn't on your cbs, nbc or abc channels. Let us know! Cable doc

Thanks for the informaton. I tried to feed the cable directly to the TV and I get a perfect picture.

I was having a great reception before when I first got the box in the summer. Maybe it happened once or twice in a week. I haven't done anything inside the house as far as moving TV cables, adding/removing connections so the problem is gotta be somewhere outside the house.

My TV is a Sony but my cable company is Cgoeco (Ontario, Canada).

Dr Cable, you're right on about my problem. These few days were getting worst I actually got a blank screen (and last a few seconds) instead of just those annoying bars.

They're coming again on Tuesday, I'll see what they'll say about it. I have to have either Digital Cable or Dish. Reason is I need WPIX and KTLA channels (both WB) and they're only offered with Digital Cable or else I'll need a Sat.

What Sony TV do you have an what size is it? I have so many problems with digital cable and Sony big screens. This year and last years 43t70 and t75 had problems with digital cable yet other tube tvs in the houses were fine..

MY sony DSS receiver randomly and rarely starts pixelating the image in a way that sounds just like your problem, Simon.

The DSS signal is digital and compressed, just like the DTV signal is that comes over your cable. The decoder box takes that signal, uncompresses it, then sends it anolog as the image you see on your TV.

When my DSS receiver starts pixelating, my only cure is to unplug it (turning it off doesn't work) for about 10 minutes. When plugged back in and turned on, the problem has usually gone away. Don't try this for anything less than 10 minutes. Shorter times will not let the box reset itself. Make sure your box isn't dusty and that air can get thru and around it. Overheating can lead to the problems you are seeing.

Remember, your cable guys didn't make the box you are using. They won't necessarily know how it works internally. My "unplug it" advice came directly from Sony technical support.

Then again, the box could simply be failing. If you are "renting" the box from the cable company, have them bring another one. If the problem is the same with a second box, then it is probably in the signal (cable). If the second box has no problem, then the problem is in YOUR box. Make them give you a new one.

Hope that helps.

Dave

Eric, I used to have a 32" Sony 32V20, and now I have a 61V85. Both are displaying the same problem. I tried on other Sharp 21" TV and I get the same thing.

David, I haven't ried to unplug the box and hook it back more than 10 mins. However, at one time I had problem with one of the boxes and I did replace it. But it's still doing the same thing. I notice one is even worst than the other one (1st one will just randomly pixelating the image but the other one actually gives me a black screen for about a second or 2). I bought one box and renting another one, I'm going to check with the tech coming tomorrow and I'll probably get another again for the box that's giving me the black screen all the time.

Thanks again for all your help.

Two words..........."Dish Network!"

Just an update to all of you, I got a call this afternoon from the cable company and they told me the problem that I'm experiencing is not just me, it's everybody in my area. They're working on it and hopefully it'll be fixed soon.

If I go for dish, can I have just one dish and 4 receivers in the house?

yes

But do all the receivers have to have a special card, or does the card come pre-installed in the receiver, for no extra cost?

Mike,

With Dish Net, you buy the receivers and Dish charges five bucks a month for each additional receiver.

The card is in the receiver, but Dish gets the five bucks to make it work.