Glitch with replacement replacement R15

[wbmccarty]

Since I set up my replacement replacement R15, it's been humming away. However, it does exhibit a glitch not shared with its two predecessors. About once an hour, the recorded audio track contains a fairly loud, high-pictched "eek," following which audio is inaudible for 5-30 seconds. These artifacts persist across mutiple playings of the same track, so it's not a real-time glitch.

Anyone seen this one? I hope that it's not a hardware problem, because I'm skeptical that DTV will send a replacement replacement replacement R15. :eek2:

[Clint Lamor]

Wow that would drive me nuts. Have you tried a reset of it? I would say that has to be some sort of a hardware messup if it does it all the time and isn't just on a specific channel or show.

[wbmccarty]

I've seen the problem in three apparently unrelated programs. So, I find no pattern. I've reset the unit at least 3 times during/after installation on Saturday. So, I'm reluctant to do so again, owing to the loss of guide datea. I guess I'll call DTV.... :nono2:

[Clint Lamor]

Sadly enough their response will probably be another replacement unit.

[wbmccarty]

No, they want me to do a Reset All. If/when that fails, they want to send out a tech. Of course, I have three other receivers that operate okay (none are R15s). And, I haven't seen this problem on either of the other two R15s I've attached to the same satellite feed this R15 uses. This is pure {insert expletive of choice}.

[Clint Lamor]

I think whoever is doing the refurb work on these boxes needs to learn how to refurb electronics. I can see a few here and there making it out but not this bad as we see here.

[wbmccarty]

Yes, I suspect that the two refurb units that I received were returned to service after cleaning, with the original defects intact. I suspect that the problems with my original R15 were related to software, not hardware, and common to all R15 units having the same installed software.

[mikewolf13]

Sadly enough their response will probably be another replacement unit.

No. Clearly, the R15 has been successfully and completely debugged so costs should go down as they do not need to repeatedly send out new units.:bang

wb probably has superhearing and the so-called "glitch" is probably undetectable to most humans.

I also suspect Wb is just making things up...i mean a replacement replacement??? Come on.....only 10% of the units were returned so a replacement replacement replacement could only happen like .1% of the time.... :scratchin

which means there is a 99.9% chance it's all in his head...or superhearing....or he's a tivo shill....
;)
I wonder if this has all been a plot to increase protection plan sales...:contract: :money: :kickbutt:

[Clint Lamor]

Yes, I suspect that the two refurb units that I received were returned to service after cleaning, with the original defects intact. I suspect that the problems with my original R15 were related to software, not hardware, and common to all R15 units having the same installed software.

You are probably correct. I am guessing these units probably get plugged in and quickly tested but that no real diagnostics is done. If it was I am not sure how many of the hardware issues that have been reported here in refurbs could have slipped past.

[CCarncross]

Since I set up my replacement replacement R15, it's been humming away. However, it does exhibit a glitch not shared with its two predecessors. About once an hour, the recorded audio track contains a fairly loud, high-pictched "eek," following which audio is inaudible for 5-30 seconds. These artifacts persist across mutiple playings of the same track, so it's not a real-time glitch.

Anyone seen this one? I hope that it's not a hardware problem, because I'm skeptical that DTV will send a replacement replacement replacement R15. :eek2:
How do you have it hooked up, optical cable or analog stereo cables?

[wbmccarty]

How do you have it hooked up, optical cable or analog stereo cables?
It's connected using analog cables. However, since the glitches reproducibly appear on replay at precisely the same time into the affected programs and since I didn't experience similar problems with my RCA receiver or two other R15s cabled in the same way, I can't see how this could be related to the problem. What am I missing? :confused:

[sandi916]

I have had the same problem with an eek sound on replay. There doesn't seem to be any consistancy other than it happens when I tape a lot of shows and replay the last of them.

I have only been with D since March, 2006 and have had 4 replacement R15's. Since this R15 works better than the previous 3 dvrs (other than caller id) I have learned to live with the eek.

BTW, the current dvr was not a refurb, it was brand new.

[CCarncross]

It's connected using analog cables. However, since the glitches reproducibly appear on replay at precisely the same time into the affected programs and since I didn't experience similar problems with my RCA receiver or two other R15s cabled in the same way, I can't see how this could be related to the problem. What am I missing? :confused:

Its only on your recordings, not live, or more accurately buffered live playback?

[wbmccarty]

Its only on your recordings, not live, or more accurately buffered live playback?
I don't watch much live/buffered TV, so I can't rule out the possibility that the glitch occurs there. But, I haven't seen (actually, heard) it during live/buffered TV. I've heard it only on recordings.

[wbmccarty]

I have learned to live with the eek.
Sorry to hear that.

BTW, the current dvr was not a refurb, it was brand new.
And, even sorrier to hear that. But, thanks much for for the information. It does help.

[CCarncross]

I don't watch much live/buffered TV, so I can't rule out the possibility that the glitch occurs there. But, I haven't seen (actually, heard) it during live/buffered TV. I've heard it only on recordings.

I think this could be important to determining a possible cause...if it doesnt do it on live/buffered usage, then it would certainly seem to point to a problem with the drive....similar to when they begin to fail in older units...

[wbmccarty]

I think this could be important to determining a possible cause...if it doesnt do it on live/buffered usage, then it would certainly seem to point to a problem with the drive....similar to when they begin to fail in older units...
If the cause were the drive, I'd expect problems with audio and video, not just audio. Is there experience to the contrary?

[wbmccarty]

I didn't see further instances of the problem on Monday. My hypothesis is that the work of acquiring guide data after a system reset was taxing the processor, causing occasional audio artifacts during compression and recording. Just a guess. But, it seems to fit the facts as I've seen them. I don't know if the hypothesis would fit the situation of other users who've experienced the problem. What do you think?

P.S. It's Tuesday, and I've found another instance of the audio glitch in today's recordings. So, it doesn't seem to be related to initially loading the guide data. Also, the Record button has also ceased functioning in Guide View. But, I can press Select and use the Record menu to specify that a program is to be recorded.

DTV's "we already sent you a replacement unit so now you have to schedule an in-home service call" policy bums me out. I like the idea of drug-free schools. I also like the idea of a drug-free R15. Why can't DTV just say "no"?

[zortapa]

I recall having heard this screech twice over the past 6 months. IIRC, each time it was shortly after a reboot. Therefore, I would still vote for your initial hypothesis of it being related to acquiring guide data plus some function of trying to record 2 shows and watch a third, all at the same time.

[wbmccarty]

I've had a few more instances of the problem. Yesterday, I found several. The idea that instances are related to CPU activity seems plausible. But, I have only one active tuner and most of my programs are recorded when the R15 is on standby. So, I can't confirm the "trying to record 2 shows and watch a third" version of the hypothesis. I have some other disease. :(

[wbmccarty]

During the last several days, I haven't notice any instances of the problem. At the previous rate of occurrence, that would have been highly improbable. So, something must have changed.

I haven't reset the box and the software hasn't been updated. I have no idea what's changed but I'm happy that it has. I suppose that, occasionally, unexpected R15 events can be happy events.