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tvbuster's avatar
tvbuster
New Contributor

Audio Delay between Contour DVR Primary and Contour Remote Boxes When Tuned To Same Channel (TV Synchronization)

I have recently upgraded to Contour 2 DVR at my primary TV with two remote TVs having the smaller Contour remote boxes.  All new equipment.  The primary TV is in the living room and one remote TV is in the kitchen, so while you may not be able to view both screens at the same time, it is easy to hear the audio from both TVs.  We are usually tuned to the same channel on both TVs, and the problem is that the audio and probably video are not in sync on the two TVs.  The amount of delay varies.  Sometimes they are in sync, sometimes slightly off producing an echo, and sometimes badly off producing insanity.  I have had support tech come out.  He changed around the splitting tree at the service entry, installed new amplifier, and installed a MoCA filter.  This solved some problems and the audio appeared to be OK when he left.  Since then, however, the lack of synchronization has recurred.  I have even seen one case where the two sets were in perfect sync when turned on in the morning but drifted out of sync after operating awhile.  There were no channel changes or off/on cycles in that particular case.  The basic MoCA scheme looks great for multiple TVs in the home, but I can't believe unsynchronized operation should be expected.  Have others experienced this problem?  Should such operation be expected?  What is the problem and can it be fixed?

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  • MarkM1's avatar
    MarkM1
    Former Moderator

    tvbuster,

    The issue with the audio being off is something that can not be corrected. There are different factors that can have the channels become off sync. If the issue happens, you can try to press exit on both remotes at the same time. This should put them back in sync. We do apologize for the inconvenience as well.

  • Toperoff's avatar
    Toperoff
    New Contributor
    We just upgraded the other night and experience the same issue.
  • TVfan35's avatar
    TVfan35
    New Contributor

    Same issue here - but my TVs are not in close proximity to each other (i.e. Living room and master bedroom) so I hear the echo down the hall but only if I got the soundbar on living room set. 

  • MarkM1's avatar
    MarkM1
    Former Moderator

    TVfan35,

    The issue with the audio being off is something that can not be corrected. There are different factors that can have the channels become off sync. If the issue happens, you can try to press exit on both remotes at the same time. This should put them back in sync. We do apologize for the inconvenience as well.

  • tvbuster's avatar
    tvbuster
    New Contributor

    Hitting the exit button at the same time on both remotes does not work since both TVs are already in live programming mode when you turn them on.  My experiments have found that what does work most reliably is to pause both TVs momentarily.  Then resume playing both TVs.  Then either wait for the pause/play display to disappear on both TVs, or hit the exit button on both TVs to force exit from the pause/play display.  Once both TVs are playing again and the pause/play display is gone on both, hit the exit button on both TV remotes at the same time.  This forces both TVs back to live programming, and results in both TVs either being in sync or being very close to being in sync.  If just close, you get some echo.  I have had them be in perfect sync after this procedure, but then one of the TVs drifts off slightly to give an echo.  Since perfect sync does not reliably hold, I have resorted to muting one of the TVs.  With close sync the lip movement on the muted TV looks to be in sync with the unmuted TV audio.

    Playing a recorded program on both TVs with close sync is trickier.  What you have to do is cue up the recording on both TVs and then try to hit the play button at the same time on both remotes.  With luck you can get close sync and mute one TV.  

    There is a logical problem in implementing multiroom TV operation.  On the one hand, separate and independent operation of TVs in different rooms is desired.  On the other, situations like mine make synchronous and therefore dependent operation desirable.  I think that synchronous operation could be done if the hardware (or maybe software) supported a "paired" mode where a remote TV in the paired mode would be driven by the same receiver being used by the main TV at the DVR box.  A hardware or software switch doesn't sound that tough.

  • Allan's avatar
    Allan
    Moderator

    Hello tvbuster,

    Thanks for the suggestion. We appreciate this and all customer recommendations so that we can implement new technology and provide the best possible experience.

    Thanks,

    Allan - Cox Support Forums Moderator. 

  • wbdollar's avatar
    wbdollar
    New Contributor

    I'm glad to find this forum.  This is a big problem for us with three Contour sets in three adjacent rooms. I agree that it's not too much to expect to have synced audio.

    Will do my own experiments and stay in touch here. Thanks for the contributors so far.