Thanks. :) So to take advantage of this option you need to mod a dvd player? If one had a player that allowed 480i from the HDMI output how do you go from HDMI out to the input of the SDI card (looks like a single BNC connector to me)?

Out of the box the iScans will support 480i HDMI in on the HDMI port. You only need the SDI card if you want to attach an SDI device.

- Collin

I agree with you Flint350. On other displays I am sure it does a wonderful job. All I am saying is that on my Samsung HLR- 6768w 1080P DLP the pic is not improved at all with the VP30. In fact, during the comparison time-period where I was switching the HDMI cables back and forth dozens of times to look at the impact of the VP30 vs no VP30, I finally judged the pic to be best with the VP30 connected but when I looked at the cable hookup, the VP30 wasn't actually connected at all. The best pic for me is with the Sammy doing all the work alone.

I've been trying to get native 1:1 pixel mapping for this plasma with no success. If anyone has this display or an idea on how to get this to work with the VP30 I would be grateful. I have tried the setting for the PD-5030 with no luck....

Byron

I agree with you Flint350. On other displays I am sure it does a wonderful job. All I am saying is that on my Samsung HLR- 6768w 1080P DLP the pic is not improved at all with the VP30. In fact, during the comparison time-period where I was switching the HDMI cables back and forth dozens of times to look at the impact of the VP30 vs no VP30, I finally judged the pic to be best with the VP30 connected but when I looked at the cable hookup, the VP30 wasn't actually connected at all. The best pic for me is with the Sammy doing all the work alone.

It really is a shame that Samsung didn't support 1080p over HDMI on these sets. Well, that and the fact that they are forcing DNIe on permanently. I guarantee you wouldn't be returning your VP30 if you could send it pixel mapped digital 1080p. I have used iScans (HD+ & VP30) with two different Samsung 720p (HD2 & HD3) sets and the picture is phenomenal. I am particularly fond of my wobulated set on which DVDs look remarkably like projected film. These 1080p sets could have been even better. Oh well. Silly Samsung.

- Collin

It all depends on what a scaler offers you. I think the SDI mod improves my DVD picture. I like being able to sync my audio and video. But, it is a personal decision. I am scheduling a calibration for my TV. Some people want that done and others think is not necessary.

Well, that and the fact that they are forcing DNIe on permanently.

On the 720p sets that can be overcome in the service menu, though it's a bit tricky and takes some time (one setting has to be changed from over 12000 down to 0 and you need to hold the remote button down a loooong time - or tape it). But it can be done. On the 1080p, I don't know, but it's probably the same.

Nope wobuation shouldn't have anything to do with it. The wobulated 720p sets can do 1:1 pixel mapping of a 720p signal just fine. The 1080p set should theoretically be able to do the same with a 1080p signal.

- Collin

thanks. so I gather it's just the samsung panel itself not handling 1080i properly.

for that matter I guess not many displays can take 1080p digitally. So one of the VP30's real benefit, a better scaler for SD material, cannot be used.

well I'm still at the 720p "era" so not so bad. I'm actually very interested to know how much of an improvement (if there is any) the VP30 has over HD+, on dvds and SD video materials, including PAL. The additonal HDMI switching, HD component transcoding etc are not really that useful to me. Could any HD+ upgraders comment ? Thanks. (I'm on a 10 ft wide screen so even a 5% improvement is significant).

thanks. so I gather it's just the samsung panel itself not handling 1080i properly.

for that matter I guess not many displays can take 1080p digitally. So one of the VP30's real benefit, a better scaler for SD material, cannot be used.

well I'm still at the 720p "era" so not so bad. I'm actually very interested to know how much of an improvement (if there is any) the VP30 has over HD+, on dvds and SD video materials, including PAL. The additonal HDMI switching, HD component transcoding etc are not really that useful to me. Could any HD+ upgraders comment ? Thanks. (I'm on a 10 ft wide screen so even a 5% improvement is significant).

It's very hard to quantize PQ improvement. I had previously posted saying it was about 1-2% better than the HD+, though after having lived with the VP30 for a couple weeks I'd say it's pushing 5% better. It's a subtle improvement, nothing like the leap in quality when going from component to SDI, which I would rate in the 15-20% better range. Overall the picture appears smoother/clearer. Gradations are more subtle particularly in shadow detail. There's an improvement in the overall cohesiveness to the picture that's hard to explain, perhaps even more film-like is the best description. I've also noticed that large scaling factors like zooming in on a non-anamorphic DVD seem significantly clearer. The additional sharpness control is also nice as it is more sophisticated than the standard dithering approach on most sets. A couple steps up can subtly sharpen the picture in a pleasant way. Much more than that and things can become a bit too pixelated for my tastes. My set is a 50" DLP with an 8 bit RGB internal pipeline. On a larger screen with a projector capable of utilizing a higher bit depth HDMI signal I would expect the improvement to be much more significant. Someone else will have to confirm that however.

- Collin

I've been trying to get native 1:1 pixel mapping for this plasma with no success. If anyone has this display or an idea on how to get this to work with the VP30 I would be grateful. I have tried the setting for the PD-5030 with no luck....

Byron
I take it you looked at this thread, http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=394174 I gave my results in getting 1:1 on my 5010. The trick on mine as you can read was actually having to set everything through the analog connection first, then switching to DVI (digital). This took me many days of trial and error to finally figure this out.

Not sure if your newer model still acts the same way. I would be happy to help you in any way I can, feel free to PM me.

Here's an interesting tidbit for you Samsung 1080p guys. This is quoted from the massive thread on the RPTV Forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6552192&&#post6552192

1:1 pixel mapping not really active
Not good news here. There's a service menu setting called 1080I_OVERSCAN that is set to off by default. I don't remember which sub-menu it's under, but it's hidden somewhere unintuitive. When viewing the pixel multi-burst pattern from the Accupel HDG3000 disk, it's obvious from the far right column that the Sammy wasn't mapping pixels 1:1 over any of the inputs (HDMI, component, etc). Then Steve did some experimenting with the 1080I_OVERSCAN setting: he turned it on and then back off, and guess what? 1:1 mapping started working! So, despite being off by default, it doesn't actually work unless you go in there and turn it on and back off. Weird. The bad part is that the setting doesn't stick. Turning off the TV keeps the value set to off, but the test pattern clearly shows that the set no longer exhibits 1:1 pixel mapping. Of course, going into the service menu and turning it off every time you watch TV is an option, but he couldn't find a permanent workaround. Hopefully, Samsung will fix this in a future firmware upgrade.

- Collin

If I had a VP30 would it be better to input from a DVD 480i or should I input 480p assuming thats what standard progressive DVD players output (which resolution would the VP30 output the best quality picture?)?

If I had a VP30 would it be better to input from a DVD 480i or should I input 480p assuming thats what standard progressive DVD players output (which resolution would the VP30 output the best quality picture?)?

480i definitely. Leave the DVD player as just a transport and let the VP30 do all the work.

- Collin

480i definitely. Leave the DVD player as just a transport and let the VP30 do all the work.

- Collin

Thanks for the reply. Right now I'm thinking of maybe just getting the DVDO iScan HD+ which is $700 less that the VP30 if all I get is a 2% improvement over the HD+. I assume I can get an adaptor to go from HDMI to DVI is that right?

Thanks for the reply. Right now I'm thinking of maybe just getting the DVDO iScan HD+ which is $700 less that the VP30 if all I get is a 2% improvement over the HD+. I assume I can get an adaptor to go from HDMI to DVI is that right?

You should wait for few days and see what CES brings. Its true the upgrade in picture is no more than 5% but there is alot more to it. It has 5 digital inputs (4hdmi and 1 sdi) instead of the max 2 on the hd+ (1 sdi, 1 dvi). It has alot more power and memory for future changes i for one fully expect we will see a dropin board for a new deinterlacer or alteast a very good upgrade to a new model that has one.

I for one would wait a few more days (we have a even more clear picture of what is coming) and base the choice between the growing paths of both units. I as many here
have used a HD+ for a while and now have a vp30 the main reason for many is not what the vp30 can do now but also what it will allow you todo in the future (even if that means using it as a upgrade tool).

Daniel.

Here's an interesting tidbit for you Samsung 1080p guys. This is quoted from the massive thread on the RPTV Forum

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6552192&&#post6552192

1:1 pixel mapping not really active
Not good news here. There's a service menu setting called 1080I_OVERSCAN that is set to off by default. I don't remember which sub-menu it's under, but it's hidden somewhere unintuitive. When viewing the pixel multi-burst pattern from the Accupel HDG3000 disk, it's obvious from the far right column that the Sammy wasn't mapping pixels 1:1 over any of the inputs (HDMI, component, etc). Then Steve did some experimenting with the 1080I_OVERSCAN setting: he turned it on and then back off, and guess what? 1:1 mapping started working! So, despite being off by default, it doesn't actually work unless you go in there and turn it on and back off. Weird. The bad part is that the setting doesn't stick. Turning off the TV keeps the value set to off, but the test pattern clearly shows that the set no longer exhibits 1:1 pixel mapping. Of course, going into the service menu and turning it off every time you watch TV is an option, but he couldn't find a permanent workaround. Hopefully, Samsung will fix this in a future firmware upgrade.

