Pioneer PDP-4350/Cable Card Problem

[ores003]

Purchased Pioneer's 43" Plasma about 3 weeks ago from my local Tweeters dealer.
Having problem with sporadically loosing the image and sound. The image appears to freeze and the sound is lost. Screen goes blank and the image returns. It does this several times before both the image and audio returns to normal. This only occurs on HD channels. For example, I can being having the problem on an ABC-HD broadcast and switch to regular ABC and everything is OK.

The Tweeter local service rep inspected the unit and advise that the problem was with the cable or cable card, that being a defective card or poor signal.

Time Warner checked the signal strength and ruled that out as a problem. The Motorola cable card has been replaced 3 times to no avail. The techican hooked a HD cable box, bypassing the cable card, and eliminated the problem. Problem returned when the box was removed and the cable card was utilized. Time Warner advises the problem is not theirs.

Tweeter rep returned and now advises that it must be a compablility problem with the Pioneer unit and the cable card. Tweeter advises the problem is not theirs.

Appears that I have reached an impasse with the retailer and the cable company.
I'am open for any suggestions from the reading audiance.

[D-Nice]

Cable cards are very flaky. They actually require a stronger signal than a regular cable box. However, can you have the 4350 replaced to rule out the panel?

[ores003]

Yes, replacing the panel is still an option. Secondly, Time Warner tech actually increased the signal during one of their many visits to solve the problem. They checked both the signal strength and the signal to noise ratio.

[optivity]

[QUOTE=D-Nice]Cable cards are very flaky.[/QUOTE]This would be the non-technical response from D-Nice.

The Pioneer PDP-4350HD is on the list of Certified, Verified and Self-Verified Cable Products (http://www.cablelabs.com/udcp/downloads/OC_PNP.pdf) published by CableLabs and adheres to OCAP 1.0. Most likely your TV needs a firmware upgrade or your CATV provider has to replace their CableCARD.

[bobshute]

As the cablecard isn't a tuner in itself but just remaps channels and "unscrambles" them, from your description it is doing it's job.

Your symptoms show that you are getting too weak a signal for the tuner in the Pioneer.
Before replacing the set I would ask the cable co to install an amplifier. Time Warner may say the the signal is "good" but it may be on the bottom end on the "good" zone.

If that doesn't work it must be that the tuner in your set is not up to snuff.

One thing to check is without the cable box or the cable card you should be getting your local OTA channels in HD ( I get mine in the (75-1 - 95-x range). If these have the same de-compression problems (blocking/no sound) then you know it's a signal strength issue between the cable co and your tuner. If they come in fine then it probably a cablecard issue.

[ores003]

TimeWarner did install an amplifier to optimize the signal. They also identified the cable that provides the signal to this particular TV and moved it to the first position.
The tech advised that a 3db signal lost occurs when a cable splitter is utilized.

As the unit is less than 30 days old, Tweeter has now agreed to replace the unit.
I'am most hopeful that this will resolve the problem.

[optivity]

[QUOTE=ores003]The tech advised that a 3db signal lost occurs when a cable splitter is utilized.[/QUOTE]I split my incoming signal in half, two times, before it reaches my TV and there is no problem with my CableCARD. Are you using RG-59, RG-6 or RG-11 coax?

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/px50u_signal.JPG

[D-Nice]

[QUOTE=optivity]This would be the non-technical response from D-Nice.

The Pioneer PDP-4350HD is on the list of Certified, Verified and Self-Verified Cable Products (http://www.cablelabs.com/udcp/downloads/OC_PNP.pdf) published by CableLabs and adheres to OCAP 1.0. Most likely your TV needs a firmware upgrade or your CATV provider has to replace their CableCARD.[/QUOTE]

Before we do our peace treaty, why don't you RTFT and research this common issue before you attempt to post your BS and insult me. If the OP needed a firmware update, he would be experiencing far more problems than he posted. You should know this after your issues you had with TWC. He already has been thru 3 cable cards....or did you not see that? Posting a response about his plasma being cerified...blah blah blah is not helping anything.

[D-Nice]

[QUOTE=ores003]TimeWarner did install an amplifier to optimize the signal. They also identified the cable that provides the signal to this particular TV and moved it to the first position.
The tech advised that a 3db signal lost occurs when a cable splitter is utilized.

As the unit is less than 30 days old, Tweeter has now agreed to replace the unit.
I'am most hopeful that this will resolve the problem.[/QUOTE]

Good. Keep us updated.

[optivity]

[QUOTE=D-Nice]Before we do our peace treaty, why don't you RTFT and research this common issue before you attempt to post your BS and insult me. If the OP needed a firmware update, he would be experiencing far more problems than he posted. You should know this after your issues you had with TWC. He already has been thru 3 cable cards....or did you not see that? Posting a response about his plasma being cerified...blah blah blah is not helping anything.[/QUOTE]
There you go again... :rolleyes: