Hi guys,

I have been experiencing some wierd vodoo like anomalies with an existing Tivo in a customers system. The analog audio coming out of the Tivo is crackly, and cuts in and out. I have troubleshooted the hell out of this thing and it's NOT the receiver, cables, power center, or circuit. It also makes the noise when there is nothing plugged into the Tivo input section. Thats right, only composite out to the receiver and the problem persists. Has anyone ever encounterd this problem in their travels, because I certainly have not. I have just never heard of, or seen a Tivo do what this Tivo appears to be doing. For this reason I am hesitant about telling my customer we need a new one; I just feel that it has to be something else, although I can't imagine what.

this may seem dumb - but is there an audio out connected to a tape/monitor out (assuming this is all hooked up to an AV amp...)?

just an idea...
Z...

Disconnect the incoming cable from the system and see if you still have the problem. I don't think this is a cable ground issue, but that is usually the first place I start due to the number of times I have found this to be the cause of my problems.

Matt

No audio cables from the TiVo to the A/V receiver and you get crackling? Diesel is onto something then. It sounds like the crackling is from some kind of intermittently connecting ground somewhere in the house, or heck, maybe even next door, and connecting the receiver to the TiVo to the cable input to the TiVo is bringing that garbage into your system.

Remember, a receiver does not amplify the signal that comes in on its (analog) cable, it amplifies the DIFFERENCE between what comes in on the ground and the hot lead, so if something comes in on the ground, it can be amplified. It could be that the video cable ground is connected in such a way as to inject this noise into the receiver.

By the way, some TiVo setups do not use the internal tuner of the TiVo, but you plug a cable box or satellite receiver's A/V output into the TiVo...so when you write "the TiVo input section," I don't know if you are referring to, literally, the TiVo's actual A/V input section, or the A/V receiver's input that you are connecting the TiVo to. I have written the above assuming that you mean the A/V receiver's input section, not literally what you wrote. (It is so hard to communicate this technical stuff because some phrases can mean more than one thing.)

But if you mean the TiVo's actual input section only has a video cable connected to it, well, then, there is still an audio cable connected from the TiVo to the A/V receiver, and the TiVo could be the source of the noise.

We had a problem with a series 2 Tivo that was somewhat similar to what you are describing. The problem only occurred when using both AV outputs at the same time. The Tivo was out of warranty so we fixed the problem by using a Xantech AV61 and only using one output.

Hi guys, I appreciate all the input. In response to diesels idea of disconnecting the incoming cable: As mentioned in my statement, the problem persists with nothing plugged into the "input section" on the Tivo at all, NO input whatsoever. I do still of course, have composite out going to the receiver, this is how I am able to hear the distortion I am talking about ( Ernie Bornn-Gilman ).

jmj52,
I am only using one of the composite outputs on the Tivo. The input is composite as well coming from the cable box. But again, I don't have to have anything plugged into the "input" at all and the distortion persists.

Ernie Bornn-Gilman,

You are correct; by saying "the Tivo input section", this could mean two things, both the input on the actual Tivo, and the A/V receiver input. I did fail to use the possessive "Tivo's". But if you'll notice I followed that sentence with, "Thats right, only composite out to the receiver and the problem persists." The combination of these two sentences can mean only one thing, that I have nothing plugged into the actual Tivo's input section, and only composite out of the Tivo to the receiver.

A few questions:


Is the distortion only occurring on the receiver input that the Tivo is plugged into?

If you change the receiver input for the Tivo does it still occur?

If you connect another component to where the Tivo is currently plugged in, does the distortion continue?

jmj52,

Is the distortion only occurring on the receiver input that the Tivo is plugged into?

If you change the receiver input for the Tivo does it still occur?

No, I also plugged the Tivo into the front input on the Integra amp and I still got the same distortion.

If you connect another component to where the Tivo is currently plugged in, does the distortion continue?

Yes, I connected the cable box directly to the amp using the same at first, then different analog cables and the distortion went away. I was definitely thinking like you, however ever reluctantly that it might be the analog inputs on the Integra receiver. There was none, though, with the cable box direct in, same input.

jmj52,

Wait, I meant NO as an answer to your third question. Didn't mean to confuse you. No, the cable box direct to the same input does not cause distortion.

Thanks.

So you are saying that the only cables connected between the Tivo and the receiver are analog audio cables?

If so, I would trade it for a model with optical audio if you can. That will solve the problem and it might save you time.

Please follow up if you on how you solved the problem.

This message was edited by currentsupply on 04/28/05 02:19 ET.

Short of there being a problem with the wires I'm bettin on a Tivo service issue.

Defective Tivo! That is my guess.

H.B.