- Collin
I will have to check that out tonight. I forgot all about that 1080i overscan setting. Although I don't expect a firmware upgrade that can be user installed from Samsung, but you never know.

480i definitely. Leave the DVD player as just a transport and let the VP30 do all the work.

- Collin

Maybe. Couldn't it depend on how good your player is? I'm running a Denon 1600, and the picture is as good, if not better, when I feed the VP 480p. -haven't looked at test patterns yet, so purely subjective, but I can testify that on actual program material, 480p doesn't look degraded by my player.

My VP30 is currently doing all I need it to do; I only have an SD display and SD material/sources, but I bought it to be somewhat future proof, and for the switching possibilities, plus it has given me a noticeable improvement in PQ on my SD material over the iScan HD I had before. I don't use the audio inputs though, as I use the lip-sync function on my Arcam AVR300 for that.

However:

Looking forward in time, I imagine - maybe as soon as this year - that I'll be buying a fully HD capable TV set (1920x1080 LCD etc.). And then maybe another year ahead, I might have a 1920x1080 source as well.

When that time comes - with a 1080i source and a 1080p TV, would it then be best to route the source signal around the VP30 instead of through it?

Or do you think there'll be a hardware upgrade that will let the VP30 do proper deinterlacing of 1080i by that time?

Maybe I'm looking a bit too far ahead...

Anyway - I'm happy with the VP30 this far. :)

My VP-30 arrived yesterday, and in preperation for the install (it'll be a couple of days as I have some required HDMI cables on order), I was going to make sure I had my new Harmony 880 controls set up for the unit. I just got the existing system configuration all squared away and really love what the 880 does for enhanced all-in-one usability of my A/V setup (55" LCDRP HDTV/DVD recorder/DVD jukebox/E* 942 HD dvr reciever/D-Vhs/Laserdisc/PS2/Audio Authority Toslink switch/AV receiver amp/Eyehome iTunes media server via Airport Express ethernet/and yes cassette and turntable--that's a lot of wiring back there)...now I've got to re-wire the entire thing.

In short, I noticed others on the thread asserting that they had to manually enter HDMI inputs and do a lot of tweaking to get their Activities to work correctly...is this still the case? I was hoping that with the additional week or so post-holiday the instruction set off the Harmony website might be more comprehensive. If not, any other pointers would be great as I can have the remote as ready-to-go as possible and that's just one more item checked off this long list of to-do's I have ahead of me.

When that time comes - with a 1080i source and a 1080p TV, would it then be best to route the source signal around the VP30 instead of through it?

Or do you think there'll be a hardware upgrade that will let the VP30 do proper deinterlacing of 1080i by that time?



That will depend on what your 1080p tv has onboard at the time - but I can testify that I tried 1080p last night on the Orange Bowl - fed the VP30 720p, output 1080p to my 980Ultra. Hard to tell, since 1080p is SO overspec for my pj, but other than the expected softness, it looked pretty nice. Actually made the long shots look better, tho the closeups suffered a touch.

Let's hope the 1080p set you end up getting looks better than the Mits I looked at over the holidays - I'll take my abused Runco over them any day of the week, even if it isn't 1080p ready. ;)

I am finding that I need the remote for my VP30 to be exactly perpendicular to the front of the box for it to correctly receive and process the IR signal. If I am off by only a slight angle (horizontal or vertical) the signal does not get received.

Has anyone else noticed this? None of my other remotes are this touchy.

I am finding that I need the remote for my VP30 to be exactly perpendicular to the front of the box for it to correctly receive and process the IR signal. If I am off by only a slight angle (horizontal or vertical) the signal does not get received.

Has anyone else noticed this? None of my other remotes are this touchy.

Yes, there was quite a lot of discussion on this a few pages back. It's a definite problem on the VP30.

My VP-30 arrived yesterday, and in preperation for the install (it'll be a couple of days as I have some required HDMI cables on order), I was going to make sure I had my new Harmony 880 controls set up for the unit. I just got the existing system configuration all squared away and really love what the 880 does for enhanced all-in-one usability of my A/V setup (55" LCDRP HDTV/DVD recorder/DVD jukebox/E* 942 HD dvr reciever/D-Vhs/Laserdisc/PS2/Audio Authority Toslink switch/AV receiver amp/Eyehome iTunes media server via Airport Express ethernet/and yes cassette and turntable--that's a lot of wiring back there)...now I've got to re-wire the entire thing.

In short, I noticed others on the thread asserting that they had to manually enter HDMI inputs and do a lot of tweaking to get their Activities to work correctly...is this still the case? I was hoping that with the additional week or so post-holiday the instruction set off the Harmony website might be more comprehensive. If not, any other pointers would be great as I can have the remote as ready-to-go as possible and that's just one more item checked off this long list of to-do's I have ahead of me.

As of 3 weeks ago this was still the case, you will need to enter the inputs selections manually, with VIDEO-1 at the top and end with AUTO, the same order it is listed in the VP30 manual.

I am finding that I need the remote for my VP30 to be exactly perpendicular to the front of the box for it to correctly receive and process the IR signal. If I am off by only a slight angle (horizontal or vertical) the signal does not get received.

Has anyone else noticed this? None of my other remotes are this touchy.
The best solution to this seems to be to get a inexpensive IR repeater setup. The problem seems to be that the receiver eye on the VP30 is recessed too far in the front panel. I already use a repeater for all my equipment but with the VP30 I found I had to put the sending unit directly over the eye on the VP30, positioning it to the side did not work. The VP30 remote or Harmony remote now works from 30' plus at any angle the IR pickup can see the remote.

If you went for the repeater, is the Hot Link system the one 'of choice'?

And if you wanted to forego that and stick with (get it, 'stick with'?) an adhesive IR prism--what would you get? I've seen a couple of models listed, wondering whose having actual success w/ the VP-30 w/ them before ordering, however.

If you went for the repeater, is the Hot Link system the one 'of choice'?

And if you wanted to forego that and stick with (get it, 'stick with'?) an adhesive IR prism--what would you get? I've seen a couple of models listed, wondering whose having actual success w/ the VP-30 w/ them before ordering, however.
This is the one I used, although I don't think I paid quite that much for it. No doubt there are less expensive solutions. I have not tried the stick-on optical eye mentioned earlier by Mark Rubin so I can't comment on it's performance. The Hot Link setup works perfect though.

http://www.smarthome.com/8225p.html
Hot Link Pro

I am suprised that no one has mentioned the color problems with the VP30, my perfectly calibrated beautiful Color decoder is now trashed after adding the VP30 in the chain :(

This I don't get, the test patterns that the VP30 outputs are spot on :), but the actual video(from any source HDMI/SDI/Svideo/Component) is trashed when output :(

Green is severly undersaturated, yellow and cyan are also screwed, red is over saturated

I am using RGB from DVI output, my TV sets color decoder parameters are maxed out for green saturation and other controls, but I think I have gotten things pretty close, but boy did the VP30 skew things

DVDO we would all be so happy if you would give us hue/sat controls for red blue and green in the picture controls or even in the output section, this would give the entire world a chance to have spot on colors from each source

is this possible from the VP30 ??

-Gary

I sent a couple IR prisims to a VP-30 user and he said they helped some, but not a lot

DVDO we would all be so happy if you would give us hue/sat controls for red blue and green in the picture controls or even in the output section, this would give the entire world a chance to have spot on colors from each source

is this possible from the VP30 ??

-Gary
Yes!!! Please - that was one reason I "had" to have the VP - I wanted a hue control, only to find that it is grayed out for everything except 480i. My biggest bitch with my Samsung 165 box is it's red push - I don't think the VP30 makes it any worse, but neither does it give the user any way to correct things. Or if it does, I haven't found them.

And I tried a couple stick on prisms - thanks to Mark :D - but they really did not help much. If I orient two of them just right, and then point the remote to a point on the ceiling (a very small point) I can make the remote function at an extended distance. While it is entertaining, much like lining up a tricky bank shot, it isn't much fun when trying to make changes to settings on the VP30.

