DVR & Cable Box!

[FPM]

I need help. I own a Liteon DVR with 160GB drive which was running OK until
yesterday when Comcast brought a Cable Box and connected it to DVR and TV.
I can record the channel I am watching but can not record one while watching
another. I noticed that the only channel that works on my DVR now is
channel 3. When I try to scan for channels, it won't pick it up. When I
called Comcast they say it is my DVR, but I know if I remove the cable box
it works fine. Any ideas???

[RobertVA]

Post by FPM
I need help. I own a Liteon DVR with 160GB drive which was running OK until
yesterday when Comcast brought a Cable Box and connected it to DVR and TV.
I can record the channel I am watching but can not record one while watching
another. I noticed that the only channel that works on my DVR now is
channel 3. When I try to scan for channels, it won't pick it up. When I
called Comcast they say it is my DVR, but I know if I remove the cable box
it works fine. Any ideas???

Yes.

Your DVR was connected directly to the cable system.

Now it's connected through the cable box. Cable box outputs usually only
have the lone channel the box is tuned to on them. This lone channel is
usually shifted to a low VHF frequency like channel 3 (some can use
channel 4 as an alternate).

Choice 1:

Use a splitter to connect the cable from the wall to the DVR and the
cable box. This will allow the DVR to tune whatever signal types it is
designed to receive. Note that this will NOT allow the DVR to record
analog premium channels, analog pay per view, or encrypted digital channels.

Choice 2:

Use a splitter to feed signals to the cable box and the TV. Feed the
cable box output to the DVR. This will allow you to record premium
channels, pay per view and encrypted channels, but you will only be able
to view a different channel on the TV if it is NOT a premium channel,
pay per view or encrypted digital channel.

Choice 3:

See if your cable provider rents DVRs to customers which will allow you
to watch one channel while recording another.

[minerva]

Post by FPM
I need help. I own a Liteon DVR with 160GB drive which was running OK until
yesterday when Comcast brought a Cable Box and connected it to DVR and TV.
I can record the channel I am watching but can not record one while watching
another. I noticed that the only channel that works on my DVR now is
channel 3. When I try to scan for channels, it won't pick it up. When I
called Comcast they say it is my DVR, but I know if I remove the cable box
it works fine. Any ideas???

I connect the cable coming in from the outside (via wall outlet) to the
back of my dvd-vcr-recorder/player (mine does not record dvd), and a
connecting cable from the back of the dvd to the back of the tv screen.
To record a channel that is not on the digital network, i tune the tv
to channel 3 and the vcr/dvd to any channel i want to record, set the
menu and program the recording. when that is programmed, the machine
goes into the waiting to record mode, and automatically turns the
watching part back to the tv on which i can then watch any station while
the vcr is recording. The trick is to know on which connector to attach
the cable wire and on which to attach the connecting cord that goes from
the tv to the vcr/dvd. It varies depending on the brand and type. When
I want to watch the digital channels via the cable box, which is not too
often, i disconnect the cords from the back of the vcr/dvd and connect
them to the cable box. The cable box came with many other connecting
cords so that a techie should probably know how to connect up all three,
but there are so many of them, it is easier to disconnect the box and
reconnect it when i need it. Sorry, i do not know how to record the
special channels that come in via the digital box. But if you just want
to record from the regular comcast analog channels, you can do it the
way i describe.
Eventually, though, all the channels will move to digital in 2009 and
most will need a cable box to bring in any channels, so eventually,
users will have to figure out how to connect them all in order to record.
Also, my experience with comcast is that the answers you get depend on
who you talk to. I was very unhappy about a problem until I finally got
someone to solve a problem i had. I did not know there was a good
answer to solve my problem until i got the right person on the phone,
but before that was getting all kinds of wrong answers from others at
their customer service. Perhaps you can get someone who can give you
directions over the phone, if you keep calling back.
Unfortunately, i think they charge if they have to come out to your
residence. You should ask first.

[OldGoat]

Dear FPM,

Comcast is full of morons and you have about a 75% chance of one coming to
your house.
Find the feed line that feeds the box they installed, usually marked with
"cable in" on the back of the box. Hook it up to the "cable in" on your DVR.
If you watched the DVR through channel 3, or one of the "AuX" channels on
your TV, turn it to that channel. You should be able to see your DVR menu
from there. Tell it to auto program the channels. This will allow the DVR to
see all the channels available, and lock them in.
Once your DVR is programmed, put the wires back where they were (the one
from the wallplate or hole in to the room, goes to the cable box's "in" ;
the one hanging off the cable box, goes back to the TV (there may be several
places to put it- it's got to be an empty one, which will eliminate some
choices off the bat. Label with tape if you need to) and all should be back
as before.
This is nothing but shoddy installation practice and falls squarely on the
shoulders of the technician who came to your home. Somewhere on the
workorder if they bothered to leave you a copy, his tech number should be
available. Call, complain, even about their alleged customer service and
support) It may be worth a free month of cable service, or more likely a few
months of free pay channels, since that really costs them nothing and may
hook you in to a higher level of service. Be sure if they comp you for their
incompetence, you cancel any goodies offered in compensation as they will
conveniently begin billing you for those service at 12:01 am the day the
"apology" expires.
Do not over tighten any connectors. Do not under tighten them. Odds are your
visitor did one, the other, or both. Fingertight with a 1/8th turn from a
(usually 7/16 size) wrench.

A certified old fossil of a CATV installation supervisor--og
--
Be Sure to Check Out the PAYNE HERTZ blog, for people with chronic pain, by
people with chronic pain.
join in at: http://paynehertz.blogspot.com

Post by FPM
I need help. I own a Liteon DVR with 160GB drive which was running OK
until yesterday when Comcast brought a Cable Box and connected it to DVR
and TV. I can record the channel I am watching but can not record one while
watching another. I noticed that the only channel that works on my DVR now
is channel 3. When I try to scan for channels, it won't pick it up. When I
called Comcast they say it is my DVR, but I know if I remove the cable box
it works fine. Any ideas???