Is this what you would call, a loss of color lock? It happened while watching my DVR. But here's the kicker, my DVD, VCR, and SEGA Genesis are not having this problem.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/colorlock.jpg

Is this a sign of a weak tube or crystal, or a sign of just a DVR going bad?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/Evilweredragon/colors.jpg
(from my DVD player running video essentials).

Thing is, right when I pulled out a RCA XL100 (90's model) it started working so I was unable to test the DVR.

Loss of color synch should result in horizontal or diagonal RGB color stripes. The effect you have reminds me of a VCR playing a tape that is not tracking right, but the signal comes from a DVR so that does not seem right. I'm leaning towards the DVR having an issue.

Hmm, I was afraid you'd say that. This is probably the 8th DVR I've had in the past 12 years, all for various issues, from my cable company.

Of course, if I have a tech come out, you know what they'd say: "We don't support these old TV's and the TV is the problem". :(

Ugh, maybe I'll return it and just get a Tivo.

Try tweaking the fine tuning and horizontal hold and see if it pops in. I have seen color lock issues that kinda look like that and the dvr could just be off far enough the color afc can't bring it in.

Ok if it happens again I'll try that, thanks.

So it did it again. This time I tried what was recommended, but it wouldn't work.

I then tried the composite output going to an RF modulator and it was fine. So it looks like the DVR's built in RF modulator is just dead.