Jon

the way they are intended to work is use just one: apply the flat surface directly over the IR eye

the VP30 eye must be recessed deep into the chassis for these to have such little effect

Oh well: it was worth a try

I'm suprised that the IR problem was not picked up by testers if it is a hardware issue (placement of eye). Seems like a simple issue that could have been solved. SJ

I am suprised that no one has mentioned the color problems with the VP30, my perfectly calibrated beautiful Color decoder is now trashed after adding the VP30 in the chain :(

This I don't get, the test patterns that the VP30 outputs are spot on :), but the actual video(from any source HDMI/SDI/Svideo/Component) is trashed when output :(

Green is severly undersaturated, yellow and cyan are also screwed, red is over saturated

I'm not experiencing anything like that. I did have to recalibrate my color, brightness, and contrast to different settings than what I had been using on the HD+, but once I did that everything looks excellent.

Question to those who've talked up the great things the VP-30 does for DVD PQ...anyone care to post some 'before'/'after' pics? I've read comments like "HD-like" and would love to see some images of standard def DVDs pre-and-post VP-30 processing to see exactly what we're talking about here. I won't be able to hook up mine for a few days/week, but would love to see some of these tangible/qualitative results that I can shoot for when I do.

(And if anyone still has a LaserDisc player in their system, that'd be cool too.)

Jon

the way they are intended to work is use just one: apply the flat surface directly over the IR eye

the VP30 eye must be recessed deep into the chassis for these to have such little effect

Oh well: it was worth a try

Ok - thought so. That is what I did, to no discernable difference. As you say, worth a try, but in my case it didn't help. But it IS fun to play with. Say, during commercials of a Bowl Game. :) -

And no - no real color problems. My 980 isn't professionally calibrated (few crt experts here in Iowa :) ) but being an NEC based machine, color isn't something I have major problems with. TFE looks the same on my machine as it does on the "after" screenshots someone posted last week, after a pro calibration of their Marquee 9500. I'm very happy with the VP30 - not to give anyone a wrong idea on the quality of the unit. I am only posting my niggling bitches because there is an EXCELLENT chance that DVDO will fix them, if they are made aware of them. I would not hesitate to recommend one to anyone with a crt, the only cavaet being that if they have a lot more money to spend, there are quite possibly better solutions. And of course, there are more in the pipeline. But for what they cost, it is pretty nice. I plan to keep mine, weak IR and all, until the next one comes out.

Can someone interpret this for us "laypeople" and what it might might mean, if anything, for the VP30 and rumored VP40?

http://www.broadcastbuyer.tv/publish/article_6525.shtml

Thanks!

- Gerry

GerryWaz,

Those are probably some of the technologies that will appear in the "VP40" later on, but this would seem to be a demo for other OEM customers (like Denon) who want to incorporate the ABT chips and code into their products. I would guarantee that DVDO is already in the loop on these.

Considering that these are just now being demoed, I wouldn't expect a "VP40" any time soon. It is something to look forward to, though.

Now what was that expansion-looking-connector on the VP30 board for....??

:)

-John

In simplest terms (bcz that's about all I understand) - it sounds like they are expanding their deals with OEM's to supply their scaling and de-interlacing technologies as "built-ins" in other products. I know they used to be one of the suppliers of the outboard scaler sold with the 2 unit high end JVC projectors. I imagine it's much like HQV and Gennum are now doing with some manufacturers. Yamaha's new DPX-1300 includes built-in scaling tech licensed from Realta HQV which gives the unit built-in 10 bit processing.

It also sounds like this IS the VP40 they are talking about, with new de-interlacing of 1080i and other advanced features hoped for by those just buying the VP30. If not the actual VP40, it's certainly a taste. Timeframe for production and upgradability will be the new topics around here, I think.

I get the same exagerated IMG_0951 pattern when the VP30 sends a 1080i image to the Samsung 1080p HL-R6178W. I haven't tried inputting 720p. I don't understand why the 720p input appears correct. I assume that the TV is converting both inputs to '1080p'. Does this mean that the 720p input results in a 'native' image after it's converted to 1080p?

There are only two aspect modes available in the TV when you send 720p or 1080i : 16:9 or 4:3.

I'm looking forward to the results of arronwt's research.

I checked tonight and the 1080i overscan setting definitely affects the 1:1 mapping when you input 1080i. When I turned on the set everything was fine and when I turned 1080i overscan on I got the pattern you don't want. When I turned it off the pattern was correct for the 1:1 mapping. I don't know why I was getting the wrong pattern the other day unless it had something to do with the output of the VP30. Anyway it looks as it should for 1:1 mapping right now.

Are all of DVDO at CES currently? And is it likely that they therefore won't reply to e-mails until next week? I'm trying to get an RMA # for my old iScan HD unit so I can return it, and I did get a reply last Friday, but haven't heard from them since then.

I need to do the same thing for my HD+. How long do I have to send my HD+ to them? I received the VP30 on the 16th of December.

The upgrade page says 30 days (international upgrade), so you're starting to run out of time soon. Could be that they'll cut you some slack though, what with the holidays in there and all.

Oh I see it now. I guess I have 60 days since I'm in the US.

Are all of DVDO at CES currently? And is it likely that they therefore won't reply to e-mails until next week? I'm trying to get an RMA # for my old iScan HD unit so I can return it, and I did get a reply last Friday, but haven't heard from them since then.
Tim Strommen is the person at DVDO taking care of the trade-ins. You should be able to contact him at tim@dvdo.com.

should the software version still read 1.00 after updating with the 1080i bug fix ??

-Gary

should the software version still read 1.00 after updating with the 1080i bug fix ??

-Gary
Yes.

So the benefits of using the VP30 besides scaling is that it's an automatic switch for the mess of inputs most have plus the ability to set an audio delay right? Are you able to set up the audio delay for each input? Also I was wondering if I had say a DVD playing that has a 2.35:1 aspect ratio can I adjust the picture to get rid of the bottom and top black bars?

If the video scaling for the VP30 is no better than the HD+ I'm sort of leaning for the HD+.

So the benefits of using the VP30 besides scaling is that it's an automatic switch for the mess of inputs most have plus the ability to set an audio delay right? Are you able to set up the audio delay for each input? Also I was wondering if I had say a DVD playing that has a 2.35:1 aspect ratio can I adjust the picture to get rid of the bottom and top black bars?

If the video scaling for the VP30 is no better than the HD+ I'm sort of leaning for the HD+.

You can pretty much adjust the aspect ratio however you like. You should download the manual from the DVDO site to see how flexible it is. The HD+ has the same aspect ratio controls, though the VP30 will eventually have more flexibility once the promised non-linear scaling update ships.

If you want to get rid of the black bars when displaying a 2.35:1 source on a 1.78:1 set your going to have to crop or distort the image. That's not how I'd want to watch it, but you can do it.

- Collin

You can pretty much adjust the aspect ratio however you like. You should download the manual from the DVDO site to see how flexible it is. The HD+ has the same aspect ratio controls, though the VP30 will eventually have more flexibility once the promised non-linear scaling update ships.

If you want to get rid of the black bars when displaying a 2.35:1 source on a 1.78:1 set your going to have to crop or distort the image. That's not how I'd want to watch it, but you can do it.

- Collin

Thanks. If I was to buy the VP30 would it be better to purchase it from the DVDO site or some other on-line dealer? I assume that the VP30 is the only scaler out there with a price most can afford?

I checked tonight and the 1080i overscan setting definitely affects the 1:1 mapping when you input 1080i. When I turned on the set everything was fine and when I turned 1080i overscan on I got the pattern you don't want. When I turned it off the pattern was correct for the 1:1 mapping. I don't know why I was getting the wrong pattern the other day unless it had something to do with the output of the VP30. Anyway it looks as it should for 1:1 mapping right now.

Thanks. I didn't try that, but I understand that it doesn't 'stick' and reverts back to 'on' when the set's turned off. I did disable the two DNIe parameters noted in Bigray327's 11/17/05 post (#7139; AVS Forum > Display Devices > Rear Projection Units Samsung 1080p Owner's Thread --- HLRxxx8W DLP Models ). That seemed to have a visible improvement. Remember: you have to reset your custom settings on the Samsung. At the moment, I'm just using 'Movie'. Looks great!

All video sources are routed into the VP30 (Directv HR10-250 by HDMI; Pioneer DV-79Avi by HDMI; and Comcast HD DVR by component) and then to the Samsung by HDMI. This weekend I'll try calibrating with DVE. Should I adjust with the TV's settings or use the VP30's? Or use the VP30's test signals? Any thoughts

Thanks

So the benefits of using the VP30 besides scaling is that it's an automatic switch for the mess of inputs most have plus the ability to set an audio delay right? Are you able to set up the audio delay for each input?

The scaler also allows you to calibrate and save the picture settings of each input source independently. The delay to sync up the audio with the video after it has been scaled is automatic, but you can also set longer manual delays for each input if you need.

