DVR 3800HGV-B Blue LED

Random loss of signal is arguably the worst random problem with u-verse. As customers, we do not know how the design of u-verse causes this phenomena. We can only guess.

The fact that they come and go - frequency increases & decreases  - some things seem to help - do not lead to any concrete solution.

When I am experiencing a signal loss, I too, have thought the TV signal was taken to perform an update. But, it is too frequent to be the exclusive reason. There are too few updates (also, a guess). It may or may not be one of the causes.

My favored cause is the RG needs a reboot. It does seem to help. It seems eventually the losses are just too frequent  & a replacement RG  prevents additional occurrances. At least, that was my experience & that is all I have to go by.

I use random twice in the first sentence because it does happen from time to time or more frequent & there is no known fix. This is different than cases where there is a physical problem on the circuit that can be found and fixed. Such a defect usually is more visibly more persistent ( like the RG eventually failing & the losses too frequent can be fixed by replacing the RG).

The list of suggestions that appears  on the loss of signal screen is more directed towards the physical problem that can be fixed. If you are watching & lose signal, it is more likely random than it is a car taking out the VRAD.

If it is the random loss, the best thing to do is to be patient for five or ten minutes to let the signal return. It is important to not start any mediation that will delay the return or cause loss when not reconnected correctly.

Don't jump up an start tearing things apart when the problem could come back by itself or be upstream in att where you cannot have any impact.

It is troubling to lose recordings for any reasons. It always seems to happen at the worst time. I experienced a random  loss with four minutes left in the NCAA championship game. Seemed like forever before it came back.

I've never needed to reboot the RG.  One time watching TV on the STB and then noticed the DVR blue LED which needed a reboot.  Checked the STB which "then" needed a reboot so it didn't affect the STB while in use just after a restart.

I haven't used the STB since that last event.

You are focused on the blue light & I ignored it & talked about random loss iof signal.

There is no reson to worry about the blue light. It indicates HD from the STB to the TV. If you use component cables it will be off when the STB is "off". If you use HDMI it may be on or off depending on whether it is thursday or not. It is useless info, so I recommend ignoring it.

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@wptski wrote:

Some time ago after a system update the blue LED remained ON but that has been fixed.

 

It's happened 3 or 4 times, the last being yesterday afternoon where I find the blue LED ON when the DVR is OFF.  If I turn the TV ON, I have no signal which requires a DVR soft reboot.  No big deal but if you have a recording scheduled then it's a problem as it doesn't record.

 

I have a feeling this happens after a system update is pushed out but I should write down the version number to prove this out.

 

In the past this has happened over night but the last two times it was during the day time.

 

Anyone else seeing this?

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If the DVR functions are still not working, try a Non-Destructive Disaster Recovery.

Unplug the power cord of the DVR from the wall or from the back of the box and wait ten seconds. Plug the DVR back in.

When three white dots appear on the screen, unplug the DVR again. Repeat this process two more times.

Plug the DVR back in on the third time and leave in. Three white dots appear followed by a gear with a status bar at the bottom of the screen.

If the Disaster Recovery screen does not appear, repeat the steps above. If the Disaster Recovery screen appears, wait until completion.

If the Non-Destructive Disaster Recovery does not work, follow the steps for a Force Disaster Recovery

Will not erase recordings, takes a bit of time or so. Good luck 😉

Chris
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RE: It's happened 3 or 4 times, the last being yesterday afternoon where I find the blue LED ON when the DVR is OFF.  If I turn the TV ON, I have no signal which requires a DVR soft reboot.  No big deal but if you have a recording scheduled then it's a problem as it doesn't record.

I agree a DVR problem is a possibility. On the other hand, If the signal is lost there will be no recording.

Based on situation, I go with loss of signal as more common than DVR problem. Not sure how to test. I want to say if another STB works it is the DVR. But, all signals go through DVR. But, it wil work without the DVR.

I would/do look at the internet side when there is a failure. If the browser cannot pull up a link the problem is the broadband signal.

I was recording when I lost signal & of course it did not record while it was out. The interesting thing, to me, is that many years ago when I last lost service during recording it broke the recording into two segments. This last time it was one recording with a few minute gap. Probably much better, but not obvious that there was a service interruption.

That's right, I am focused on it because whenever it's ON and the DVR id OFF, I'll have no TV signal when turned ON.

All I have to do it press the ON/OFF button on the DVR, press/hold the ON button for ten seconds and it goes through its thing, dots, gears, etc.  At some time, a prompt comes up to press Okay the the remote and then shortly after, I have a signal again.

Does one really know what happens during the time a STB boots up?  It may receive info from the DVR to operate and can on its own after being turned ON.

If this is a common thing are all our DVRs bad?

The green LED means that you have a signal or so that's what I was told when it was installed.  Normally when my DVR is OFF, the blue LED is OFF as well.  Why even have the green LED because its not a sign that one has a TV signal?

RE: If this is a common thing are all our DVRs bad?

Well, no. But that does not mean you do not have a bad one. Call in. Maybe they will send you a new one or a tech to figure it out first hand. All we can do is speculate based on our experience. MIne was focused on random loss, which I rationalized as restored in parallel with your reboot.

So, yes you could have a bad DVR, or not.

You could have random loss of signal or not.

I see that the green light on my STB that is asleep is on. So, I accept that it shows communication with the RG is active.

The blue light is intended to show HD. Due to software updates it operates differntly than it used to (maybe second iteration) . It is not intended to show a fault. If it happens to on your box, it is a unique situation. It is not a general indicator of a failure.

If you are having sufficient failures to be annoying you should call in for repair to allow an expert to observe first hand & do what needs to be done.

Actually, I take that back about the blue light. I was focused on the loss of signal on the att side. The screen displayed by the STB.

But, if the loss of signal is displayed by the TV, the problem is between the STB & the TV. The HDMI interface is failing & you are restoring it with the reboot. This could cause the blue light to go out. The solution is to change to component cables.

Just another possibility based on what you say.

There is one other condition where the blue LED is ON when the unit is OFF and that's after a power failure.  In that case, I just power it ON manually then OFF and the blue LED remains OFF.

My DVR's power light is blinking now and has been for at least 15 minutes.  It wasn't earlier or I would have noticed.  I wonder if they are pushing out a system update this morning?   EST, 8:55am here.

Let's see if I get a blue LED later also.

Sounds like your issue could be an HDMI "handshake" issue.  You can try this:  Unplug the HDMI cable from the DVR.  Press the on/off button to reset the DVR.  Wait about 5 minutes until the DVR completely re-boots.  Plug the HDMI cable back in.

See if the behavior your seing changes after that.

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@BeeBeeSA wrote:

Sounds like your issue could be an HDMI "handshake" issue.  You can try this:  Unplug the HDMI cable from the DVR.  Press the on/off button to reset the DVR.  Wait about 5 minutes until the DVR completely re-boots.  Plug the HDMI cable back in.

 

See if the behavior your seing changes after that.

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I went about my business and one hour after I noticed the blinking power, the power light wasn't blinking and I had the blue LED again.  I did a soft reboot of the DVR which is required after seeing the blue LED.

I bought some of this and covered the lights with 1" strips.  Seems to do a fine job of hiding the blue LED.

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@americangame wrote:

I bought some of this and covered the lights with 1" strips.  Seems to do a fine job of hiding the blue LED.

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Well, way back after a system update that blue LED was on all the time and well known in this forum but was fixed.  You should be able to remove your tape now.  Do you cover your CEL/SES dash icon on your vehicle as well?