FP.
Hi. I am having problems with the sound fading in and out when I watch TV. The signal comes through a digital cable box, which I found out earlier today, was very warm. I put my hand over the box to check the connections, and it was very warm. Not HOT, but jusy very warm. Could this be the cause of the audio problems I am experiencing?
Thanks.
RPM
Quickie troubleshooting:
Is it fading on all channels?
no = possibly a problem with the cable TV co or the channels themselves
yes = if the cable box is routed through a VCR on its way to the TV, try a direct connection without the VCR
Still fading?
no = VCR may be having problems
yes = try playing a tape or DVD through the same connection as the cable box (remove the box and plug something else into the same jack on the TV)
Still fades?
yes = cable box OK, TV probably at fault
no = probably the cable box
Digital cable boxes do get pretty roasty-toasty. I’m actually surprised they don’t have small fans in the things. Try not to have anything right on top of it so it can breathe a bit. If the box was in the middle of a stack of equipment, or inside a small cabinet, leve it out for a while and see if the sound still acts up. If some “fresh air” cures it, it is overheating and you need to find a cooler home for it. If not, call the cable co and complain about it.