Also I was wondering if I had say a DVD playing that has a 2.35:1 aspect ratio can I adjust the picture to get rid of the bottom and top black bars?

You can zoom the picture to crop off the sides, but why would you want to?

I've had my unit now for 10 days and it has worked well. Yesterday my VP 30 reported no signal on HDMI 4 to which is connected my HR10-250. I plugged my other 2 devices into HDMI 4 with different cables and still "no signal". I've performed a factory reset and still no luck. Any ideas (other than get a new unit from DVDO)?

Try a hard reboot-- unplug for a minute or so and plug in again, Sometimes this works

Every time that I turn back on the VP30 and plasma, the picture appears for a few seconds and then a grey 'curtain' moves across the screen and the blue light blinks on the VP30 indicating that the HDCP handshake didn't occur.

This happens every time. If I leave the VP30 powered on and just turn the plasma off and then on it still happens. If I leave the plasma on and turn the VP30 off and on it still happens.

The only way that I can recover the picture is to either, hard reset the VP30 or, through the output setup menu turn the HDCP setting off and then on.

The VP30 is feeding a Pan TH-65PHT7UY through a DVI blade.

Any thoughts or ideas?

exile i have the same problem with sharp 45 gx6u bypassing the avc box completely i have tried messin gwith all the functions and i cannot figure it out, so if you come up with a solution please post.
-rob

Gary, where did you find the update?
Also, do you guys think that it would be ok to leave the serial cable plugged into the serial port of the VP 30 permanently? It just makes things alot easier to update if I don't have to take VP30 out of my rack every time I need to do an update.

I've had my serial cable plugged in since I updated the Firmware on December 19th. Everything seems fine. It's definitely much easier to leave it connected. Unless someone from DVDO says otherwise, I plan on leaving mine connected

50phd7uy owner here...

I get a fair picture at the V30's 720p or 1080i output... but with the goal being 1:1 output pixel mapping I am stumped.

When try to select the V30's "1368x720" output I get a blank screen (via both the component and HDMI). I then tried to create a custom user mapped set of timings... These are the settings I used (gathered concensus from a host of posts in this thread):

H-Size: 1366
H-Front: 34
H-Sync: 112
H-Back: 282

V-Size: 768
V-Front: 3
V-Sync: 4
V-Back: 31


Again... just a blank screen... I am total stumped...

Please help.

Brian


Devices and inputs:
Panny S97 DVD via component
SA8300HD via HDMI
Tried Output to Panny Th-50PHD7uy via both HDMI/Component

G'day all

Anyone managed to get 1:1 mapping for Fujitsu P50XHA40US? Could you please post us the VP30 format settings? or is it the same as for 10 series that has been posted before?

Just recently got this VP30 in downunder but our people (Fujitsu, NEC and Panasonic 50" owners) all say 720p@60Hz display the best picture than the 1:1 mapping we were told to setup at 1360x768...

Cheers.

Anyone have a .mxf file for the VP30 that they would like to share? I am uisng the Home Theater Master MX-700

I am using the Mits 65813 RPTV, which native res is 1080i. I am connecting the JVC 5U DVHS and the Moto 6412 phase III to my VP30 via HDMI. I have both set up to output 1080i. Have others found any benefits when running these two devices through the VP30? Is there really any need to hook up the 5U to the VP30? Does the 6412 pass 480i over hdmi? I am wondering if I need to switch the 6412's output to 720, when I am watching a program that is being broadcast at 720p. That way, I would not have to be procesing the image twice? I geusss the smae woould also be true for the 5U/

Keep Losing Signal

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every time that I turn back on the VP30 and plasma, the picture appears for a few seconds and then a grey 'curtain' moves across the screen and the blue light blinks on the VP30 indicating that the HDCP handshake didn't occur.

This happens every time. If I leave the VP30 powered on and just turn the plasma off and then on it still happens. If I leave the plasma on and turn the VP30 off and on it still happens.

The only way that I can recover the picture is to either, hard reset the VP30 or, through the output setup menu turn the HDCP setting off and then on.

The VP30 is feeding a Pan TH-65PHT7UY through a DVI blade.

Any thoughts or ideas?

I'm having similar problems Exile. After setting the settings and I save it as profile 2 and toggle between profile 1 and 2, 2 does not come up unless I re-input the settings for 1366X768 each time...

Guys, I would be interested to see if owners of the VP30 can actually achieve a 1:1 on their displays .... I've purchased the VP30 and have not yet bought a plasma....

I will wait until I have heard some feedback on the forums .... also if anyone from England is reading this here... I'll most likely be trying t osync with 60 & 50hz (Australia).

Cheers,

Marcelo

I have had mine for a week and I called yesterday looking for an RMA#...

Its very possibly me, but on my 62" 1080P Mit Dlp I saw no real difference in HD picture quality and a significantly poorer picture running Direct TV SD through it.

Dvd's also, to my eye, no real significant, $2K buck, improvement..

Like I said it could be me...I am far from an expect with this stuff, a novice at best and it could be this technology is over my head and I just dont get it..

Hey.. at least I tried it..

Anyone have a .mxf file for the VP30 that they would like to share? I am uisng the Home Theater Master MX-700
I don't have the mxf file but the iScanHD+ codes worked just fine for the functions that are common to both devices. The discrete codes for the new HDMI inputs are posted on remotecentral.com, but I just used the 'learn' function for the 2 or 3 new ones that I needed.

50phd7uy owner here...

I get a fair picture at the V30's 720p or 1080i output... but with the goal being 1:1 output pixel mapping I am stumped.

When try to select the V30's "1368x720" output I get a blank screen (via both the component and HDMI). I then tried to create a custom user mapped set of timings... These are the settings I used (gathered concensus from a host of posts in this thread):

H-Size: 1366
H-Front: 34
H-Sync: 112
H-Back: 282

V-Size: 768
V-Front: 3
V-Sync: 4
V-Back: 31


Again... just a blank screen... I am total stumped...

Please help.

Brian


Devices and inputs:
Panny S97 DVD via component
SA8300HD via HDMI
Tried Output to Panny Th-50PHD7uy via both HDMI/Component

I have a 65, and your settings are exactly what I have. The only difference that I can see is that I have DVI, not HDMI, on my plasma. Does the documentation that accompanied your HDMI blade say anything about the range of formats that it can receive?

Every time that I turn back on the VP30 and plasma, the picture appears for a few seconds and then a grey 'curtain' moves across the screen and the blue light blinks on the VP30 indicating that the HDCP handshake didn't occur.

Any thoughts or ideas?

This happened when first connecting the vp30 from HDMI to my DVI display. The grey curtain turned off the image. After making sure HDCP was turned off for both the input & output, the grey curtain disappeared.

Ok, so I overcame the pixel mapping problems, the color space issues (I was getting a color shift when tryin to adjust geometry under 4:2:2... really weird). I also addressed a minor audio lag that occurred...

My HD looks great (always did), my DVD looks really good (macroblocking gone)... but my SD looks like...eh!

Can anyone recommend settings on the source input to maximize the fidelity of my SA8300 cable box... or other sources for that matter...

help?

BG

I am planning to buy a new DVDO VP30 in the near future. I will be integrating it into my HT which will be controlling it by RS232.

In preparation for the event, I have developed a complete VP30 test program written in VB for the PC. I do this for all devices in my system that are RS232 controlled and do it in such a way that I can easily integrate the test system as the actual software controller for the device.

I can only test it now in simulation mode which is built in. To test it for real i just need to plug it into the RS232 port of the VP30 (which I do not yet have). The program allows for the viewing and changing of all parameters and for sending all possible remote commands over the RS232 interface. In addition it will make a text file of all the units current settings, and has the ability to reload said file. This is very handy for saving configurations during test and setup.

If any one would like to loan me a VP30... (just thought I would ask). Naturally if a dealer loans me one I will probably buy it from him and make him a gift of the test program.

If any individual would like to act as my "test arm" I will send him a copy of the program (object) and include the source under NDA and no redistribution rules if the individual feels they are qualified and have the tools to assist me (VB 6 compiler). Any who assist me get a copy of the finished program (including source under the NDA and no re distribution of source rule).

All I ask a tester to do is play with it and let me know if there are any issues, what does not work, does anything work (often that way for the first couple of iterations).

Interested parties can email me at barry@the-gordons.net or PM me at this forum. If you want to see other samples of what I have done try my web site www.the-gordons.net. I need to do some documentation, but should have it done by week end. The program is fairly intuitive if you are an experienced windows user, and tend to read what is on the screen

Am I assuming correctly that the VP30 allows custom user timing settings to achieve 1:1 pixel mapping, but the HD+ does not? Thanks.

