Intermitently receiving some HD channels

[ssmithri]

I am a newbie looking for some help... so please forgive if this has been covered already (I have read through many topics but could not make heads or tails). I am receiving a few HD channels consistently (Discovery, TNT, HBO, EDU) but others rarely (CBS, ABC, Fox). Most of the time, when I tune to these channels, I get a black screen. And, it is always all or nothing with these other channels ( I either recieve them all, or they are all black).

I have called BHN and they will be out next week. Can anyone enlighten me as to why this is happening?

Thanks.

[Max_Gator]

I presume you have the PACE Box. I recall having a problem like that from time to time when I used that box. I found that unplugging the box to reset it usually solved the problem.

Other than that I don't know.

[N715DP]

Can you be more specific about the DHCT you have at home? There was/are some issues with the SA boxes switching from 1080 to 720 to SD and I am not sure if they have been corrected with newer software or not. Please provide the model of the DHCT you have.

[djkilla]

Once every few months I'll have the same problem. Just screw/jiggle the cable and everything will return.

-D j K i l l a-

[ssmithri]

Hi all... I am sorry, yes I have a Pace cable box. And I do not know what a DHCT is... sorry.

The model number on the Pace box apprears to be DC550P.

Thanks to all for trying to help.

[racemanfl]

Bad cable or connection.
Look at the digital channels(99 and up)
If they are doing the same you have a bad connection or cable or sometimes a splitter will go bad,BRH will come and check to signal strenght for you Jerry

[N715DP]

DHCT = Digital Home Communications Terminal


Sorry about that, I should have been more clear. The "DHCT" is the set top - in your case, a Pace 550.

Anyway, the problem I was referring to earlier was on SA boxes, not Pace ones... I suggest you play with the cables as others here have mentioned already and make sure everything is good and tight. HD operates a little differently when it comes to the box then SD (analog and digital). While it is possible to see "tiling" due to weak signal on an HD channel, you'll typically just not get a picture at all on HD channels if the signal is weak. This is as opposed to analog channels where the picture will typically be snowy and SD digital channels where it will "tile" or "macroblock".

Like I said, it is possible to get a picture with a weak signal, but a lot of times, the set top box will just not show anything (as you appear to be seeing) when the signal is weak.

[CANDY76MAN]

unplugging so the box had to reboot always fixed that problem for me...it's like it lost the ability to display hd sometimes....hasn't happened in a long time though to me.

[ssmithri]

Just a follow-up to let you know what it was... the BHN guy made up a new cable and replaced the existing one... no more errors, no dropping.

Thanks everyone.