Subscription Required when changing channels

[JackatForum]

will do and will let you know.

Thanks

[JackatForum]

Did not help.

It seems that I can change to a SDV channel from a non-SDV OK but not from a SDV to a SDV

Code: Select all

Information From Ceton Card at: http://192.168.200.1 , Tuner Instance Used for measurement:0


Smallest Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

-2.5 dBmV 35.1 dB 129000 15 
-2.2 dBmV 35.8 dB 165000 7 
1.5 dBmV 36.2 dB 363000 56,145,159 
-0.2 dBmV 35.8 dB 375000 142,143 
1.3 dBmV 35.2 dB 387000 137 
2.5 dBmV 35.8 dB 399000 158 
0.1 dBmV 35.8 dB 429000 51,53,58 
2.8 dBmV 36.6 dB 453000 52 
0.9 dBmV 36.2 dB 459000 50 
1.6 dBmV 35.4 dB 531000 133,136 

Center Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

0.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 363000 56,145,159 
-0.2 dBmV 35.8 dB 375000 142,143 
-0.2 dBmV 35.4 dB 387000 137 
1.0 dBmV 35.8 dB 399000 158 
0.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 429000 51,53,58 
1.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 453000 52 
2.7 dBmV 36.0 dB 459000 50 
1.8 dBmV 35.2 dB 531000 133,136 
2.4 dBmV 35.8 dB 537000 141,194,197 
1.0 dBmV 35.6 dB 549000 198,199 
Largest Frequency Table

Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

1.0 dBmV 35.6 dB 453000 52 
1.1 dBmV 35.8 dB 459000 50 
1.5 dBmV 35.2 dB 531000 133,136 
2.1 dBmV 35.6 dB 537000 141,194,197 
1.0 dBmV 35.4 dB 549000 198,199 
1.7 dBmV 36.2 dB 555000 196 
0.4 dBmV 36.2 dB 567000 47,113 
1.0 dBmV 36.4 dB 573000 134 
-1.1 dBmV 35.4 dB 597000 62 
-1.0 dBmV 35.1 dB 633000 63,135 

Channel List count: 90

[JackatForum]

Looks like my postings are going not getting up to the forum.

Removed the amp, unplugged TA and put it back in, rebooted PC but it did not help.

It seems ike I can change from non-sdv to sdv but not SDV to SDV.

The below is just showing 90 channels not the 219 I had before????

Code: Select all

Information From Ceton Card at: http://192.168.200.1 , Tuner Instance Used for measurement:0


Smallest Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

-2.5 dBmV 35.1 dB 129000 15 
-2.2 dBmV 35.8 dB 165000 7 
1.5 dBmV 36.2 dB 363000 56,145,159 
-0.2 dBmV 35.8 dB 375000 142,143 
1.3 dBmV 35.2 dB 387000 137 
2.5 dBmV 35.8 dB 399000 158 
0.1 dBmV 35.8 dB 429000 51,53,58 
2.8 dBmV 36.6 dB 453000 52 
0.9 dBmV 36.2 dB 459000 50 
1.6 dBmV 35.4 dB 531000 133,136 

Center Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

0.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 363000 56,145,159 
-0.2 dBmV 35.8 dB 375000 142,143 
-0.2 dBmV 35.4 dB 387000 137 
1.0 dBmV 35.8 dB 399000 158 
0.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 429000 51,53,58 
1.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 453000 52 
2.7 dBmV 36.0 dB 459000 50 
1.8 dBmV 35.2 dB 531000 133,136 
2.4 dBmV 35.8 dB 537000 141,194,197 
1.0 dBmV 35.6 dB 549000 198,199 
Largest Frequency Table

Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

1.0 dBmV 35.6 dB 453000 52 
1.1 dBmV 35.8 dB 459000 50 
1.5 dBmV 35.2 dB 531000 133,136 
2.1 dBmV 35.6 dB 537000 141,194,197 
1.0 dBmV 35.4 dB 549000 198,199 
1.7 dBmV 36.2 dB 555000 196 
0.4 dBmV 36.2 dB 567000 47,113 
1.0 dBmV 36.4 dB 573000 134 
-1.1 dBmV 35.4 dB 597000 62 
-1.0 dBmV 35.1 dB 633000 63,135 

Channel List count: 90

[barnabas1969]

I'm not sure what you mean about unplugging the TA. Do you mean that you unplugged the power cable from the TA? If so, did you allow it to finish booting (the LED should be on solid) before you ran the script?

