I finally got the 522 I was supposed to get when I signed up for SBC Dish back in April. However, I am getting a very light herringbone pattern on every channel; I wasn't getting it on the 311.
At first, I thought there was some kind of interference between two cables in my system. However, after a process of elimination, it now appears that my 522's TV1 RF port is producing a weak, spurious signal that is causing the interference. When the unit is turned "off" (of course, it's never 100% off) and the OTA antenna is unplugged, it's visible on both channels 2 and 3. With the antenna plugged in, it still appears on channel 3; local channel 2 washes it out. (It may be causing some interference with channel 2 also, but it's overwhelmed by the interference from the tall building next door.)
It appears when I connect my TV directly to the 522 with 3' of RG59, as well as when I connect thru my VCR's RF ports, whether the VCR's RF modulator is on or off. It doesn't appear if you use composite video from 522 to VCR (must be on, of course), then RF to the TV. However, since my present TV is older and has only an RF input, I'd rather not have to watch TV through the VCR; replacing the TV is more likely. I've already replaced all the RF cables, and I'm almost 100% certain it's not AC interference either--it disappears as soon as you unplug from the TV1 RF output.
Do I need to RMA this 522? Is there some other issue to look at? Is this just another of the "it'll be fixed in the next upgrade" issues that have plagued the 522? (Yes, I've read most of the problems, but I went ahead with it--it's the only DVR available with SBC Dish. Besides, if its cousin the 721 is any indication, most of them get fixed eventually.) Or should I just grin and bear it until I upgrade my TV?
At first, I thought there was some kind of interference between two cables in my system. However, after a process of elimination, it now appears that my 522's TV1 RF port is producing a weak, spurious signal that is causing the interference. When the unit is turned "off" (of course, it's never 100% off) and the OTA antenna is unplugged, it's visible on both channels 2 and 3. With the antenna plugged in, it still appears on channel 3; local channel 2 washes it out. (It may be causing some interference with channel 2 also, but it's overwhelmed by the interference from the tall building next door.)
It appears when I connect my TV directly to the 522 with 3' of RG59, as well as when I connect thru my VCR's RF ports, whether the VCR's RF modulator is on or off. It doesn't appear if you use composite video from 522 to VCR (must be on, of course), then RF to the TV. However, since my present TV is older and has only an RF input, I'd rather not have to watch TV through the VCR; replacing the TV is more likely. I've already replaced all the RF cables, and I'm almost 100% certain it's not AC interference either--it disappears as soon as you unplug from the TV1 RF output.
Do I need to RMA this 522? Is there some other issue to look at? Is this just another of the "it'll be fixed in the next upgrade" issues that have plagued the 522? (Yes, I've read most of the problems, but I went ahead with it--it's the only DVR available with SBC Dish. Besides, if its cousin the 721 is any indication, most of them get fixed eventually.) Or should I just grin and bear it until I upgrade my TV?