Hate to bring it up again, but still wondering if anyone has or would have time to cap off some shots 'before'/'after' VP30 processing of DVD output, just so those of us who haven't seen what a quality processor like this should be doing for SD imagery looks like.

Thanks a heap.

Hate to bring it up again, but still wondering if anyone has or would have time to cap off some shots 'before'/'after' VP30 processing of DVD output, just so those of us who haven't seen what a quality processor like this should be doing for SD imagery looks like.

Thanks a heap.

Yeah I would love to see that myself.

Hate to bring it up again, but still wondering if anyone has or would have time to cap off some shots 'before'/'after' VP30 processing of DVD output, just so those of us who haven't seen what a quality processor like this should be doing for SD imagery looks like.

Thanks a heap.
This is really only going to matter to person who posts the caps as the difference can vary depending on equipment and settings. I can tell you that my Denon 5900 was improved dramatically by the addition of SDI and the DVDO product, but this may be an extreme case as the Denon was prone to macroblocking out of the box.

Really the only way to know for sure is to get one and see how it performs in one's individual system. DVDO has a no questions asked 30 day return policy although after looking at their site there's a message that says the VP30 is currently oversold and new orders will be filled when product comes in again. You would have to ask DVDO when that would be.

This happened when first connecting the vp30 from HDMI to my DVI display. The grey curtain turned off the image. After making sure HDCP was turned off for both the input & output, the grey curtain disappeared.

Really? I thought that if HDCP was turned off then any copy protected signals would not be processed. What is your source and display?

Anyway, I tried this and the grey curtain turned to solid black! So it did't work for me and I am still looking for a solution.

Am I assuming correctly that the VP30 allows custom user timing settings to achieve 1:1 pixel mapping, but the HD+ does not? Thanks.

No, you can do it with both.

No, you can do it with both. Thank you. :)

Does the 6412 pass 480i over hdmi?

The phase II does over DVI. In the 6412 menu, set the 4:3 override to 480i.

I am wondering if I need to switch the 6412's output to 720, when I am watching a program that is being broadcast at 720p. That way, I would not have to be procesing the image twice?

Yep.

Shane, SDI dvd into the Iscan Scalers is the best DVD playback I have ever seen and I don't see how it could get any better, very much worth the price to me for that alone

SPeters I have the exact same setup as you, the VP30, a 5u deck and the Mits 65813, make sure that the RGB fix option is enabled in your 5u setup menu, that lets the JVC 5u send RGB out from it's HDMI port, leave the enhanced color option turned off

guys I have narrowed the FUBAR color decoder problems down to the HDMI input, in particular my Dish Network 942 in via HDMI, the input info says it is HDMI RGB but the colors are way wrong

the Dish 942 (when input via component) colors are almost spot on, still not exactly correct though

I am outputting via HDMI RGB

-Gary

[QUOTE=Exile]Really? I thought that if HDCP was turned off then any copy protected signals would not be processed. What is your source and display?

QUOTE]

When first connecting the HDtivo to VP30 via HDMI to HDMI out, the Output HDCP setting was turned off and we got the curtain. After also switching the Input HDCP setting at the VP30 to off, the curtain disappeared. Maybe this didn't apply.

Keep us posted when u find a solution.

guys I have narrowed the FUBAR color decoder problems down to the HDMI input, in particular my Dish Network 942 in via HDMI, the input info says it is HDMI RGB but the colors are way wrong

the Dish 942 (when input via component) colors are almost spot on, still not exactly correct though

I am outputting via HDMI RGB

-Gary

Hi Gary,
is your Menu-->Input Adjust -->colorspace set to "Auto"?

Gary, are you able to get 5.1 sound out from hdmi from the 5U or the 6412, because I can not.

Yes I was able to get 5.1 from the 5u inputted into the VP30 with single HDMI cable, output from coaxial to my Sherwood P-965, the 5u hdmi output is HDCP

Tom I have the input adjust color set to RGB, I think

-Gary

Is anyone noticing a pop in the audio when changing inputs on the VP30? I remember having this initially with the HD but thought that it was later corrected. I also get a pop if I leave the a DVD's menu screen up too long and as the audio loops it seems like the VP30 loses sync for a second then pops.

I could've sworn this was an early problem on the HD that was fixed.

Josh@dvdo any thoughts? Can we have a delayed mute with changing inputs to allow processors to sync instead of that nasty pop?

Andy

AndyN ,
I noticed that my system would also produce this pop when changing sources and changing channels whilst watching digital TV , DVD , Satellite etc ......
I believe the internal switching between the VP30 audio sources is causing some sort of electrical backfeed RF noise through the speakers. The VP30 also adds considerable delay when switching audio between sources.
To be honest I returned all my audio back into my receiver, as the sound was cleaner and the audio comes on almost instantaneously without any popping or such, whilst source swapping. Other than providing Lip Syncing for each individual source through the VP30, the audio has no other real advantage for me as my Arcam AVR300 provides the same Lip Syncing feature for every source anyway !

I've had a pop happen two times so far and each time it was from the same HDTivo. It hasn't happened from my DVD player, other HDTiVo or my SDTivo. I've switched over a hundred times so it doesn't seem to be a problem with mine. I'm using a Denon 3805 if the receiver makes a difference. For my devices the audio comes on as soon as the video is on. This takes a couple of seconds with the HDMi devices and almost instantly for the other devices.

Anyone have a .mxf file for the VP30 that they would like to share? I am uisng the Home Theater Master MX-700

Send me an email at lars158@comcast.net and I can send you my .mxf file for the VP30.

aaronwt and Sparky,

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm sure the problem is equipment dependent and know that my EAD is prone to losing sync. When I change channels or swap tuners on the cable box I get no pop at all. But as a noted, from my dvd player (panny rp82 via component), a simple dvd menu music loop pops everytime the music recycles.

There has to be a fix for this. I just don't remember the HD doing this at all. Besides the lip sync feature, I just like the ease of sending one output to one input on the EAD. Allows the wife to not have to go hunting for the right input. Guess I just have to teach her to hit the mute button first.

Andy

I'm now 3 weeks with my VP30

Except for the HTPC feed from DVI to HDMI going blue on me on switching away and not having the video come back from the ATI video card -- I 'm pleased

I have decided to go ahead and get the SDI card add-in for the VP30 next month and then swap my main DVD player to one with SDI output

I'm currently using a Panasonic S97 via component to the VP30 -- the HDMI out from the player will not play thru the VP30 to my panasonic L500 - mostly likely due to HDCP issues = pain the @$@$#

it's time to try SDI

question is what SDI player to get or should I send my S97 to someone to mod -- I can not do it myself

Is the Denon 2910 with SDI better than a Panasonic S97 with DVI?


If modding the S97 I already have is the better route -- where can I send it for the mod in the US

thanks

www.jvbdigital.com

Can someone send me the 1080i firmware for the VP30 to stlblufan@yahoo.com? Josh sent it a while back but my gmail account bounced the attachment. And now it is Saturday and I have some time to apply the update, but I don't see it posted to the DVDO site yet.

Thanks!

EDIT: Got it, thank you!

I would also like to get the 1080i firmware update. steve@stevepetersdigital.com.

stevetoney. I have the Denon 3910 and I had the Pixel magic sdi card put in it by a freind. The difference between that and component into my Iscan HD was not that great. If anything the picture may be slightly softer with the sdi. I am using a 65" RPTV.

If possisble I would like the 1080i update too.

Need 5 posts of e-mail.

If someone could email be the 1080i update I would greatly appreciate it. abtonic1@yahoo.com

I put the 1080i update up on my space:

make sure you follow the instructions to a T
Right click and save target as

http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/VP30.abt
http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/VP30.doc

-Gary

Does anyone know if the power supplies for the HD+ and the VP30 are identical? I'm wondering if I need to swap them out prior to returning the HD+ or if I can just send back the one that came with the VP30. Power cords are particularly inaccessible in my setup.

Does anyone know if the power supplies for the HD+ and the VP30 are identical? I'm wondering if I need to swap them out prior to returning the HD+ or if I can just send back the one that came with the VP30. Power cords are particularly inaccessible in my setup.

have not tried it but they looked the same to me.

Daniel.

Does anyone know if the power supplies for the HD+ and the VP30 are identical? I'm wondering if I need to swap them out prior to returning the HD+ or if I can just send back the one that came with the VP30. Power cords are particularly inaccessible in my setup.

They are the same. I am using the one supplied with the HD+ on my VP30 and everything is fine. I checked the spec's first and they are the same...

When the image is offset slightly, does it matter if you use the h and v shift under format, or if you use the h and v shift under aspect ratio?

I have had mine for a week and I called yesterday looking for an RMA#...

Its very possibly me, but on my 62" 1080P Mit Dlp I saw no real difference in HD picture quality and a significantly poorer picture running Direct TV SD through it.