Your signals on the tuner look great now. Can you check the FDC signal strength ("Level") and S/N, and also the RDC "Power"? Do this with the amplifier disconnected and out of the system.

You've gotta understand that the tuner signals AND the TA signals BOTH need to be correct. You didn't post the TA signals when you removed the amp.

[JackatForum]

I understand but it is difficult to know where these are.

TA was unpluged from power, yes TA was booted, AMP out of the system.

I just found out that the AMP was just connected to the TA.

I have a great deal of difficulty finding these values in the Diag Map. Are there any shortcuts?
I have to go through each link, each page until I see what I think you want.

CURRENT FDC
Level: -9 dBmV
S/N: 30 dB

CURRENT RDC
Power: 28 dBmV
Retrans: 3

[barnabas1969]

No, there are no shortcuts. Unfortunately, they are all on different pages. You can save them as bookmarks in your browser to make them easier to find in the future.

I do not believe that your amp was only connected to the TA. Your signal strength on your tuner was much too high until you removed the amp. Now, with the amp removed, your tuner signals look great. However, your TA's FDC signal now looks a little poor. Negative 9 dB is on the borderline, and would be OK if your S/N was higher. But your S/N is pretty near the lower spec too. When you have weak signal and a poor S/N, then you may have some problems. When you removed the amp, it affected both the TA's and the tuner's signals. It was obviously connected to both.

Please describe how the TA and the tuner are connected. Are they connected to the same splitter, or do you have separate cable runs all the way from outside for the TA and the tuner? What brand and model is the splitter? Is each output on the splitter labeled with something like "3.5dB" or "7dB"? Please list those numbers, and tell me which one is for the TA, and which is for the tuner.

Also, are any of the cables in the path from outside your house to the TA and tuner home-made? Are they all RG6, and NONE are RG59 or RG59U? Are all the connections tight? Make sure to tighten them with a small wrench or a pair of pliers, not with your fingers.

[JackatForum]

We live in a high rise condo (23 floors, apx 200 units). From the cable entry it is split in the wall from room to room at the cable box. I do not know the splitters info in the walls. We are on the 16th fl (actually 15th there is no 13th). I do not know about the cables in the walls or in the building. The building is about 25 years old. I cannot check or tighten them.

The cable from the wall is split (Splitter is a CommScope SV-2G both outputs are 3.5.). 1 to the BHN DVR box and 1 to the AMP. From AMP to the TA. Yes, the TA goes to the InfiniTV. USB also connnected.

I have seen FDC drop to -10 frequently. The symphoms have changed a little. I can now change from SDV to SDV more frequently without the problem but is it is still occurring frequently but not as often.

[barnabas1969]

OK, thanks for the description. I understand your problem a little better now.

Can you tell me the model number of the amplifier? With that information, I will be able to tell you exactly what to do to get the best signal to your BHN DVR, the TA, and the InfiniTV. I need the amplifier model so I know how much it amplifies the signal.

[JackatForum]

pct-ma2-m multi media drop amp. 15db gain forward

BHN said that their DVR signal should not be boosted.

Thanks

[barnabas1969]

I would recommend getting a good quality 3-way splitter (NOT one of the ones from WalMart or Radio Shack!) like one of the ones listed below. My first choice would be the Antronix one from eBay, but if you don't want to wait for shipping, then you could get the other one at your local Home Depot.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-WAY-ANTRONIX- ... 35c638a141
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-5-MHz- ... ZOh6rWG2So

Then:

1) Connect the input to the amplifier to the wall, and obviously, also connect the power adapter to the amplifier's power input.
2) Connect one output from your amplifier to the input of the 3-way splitter.
3) Connect the -7dB output from the 3-way splitter (or the -8dB on the Ideal splitter from Home Depot) to your Tuning Adapter. You will not use the coax output from the TA. Don't connect anything to it, just leave it open.
4) Connect the other -7dB output from the 3-way splitter to your cable box. I don't believe the cable guy. Just trust me.
5) Connect the -3.5dB output from the 3-way splitter (or the -4dB if you use the Ideal splitter) to your InfiniTV tuner.

