Very slow channel change - intermittant

[blueribb]

QIP7232-2 FIOS DVR

I have had this DVR for about a year and it's been almost flawless until recently. For the past couple weeks it will intermittantly freeze or lock-up while changing channels. It can take up to 20 seconds for it to respond to any keys while in this condition. You just have to wait for it to respond. It's getting really annoying.

Anyone else having this problem ?

Glenn

Fairless Hills, PA

[charliebarrett]

I don't think this has anything to do with Plazma vs LCD TV's - It's strictly faulty multithreading in the DVR software, combined with the DVR's CPU being overloaded at times, especially while it's scanning your schedule trying to figure out if it has a scheduled recording that needs to start.

It DOES seem to have a coorelation with the number of programs you have scheduled to be recorded. It also multiplies the scheduling task almost exponentially if all the schedule entries use the "All Channels" option and/or the "Any Time" option, rather than recording a specific show at a specific time.

My list is rather lengthy, and almost always uses the "Any Time" option. I also have to schedule every show I like TWICE to get around a major schedule option omission... Which is to place all First-Run programs at a higher priority than any Reruns.

Since I want all first-run programs to have priority over recording reruns, I first have a list of about 30 First-Run programs I want it to look out for. Those set the "Save until I delete" flag. Then I repeat the entire schedule list for Reruns.

That way, the first run of a show will not be overridden by a rerun of a show I like more - However, that makes the DVR menus and remote key processing to freeze for a few seconds every time it looks for a recording that needs to be started. If they had put the two processes on separate threads and made the remote input thread always interrupt the schedule scan thread, you would never notice any delay to responding to a remote click. Instead, the schedule scanning routine might start a program a couple of seconds late if it gets interrupted by a lot of user input.

Neither would be a problem, however, if the DVR's processor wasn't overloaded, which apparently it is, so they probably need to put in a dual-core processor or quad-core if they already have a dual core, and possibly more RAM. Same things that slow your home PC down will slow down the DVR's processor.

[ArmchairAllstar]

So now on top of me having to wait 1-2 minutes for my cable box to become responsive they decided it was a good Idea to push upsell ads when the box is first booting!  I keep getting these popup adds to increase my internet speed for only 10 more bucks a month.   You have to click to exit them too but it won't register the **bleep** click.

This is so frusterating!!

[PJL]

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@charliebarrett wrote:

I don't think this has anything to do with Plazma vs LCD TV's ...

... 

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If this were the case, I would expect to see it on my Plasma and LCD TVs.  But I never have the issue

[KidHorn]

The number of scheduled programs to record could be the cause of my issues. I noticed the last time the freezing happened my daughter scheduled about 50 shows to record without using a series manager. I don't know the exact cause of the delay but I think it's because of a slow response from a server request and if a request is frequently made for each scheduled recording, that could explain it. I agree running the request as a background thread or using an asynchronous request would probably help.

I loved the rant about fast programmers getting things 90% done and handling it off for someone else to finish. I know exactly what you're talking about.

[Gina0503]

I was having the same problem. Everything was fine one day, the next everything was all glitched up. Slow and unresponsive, unwatchable. After about an hour on the phone with Verizon they determined it wasn't the box, but a cable. I switched out the cable going to my box, FIXED! No more glitches or delays.

[charliebarrett]

KidHorn wrote:

...I loved the rant about fast programmers getting things 90% done and handling it off for someone else to finish. I know exactly what you're talking about.

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And now we all have an even better exanple of what lack of testing and only finishing the software past the 90% mark causes, other than the Verizon DVR software bugs: The ObamaCare website 🙂

[spjung]

I was having a problem with our Cisco CHS 435HDC DVR set-top box. The box wouldn't respond very well to the remote. The FiOS Mobile app could control the TV just fine.  Verizon support eventually solved it. He had me lower the brightness on my plasma TV. Apparently the screen can interfere with the IR transmitter on the remote.

[VzTvVictim]

FYI, now two years in, this problem continues. Mine didn't appear until last month, and it's the same symptom as others experienced: channel change takes 20 seconds to function, commands are stored and executed en-masse. Makes the service unusable. Motorola QIP6416-2 HD/DVR

[tns2]

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@VzTvVictim wrote:
FYI, now two years in, this problem continues. Mine didn't appear until last month, and it's the same symptom as others experienced: channel change takes 20 seconds to function, commands are stored and executed en-masse. Makes the service unusable. Motorola QIP6416-2 HD/DVR

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This is NOT the original problem, but a new one introduced by recent updates.  The Original was mostly solved.  I would say start a new thread, except there is a long thread just about problems the the new IMG.

On a different note you probably want to get your Arris (formerly Motorola) 6xxx receiver replaced.  Look for threads about Mpeg-4 channels added and find a channel in your package.  Then report you don't see that channel, and they should give you a free upgrade.

[WntGtFooldAgn]

Anyone know what the termination fee is going to be? 

We are 13 months into a 2yr commitment.

[avemaria92]

for us on our 2 year commitment it's $230 and it's prorated at $10 per month.. so if you've completed 13 months, it would take $130 off of that..

[ArmchairAllstar]

"Anyone know what the termination fee is going to be?

We are 13 months into a 2yr commitment."

If you aren't getting the service for a contract that you signed the fee should be voided.  If they give you problems a letter to the BBB should take care of it.  The contract goes both ways.

[ArmchairAllstar]

We are 13 months into a 2yr commitment."