Dvd's also, to my eye, no real significant, $2K buck, improvement..

Like I said it could be me...I am far from an expect with this stuff, a novice at best and it could be this technology is over my head and I just dont get it..

Hey.. at least I tried it..

I also returned my yesterday. I have the Samsung HLR 6768 DLP (67" 1080P) and also thought the VP30 made the picture worse (slightly- especially on SD) no matter how much I played with all the settings. I guess I am not alone in that opinion.

RGBHV input won't except a interlaced signal. If I change my dvd player to progressive, I get a picture, but it I leave it on interlaced, I only get a blue screen. Hooked up the same player to comp 1, and interlaced works fine. Any ideas?

I also returned my yesterday. I have the Samsung HLR 6768 DLP (67" 1080P) and also thought the VP30 made the picture worse (slightly- especially on SD) no matter how much I played with all the settings. I guess I am not alone in that opinion.

Maybe the Samsung up-converting is just as good as the VP30. I was considering buying the VP30 for my Samsung 5668 but now I'm not so sure it would be worth it for the increase if any in PQ.

I also returned my yesterday. I have the Samsung HLR 6768 DLP (67" 1080P) and also thought the VP30 made the picture worse (slightly- especially on SD) no matter how much I played with all the settings. I guess I am not alone in that opinion.

hi there!

I recently received my VP30 here in Australia.

I have been having an extensive "play" with the VP30 over the past 3 or 4 days - My impressions are much the same as above, regarding quality when connecting my SD (PVR) and HD (set-top) sources via the VP30, compared with directly connecting my sources to my panel (Fujitsu 50" 40-series/AVMII panel).

So far, I have seen is a fairly noticeable quality reduction, even when having achieved 1:1 pixel mapping (as confirmed using all the relevant test patterns).

To some degree, this could just my lack of config skills. It could also be that the scaler in the Fuji is pretty decent, but I would expect a 2k device to do a better job.

So in the interests of persevering with my 2k investment, I am going to have my panel/VP30 professionally calibrated (which I have always been meaning to do, well for the panel anyway) - the end-result of how that turns out (in terms of improvement of PQ or not) will I guess determine whether I too offload the VP30, or keep it.

Not sure if anyone here has the same/similar panel, and what their views of the VP30/Fuji combo are?

Many thanks :)

Is anyone noticing a pop in the audio when changing inputs on the VP30?

Hi there,

I have not yet noticed a "pop" as such as I currently have just the one source connected to my VP30 (only recently got the VP30, still paying around and hooking everything up :)

however the issue I have struck is an ear-piercing "shrill" out of my speakers when passing the audio from the DVD player to the VP30, and then from the VP30 to my amp

the "shrill" does not occur when there is actually audio being played on the DVD (so menu music, or the movie itself)

however, if there is no audio being generated (ie, DVD player on but no disc in it, or the various "warning/copyright" screens at the start of a DVD), the ear-piercing shrill present itself.

this shrill does not occur when I directly connect the player to the AMP, so it must be the VP30.
I have tried both of the TOSLINK/optic input ports on the VP30, and I have also tried running the output from the VP30 from its optic output, and its coax output.

I was wondering if anyone else has been trying the audio in/out of the VP30, or if they have experiencing (or heard of) anything similar.

any suggestions greatly appreciated,

cheers :)

So far, I have seen is a fairly noticeable quality reduction, even when having achieved 1:1 pixel mapping (as confirmed using all the relevant test patterns).


Could one of you who say the result with the VP30 is worse than without it, tell us a little what exactly is getting worse? Is the image softer, sharper, more noisy, more pixelated, more jaggies, etc? What exactly is worse? Thanks.

I only have an SD setup right now, with SD sources and SD TV, but I got a noticeable increase in image quality swapping out the iScan HD with the VP30. Not mindblowing, but noticeable. When comparing to the plasma's original breakout box(tuner), it's like two entirely different TV sets (that was also the case between the iScan HD and the TV's breakout box though).

www.jvbdigital.com

thanks - bookmarked

any thoughts from folks on the potential difference between an SDI Panasonic S97 vs a SDI Denon 2910???

I can not found a way to get my HTPC and VP30 to keep a signal sync -- the ATI 9800 pro card with DVI out to the VP30 HDMI in -- works great if I'm on the port and boot the PC - if I use the VP30 to move to another input and come back to HTPC HDMI input -- all I see is a blue screen on the panny L500

the PC is working and responding - to mouse and keyboard -- but I get no video?

Hi there,

I have not yet noticed a "pop" as such as I currently have just the one source connected to my VP30 (only recently got the VP30, still paying around and hooking everything up :)

however the issue I have struck is an ear-piercing "shrill" out of my speakers when passing the audio from the DVD player to the VP30, and then from the VP30 to my amp

the "shrill" does not occur when there is actually audio being played on the DVD (so menu music, or the movie itself)

however, if there is no audio being generated (ie, DVD player on but no disc in it, or the various "warning/copyright" screens at the start of a DVD), the ear-piercing shrill present itself.

this shrill does not occur when I directly connect the player to the AMP, so it must be the VP30.
I have tried both of the TOSLINK/optic input ports on the VP30, and I have also tried running the output from the VP30 from its optic output, and its coax output.

I was wondering if anyone else has been trying the audio in/out of the VP30, or if they have experiencing (or heard of) anything similar.

any suggestions greatly appreciated,

cheers :)

I have this same problem from my dvd player (Dennon 4800). It appears that when the audio stream is interrupted (even with a pause) a boom/shrill occurs. This did not happen with the HD+. It looks like its definitely caused by the VP30. Hopefully they can fix this with a software upgrade.

thanks - bookmarked

any thoughts from folks on the potential difference between an SDI Panasonic S97 vs a SDI Denon 2910???

I can not found a way to get my HTPC and VP30 to keep a signal sync -- the ATI 9800 pro card with DVI out to the VP30 HDMI in -- works great if I'm on the port and boot the PC - if I use the VP30 to move to another input and come back to HTPC HDMI input -- all I see is a blue screen on the panny L500

the PC is working and responding - to mouse and keyboard -- but I get no video?

I have the same problem and am going to try http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1378

I have the same problem and am going to try http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1378

yes

I found the DVI Blackout threads today in the HTPC section dealing with ATI card

I ordered one a couple hours ago.

I have an MCE PC with a ATI 9600 with same driver going to a Sony 60in LCD RP -- it is going through a gefen 4x HDMI switch -- it resyncs through the switch but not with a direct connect

so in the projector \ VP30 setup - I think this inline device will fix the issue

RGBHV input won't except a interlaced signal. If I change my dvd player to progressive, I get a picture, but it I leave it on interlaced, I only get a blue screen. Hooked up the same player to comp 1, and interlaced works fine. Any ideas?

The BNC input will accept 480p/576p/720p/1080i/VGA-SXGA@60Hz. 480i and 576i are not accepted resolutions on this input. As you pointed out the component inputs will accept 480i and 576i.

RGBHV input won't except a interlaced signal. If I change my dvd player to progressive, I get a picture, but it I leave it on interlaced, I only get a blue screen. Hooked up the same player to comp 1, and interlaced works fine. Any ideas?

This same issue came up for us when trying to connect a 480i dvd player to the RGB(as YPbPr) input wanting to benefit from the BNC connectors. The vp30 menus wouldn't show up for switching to YPbPr. Found the problem in the manual where it states the RGB analog input only accepts 480p, 720p&1080i.

thanks - bookmarked

any thoughts from folks on the potential difference between an SDI Panasonic S97 vs a SDI Denon 2910???


My understanding, and someone more knowledgable than me can correct me, but, either player is taking only the digital bits off the disc and passing the original 480i signal on to the vp30. So, in theory, since all you are doing is transporting data, they should be the same. I have a Panasonic RP91 SDI to my HD and it is simply the best image I have seen anywhere. I think either way, the 2910 or the Panny you will be amazed.

No DVDO news from CES participants yet? The rumored VP40?

Other web news links:
http://www.hometoys.com/news.php4?section=view&id=12930689

http://www.cnet.com.au/hometheatre/homecinemakits/0,39028683,40059423,00.htm

My understanding, and someone more knowledgable than me can correct me, but, either player is taking only the digital bits off the disc and passing the original 480i signal on to the vp30. So, in theory, since all you are doing is transporting data, they should be the same. I have a Panasonic RP91 SDI to my HD and it is simply the best image I have seen anywhere. I think either way, the 2910 or the Panny you will be amazed.
The quality of the MPEG decoder in the player is a factor that should be considered.

Dale and Josh,

So now that we all know a new chip will become available how about any tidbits for new VP30 owners and upgrades? I know I know, DVDO/ABT does not comment on the existence of any product yet to be announced, but how about a little tease. Pretty please.

