CDJ 1000's no timecode response & thru option

I'm sure this has been discussed but I searched and couldn't find anything.
Turned up at a club last night, plugged my shit in and got no timecode response. Had it set up for CD/line input, hit the calibrate button but no joy. Had to go fully internal mode.
Anyone know WTF is up with that? I was using regular phono leads and not the multicores but shouldn't affect it should it?

Also, when I sort this problem out can I use the thru function to play regular CD's if I use regular phono's and not the multicores?

Thanks a lot