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An unusual converter box problem

V

vchimpanzee

I don't have the patience to go searching for any DTV threads.

I have a Magnavox TB100MG9 which seems to do fine. I have another one which has cut off for no reason; it has the green light on, but every channel says "No Signal". I figured out the cure was to turn it off and turn it back on.

I had a perfect picture and no sound on the problem box last night. There were glitches but normally when the picture is perfect ther's also sound. I decided to try turning the box off and turning it back on. That worked.

It should be noted that when I did turn the box back on, although "American Dad" was on, it said "MLB Baseball" a the top of the screen. I wonder why that didn't get updated? The same thing happened with TiVo. I missed out on "Family Guy" and another "American Dad" as a result. I should have realized I should just start the VCR if the signal was actually working. TiVo did get "The Cleveland Show", at least the one at 7. Fortunately, I record whatever is on from 7 to 8, which usually means football this time of year; that gets deleted quickly.

All the shows were reruns, so most likely I saw them all.
 
Sounds like you may have a problem with the microcontroller or power supply - possibly due to overheating. Did you check both the box and the wall-cube to see if either is excessively hot? Take the top cover off and check the chips themselves (there are no lethal voltages inside a DTV converter box).

I'd rule out the tuner chip if the channels are being selected properly, although the microcontroller could also cause a problem there.
 
KeithE4 said:
Sounds like you may have a problem with the microcontroller or power supply - possibly due to overheating. Did you check both the box and the wall-cube to see if either is excessively hot? Take the top cover off and check the chips themselves (there are no lethal voltages inside a DTV converter box).

I'd rule out the tuner chip if the channels are being selected properly, although the microcontroller could also cause a problem there.
Click to expand...
I doubt this box would overheat as I hardly use it.
 
If you leave the box powered on for long periods of time it can overheat. Be careful that it has adequate ventilation and turn it off when not in use. Note that even in the 'off' position the box will remain quite warm.

As with any converter box that's having problems the first thing I would do is re-scan.
 
landtuna said:
If you leave the box powered on for long periods of time it can overheat. Be careful that it has adequate ventilation and turn it off when not in use. Note that even in the 'off' position the box will remain quite warm.

As with any converter box that's having problems the first thing I would do is re-scan.
Click to expand...
Oh, you mean just "on" in the sense the green light is on.

Well, I have to leave the boxes on or if I'm not at home it won't record shows. Or even if I am at home I might forget to turn it on.
 
vchimpanzee said:
Well, I have to leave the boxes on or if I'm not at home it won't record shows. Or even if I am at home I might forget to turn it on.
Click to expand...

If you are going to leave it powered on constantly then you should buy a small muffin fan and place on the top vent either drawing air out or blowing air in (make sure there are vents elsewhere on the unit. Or, just remove the case if possible. I wouldn't do that with children in the house but it sounds like you live alone so safety shouldn't be an issue.
 
landtuna said:
vchimpanzee said:
Well, I have to leave the boxes on or if I'm not at home it won't record shows. Or even if I am at home I might forget to turn it on.
Click to expand...

If you are going to leave it powered on constantly then you should buy a small muffin fan and place on the top vent either drawing air out or blowing air in (make sure there are vents elsewhere on the unit. Or, just remove the case if possible. I wouldn't do that with children in the house but it sounds like you live alone so safety shouldn't be an issue.
Click to expand...
Wall-E (the antenna) is on top of the box. Maybe that explains the problem.
 
vchimpanzee said:
It should be noted that when I did turn the box back on, although "American Dad" was on, it said "MLB Baseball" a the top of the screen.
Click to expand...

That was the case with all of the Fox programming on DirecTV Sunday Night. I guess they were absolutely
convinced there would be a Game 7 of the Yankees-Rangers series and nobody bothered to change the listing.
 
Sunday night would've been game 7 of the National League Championship Series between San Francisco and Philadelphia. TBS aired the other series.
 
FreddyE1977 said:
vchimpanzee said:
...although "American Dad" was on, it said "MLB Baseball" a the top of the screen.
Click to expand...

...I guess they were absolutely convinced there would be a Game 7 of the Yankees-Rangers series and nobody bothered to change the listing.
Click to expand...

Count me among the convinced (for both series, mind you)...
 
I've noticed that the info panel on OTA is frequently wrong and/or missing entirely if you hit the 'info' button yet if you go to the program schedule it is correct. Seems weird!
 
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