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3.5

This problem is more common with cox than other companies, however it still happens to others like comcast and verizon and not just on the bolt. but on all tivos that use cable cards.

the solution i got from tivo wast to have a cable tech come out with a minimum of 3 cable cards. make sure the readings for signal strength and snr on the diagnostics screen (in account and system info) are between 75 to 99% for strength and 32 to 35db for snr. this is an absolute. also beware of rs uncorrected and rs corrected errors.

both of these fields should read 0. if there is something in these fields there is most likely damage to the cable lines or splitters (yeah even the main splitter in your attic or basement) and could even indicate damage to the line coming to the house or even the cable companies pedestal (the green tower that all their lines come from) only the readings on the tivo matter, ignore the cable tech if he tells you the readings are fine according to his equipment. changing the readings is as easy as adding amplifiers for raising or attenuators (cable splitters work well also) for lowering the signal to these ranges. all cable techs should know how to do this, and if yours does not or is refusing to do so, get someone else out there.

once this is accomplished, the cable agent can then activate and pair the card. if the first card does not pair and you still get the message, the tech needs to unpair the card before removing it, the insert the next card and activate and pair it, continuing this process until there is a success. it can take more than 3 cards but it does work eventually.

this process has worked on all three of my bolts, one of which took 7 cards. congrats for sticking it out and reading this rather winded, you now know something that almost no cable tech knows and only a handful of tivo tech agents know.

Reason of review: limited compatibility.

Preferred solution: a company that takes pride in their product, doing extensive testing to make sure the product works with almost all setups and combinations of devices and services.

TiVo Pros: At least 1 good tech agent.

TiVo Cons: Only 1 out of 5 tech agents knew the solution, Repeated calls with no solution, Limited compatibility with other products.

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This is likely an unpaired cablecard not a bad cablecard. Your cable provider lacks the knowledge and ability to properly pair a cablecard.

as for your tivo agent he did not know what he was talking about and put you through more work than needed.

anwya thats all there is to that.

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