Tighten all the connections with a wrench or pliers.

After doing that, post your results for both the TA's FDC/RDC values, and also the output from the Ceton Signals script.

[barnabas1969]

Edited my post above to include connecting the amplifier's input to the wall jack.

[JackatForum]

So you are saying in essense:
1. The Splitter may be a problem and we should get a 3 way not a 2 way.
2. The amp should also be applied to the all the devices even though BHN says the signal to their DVR box should not be increased. Since BHN has not make it work so far I guess I have to trust you:-)
3. Not to connect the coax output from the TA to the infinity. This was in the Infinitv doc so I should not trust them either:-(

It will take me a few days to get a splitter. I need to go to Home Depot or Lowes anyway this weekend.

Does it make any sense to do part of this now?
Can you explain your reasoning? I guess the TA signals need the AMP but the AMP is giving too much???

[barnabas1969]

So you are saying in essense:
1. The Splitter may be a problem and we should get a 3 way not a 2 way.
2. The amp should also be applied to the all the devices even though BHN says the signal to their DVR box should not be increased. Since BHN has not make it work so far I guess I have to trust you:-)
3. Not to connect the coax output from the TA to the infinity. This was in the Infinitv doc so I should not trust them either:-(

It will take me a few days to get a splitter. I need to go to Home Depot or Lowes anyway this weekend.

Does it make any sense to do part of this now?
Can you explain your reasoning? I guess the TA signals need the AMP but the AMP is giving too much???

1 - No, the splitter is not the problem. The problem is that you're amplifying the signal AFTER the splitter. An amplifier should be connected as close to where the signals come into the building as possible. It's been a long time since I lived in an apartment, and I've never lived in a high-rise building... but if memory serves me, there should be a splitter in a wall behind a blank wall plate (or possibly in a utility closet near your breaker box) somewhere in the apartment. There should be one cable serving your entire apartment/condo, and then each room is served from that splitter (assuming that you have cable outlets in more than one room). The absolute best option would be to install the amplifier before that splitter. But, if you can't find that splitter, then your best option is to install it right at the wall jack.

2 - See #1. If you do what I advised, and the BHN box has any problems, you can always install a signal attenuator like this one between the splitter and the cable box.

3 - Correct. Actually, Ceton used to advise NOT to connect the InfiniTV to the output of the TA. Now, their instruction guide says that you can do it either way (see page 4 of the full installation instructions in the link I provided). The problem you're having is that the signal needs to be amplified for both the TA and the tuner. But the TA is amplifying the signal, and so is the amplifier. So, the tuner is getting signals that are being amplified twice (when you connect it like this: amplifier -> TA -> tuner).

It appears, from your measurements, that you are getting about -6.5dB out of your wall jack. The 2-way splitter is attenuating it another 3.5dB, so the way you had it wired before, the amplifier was getting -10dB on the input of the amp (-6.5dB + -3.5dB = -10dB). Then, the amplifier was adding 15dB, which sent +5dB to your TA (-10 + 15 = +5). Then, your TA was boosting it another 10dB (or more), giving your tuner +15dB, which is higher than Ceton says to drive it (they say +/-10dB).

If you connect it the way I recommended, you'll be starting with -6.5dB at the wall jack. The amplifier will boost it 15dB, resulting in +8.5dB. Then, the 3-way splitter will attenuate it 7dB (on two outputs) and 3.5dB (on one output). This will give you +1.5dB on two of the outputs, and +5dB on one output. The reason I said to connect the InfiniTV tuner to the 3.5dB output of the three-way splitter is because the InfiniTV has an internal 4-way splitter... so it needs a little stronger signal than the cable box and TA need.

Does that all make sense now?

[barnabas1969]

Oh, and one more thing... I prefer the Antronix splitter that I linked to in post # 30 above. But if you go shopping for one at Best Buy, Lowe's or Home Depot, make sure to find one that is rated for at least 1GHz (higher is OK but not required) and make sure the back of the splitter is soldered all the way around. There should be no crack around the metal plate on the back of the splitter. This generally means to avoid the RCA branded splitters.

