Make my TiVo and cable box play together

July 3, 2006 10:55 AM

TiVoFilter. Why won't my TiVo play nice with the cable box?

I have my TiVo hooked up with my cable box and DVD recorder. I followed the TiVo instructions, and for the first week it seemed to work fine.

Now, when the TiVo records something on a channel above 15, the TiVo will go to that channel. In a few seconds, the cable box will switch channels, usually one or two up or down.

The TiVo doesn't seem to realize the channel has been changed, and continues to record what it thinks is the correct program. The cable box knows what channel it is really on, and the cable box remote/display shows the actual channel.

This only happens on the extended channels. 1-13 seem to record without incident.

This is starting to make me CRAZY. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get them to communicate.

posted by Sheppagus to technology (7 comments total)

Are you using an IR blaster or the serial connection to get the cable box to change channels?
posted by FreezBoy at 11:04 AM on July 3, 2006

I'd check to make sure you've got the correct settings for "do I press after entering a channel change?"
posted by nomisxid at 11:09 AM on July 3, 2006

Have you tried TiVo's troubleshooting system on the actual TiVo? That always fixed it for us.
posted by agregoli at 11:14 AM on July 3, 2006

I'm using the serial cable.

The troubleshooting isn't any help because the TiVo isn't aware there is a problem. As far as it knows, it is recording the correct program.

I don't think it is a press enter after a channel change setting because this only happens with the higher channels. 1-13 display and record fine.
posted by Sheppagus at 11:58 AM on July 3, 2006

There may be some information for you here, especially the section titled "However, some people have erratic channel changing behavior using serial (changes to correct channel, then changes again)."
posted by FreezBoy at 12:16 PM on July 3, 2006

I should also mention that I've had the same thing happen to me before, but it only happens once in a great while. Try turning off the cable box with the serial cable unplugged and see if that may reset things.
posted by FreezBoy at 12:18 PM on July 3, 2006

Take the serial cable out of the picture.

Use the IR blaster and see if you still have the problem.
If you do, something is wrong with your tivo.

If you don't:
*The Serial Cable is Bad.
*The Cable box has issues with the instructions.

But seriously, setting up the IR blaster (while slower and more frustrating), ought to work right away.
posted by filmgeek at 2:46 AM on July 4, 2006