I think I stated this before, but my Denon 3910 with a sdi mod did not look that much different than the component out into my Iscan HD.

I put the 1080i update up on my space:

make sure you follow the instructions to a T
Right click and save target as

http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/VP30.abt
http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/VP30.doc

-Gary


Thanks Gary.

DVDO guys, can the VP30 be upgraded via firmware to accept 1080p?

....
however the issue I have struck is an ear-piercing "shrill" out of my speakers when passing the audio from the DVD player to the VP30, and then from the VP30 to my amp
....


and...

I have this same problem from my dvd player (Dennon 4800). It appears that when the audio stream is interrupted (even with a pause) a boom/shrill occurs. This did not happen with the HD+. It looks like its definitely caused by the VP30. Hopefully they can fix this with a software upgrade.

(and the various other posts on clicking, popping etc..)

Josh@DVDO, I was hoping you may be able to assist with these issues as outlined above...?

many thanks

I had the exact same thing happen to me last night with my JVC 5u D-VHS and the Vp30, loud ear piercing shrills, I had to unplug and reset everything(all Audio equipment, the 5u and VP30) for it to disappear

The VP30 is a little buggy right now, IMHO

-Gary

I had the exact same thing happen to me last night with my JVC 5u D-VHS and the Vp30, loud ear piercing shrills, I had to unplug and reset everything(all Audio equipment, the 5u and VP30) for it to disappear

The VP30 is a little buggy right now, IMHO

-Gary

Yup I'd agree. I thought the VP30 would be smooth sailing as its not too far off of the HD and HD+. But this audio click/pop is bugging the living crud out of me. Play dvd, get music from the studio intro, POP, screen fades to black, POP, as trailers start, POP trailers end, then POP, menu appears. If I don't hit play right away the music loops and POP, every frickin time. I'm really disappointed. My iScan HD NEVER HAD this problem.

Yup I'd agree. I thought the VP30 would be smooth sailing as its not too far off of the HD and HD+. But this audio click/pop is bugging the living crud out of me. Play dvd, get music from the studio intro, POP, screen fades to black, POP, as trailers start, POP trailers end, then POP, menu appears. If I don't hit play right away the music loops and POP, every frickin time. I'm really disappointed. My iScan HD NEVER HAD this problem.

well at the very least then, if this is such a widespread issue (pops and shrills), hopefully it will mean a fairly rapid turn-around in terms of a software fix (assuming it is a software issue...)

that is my hope anyway!!! :)

cheers

Yup I'd agree. I thought the VP30 would be smooth sailing as its not too far off of the HD and HD+. But this audio click/pop is bugging the living crud out of me. Play dvd, get music from the studio intro, POP, screen fades to black, POP, as trailers start, POP trailers end, then POP, menu appears. If I don't hit play right away the music loops and POP, every frickin time. I'm really disappointed. My iScan HD NEVER HAD this problem.

Which is exactly what happens on my system - but HOW in the heck did they not notice it? We had a 2+ week delay while they fixed something - I can see how the 1080 bug got thru, but didn't they have the thing connected to a sound system while they watched dvds?

Or, did they get burned by only using burned dvds for testing? I have only had it happen with legit, copyright dvds, as has been posted, while cycling thru the opening menu.

I don't supponse ABT is hiring debuggers ;)

Pandemik,

I hope so too. I know that it will vary with different gear and my processor is prone to clicks and pops but never to this degree and never before w/ the HD.

Since news is slow out of CES, I'm actually glad its over. Maybe after Josh gets a much deserved break he'll be back to help in a couple weeks.

After debating getting the VP30 and seeing all of these issues, I think I will stick with the HD+ and wait until the VP40 is released. I would go ahead with the VP30 considering DVDO's excellent trade in policy, but there appear to just be too many problems with this unit at the moment.

After debating getting the VP30 and seeing all of these issues, I think I will stick with the HD+ and wait until the VP40 is released. I would go ahead with the VP30 considering DVDO's excellent trade in policy, but there appear to just be too many problems with this unit at the moment.

Does the HD+ auto switch the audio and video? I was going to get the VP30 however like you I'm having second thoughts.

Opps, I just ordered my VP30. Got too good a deal (1595, no tax $20 shipping). I am now wondering how much video delay the scaler is causing. If I do not need to run my audio through the scaler, I do have the capability of running my audio from each input to my Audio processor as it has enough coaxial/toslink inputs and the switching will be handled by the control system, I can switch the HDMI external to the VP30 and then just use one VP30 HDMI input until they get this fixed. I was planning to run the audio through the VP30, but not with the problems I am hearing about.

Is the audio problem there for every one? Is it just certain combinations/types of input devices and the settings used. Is it possibly the Lip sync processing that is causing the problem, i.e. has any one tried it with 0 audio delay?

Opps, I just ordered my VP30. Got too good a deal (1595, no tax $20 shipping). I am now wondering how much video delay the scaler is causing. If I do not need to run my audio through the scaler, I do have the capability of running my audio from each input to my Audio processor as it has enough coaxial/toslink inputs and the switching will be handled by the control system, I can switch the HDMI external to the VP30 and then just use one VP30 HDMI input until they get this fixed. I was planning to run the audio through the VP30, but not with the problems I am hearing about.

Is the audio problem there for every one? Is it just certain combinations/types of input devices and the settings used. Is it possibly the Lip sync processing that is causing the problem, i.e. has any one tried it with 0 audio delay?

Hmm exactly where did you get it at that price?

It was offered on eBay as a brand new in the box unit as a submit best offer.

Opps, I just ordered my VP30. Got too good a deal (1595, no tax $20 shipping). I am now wondering how much video delay the scaler is causing. If I do not need to run my audio through the scaler, I do have the capability of running my audio from each input to my Audio processor as it has enough coaxial/toslink inputs and the switching will be handled by the control system, I can switch the HDMI external to the VP30 and then just use one VP30 HDMI input until they get this fixed. I was planning to run the audio through the VP30, but not with the problems I am hearing about.

Is the audio problem there for every one? Is it just certain combinations/types of input devices and the settings used. Is it possibly the Lip sync processing that is causing the problem, i.e. has any one tried it with 0 audio delay?

I'm curious about the same things, and may do something similar if the a/v sync delay issue isn't too severe or there's another workaround until this is fixed. My plan is running toslink out from the components through an existing auto-switcher as a bypass as that has been functioning perfectly so far, i.e. pre-VP-30 install.

But, just so I'm clear, is this audio pop issue only on HDMI out, or on toslink out as well (sorry if I missed that)? If it doesn't affect toslink out, maybe I can still use the audio through the DVDO unit.

But, just so I'm clear, is this audio pop issue only on HDMI out, or on toslink out as well (sorry if I missed that)? If it doesn't affect toslink out, maybe I can still use the audio through the DVDO unit.

well my issues with the high-pitched "shrill" sound occurs for connections from the VP30 to my AVR, either over TOSLINK optical, or coax connection

I only use HDMI between the VP30 and the panel (not for audio at all at this stage), so cant comment in that regard

cheers :)

well my issues with the high-pitched "shrill" sound occurs for connections from the VP30 to my AVR, either over TOSLINK optical, or coax connection

I only use HDMI between the VP30 and the panel (not for audio at all at this stage), so cant comment in that regard

cheers :)

Ditto with my situation.

Ditto with my situation.

Gentlemen,

Does the "shrill" problem occur only with toslink connections to the VP30 inputs? Has anyone treid using the Coax inputs for the same source? I think we need to tie down where excatly the problem is and is not. Seems from posts so far that it is independant of which connection (opto or coax) from the VP30 to your receiver/amp, so that pushes the problem back to the type of input connection into the VP30 and/or the type of device you have.

Does it happen with devices connected to the other video inputs? Is it dependant on which audio input you assign to a particular video input, i.e does it go away or is it still there when you associate different audio channels with different video channels? Does it appear immedeiately when you pull the toslink input out of the VP30, or is it triggered soley by the lack of an active audio stream from the device. I'm referring here to comments that it only happens when playing legit DVDs. How is this different though from playing copied DVDs?

Maybe if we can narrow the problem down a bit, we might get a quicker response and fix from DVDO.

Phil.

Gentlemen,

Does the "shrill" problem occur only with toslink connections to the VP30 inputs? Has anyone treid using the Coax inputs for the same source? I think we need to tie down where excatly the problem is and is not. Seems from posts so far that it is independant of which connection (opto or coax) from the VP30 to your receiver/amp, so that pushes the problem back to the type of input connection into the VP30 and/or the type of device you have.