If you aren't getting the service for a contract that you signed the fee should be voided.  If they give you problems a letter to the BBB should take care of it.  The contract goes both ways.

[charliebarrett]

My DVR's major problem now is the DVR menu - Sometimes scrolling through the View Recordings list, it just hangs up, and stays hung for about 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, I've pressed a key 3 or 4 times, thinking maybe it didn't get the remote signal - Then all of a sudden, the 3 or 4 extra keys execute, and before I know it, I've deleted the wrong thing, or played the wrong thing, or whatever.

The problem also occurs while doing a FF or Reverse - I can't make the thing stop no matter how many times I click the Play button - then well past where I intended to go, it finally stops.

I have a long list of quips about this thing that I never had with the DVR that only stored about 10 HD shows. Sometimes I'm not sure which is worse, only having space for 10 shows or the thing freezing. A lot of times, the freezing will even cause glitches in the recorded program.

One other ultra-irritating thing that the older 10-program DVR didn't do:

When I'm watching a DVR recording while a couple of other programs are scheduled to start recording, what I'm watching will stop and the TV will switch to one of the two live channels that just started recording - Grrr - So I'll find the recording I was just watching, and discover that there's no "Resume Play" option, just "Play". So I have to FF to the point I was watching before the scheduled recordings started.

Whoever programed this DVR had no software quality control whatsoever, it seems - Don't even get me started about the DVR scheduling bugs I see.

I think the freezing is because it's scanning through the schedules every so many minutes trying to find any recordings that need to start. Apparently that routine interrupts the user input, which should never happen - It should be running as a background task, and the user input should interrupt it.

BTW that brings up another bug - If you cancel a recording that's about to start in the schedule, it will keep bugging you about starting the same recording you canceled, if you stay in the DVR menu, or try to change channels, especially - Just stupid stuff that the programmer should have caught long before the software even got to beta testing, much less released.

As you may have guessed, I'm a programmer and things like this bug me to no end, because it's the same way at work - People are judged on the speed they get something 90% working, and then us support programmers have to deal with all the customer complaints long after "Speedy" has been promoted for being so speedy.

(rant not over, but I'm tired of typin and you're tired of readin).

[charliebarrett]

My DVR was slow changing channels, and turning off the "Recommendations" setting helped some. I think all it does is try to get you to buy movies on demand.

There's another similar option but I forgot what it's called.

[KR8CAOS]

A couple of things need to be addressed here.  First of all, yes, when you press a button on your remote control, you want the box to respond.  If you are like most people then you probably press the button 5 more times, and then wait for something to happen, only to see your box process all of the commands when it feels like it, sometimes super fast. Kinda like when internet explorer doesnt open on the first click, and before you know it there are 10 windows open on your computer. 

 Be sure that your stb is in a well ventilated area, these are basically just mini computers and without the proper ventilation the box will over heat and then slow down.  This is more noticeable on DVR's because there is more going on inside and they over heat faster.  but it will happen to any type of box, and has since the inception of the first Digital box.  So if it is happening more when you are watching tv for a while, I would say more than a copule of hours, then that is most likely the cause.  you can go into the diagnostic menu and check the temp settings of the stb when it happens.  The stbs usually will reboot when they reach a certain temp threshold, but like a command from the remote, that function sometimes won't work either.  So you would be wise to just unplug it for a few minutes.  If it is in an enclosed entertainment stand then you should get yourelf a small fan and position it within the enclosure to circulate more air.  Never put anything on the stb, evn a single sheet of paper can cause it to over heat.  Here is the important note, if your stb has gotten to the point of over heating so many times, it is probably time to get a new stb.  Just keep in mind that you need to be diligant about placing it in a well ventilated area, with NOTHING on top of it. 

Also be sure to try a remote from another room to rule out the remote control, they are universal between the stbs.  remember to return that remote to its original tv/stb room when you are done testing that.

Good luck

[COMET65]

I have the Motorola 7232 - HD  DVR :  It was responding slowly, and sometimes not at all.  When attempting to clean the sensor window on the box,   I noticed there was a clear-plastic cover on the front. I peeled it off.   After that my box has been working perfectly.

[logan81]

Big question for everyone with this problem, Do you have the MRDVR feature (meaning you can view recordings from remote STB's). I am just curious if there is a correlation. Now there are a few things that we can try to help this issue (yes it is a known issue). First of all delete programs from your DVR until it is under 80% full. Power cycle the DVR and if you have the MRDVR feature power cycle all STB's in the house and power cycle the router as well. The reason I say that is because the DVR is acting like a server, serving the other STB's in the house the information for what is recording on its hard drive and it does this via the router. If you have an unreliable connection between STB's (dropping packets) then that could cause a problem because the DVR keeps trying to send packets to the remote STB's (this is my therory anyways) food for thought, good luck.

[kenc2]

I'm having the same issue since the software upgrade back in Nov. I called Verizon the other day and said it was a known issue and tried a couple of things. Pulled the power plug on the box and the cable from The wall. Had some issues after that and deactivated reactivated the box into my account or somethibg. This should fix the issue, of course it didnt. Rebooted 5 times in last 10 minutes. I'm ready to throw this crap out and go back to optimum.

[Tim1234567891]

After years of frustration with my laggy Verizon DVRs (which I've replaced a few times to no avail), I'm moving on to Tivo. It's costing me $200 up front but $2 cheaper a month, and should end my ranting. Verizon should be ashamed of peddling such garbage. 

[LawrenceC]

As this thread is now over two years old, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.