HD Reception Via a Cable Card
|
New member Username: Ezymny1Las Vegas, NV USA Post Number: 1 Registered: Nov-05 | I have a Sony 42" KDF42WE655 LCD wide screen TV with a cable card. I purchased my TV in October of 2004 and the operation of the set has been exceptional until we tried to add the new HD channels offered FREE from COX Cable. I 've received 5 local HD channels without a problem for the past year and they are still working well. In fact the HD reception is exceptional. Here's the problem I am unable to receive all the new HD channels. I am told by Cox Cable that I need a "Firmware Upgrade?" from Sony! I have a 5 year GE Service Warranty and I am waiting to be called by "Video Service Tech" to schedule a service call! Cox cable tried everything to get the new HD channels up and running, but no success. The new HD channels did come up for about 2 minutes, but disappeared never to be seen again! Cox cable even switched out my cable card for a new cable card, but nothing seemed to work. Does anyone have the same problem? Is there a simple fix that the cable company has not thought about? |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 503 Registered: Mar-05 | Howard, Have you contacted Sony to verify if what COX cable is telling is true? I don't work for COX, so I don't know how they handle things, but I can tell you that if you currently have a CC that is working and not giving you error codes, you should be able to receive any channels they offer. I don't know why you would need a firmware update to give you access to channels that your cable provider has added. It's quite possible what they are saying is true, I just can't confirm it, but Sony should be able to. |
|
New member Username: Ezymny1Las Vegas, NV USA Post Number: 2 Registered: Nov-05 | cableguy, Thanks for your input! I have talked to Sony several times, but no one in the customer service department 1st level has any idea of what's going on with this problem? I was finally given to someone who was a "Sony Product Specialist". He admitted that they were have a cable card problem with this model. Cox cable replaced my cable card for a new one. And now an error message "Cable Card Error 161-1" appears every time I turn the set on! Sony told me to have my warranty company send someone out to fix the problem. Cox said they were in contact with Sony! Sony told them my cable card needed a firm ware upgrade? Calling Sony is a very though process to even get to the right guy? Their customer service 1st layer does everything they can do to discourage you from talking to the right guy! Howard |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 521 Registered: Mar-05 | Usually speaking the 161-1 error code indicates a faulty CC. Still not sure about the firmware upgrade, that's a COX question, sorry. As for the issues you are having with Sony, I believe strongly that the powers that be care about these types of issue, keep plugging away and get further up the chain of command to get the help and answers you need. I've said this repeatedly You have to have both your cable provider and the TV manufacturer working together to figure out why it's not working. It's too easy for one to blame the other, and that gets you nowhere. Hang in there, and sorry I lost track of this thread. Keep us posted |
|
JesusJuice Unregistered guest | When the tech goes out there, make sure he checks signal levels. Most techs are too lazy to do this on their own, so if you have to, complain to their supervisors so that they do a thurough job. I work for a cable company as well but not as a tech. Sometimes, TV's do indeed need firmware upgrades, but rarely. I actually just recieved a call from a tech who was having this same problem so we're trying to figure it out now. I'll let you know what comes out of all this. Right now we have him checking levels. |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 530 Registered: Mar-05 | JJ, Quote: I work for a cable company as well but not as a tech. Sometimes, TV's do indeed need firmware upgrades, but rarely. Since you are not a tech, and I am, what foundation do you base that it is rare for TV's to need a firmware upgrade? It is a known fact that the 161-1 error code indicates a faulty CC. Signal levels have do play a part if the FDC is bad it could cause the card to not function properly. As for the firmware/software upgrade "rarity", without naming specific models, depending on your particular manufacturer, there is a good chance it will need an update to become operational. Although it is rare with a couple of manufacturers, it is common with a majority of them in my experience. |
|
New member Username: WallydudeGreene, Ny Usa Post Number: 1 Registered: Dec-05 | I just purchased a Sony KDF42we655 from a good friend of mine. This TV has been operating perfectly for 13 months (with a cable card)previous to my purchase. I have witnessed the operation of this tv before the purchase. We moved the tv from his appartment to mine, upstairs to downstairs,(we live in a two family house). I then had Time Warner install a Cable card. HD and Digital channels only ever worked for just a few minutes then " no signal" would appear. If at this point I tuned back to a standard station, after approximately 5 minutes the picture would flicker, and the digital and HD channels would be back. I did get error code 161-4 a few times and a 161-6. I contacted TW and they replaced the CC and the same problem existed. TW suggested calling Sony about the codes, which I did and they told me "service is required". Calling a local service provider they said the Q-box needs replacing (to the tune of $375 plus $155 labor). TW inatalled a STB so I can view the HD and digital channels. Well, the first box was a piece of junk, had terrible hum in the audio and red lines accross the picture after about 30 minutes of operation. TW replaced the STB which is working fine now. TW now tells me that they have no more CCs the ones they took from me are in perfect working order and I need to call Sony for a software update. Do you have any suggestions that may help me. Sorry for the long "Life Story". Thanks. |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 555 Registered: Mar-05 | The 161-6 and 161-4 error code can only be fixed by replacing the Q-box. There is no "software update" available from Sony. If it were me I'd suggest you get the TV fixed, it's a one time cost and should work beautifully for many years to follow. Call Sony and have them get you the numbers to a local factory authorized repair shop and get 'er done. |
|
