XfinityTV and Equipment

[bjala]

I have two PACE Digital Transport Adaptors for the bedroom and kitchen TV's. Over the course of the past 2 weeks each of the units have alternatively failed and given me the message "We've detected an interruption in your service. Please check the connections. If trouble persists, please call Comcast for support". I also have a Motorola High Definition cable box connected to our HD TV which continues to provide a good picture and signal. Periodically both units are out, but usually one unit is working while the other unit is out. It makes no difference if I move the units. In other words, the working unit will work in the other location, and the non-working unit will not work in the other location. Should I bring in both of the units and swap them out for new DTA's. Is anyone else experiencing a problem with these units. Both were brand new and installed when the analog signal was replaced with the digital signal.  

[JayInAlg · Accepted solution]

it is a low signal issue to those TV outlets.  The digital signals are carried across higher frequencies than the analog channels.  These higher frquencies have more loss and in homes with RG59 coax, old splitters not rated for 1000mhz and old F connectors end up with too much signal loss to the outlets.

To confirm the signals are brought up to the levels for dependable service, a tech visit is best.  You can also inspect your splitters that they are rated for 1000mhz.  Older homes with daisy chained wiring with splitters all over the place have these issues with low signal at the end of the line.  Modern installations now use home run cabling to one central point to keep signals levels in spec and are easier to troubleshoot.

As eac house is wired differently,  there is no one answer to get your signals corrected for a troublefree installation.  A tech visit or a through inspection or all the coax, fittings and splitters are needed.  Adding a drop amp in the right place in the house will many times get these levels up to spec.

[bjala]

Thanks for the info. I will arrange for a technician to inspect the splitter and cables. This was much more helpful than the several phones calls I placed when I reported the problem. I was alternatively told to unplug the units for 3 minutes, and then replug in, and then I was told that a new signal pulse would be sent and it would take up to 20 minutes to reset the unit.

On a related topic, I have been thinking about purchasing a a new HD LED TV. Since we have a Digital starter package, is there anyway to watch High Definition without having to purchase or rent a second digital decoder box? For example, is there a decoder card I can insert in the TV instead of a decoder box? 

[JayInAlg]

6 years ago the TV Mfr's did sell HDTV's with card slots to eliminate the cable box and use the TV's tuner on encoded channels.  They were more expensive, didn't sell well, and there were installation issues with the cable cards.

The only option for HD sets now is to rent a HD cable box or HD DVR from Comcast.  If your replacing a SD box, then the only cost is the HD technology fee that turns on the HD channels on all full HD cable boxes in the house.  Prices are around $10 for HD per month.  You can take a full SD box to the local Comcast location  to swap with a HD box.  You would the connect the HD box to your HDTV with a HDMI cable or component cables.  HDMI is mandatory for 3D TV's.

You also have an option to purchase at retail a Tivo Premier DVR and add a Comcast supplied cable card with a monthly fee.  Right now the Tivo's don't receive Comcast On Demand, but that is supposed to change.

[bjala]

Thanks again for your assistance.

[uric]

I have a similar problem that comes and goes.  It seems to be related sometimes to the deterioration of the outdoors connecting cable (between the Comcast tap-off, in the street, and the entrance to the house) effects reception in some of the digital converters and the internet cable modem as well... that means the problem resides on both low and high frequency channels.    

We have implemented a rather inexpansive solution to the need for numerous converters.... There is a triple tuner to LAN device living comfortably  in our closet this one uses one cable card (Comcast does not charge anything for the 1st "Cable card") and delivers all the comcast channels we subscribe to to any of the computers/laptops/portable computing devices in our house.... Limited to watching only three channels at the same time but... we are a small family... we manage....and the price is right.....by the way, the digital to LAN tuner rarely suffers from those annoying Comcast signal level issues!