Intermittent issue with DVR - records but won't play recording all the way through

LakeErieSunsets

For the last few weeks we have been having an intermittent problem with our DVR recordings. They all seem to record fine, but when you try to watch some of them they start and then stop at some point. For those that do this, is most often is within the last third of the program. Others stop with in a few minutes of starting. This only happen sometimes, but there does not seem to be a pattern; it is random.

When I say the playback "stops" I mean that at first it jumps around a little within the scene and then just freezes. You can rewind and watch up to that point, but you cannot fast-forward beyond it. The program information for the recording seems normal, and shows the correct amount of time. In addition, a few shows have just been an entirely black screen when you play them. For those, although they show in the recorded shows list, when you look at the info it says the time is 0 mins.

Other shows, sometimes the same show recorded at another time, are fine, and play all the way through, so the DVR can work fine. Also, older recordings (recorded prior to the last few weeks) do not seem to be affected by this.

We have rebooted various ways, etc. I have taken to fast-forwarding all the way to the end before I watch something so that I know I can finish it. Is this an equipment issue? Or a technical issue on the Spectrum end?

Thank you.

Edward_T

Hello @LakeErieSunsets;

Welcome to the Community Forums. I can understand the frustration of not being able to playback a recording. This could have a couple causes. It is possible that your picture was not good at the time of the recording. You can unplug the power and unscrew the cable line to the cable box. Wait a minute and plug then back in. Make sure the cable line is screwed in tightly. This may improve any cable signal issues that may cause the problem.

The other potential problem is the cable box itself may have an issue and replacing the box maybe necessary. You can stop at one of our Spectrum stores to swap out the box. You can find a Spectrum store by visiting the following site.

LakeErieSunsets

Thank you, Edward.

I will check the connections.

One thing - in your answer there was supposed to be a link to the site to find Spectrum stores. Instead it is just a little yellow dot with an exclamation mark in it, and when I hover over it, the link is listed as "unsafe:"

¯\_ (ツ)_/¯

Thanks, though, for the quick reply.

Satch

Hi @LakeErieSunsets , Welcome!

To chime in, I have also seen that little "unsafe" thing every one in a blue moon when browsing on the forums. But it is so rare that I can't reproduce the steps to show when it happens.

On the recordings not playing all the way through. Try @Edward_T 's suggestion first. If the issue comes back and you know that the recording was clear when it was being recorded. you should call Spectrum to get a tech out to check your signals and drop line, Those go to all your Spectrum devices in the home. If the lines are aged or damaged by weather they can cause the kind of problems you describe. The tech would have to come out and read the signals. When he/she does that, you should try to tune to a channel that has the most issues when played back. Or try a free On Demand channel. On Demand is most sensitive to signal issues.

If your signals are bad, the tech will replace your drop line. If your signals are good, the tech will replace the box.

Satch