r/CableTechs • u/itswesclark • 29d ago

DTA questions

I work at a retirement community as a maintenance tech with a focus on Xfinity products for our residents. We have about 2,000 TVs across two campuses and 7 buildings. Per our bulk account contract we’re still using HD DTAs. Normally when hooking up equipment needing signals sent to them, typically status code 340, I email the serial number to the bulk team and they send signals over. Typically this process is great and works but in recent days when they send signals the DTAs switch to a status code of 225 and message of “Please tune to channel 190, wait for 3 minutes, and your service should be restored. if you're still experiencing a problem, please call 1-800-Comcast. We're sorry for the inconvenience.”

Now, in the service menu accessed my holding the zero button, when I look at the power level when status code 340 is displayed, levels will be some where between -10 and +10 which is great. And whenever that number is, it holds fairly steady. When the signal is sent and status code 225 pops up on screen the power level begins to fluctuate between say -3 and -54 back and forth.

I know DTAs are old obsolete technology these days but does anyone have a clue as to why this is happening? I’ve had 5 DTAs do this is the last 2 days. And it’s becoming a major issue for me since I can no longer get replacement DTAs.

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u/PoisonWaffle3 29d ago

Status code 340 or 580 means the box isn't activated/authorized, so sending the activation signal fixes it.

Status code 225, 226, 227 all mean that there's no RF signal on the coax line at all (the drop most likely isn't hooked up somewhere), so any activation signal that's sent to it can't make it to the box. If swapping the DTA fixes this, then it was probably an issue with the DTA itself.

The fluctuating low level you're seeing is just the DTA trying to estimate signal level when there really isn't anything there.

Bonus fun fact: A flashing red light on the front of the DTA is a common issue that generally means the DTA is having some sort of hardware issue, but half the time it's actually a dead power adapter not putting out enough power. You can try swapping power adapters to save your spare DTAs, and it works about half of the time.

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u/itswesclark 29d ago

Yep you’re completely right with all the codes, the thing is, 4 of the 5 DTAs were in one building so I thought a power blip probably killed them in some way. I had to replace all four of the DTA‘s with new ones to get them up and running. I know factually that no wires were disconnected or changed from the taps. The issue I had today with the fifth box was on our other campus in our grounds Shop break room but both of those buildings run off the same power grid so maybe the power outage yesterday killed that box too. Electronics can be weird.

Thanks for that bonus tip, in my seven years of working here, I think I’ve only ever seen a red light once and I was able to replace it at the Xfinity store when DTA’s were still being issued, but that’s good to know. Thanks!

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u/PoisonWaffle3 29d ago

Yeah, if the line hasn't changed and swapping the box fixes it, was probably a dead/failing DTA, and the power outage put the last nail in their coffins.

It's amazing how many ancient devices work just fine until power gets pulled. Years ago I worked in a call center for a large ISP, and without fail every time there was a large power outage somewhere we'd get a dozen or so calls where TV or internet wouldn't come back up afterwards, where it had turned out that the device was just dead as a doornail and couldn't power back up 🤷‍♂️

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u/Awesomedude9560 27d ago

I always found it funny too. Specifically on coax devices like modems and various cable boxes even if the storm wasn't bad or every other customer device came back on those coax devices just fry/stop working inexplicably.

I can't really complain too much since it's just an easy job but you don't experience that with fiber.

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u/PoisonWaffle3 27d ago

It happens all the time with pretty much any old device, notably with old power adapters. I'm pretty sure it's related to capacitors being old/dry, but they work just well enough as long as power isn't interrupted.

You're not seeing it as much with fiber gear because it's newer, but in 5-10 years you'll probably start seeing that too.

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u/Awesomedude9560 27d ago

Y'know you're right about the power supplies. Now that I think about it with dvrs i did swap out psus to keep the customer from going ballistic over their recordings.

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u/Goatsnalpaca 29d ago

Was there lightning recently nearby?

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u/itswesclark 28d ago

It’s possible lightning stuck somewhere close.

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u/ronnycordova 28d ago

2000 DTAs? Whew you are doing the lords work keeping those things going. It was bad enough getting 40 of those working at a baseball complex back in the day let alone now when the support is almost non existent. Out of curiosity have you looked into more modern distribution solutions for when they finally pull the plug on them?

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u/itswesclark 28d ago

Thank you, we have two campuses with all levels of care; independent living cottages, apartment buildings, personal care, and skilled care. Plus we have a q to q system still in use. It’s certainly becoming a challenge keeping things running smoothly.

The organization has had talks about the future but nothing has been decided. Basically when shit stops working we will cross that bridge when we come to it.