TV error message

[JoeCool33]

New Fios install 5 months ago. 1gig internet, landline, and TV with 3 stream boxes. Began having issues with TV error "VMS not available" Power cycle the VMS, and it would work fine for a couple weeks.  The error message began changing to PLYB-122, and happening more often. In the last month, the only way to clear it was to power cycle the G3100, leaving the VMS alone. The problem has progressed to every couple days, and Today I had to restart the router twice in a couple hours.  I ran new coax from the extender to the splitter near the ONT, and it made no difference.  Coax and all connectors are new to the VMS also. The confusing part is internet is never lost, wifi or lan,  I can still watch a stream service, but not DVR or cable channels until I power cycle the router.  HELP!

[clem21]

Sounds like you may have a flaky VMS that is loosing its IP address randomly. I would ask for a replacement, and see if that helps. When it goes out you could also check the assigned IP addresses on the router and see if the VMS is still logged in and has an assigned address.

[JoeCool33]

Sounds like a good possibility, I will look at the address list in the router at the next failure.  Thank you.

[clem21]

You should also check the splitter for loose connections, or it too may be bad. It needs to be MoCa 2.0 certified.

[JoeCool33]

One of the first things I did was to relocate the VMS away from the router, it was right next to it, and to replace the splitter with 2 new Amphenol Moca 2.5 splitters. It made no difference. All connections are new and tight. TV acted up again this morning, PLBY-122. It will retune, freeze, then error again. this will keep happening for several minutes before staying in error screen. Hit troubleshoot button and all 3 tests show success.  Hit tune last channel, and it will come in after several seconds of the rolling white circles, then repeat again. Restarted the router, and all is well again. Not lasting a full day.

[clem21]

Did you check to see if the VMS retains its IP address when it's down? I'd ask Verizon for a new VMS, and if that doesn't do it it could be a bad router or something conflicting with the IP the VMS is getting assigned.

[JoeCool33]

I looked at the router device table at 4:00 AM, and the VMS was logged on, but the TV was working.  Until I was just about to leave for work, it started its nonsense again. Having no more time, I just cycled the router before leaving so my wife wouldn't be yelling at me.  I see no IP conflict anywhere, and this problem can happen randomly at any time, not when another device is powered on. All other network devices have worked flawlessly, wifi and lan, DHCP and about 8 static.  I started a service chat earlier, they want me to continue when home. I already requested a new VMS. we shall see.

[clem21]

Hopefully between the service chat and the new VMS you'll be all set.

[JoeCool33]

Well, chat agent asked me to disconnect the coax on the VMS, sent some commands to the router, had me reconnect the VMS, then said they were restarting my router. TV worked fine last night, but this morning I realized I could not access one of my static connections. Did either a firmware update, or just a reset of my router, which I always ask them not to do. Today while I am watching TV in the basement, the upstairs TV started the same issue. I checked the patio TV and yes, PLBY-122.  but my basement TV was fine? I pulled the power plug on the "extender" upstairs and all TVs are working fine. So, did they fix one issue and create another? Or, was the extender causing problems all along. I will leave that disconnected for a few days and see what happens. 

[clem21]

Are any of the minis connected via WiFi? If so they connect to a hidden network that the router provides. The extender may not be consistently passing on the correct IP addresses for the minis. Do you also have problems with the VMS since support helped you? The minis have no tuners in them and depend on their connection to the router and the VMS to tune channels.

[JoeCool33 · Accepted solution]

Seems I found the cause of my problem, when the TV acted up again on Saturday, I thought I would power cycle the wifi extender.  As soon as I pulled the power plug, the TV came back on, and it has worked perfectly since. The wifi coverage is fine with just the router alone, so I will leave well enough alone.  No idea what the fix would be, but I don't need the extender. 

[clem21]

Could be the extender wasn't forwarding the hidden network the minis connect to.