CableCard Missing Channe

Hi Kafir,

Can you verify that you have the splitter connected and that the POE filter is on the line that goes to the tuning adapter? Click here for a diagram of the connection. If your setup looks like the picture, I will need to verify the pairing of the card. Please email me at coxhelp@cox.com. 

Stephanie why does the POE filter need to be used with the tuning adapter?   I though it was only needed for a MOCA network?

wees41 said:

Stephanie why does the POE filter need to be used with the tuning adapter?   I though it was only needed for a MOCA network?

wees41, 

The POE filter is required in order to receive our Contour HD channels, if you subscribe to the standard definition channel. 

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks for your reply.  I did not receive a splitter or a POE filter in my self-install kit.  I do have a splitter on my line before the modem and the cisco box.  It's a 5 - 1000MHz, -120dB EMI, -6dB splitter that I had from previous cable installs so it may not be the same one in the self install kit.

Also I don't have advanced, I have essential.  But the same channels I can't get are included in the Essential package.

I will send you an email as well.

Kafir,

I apologize if the splitter and filter were not in your self-install kit. I can get another shipped out to you or you can pick one up at any Solution Store location in your area. If you would like it shipped, do you prefer the service address? If not, I'm also responding to your email and you can reply back with the shipping address. 

I believe the Point of Entry (POE) filter, also known as a MoCA filter, is used to " Prevents interference between adjacent subscriber homes that use MoCA technology". Also see this thread. So I don't think it's required in this situation.

Could you describe in more detail what happens when you go to a channel you don't get? You mentioned "no signal" but could you be specific? Also, could you give me the model number of the splitter? Is it this one? If so that "could" be the problem. Its what I would try first. 

Trikein, thanks for your reply.  That isn't the exact splitter I have in but the specs seem to be the same.  Mine is Broadband Products Inc.  This is the one I have on the line presently but part number BDC1006D, not the one show with -12dB.  Compared to the one I received today from Cox which is 5-1002MHz CommScope splitter.  But after preparing to change out my splitter add the POE filter I wanted to capture the signal levels first to compare after changing them and I now get the channels that would not come in before.  I haven't changed anything and unless I need to add the POE filter and change my splitter for the one that came in the mail I am planning on leaving things as they are now.

Here is an example of the message WMC would display when it would attempt to record a channel that it could not tune too.

Thanks for your help.

Thanks for your help Stephanie.  I actually got another install kit delivered yesterday, it wasn't complete either but now I have 3 tuning adapters.  Would you mind looking at my configuration?  I have changed out the splitter and added the POE filter but in my scenario I have the two way splitter with one line going to the cable modem, the other with the POE filter goes to the tuning adapter, and the output of that goes to my CableCard input.  In the diagram you referenced there is no cable modem so one end goes to the retail device and the other to the tuning adapter.  Needless to say, I am still struggling with getting TV channels.

Here is a link to a pdf that shows my coax configuration.  HTPC Setup

Thanks.

I think you may need a 3 way splitter? This diagram shows a coaxial going from the splitter to both the adapter and the card. In your diagram, you have the cable going THROUGH the adapter into the cable card. Maybe the adapter is blocking some of the signal? On the other hand, why have a coaxial input and output and not use them, so that might be less then relevant. 

Also try checking your signal levels? One easy way is to look at the signal levels of the modem via 192.168.100.1. All things considered equal (splitter, length of coaxial,etc) the signal to the modem should be the same as signal going to the card. You can check those signal by fallowing these instructions. Let me know if its for the right unit.

Thanks for the reply Trikein.  The link with the instructions was to the tuner self-install kit instructions.  I knew the IP address of the modem and how to get to it though so here are the SNR levels.

Oops, pasted wrong link. Sorry about that. Here is the correct link;

http://cetoncorp.com/support/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/35/20/snr-and-signal-level-explained

Signal is a little low, but I would think that should be enough for cable. Try using the instruction above and check the SNR for the channels your not getting in. If its low, then it's a signal problem. If it's not then it's some kind of activation thing, but to be honest I have never had one of these so I am just speculating. Hope it helps

Thanks for the link.  I seem to be right at the edge of what is considered acceptable.

There is a third table on the modems page it only have 4 channels and power levels, not SNR.  Channel 1 -3 range from 44.4 -46.5 but channel 4 is 0.0 dBmV.  Would that be an issue?

Sounds like the upstream power levels and your bonding on 3 of the 4 possible channels. This is probably normal for your area.

So the signal look good so that put the problem somewhere else. What channels do you not get again? Maybe this is a service issue, like they don't have the correct codes.

It depends, isn't that such a great answer?  Right now I was trying to watch the end of the F1 race on 69, or NBC Sports Network, and I get Service Unavailable.  But I can tune to Bravo, which is 60 and no problem.  So I can't say which ones I don't get for certain, as it seems to vary.  One of the channels I couldn't get before I can tune to now, Spike 25, but I can't get it's HD equivalent 1025, it says Service is Unavailable.  It is very frustrating and has been going on since day one. 

I don't understand how if I had a STB I could get every channel no problem, but because I don't want to pay the fee to rent the box and instead use the computer I own, it doesn't receive the same level of service.  I am paying for it, but not receiving it, so why would it be different?  Very frustrating.

But thanks again for your help.

I think I may have found the issue and it's what I thought. You have to go Cable > Splitter > One to Cable card and one to Tuner adapter.

"1) To install in parallel, use a spliter. A two-way splitter works just fine. Just make sure the signal is good to the end of the coax.
Install the splitter. One to the TA and the other to the Ceton card."

AVS FTW.  

Also, keep in mind that the tuner will only tune channels above 800mhz, AKA digital only as per Cox support.