The buzztv devices would be a great improvement over that Mag device, but sounds like some disappointment that the mag is mal-functioning.
So I'd like to add that maybe it has something to do with the audio.video connection(s). Does this mag have hdmi ?
Try changing that out or try using the RCA connections thru AV PORT ON THE BACK OF THE mAG DEVICE.
Could also be inner issues with the Mag, and this is more likely since you still have video working thru connections (the channel list) . The hdmi port may be mal-functioning or codecs aren't being recognized or etc... That mag254w3 is an old design and tech. It may have been 'new' only a year ago but that is only because they added the w3 , which is built in WiFI version 3.
But Nothing else was changed from the old original 254 model (really old).
Well nothing except maybe the Stalker middleware changed out as well.