This can happen if the splitter ports aren't terminated, or you have coax connected that don't run to a receiver, so these lines aren't terminated either.
DVR switches channels while recording, shuts off tuners!
I have 2 DVRs, one HDDVR model 22 and another SDDVR model R16. The 22 works fine. The R16 is flaky. I have a SWiM setup. Symptoms are that I set the DVR to record. When I go to watch the show, it DVRs some portion and then the channel switches to another channel. I hear a stutter and then I realize the tuner switched what it was recording! No other program was set to record.
Also, while the unit is turned off at the front switch, when I turn the unit back on, the channel I am on works, but all the other channels are blank. I can change the channels, but it is as if there is no tuner to display anything but the one channel. Sometimes no channels work. I reset the box and it works for a few hours.
I ran tests when it was screwing up and notice not signal on one or both tuners. I then ran a test and get an error 49-147 "Primary tuner connection problem. No SWM channels are available. The receiver is unable to register tuners for live TV or recordings because there are too many receivers connected to the coax network".
This is my first big clue. This is a replacement unit. The other unit was doing it, service came out and replaced the box and the remote. I am now suspecting the cabling or the firmware since two same model boxes are doing the same thing. The dish is on the roof and the cable runs to the junction box (SWM distribution box?) and then the cables run up to my attic and down the walls into 2 rooms on opposite ends of the upstairs of the house. The offending unit is closer to the SWM. Both the HD box and the SD box have just the one coax running into the back. This is only 4 tuners. Help!
Also, while the unit is turned off at the front switch, when I turn the unit back on, the channel I am on works, but all the other channels are blank. I can change the channels, but it is as if there is no tuner to display anything but the one channel. Sometimes no channels work. I reset the box and it works for a few hours.
I ran tests when it was screwing up and notice not signal on one or both tuners. I then ran a test and get an error 49-147 "Primary tuner connection problem. No SWM channels are available. The receiver is unable to register tuners for live TV or recordings because there are too many receivers connected to the coax network".
This is my first big clue. This is a replacement unit. The other unit was doing it, service came out and replaced the box and the remote. I am now suspecting the cabling or the firmware since two same model boxes are doing the same thing. The dish is on the roof and the cable runs to the junction box (SWM distribution box?) and then the cables run up to my attic and down the walls into 2 rooms on opposite ends of the upstairs of the house. The offending unit is closer to the SWM. Both the HD box and the SD box have just the one coax running into the back. This is only 4 tuners. Help!
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You might try temporarily swapping your two DVRs and see if the problem follows the DVR or stays in the location. That will absolutely rule out splitter, cabling, etc.
Also go back through sat setup and make sure the R16 is set the same as the HR22.
Also go back through sat setup and make sure the R16 is set the same as the HR22.
The rep I last spoke with said that the R16 can't handle the 2 tuner signals coming off the same cable like the R22 can. This confused me. I've been DVR'ing 2 channels or watching one while recording another for a while. I changed the R16 to use only 1 tuner for a while, but that didn't fix anything.
"The rep" is wrong, as you know.FlightRisk said:The rep I last spoke with said that the R16 can't handle the 2 tuner signals coming off the same cable like the R22 can. This confused me. I've been DVR'ing 2 channels or watching one while recording another for a while. I changed the R16 to use only 1 tuner for a while, but that didn't fix anything.
What about the open ports on the splitter, or extra coax being connected?
There is extra coax. I see 1,2,3,4,5 & 8 having cables coming out of the splitter. I am only using 1 and 2. So there are 4 unterminated cables running through the house or somewhere. I will have to trace where they go. So this causes this problem? I DVR'd 4 shows last night and 3 of them either switched channels while recording or the video goes out and the audio cuts out at one second intervals.
Are there terminators on the unused outputs on the splitter?
Instead of trying to trace the unused coaxes, just terminate at the splitter.
Instead of trying to trace the unused coaxes, just terminate at the splitter.
How about this: disconnect the cables, trace (and carefully mark) them and terminate the outputs. Eventually, they may come into play.jdspencer said:Instead of trying to trace the unused coaxes, just terminate at the splitter.
If we're talking going from 8 to 2, there's a good chance a smaller splitter might be beneficial. If someone starts howling about not getting a signal, you'll be glad you marked the mystery cables.
Latest news from DirecTV is that I should have had a band stop filter installed on the R16. I have my HDDVR connected to the internet, but the R16 NOT connected. They say interference comes in on the R16 and can cause this issue.
I don't have a DECA. I just have a network cable running from my switch to the HDDVR and nothing connected to the R16 except for the sat input to tuner 1. All the settings seem correct, it sees the SWiM signal. So I'll try to find some terminators. I have one laying around, but 4 more cables that need to be unplugged from the SWiM switch and the terminators installed.
Does it make sense that the network signal is somehow interfering with the tuner on the R16?
I don't have a DECA. I just have a network cable running from my switch to the HDDVR and nothing connected to the R16 except for the sat input to tuner 1. All the settings seem correct, it sees the SWiM signal. So I'll try to find some terminators. I have one laying around, but 4 more cables that need to be unplugged from the SWiM switch and the terminators installed.
Does it make sense that the network signal is somehow interfering with the tuner on the R16?
I have a schematic somewhere of when I was upgrading my insulation in the attic. There is no way to find those cables now 
I toned the cables again and know where 2 of them go. The other 2 I believe dead end behind storage walls.
I toned the cables again and know where 2 of them go. The other 2 I believe dead end behind storage walls.
DirecTV "would have been correct", if you had the DECA networking.
Yes, long coax going to god knows where, may be exactly the problem.
Terminating them at the splitter [removing] or at their ends, would be my first step.
Yes, long coax going to god knows where, may be exactly the problem.
Terminating them at the splitter [removing] or at their ends, would be my first step.
I'll try and find more terminators. Any tips on sealing the ends of the cable that I will have to leave rolled up at the splitter? I think I have some of that black tar-like cable seal somewhere, maybe I can make little balls to cover the entire connector end. What do you guys use?
Find the end of the cable, then connect a termination to it like you would on the splitter.FlightRisk said:I'll try and find more terminators. Any tips on sealing the ends of the cable that I will have to leave rolled up at the splitter? I think I have some of that black tar-like cable seal somewhere, maybe I can make little balls to cover the entire connector end. What do you guys use?
If you are talking about the cables disconnected from the splitter, once disconnected they are out of the circuit so there is no need to terminate them.FlightRisk said:I'll try and find more terminators. Any tips on sealing the ends of the cable that I will have to leave rolled up at the splitter? I think I have some of that black tar-like cable seal somewhere, maybe I can make little balls to cover the entire connector end. What do you guys use?
Just identify the two "live" runs (turn on the two TVs and listen for them losing signal as you disconnect cable from the splitter). Then disconnect the other 6 outputs and put terminators on the ports.
Unlike a traditional multi switch, SWM technology sends one channel at a time to each tuner, based upon a request from the receiver. It sounds like your unterminated cable runs are causing the switch to lose contact with the DVRs with the result that SWM channels are getting reused. When the channel changes on one DVR/tuner, it effects another DVR/tuner.
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