Scientific Atlanta Cable Box outages when connected to my Receiver

[GreenAccord]

I searched the forums for a similar issue. I did find this nugget, but opened a new thread since there was no direct thread about it.

The forum won't let me post an html link to that thread, but it's here: forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62418&highlight=scientific+atlanta+8300

That thread mentions there is a "known problem with the Scientific Atlanta." What is this problem, and where could I read more about it?

I just switched from Dish to Cable, going with Wide Open West. I never experienced the following issue until I had the cable installed (with essentially the exact same configuration), so keep this in mind as you read.

(all connections are with HDMI)

I run the signal out of the cable box to an HDMI in on my Sony STR DN1000 Receiver. I have a blu-ray also using a separate input on the receiver, then there is one output from the receiver to HDMI 1 input of my Sony XBR9 LCD. Both the receiver and TV were newly purchased in late 2009.

On occasion, and without ANY usage of the cable remote, the cable signal will go black. I receive no audio or video on the TV or the receiver. If I don't touch anything for about 30 seconds, the TV will eventually say 'NO SIGNAL FOUND" and render a splash screen instead of a black screen.

Ultimately, when the signal "goes out", I must resort to either unplugging the cable DVR box or doing a front panel reset (holding down a combination of buttons). A simple power button off/on/off/on attempt has no effect, so I have to resort to this more-extreme action. This action was determined after I contacted the tech assistance of the cable company who told me to reset it in either manner.

After reset actions are taken, the cable signal is restored. This reset takes about 120 seconds of real-time waiting to get back to viewing.

After 2 weeks of this, and having the cable company document these events, they sent out a technician who ended up giving me a replacement box. The 2 weeks with the initial box were the first two weeks I was their customer, so this issue has done this from the beginning.

Well, the new box is doing the same thing, so it's really unlikely I have been given 2 bad boxes. During the latest outage, I re-routed the HDMI from the cable box directly to the TV (I put it in HDMI1 of the TV, and re-plugged the receiver's HDMI into HDMI2 of the TV). The signal from the cable box, WITHOUT a reset, came on immediately. So the issue MUST be with the way my receiver and this cable box talk to each other, right?

Obviously, I'd like to have everything routed from my receiver to the TV. (I shudder at having to re-train my wife as to how to watch a DVR show versus a netflix or blu-ray after getting her up to speed on the prior config.)

 

[highfigh]

I searched the forums for a similar issue. I did find this nugget, but opened a new thread since there was no direct thread about it.

The forum won't let me post an html link to that thread, but it's here: forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62418&highlight=scientific+atlanta+8300

That thread mentions there is a "known problem with the Scientific Atlanta." What is this problem, and where could I read more about it?

I just switched from Dish to Cable, going with Wide Open West. I never experienced the following issue until I had the cable installed (with essentially the exact same configuration), so keep this in mind as you read.

(all connections are with HDMI)

I run the signal out of the cable box to an HDMI in on my Sony STR DN1000 Receiver. I have a blu-ray also using a separate input on the receiver, then there is one output from the receiver to HDMI 1 input of my Sony XBR9 LCD. Both the receiver and TV were newly purchased in late 2009.

On occasion, and without ANY usage of the cable remote, the cable signal will go black. I receive no audio or video on the TV or the receiver. If I don't touch anything for about 30 seconds, the TV will eventually say 'NO SIGNAL FOUND" and render a splash screen instead of a black screen.

Ultimately, when the signal "goes out", I must resort to either unplugging the cable DVR box or doing a front panel reset (holding down a combination of buttons). A simple power button off/on/off/on attempt has no effect, so I have to resort to this more-extreme action. This action was determined after I contacted the tech assistance of the cable company who told me to reset it in either manner.

After reset actions are taken, the cable signal is restored. This reset takes about 120 seconds of real-time waiting to get back to viewing.

After 2 weeks of this, and having the cable company document these events, they sent out a technician who ended up giving me a replacement box. The 2 weeks with the initial box were the first two weeks I was their customer, so this issue has done this from the beginning.

Well, the new box is doing the same thing, so it's really unlikely I have been given 2 bad boxes. During the latest outage, I re-routed the HDMI from the cable box directly to the TV (I put it in HDMI1 of the TV, and re-plugged the receiver's HDMI into HDMI2 of the TV). The signal from the cable box, WITHOUT a reset, came on immediately. So the issue MUST be with the way my receiver and this cable box talk to each other, right?

Obviously, I'd like to have everything routed from my receiver to the TV. (I shudder at having to re-train my wife as to how to watch a DVR show versus a netflix or blu-ray after getting her up to speed on the prior config.)

Look at the cable where it enters the building- if it's not grounded outside or immediately upon entering the building (to the breaker panel or the cold water pipe that comes into the building, before the water meter), call the cable company and have them ground it. It's required by the National Electrical Code.

 

[GreenAccord]

Well, good call, it was not grounded, which took me all of 2 minutes time, including find-a-screwdriver time, to do that, as the Dish cabling hardware was still there and it WAS grounded properly, so I just re-routed that ground wire to the cable splitter as it comes in from the outer wall.

 

[TLS Guy]

Well, good call, it was not grounded, which took me all of 2 minutes time, including find-a-screwdriver time, to do that, as the Dish cabling hardware was still there and it WAS grounded properly, so I just re-routed that ground wire to the cable splitter as it comes in from the outer wall.

You may still have a problem after grounding. That Atlanta box is a known problem child as far as HDCP compliance.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I'm knocking on the wood since my SA works fine connected with hdmi to my onkyo tx-sr805. However before - what I'd do is connect the cable box with component cables (and digital audio) to receiver and see if issue repeats.
If it does - likely the problem is with your amplifier. Each apartment/house gets it's own dedicated port and your port could go bad regardless of your neighbors. I had similar issues, until they replaced my floor's amplifier (i live in apt building)