vod pixelation

I was having pixelation on my video on demand. My fios was installed in the last month. In attempting to solve the problem, I ran a coax cable from the outside box direct to the mrdvr. Same problem. I then tried to reconnect the original cable to the outside box but couldn't because the cable tie was too tight, not giving me enough slack. I cut that tie, and another one about 6 inches away that was holding about 5 cables/wires, so I could have enough slack to reconnect. Both of these ties were so tight, they were severely pinching the cables/wires. Long story short, I again tried on demand AND IT WAS PERFECT.

Now, the only thing I did was disconnect and reconnect the coax to the outside box, and cut to remove two cable ties.

I am thinking maybe the tightly pulled ties were causing cross talk in the bundle, or maybe they were actually shorting something inside of the wires. In any event, if anyone is having pixelation problems, I would recommend seeing if the ties are pulled up too tightly.

Anyone else have this issue and if so how was it resolved.

hobobluz.

Accepted answers

Keyboards

The problem was most likely the cable ties (as you surmised, but not due to cross talk). If the cable itself is pinched (in other words a change in the distance between the center conductor and shield) it can have a frequency dependent impedance problem that would show up at higher frequencies. VOD being delivered over MoCA is at frequencies above 1 GHz and most susceptable to impedance discontinuities.

All comments

GaryDoug

Vewwy intewesting.......

You said you were still having problems after disconnecting the original coax. That should rule out any problem with that cable.

Is the splitter anywhere near the offending cable ties? If you were having problems only with VOD, I would have checked the coax to the router. What are the "... 5 cables/wires.." that you referenced?

hobobluz

The splitter is about 12 feet from the outside box, and about 8 feet from the mrdvr. The tech replaced the old with a new 1ghz splitter. In the bundle are the wire that comes from the street, the coax that feeds the house, the white (fios?) cable, ground wire, phone wire.

hobobluz

Keyboards

GaryDoug

Wow!! Check out the brain on Keyboards! What a great call.

hobobluz

Thanks. That pinching makes more sense. I've searched this problem and see others with the same issue. Maybe the techs/installers should be make aware of this? You would think they are, but obviously not so.

Thanks again.

papalee1

I may not know a lot about FiOS, but I find it odd that vod is streamed through a router. I was having pixelation issues while watching a movie I purchased on vod. After searching through this forum I decided to try a simple, quick fix and reset the router. It worked. Pixelation stayed away the rest of the movie. I guess I'm wondering why is it that vod is streamed through the router and not just directly through the cable itself, which also confuses me as it is not a fiber optic cable. Just where does the actual physical fiber optics of FiOS begin and end when it comes to residential service? I was a Directv customer for almost ten years before switching over to FiOS and, I must say, the vod via sattelite was crystal clear.

johnmcgann

@papalee wrote:
Just where does the actual physical fiber optics of FiOS begin and end when it comes to residential service?

Technically, it ends at the ONT. Most (all?) ONT's are attached to the premises, either at an indoor or outdoor location.

AWH2

I have a new FIOS installation and pixelation on both TVs from day one. Techs have replaced the splitter, ONT and connected a new "light" fiber line to the HUB. THey have tried bypassing my internal cables. No solution. It still has pixelation. This did not occur on Comcast. After 4 visits by 2 different Techs, it is clear there is not a way to measure or find the source for pixelation, of if there is, the Techs dont know how. Its OFAT...they try "one factor at a time" and come back later when it doesnt work. Not sure if they know how to find the source??

PJL

@AWH wrote:
I have a new FIOS installation and pixelation on both TVs from day one. Techs have replaced the splitter, ONT and connected a new "light" fiber line to the HUB. THey have tried bypassing my internal cables. No solution. It still has pixelation. This did not occur on Comcast. After 4 visits by 2 different Techs, it is clear there is not a way to measure or find the source for pixelation, of if there is, the Techs dont know how. Its OFAT...they try "one factor at a time" and come back later when it doesnt work. Not sure if they know how to find the source??

Have they replaced the router?

GaryDoug

I assume they are watching the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) displayed on the DVR diagnostic screen... right? Should be over 35 typically, more like 39 if perfect.

Also have they checked the earth ground at the ONT?

TechSavvyChick

I just unplugged and re-plugged in my set top box & viola, it worked without pixelation!