[foxwood]

3. Not to connect the coax output from the TA to the infinity. This was in the Infinitv doc so I should not trust them either:-(

The Detailed Installation Guide http://www.cetoncorp.com/documents/Infi ... e_v1_4.pdf clearly describes 2 options - connecting the output from the TA to the InfinTV, or using a splitter to feed both the TA and the Tuner "in parallel".

[barnabas1969]

3. Not to connect the coax output from the TA to the infinity. This was in the Infinitv doc so I should not trust them either:-(

The Detailed Installation Guide http://www.cetoncorp.com/documents/Infi ... e_v1_4.pdf clearly describes 2 options - connecting the output from the TA to the InfinTV, or using a splitter to feed both the TA and the Tuner "in parallel".

Yep. See my 3rd point in post #33.

[JackatForum]

Worse than before

Did what you said. Installed IDeal 3 way splitter. Hooked up as you stated. TA Coax out is disconnected.
Still getting Subscription Required on switch channels i.e. 1148/1149 (Sun sports) frequently but now also getting Service is unavailable on multiple channels.

FDC
Level: 1 dBmV
S/N: 31 dB

CURRENT QAM
Level: 14 dBmV
S/N: 38 dB

CURRENT RDC
Power: 31 dBmV

The Ceton Device tab all green. The CableCard tab can no longer can display the the pairing info. This started after removing the Amp days ago.
It also says that it has 90 channels but use to say 219 I believe. I donot remember where I see this.

Everything seems to be running slower. I.e keystrokes, etc.

Code: Select all

Information From Ceton Card at: http://192.168.200.1 , Tuner Instance Used for measurement:0


Smallest Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

7.7 dBmV 23.0 dB 93000 720,721 
9.0 dBmV 23.4 dB 99000 724,725 
8.9 dBmV 13.3 dB 105000 728,729 
-11.5 dBmV 11.9 dB 111000 732,733 
11.1 dBmV 36.0 dB 129000 15 
9.5 dBmV 36.2 dB 165000 7,196,244,248,249,260,470,895 
10.3 dBmV 36.0 dB 279000 1127,1237 
12.1 dBmV 36.2 dB 363000 56,145,159,1122,1215 
11.6 dBmV 36.0 dB 375000 142,143,1295,1359 
11.0 dBmV 36.0 dB 381000 409,410,415,418,423,434,436,437,440,441,1214,1283 

Center Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

12.3 dBmV 36.6 dB 363000 56,145,159,1122,1215 
12.9 dBmV 36.2 dB 375000 142,143,1295,1359 
11.1 dBmV 35.8 dB 381000 409,410,415,418,423,434,436,437,440,441,1214,1283 
11.5 dBmV 35.4 dB 387000 137,1128,1239 
13.6 dBmV 36.0 dB 393000 1236,1242,1645 
12.7 dBmV 35.8 dB 399000 158,1238,1286 
11.9 dBmV 36.4 dB 429000 51,53,58 
13.4 dBmV 36.4 dB 453000 52,402,403,412,413,414,416,419,420,421,426,427,428,435,1259,1267 
12.7 dBmV 36.4 dB 459000 50,1255,1256 
13.4 dBmV 35.8 dB 525000 1121,1260 
Largest Frequency Table

Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

14.7 dBmV 36.0 dB 549000 198,199,459,460,1050 
14.4 dBmV 36.2 dB 555000 463,471,472,473,908,1024,1060 
15.4 dBmV 36.0 dB 561000 466,469,1080,1090 
13.3 dBmV 36.2 dB 567000 47,113,468,1013,1020,1213 
13.1 dBmV 36.2 dB 573000 134 
12.9 dBmV 36.4 dB 579000 1018,1065,1901 
12.1 dBmV 36.0 dB 597000 62,338,465,765,902,1027,1035 
10.6 dBmV 35.6 dB 603000 1016,1903 
11.4 dBmV 35.8 dB 633000 63,135,917,918,923 
10.9 dBmV 33.8 dB 777000 455,456,457,458 

Channel List count: 219

[barnabas1969]

There are other posts in a couple of different threads where people are not able to see the CableCARD pairing info in the Ceton diagnostic. Apparently, the cable companies are pushing a new firmware to the CableCARDS, and the Ceton diagnostic cannot retrieve the pairing info. This does not affect the functionality of the tuner, and there will be a new version of the Ceton drivers/software coming out soon to fix this.

