4100 Black Out Issue

Anyone have issues with the picture blacking out intermittingly for a second or two?; I am now on my third VMS4100 cable box because after a month or so my tv picture blacks out for a second or two every few minutes and after another month or so sometimes every few seconds -- its unbearable to watch tv. During my last technician visit I was told by them that there is a "known" issue with these boxes???

Accepted answers

clem21

@rshaw18
wrote:
Understood - hence why I started this conversation. What is the ONT and how to I check it?; I have the main box (the one with this issue), which is not wireless, and a second small box that feeds off the main box and haven't noticed an issue, albeit use that tv infrequently.

The ONT is the box dexman pictured. It is the FIRST thing in the chain in your system and takes the optical signal from Verizon and converts it to electrical signals that can be used by your devices. If there is a problem with it it can affect all or some of your devices. Try unplugging power to it for 3 minutes, then plug it back in and see if the problem continues. Also check the coax and cat5 connections by unhooking and re-connecting them.

All comments

clem21

@rshaw18
wrote:
Anyone have issues with the picture blacking out intermittingly for a second or two?; I am now on my third VMS4100 cable box because after a month or so my tv picture blacks out for a second or two every few minutes and after another month or so sometimes every few seconds -- its unbearable to watch tv. During my last technician visit I was told by them that there is a "known" issue with these boxes???

To the best of my knowledge, the 4100 boxes NEVER had this issue. Did anyone look into your router or ONT? When this happens does your internet connectivity drop out? Did the techs replace all the splitters in the system and check all the coax connections? have you tried unplugging the entire system athen restoring power router first?

rshaw18

My internet does NOT go out. My router has also been replaced once or twice and the first thing they always check are the connections. This is why, I guess, they ultimately change the cable box (again). I would have thought the same as you other than the comment my last technician said about a known issue.

clem21

@rshaw18
wrote:
My internet does NOT go out. My router has also been replaced once or twice and the first thing they always check are the connections. This is why, I guess, they ultimately change the cable box (again). I would have thought the same as you other than the comment my last technician said about a known issue.

There really isn't a known issue with the 4100 boxes dropping out. If there were don't you think this forum would be swamped with complaints? Something else is wrong here, possibly the ONT? do you have any other Fios boxes in the house and if so do they ALL do the same thing at the same time? Are you using the newer wireless 4100 series boxes?

rshaw18

Understood - hence why I started this conversation. What is the ONT and how to I check it?; I have the main box (the one with this issue), which is not wireless, and a second small box that feeds off the main box and haven't noticed an issue, albeit use that tv infrequently.