yeagermeister Unregistered guest | I just purchased a Sony HDTV DVR (DHG-HDD250)and had Cox Cable put in CC. Receiving same error 161-1. So it's not just occurring in the Sony HDTVs themselves. Having talked with a Cox rep, I was informed that Cox doesn't really want to deal with the CCs because of all the problems that Cox is dealt by them. However, Cox is required to make the CCs available. The Cox techs that I have dealt with all seem to be clueless when it comes the the CCs. When they came over to install the CC in my DVR, they were beside themselves to know that a DVR even existed that had a CC slot. They still insisted putting the CC in the HDTV until I showed them the manual. |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 577 Registered: Mar-05 | yeager~the 161-1 error usually indicates a faulty CC. You might want to call Cox back and have them come out to replace the one you hwave. As far as Cox's reply that they "don't really want to deal with the CC's because of all the problems", is a pretty poor attitude. It's not an option for them. |
|
New member Username: WallydudeGreene, Ny Usa Post Number: 2 Registered: Dec-05 | Just an update from the thread of 23 Dec 05. One last thing I'm trying before replacing the Q box. My friend and I got Time Warner to give him a New CC (2005 vintage) and I took his old one (2004 vintage) which was the original card that was working in this TV for over a year. So far so good. NO codes or loss of signal yet(knock on wood)but it's only been overnight. I will update you in about a week if no problems arise. |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 586 Registered: Mar-05 | Walt~ If you haven't had the Q-box replaced, odds are the problem will return. Good luck with it and keep us posted |
|
New member Username: CabletoolMidwest Post Number: 3 Registered: Jan-06 | "yeagermeister I just purchased a Sony HDTV DVR (DHG-HDD250)and had Cox Cable put in CC" Yeager- FWIW, I myself have installed 2 cards in the SONY DVR's and all went well. MOTO cards for Comcast. |
|
New member Username: WallydudeGreene, Ny Usa Post Number: 3 Registered: Dec-05 | cableguy- it's been over a week since the installation of the 2004 vintage (Scientific Atlantic)CC into my tv and there has not been any signal loss or error codes. Seems to be an incompatability with the 2005 vintage cards and the 2004 vintage Sony KDF42WE655 TV's. |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 602 Registered: Mar-05 | Thanks for the update Walt. I defies any logic I have on the issue, but as I've said before...we're all learning about the things that make these devices tick. Your situation just adds another piece to the puzzle. |
|
New member Username: WgreenleeAltus, Ok Us Post Number: 1 Registered: Jul-06 | I too have just started received the 161-1 error after 3 months of owning a sony 42 inch hdtv without any prior problems. This error pops up even on other vido inputs, so I cannot even watch a dvd without the error message covering the screen. I have been reading a lot of posts about the 161-1 error and am really stumped. Sony techs acts like this is the first time that they have ever heard of the problem. |
|
Bronze Member Username: 1movibuffPost Number: 25 Registered: Jul-06 | Jeff-If you have Adobe reader 7.0 I suggest you review this document by the FCC regarding CE (consumber electronics), cablecards and cable companys. Check out page 34 which addresses Sony error codes and also pages 41-45 which describes CE problems with THEIR equipment. This document is a real eye opener. I don't know if it will help your situation, but I suspect the error code you are getting is an indication that only an authorized Sony technician can fix the problem. www.ncta.com/DocumentBinary.aspx?id=459 |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 809 Registered: Mar-05 | jeff~ Usually the 161-1 error message indicates a faulty CC. Have your cable provider replace the card and that should be the end of that. If it's not when you call Sony back, ask them if they can esculate this problem to an engineer. 1movibuff~ thanks for posting that link, I've seen it before and read through and that's all I can comment on. This goes to show there are always 2 sides to a story, and although the CEA complaint claiming that cable providers weren't doing a good job, I think the facts indicate both sides can be blamed to some degree. I choose not to say it's all the manufacturer's problem, based on experience. There are problems that can be traced to both the TV manufacturer and also the cable provider and nobody is without sin to some level. I know where I work, and how we handle these types of problems. Nothing beats good old fashioned troubleshooting  |
|
Bronze Member Username: 1movibuffPost Number: 27 Registered: Jul-06 | cableguy-you are right about old fashioned troubleshooting. I've found when I am assisting a tech with a cablecard issue that we have to use different techniques with various HDTV brands. I use a very specific technique on Sony Wega & Bravia's which will not work on other brands, some brands require the tv to be on when the cablecard is inserted while others do not. Some customer's don't even know how to navigate the menu on their tv, but expect the technician to be an expert on how it works the minute he arrives. I put together a troubleshooting guide on cablecards and have links to the CE web sites, so due to alot of research, trial & error I can help my techs successfully install or fix a customer's cablecard issue almost 100% of the time. I have learned that with the correct approach cablecards can be installed with success. The problem is that the various brands and models of HDTV's require different cablecard installation procedures, and it is difficult to keep up the new models that are constantly being rolled out in the stores. The technician has no idea what type of tv the customer has until he/she arrives at the home and if the customer doesn't have the owner's manual the installation can be a nightmare. As you stated there are always 2 sides to a story. The CE's were definitely zealous in rolling out their HDTV's with cablecard slots and one does have to wonder how much testing was done, especially with all the problems that people have been reporting. The CE's blame the cable companies and vice versa and the consumer is stuck in the middle. Anyway, thank goodness for techs like yourself who spend time on forums like this to help people who have questions & problems. |
|
Silver Member Username: CableguyDeep in the ... U.S. Post Number: 810 Registered: Mar-05 | I'm just trying to compare problems we see with problems others are seeing, learning and helping when I can, but thanks for the compliment. l8r |
Main Forums
Today's Posts- Home Audio Forum
- Home Video Forum
- Home Theater Forum
- Car Audio Forum
- Accessories Forum
- All Forum Topics