Your signal strengths are still a little high. Try connecting the Ceton tuner to the 8dB output of the splitter, and connect the TA to the 4dB output of the splitter.

How's your cable box working?

[JackatForum]

Cable TV working was working ok.

The pairing display stopped working immediately after removing the amp that BHN put in. I doubt that it is a firmware issue. That was how we got the pairing info to pair when we call BHN to pair them. Now where do we get it from?

Swapped the cables as you stated. Cable TV OK, but InfiniTV switched channels still don't work all the time. Started with more Channel is Unavailables on switched channels or a black screen then after a few mins of changing changes get more Subscription Required. Going from non-switched to switched seems to work still.

If it is all signal levels then why does the switched channels work going from non-switched.???

Code: Select all

CURRENT FDC
Level: 4 dBmV
S/N: 30 dB

CURRENT QAM
Level: 15 dBmV
S/N: 37 dB

CURRENT RDC
Power: 28 dBmV

Information From Ceton Card at: http://192.168.200.1 , Tuner Instance Used for measurement:0


Smallest Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

4.2 dBmV 15.8 dB 93000 720,721 
4.4 dBmV 13.8 dB 99000 724,725 
5.6 dBmV 22.4 dB 105000 728,729 
-16.0 dBmV 14.9 dB 111000 732,733 
6.7 dBmV 36.2 dB 129000 15 
5.5 dBmV 36.4 dB 165000 7,196,244,248,249,260,470,895 
6.5 dBmV 36.2 dB 279000 1127,1237 
7.9 dBmV 36.4 dB 363000 56,145,159,1122,1215 
7.6 dBmV 35.8 dB 375000 142,143,1295,1359 
7.5 dBmV 36.0 dB 381000 409,410,415,418,423,434,436,437,440,441,1214,1283 

Center Frequency Table


Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

7.8 dBmV 36.6 dB 363000 56,145,159,1122,1215 
7.7 dBmV 36.0 dB 375000 142,143,1295,1359 
7.8 dBmV 36.0 dB 381000 409,410,415,418,423,434,436,437,440,441,1214,1283 
8.0 dBmV 35.8 dB 387000 137,1128,1239 
8.5 dBmV 35.8 dB 393000 1236,1242,1645 
9.0 dBmV 36.0 dB 399000 158,1238,1286 
8.4 dBmV 36.2 dB 429000 51,53,58 
8.8 dBmV 36.2 dB 453000 52,402,403,412,413,414,416,419,420,421,426,427,428,435,1259,1267 
9.3 dBmV 36.6 dB 459000 50,1255,1256 
9.2 dBmV 35.6 dB 525000 1121,1260 
Largest Frequency Table

Signal

SNR

Frequency

channel#,channel#,...

10.0 dBmV 36.0 dB 549000 198,199,459,460,1050 
10.4 dBmV 36.2 dB 555000 463,471,472,473,908,1024,1060 
11.5 dBmV 36.2 dB 561000 466,469,1080,1090 
9.4 dBmV 36.2 dB 567000 47,113,468,1013,1020,1213 
10.6 dBmV 36.6 dB 573000 134 
10.5 dBmV 36.6 dB 579000 1018,1065,1901 
8.6 dBmV 36.0 dB 597000 62,338,465,765,902,1027,1035 
7.0 dBmV 36.2 dB 603000 1016,1903 
8.9 dBmV 35.8 dB 633000 63,135,917,918,923 
6.7 dBmV 34.0 dB 777000 455,456,457,458 

Channel List count: 219

[barnabas1969]

Your signals look mostly OK. Some of the higher frequencies are a little higher than 10dB, but that's probably OK. To be honest, there are only two things I can recommend at this point:

1) install a signal attenuator like this one between the splitter and the InfiniTV tuner.
2) Open a support ticket with Ceton to see if they can help you.