comcast cable error retrieving data error 4

ok let me tell you how i was able to fix this problem.

i too was getting this error. what happen i had a vcr and i was running the vcr before the tv so the signal was not strong enough to the cable box converter. so what i did, i disconnected the cable from the vcr and run it directly to the cable box. after like 5 minutes, i was able to access channel 1 on demand without any problems.

so if you are having this same problem is because the signal to the converter box is very weak. if you just added another device to your system, its probably suckking all the cable signal.

my advise is to buy a splitter and run the other device from the splitter and the other to the cable box.

at first i thot it was comcast fault, but it turned out that it was mine all along.

anyway, i hope this helps someone outthese.

bye

ive had the same issue. it doesnt happen with my non-hd boxes, only my hd one.

please tell me again how i can fix this problem i need to know because i keep getting this erorr : error 4 comcast cable on demand.. and i dont know what to do next. comcast cable's ondemand is a worthless service that doesnt work for crap, everytime this happens i get angry. when i call them they tell me that they will send a tech to my house. but i still get "error 4" all the time does anyone know what this is? if we go to on demand, this error pops up and asks us to call their customer service line. why we can't use comcast's on demand services. if i directly ... filter - it doesn't work - i just get a communications error i have an error 4 message when i try on demand, but i guess these are the the joys of using a comcast dvr. hahahaha, the comcast cable error retrieving data error 4 general errors give me to access the ondemand cable. i was able to access the on demand channel y before i got this error, not no more. so i called their support and they asked me what i was getting i told them comcast cable error retrieving data error 4, i told the guy today i just picked up a hd box from the local comcast office and when i hit on demand i get the error 4.but on the standard digital box in my bedroom on works but not the hd box in the living room. i told my wife i found the answer here, she said to disconnect that box and just connect the cable to the hd box, after like y4 minutes i waited and it worked. now i can enjoyed my hd channels on my hd tv which they look great. thanks to your advice here i was able to figure out.

cableguy45........ya saved me alot of head scratchin'. yer 5x5 in my book and i will pass it on!

yeah that was my problem, i just bought a new dvd recorder and had the cable ran through it, and i guess it just slipped past my mind to check that, so i was kinda puzzled, thinking about calling comcast about this but like always i try to find a solution online if i can. i have it ran through a splitter now and every thing is up and running fine now! so thanks so much!

what if you haven't added any components? one day it's working fine, the next, and for the next 3 weeks, nothing. i've made no changes to my setup. any ideas? short of dealing with their crappy customer service, i mean?

thanks cableguy44...i called the activation number after moving all splitters to the line coming out of the cable box from the wall.

i now get to the on demand menu after calling the activation number again. content was available after a few minutes. thanks for the tip!

im getting this error

error retrieving data
Request faile. please try again. if problem continues please call 1-800-COMCAST. reference (ERR-4) when calling

i want to say that the service at comcast sucks. my cable is always breaking i get no signal all the time while im enjoying my tv. im thinking about swtiching to satellite

yes me too i like to put a complaint against comcast service. i pay 120 dollars a month for premium service and this is what i get so many problems. its too expensive for crappy service. where can i put a formal complaints with comcast cable company this sucks man. now my problem is i always get this annoying error when im watching my favorite shows:

one mome please
this channel should be available shortly.

thanks for the splitter solution. however, i disagree this is your fault (or mine, or any other comcast customer's) -- the cable should be able to run through the vcr and it fact, that is how their technician initially set it up. however, i noted that when i called to make an appt for their technician to come to my house, they said there would be a $28 charge if it turned out to be my fault -- so no doubt they would have blamed it on me. thanks again! (can't wait until at&t's service comes to my area -- dvr is shared in multiple rooms, no extra charge!)

the error 4 message is a communication proroblem that occurs when the cable box is not receiving a strong enough signal. you can check the diagnostics by 1)turning off the cable box. 2)pressing the ok/select button. {this should bring up the diagnostics screen} 3) checking the upstream power levels. {they should be between 30-60 and should not be fluxuating. if they are, the box usually needs to be replaced.
you can also check the interactive menu to make sure the box is getting an ip address.

now...usually...the cable company can send "refresh signals" to the cable box. what this does is it tries to connect to the head end.
always check your connections.
if there is a bad coax feeding the cable box, you will have problems. if the cable or cables coming from the box to the tv are not connected properly, this can cause problems. hdmi cables, component cables and coax cables can sometimes go bad.

there are alot of ways into on demand. try out a couple ways to get in.

same problem. it makes you look crazy. when the cable guy arrives it's working again. mine goes out frequently. it not only prevents me from using on demand it also knocks out my cable internet

hi hammer. i tried doing the diagnostics, but after i turned off the cable box and press the ok/select button, nothing happened. is there another step i'm missing?

i i got the sme problem. it always says that i had error 4 problem. i coudnt fix that, i tried to call the cabel opreter but it sucks

i got comcast triple play and i dont like it my fone acts up and my internet im be gettin a different service

i had the exact same problem. ran the diagnostics check myself too. steps are actually to power it off then hit the okay/select button.

turns out the coax coming from the wall was the problem. easy fix. just replace the coax cable. unplug, and plus it back in.

on demand and everything back.

i agree to though, i shouldn't have to troubleshoot like a technician for 35 minutes, while still paying $120/month.

....all of these fixes are temporary. i tried them all and they work for that 1 time but after a few hours or when i go back to the tv, it happens again. am i having a different probelm?

for those of you have never had problems before and now get error 4 (weak signal) the reason for that may be that cable is a shared media, so new homes or a new apartment complex built in your area with cable service can weaken the signal that you are getting. that happened at our location and a comcast tech had to add a signal booster to our line (because we split the signal three times for three different tvs). after a few weeks we had problems again because comcast added a signal repeater to the system and now we were getting too strong a signal (at least according to the tech). he removed the splitter and things were fine again. so cable systems are not "steady-state" they are always changing the network.

i'm having hte error 4 message for my on demand as well. i did the diagnostics thing and my box isn't getting an ip address...how can this be fixed?

i'm have the same problem getting on-demand, but with a different message -
"we're sorry. therse has been an error processing your request. please call customer support and report theat error code z has occurred."

any suggestions?

looking for the error description of
4.4.4 (unable to route: dns lookup failure)

Since COmcast recent improvements to COMcast HD I have had nothing but problems. They always have the same answerem get a new box. Well maybe they need to get new boxes instead of these recondition POS's. I have a month of recorded programs I am going to lose again because of this problem. I am sure Comcast will continue to abuse customers and blow off their issues. Their service level is unacceptable and something needs to be done. At least now people can start to protest against NBC.