Picture cutting in and out

[SandyG3]

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster. Just got dish network installed about 3 weeks ago. So far everything has been great and I really enjoy it over analog cable. Well I have 2 301 reciever which are ok. Then I have a 508 which I have had to pull the smart card on and reset over 5 times in the 3 weeks I have had it. Now last night about 1 am the tv just cut off, well the video that is. I know the tv is ok because if I go to the menu or change the channel it still shows up the info on the screen. Also usually when I go into the menu and check the switch and exit the video and sound will reappear until I switch the channel.. The other 2 301 recievers are a ok. Is this a problem I should call dish about? or should I wait it out a few days. Thanks for the help in advance for helping out a dish newb:D btw I am subscribed to the top 100 channel package and now we have the top 150 preview which I have been enjoying. Also about 2 weeks back all of the tvs had a bad green bloches in the dark/black area of the screen for about 2 days. I called dish and they told me to yank the cards in each reciever and then put them back in. Didnt help; though after about 2 days its all normal again. Thanks everyone...

[TopCat99]

Welcome to the forums, Sandy :wave:

Try the card trick on the 508 (again ;)) If no good, unplug it from the wall AND the sat coax for about 15 minutes.

If this doesn't work, call a CSR (Customer Service Rep.) If it does work, call a CSR and demand a replacement--you're resetting it way too often ;)

[johnsmith22]

One thing that does this is changing channels too fast, when you change channels always wait for a picture to appear before changing again, if you don't the picture does black out on the 501. It is because the picture data is streamed to the hard drive and it takes a finte time to catch up when you change channels.

[Jacob S]

The pvr units are known to have signal loss, from what I have read, and from what I have experienced, and have to be replaced. I have seen a few non pvr units have signal loss issues as well where they would go in and out or not at all and have to be replaced.

[HTguy]

The preferred method for rebooting a PVR is to hold in the Power button (>) on the front panel of the receiver for several seconds (until both the green & red LEDS are lit up and you hear the hard drive "whirr"). Pulling the SC or the AC cord while the HD is spinning is not recommended.

Rebooting this way will result in a complete reset & a new download of the EPG info. You should expect the need to do this periodically.

However, if it doesn't seem to solve the problem or if you need to do it frequently you have a more serious issue. You may need to exchange the PVR but it could also be an intermittent port on the LNBF/switch (I assume you have a QUAD but you may have a TWIN/SW34 or SW64 setup) or even a bad cable fitting.

The best way to troubleshoot problem, if it persists, would be to swap the PVR with one of your DP301s & see if it works consistently on that drop or if it still has the problem.

[SandyG3]

Thanks everyone, installer is coming tomorrow to replace my 508 with a new one:)