Does it happen with devices connected to the other video inputs? Is it dependant on which audio input you assign to a particular video input, i.e does it go away or is it still there when you associate different audio channels with different video channels? Does it appear immedeiately when you pull the toslink input out of the VP30, or is it triggered soley by the lack of an active audio stream from the device. I'm referring here to comments that it only happens when playing legit DVDs. How is this different though from playing copied DVDs?

Maybe if we can narrow the problem down a bit, we might get a quicker response and fix from DVDO.

Phil.

I have three devices connected to the VP30 right now with no audio problems when switching:

RP-91 connected to SDI, toslink
Oppo connected DVI to HDMI line 1, coaxial, using 720P
Samsung HD tuner, DVI to HDMI line 2, toslink, using 720P

I use toslink to my Onkyo receiver.


My problem is the remote. It drives me crazy with its 7 to 8 foot range!!! I sit 12 feet away and my arm just isn't quite long enough even when leaning forward.

I have not encountered any audio problems with my unit so far. This is a single input config, a Denon 2900 connected to the VP30 via coax.

Edit: Forgot to mention my VP30 outputs the digital audio to a Denon 2805 via coax.

I have three devices connected to the VP30 right now with no audio problems when switching:

RP-91 connected to SDI, toslink
Oppo connected DVI to HDMI line 1, coaxial, using 720P
Samsung HD tuner, DVI to HDMI line 2, toslink, using 720P

I use toslink to my Onkyo receiver.


My problem is the remote. It drives me crazy with its 7 to 8 foot range!!! I sit 12 feet away and my arm just isn't quite long enough even when leaning forward.

Buy youself a MX500 remote or this remote http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16880100611

Both work a good 50ft or more with fresh batteries (I can aim at the ceiling and control my system). Best remotes ever made easy to use plus you can name the on-screen titles anything you want.

Buy youself a MX500 remote or this remote http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16880100611

Both work a good 50ft or more with fresh batteries (I can aim at the ceiling and control my system). Best remotes ever made easy to use plus you can name the on-screen titles anything you want.

I already have one!! It's programmed for my DVD players and receiver and HD tuner.

But I just like using the original remote for the VP30, as I did for the HD+.

If the MX500 works, wouldn't it be the VP30 remote that is at fault, not the IR receiver as some are saying? Or at least a combination of the two. I hope DVDO can just come out with a new remote to fix this. This is a more surprising flaw not to have been discovered and fixed before release than the audio problem.

snip...

My problem is the remote. It drives me crazy with its 7 to 8 foot range!!! I sit 12 feet away and my arm just isn't quite long enough even when leaning forward.

Couldn't agree more. Not only that, the butons often require unequal pressure - my up arrow/direction button requires a very firm push to get it to put out a signal. I have IR repeaters, but even with these, this remote has the shortest range of them all (and I have 8 of the blighters)

Can't say I like the ergonomic design either - not that that is any different to the HD+ remote, but it feels lighter. It slopey bottom means that it slides off the table when it's only just hanging over the edge. Must have been trying to save a few pennies on this one. ;) I think a replacement Remote is really the only decent thing to do. What about it Josh?

I am now wondering how much video delay the scaler is causing.
Somewhere in one of these DVDO threads, Dale or Josh outlined the delays according to processing, it might even be at the DVDO site. Dale Adams has been posting in the Denon 5910 thread, you might try PMing him.

Couldn't agree more. Not only that, the butons often require unequal pressure - my up arrow/direction button requires a very firm push to get it to put out a signal. I have IR repeaters, but even with these, this remote has the shortest range of them all (and I have 8 of the blighters)


Have you tried putting the repeaters directly over the eye in the VP30? I first had mine just to the side and it didn't work well, I then placed it right over the eye and the remote works from over 20' away.

Have you tried putting the repeaters directly over the eye in the VP30? I first had mine just to the side and it didn't work well, I then placed it right over the eye and the remote works from over 20' away.

Oh yes, that was number one item on the menu so to speak. Mine too will work at just 7m (sorry 20ft) away. But all others (remotes) happily work another 10 feet further. So, my personal main bugbear with it is the imprecise feel and action of the buttons.

Otherwise, the only bug I've struck so far, is the occassional out of the blue resetting of the output parameters, causing me to loose picture completely. Sometimes the resolution is changed, another time it went from HDMI to analog output. Hasn't happened the last couple of days though. Wasn't sure at first if it was my Harmony 880 playing up (me having misprogrammed it), but I think I've discounted that now. Doing a few too many things at the same time at the moment what with a complete re-cabling etc etc, so have to be careful not to confuse cause and effect and misappropriate blame.

With just that in mind, I sense that I am getting more audio "breaks:, that is, the sound just fading out for half a second or so then I used to in the middle of programs - so nothing to do with the plops and shrills issues some are having and not during silent or rather quiet audio passages. But, I really have to carry out some more exhaustive testing to verify that before I can be sure that this is not just a broadcaster's problem. I guess a lot of time is spent to determine what it's NOT, so that bit by bit you get to or home in on what it IS.

Phil.
.

The BNC input will accept 480p/576p/720p/1080i/VGA-SXGA@60Hz. 480i and 576i are not accepted resolutions on this input. As you pointed out the component inputs will accept 480i and 576i.


Josh or anyone, Could you please suggest the best option for connecting the RGB (PAL) output from the standard Euro Scart plug from PVRs.. DVB etc (576i).. if converting 576i RGB to RGBHV is not going to work, as this is an important requirement for me. :eek:

A couple of things. First, someone asked if the audio problem is only on toslink. Nope, my dvd player is hooked up via coaxial, and has the same pop and high pitch tone that others are reporting.

Second, I talked to Josh briefly at their booth at CES, and they are definitely aware of the problem reports, and trying to track down the source of the audio problems.

Josh or anyone, Could you please suggest the best option for connecting the RGB (PAL) output from the standard Euro Scart plug from PVRs.. DVB etc (576i).. if converting 576i RGB to RGBHV is not going to work, as this is an important requirement for me. :eek:

Use a SCART to RGB cable and run an extra cable from the Video output of your PVR ( you should have a spare lone RCA video connector on the back) to the extra RCA connector next to the RGB component connectors on the VP30. This tells the VP30 that you are feeding it RGB and not YUV. Works brilliantly on my Humax PVR-Smart twin tuner PVR.

Thanks, I take it you mean using RGBs, I'll have a look for a scart to rgb cable + 1 comp connection for composite sync :) .

Thanks, I take it you mean using RGBs, I'll have a look for a scart to rgb cable + 1 comp connection for composite sync :) .

Yep, should be no trouble getting one in your country. Here in Oz and in the USA it's a no can do. I imported one (that is RGBs) from Italy actually, only to find that one of the RGB lines was kaput. Besides, it was also a pretty low quality cable - thin, fragile and high capacitance leads. That's when I thought, 15 odd euros later, hell why not use one a good RGB only cable that I could get locally and just add the Sync line to it with a few cable ties. Definitely worth getting a good quality cable though - don't go for a run-of-the-mill one.

A couple of things. First, someone asked if the audio problem is only on toslink. Nope, my dvd player is hooked up via coaxial, and has the same pop and high pitch tone that others are reporting.

Second, I talked to Josh briefly at their booth at CES, and they are definitely aware of the problem reports, and trying to track down the source of the audio problems.

Yep agreed - I have tried just about every combination of input/output to/from the VP30 from my DVD or STB, whether it be TOSLINK, coax, etc etc - the shrill is ever-present in the circumstances as outlined in my original post (ie, when DVD player on, but no audio being played. So no shrill when audio-stream is present such as movie menu screens or movie itself. Shrill occurs during "warning/copyright" screens, or other such "silent" parts of the DVD, ie no bitstream).

really really annoying - very glad to read your second statement above, re: Josh being aware and looking into it.

many thanks

...............With just that in mind, I sense that I am getting more audio "breaks:, that is, the sound just fading out for half a second or so then I used to in the middle of programs - so nothing to do with the plops and shrills issues some are having and not during silent or rather quiet audio passages. But, I really have to carry out some more exhaustive testing to verify that before I can be sure that this is not just a broadcaster's problem. I guess a lot of time is spent to determine what it's NOT, so that bit by bit you get to or home in on what it IS.

Phil.
.

I have the same issue. I had thought that it was a problem with my cable provider, but now I am not so sure..........

Yep agreed - I have tried just about every combination of input/output to/from the VP30 from my DVD or STB, whether it be TOSLINK, coax, etc etc - the shrill is ever-present in the circumstances as outlined in my original post (ie, when DVD player on, but no audio being played. So no shrill when audio-stream is present such as movie menu screens or movie itself. Shrill occurs during "warning/copyright" screens, or other such "silent" parts of the DVD, ie no bitstream).

really really annoying - very glad to read your second statement above, re: Josh being aware and looking into it.

many thanks

I am not having this problem fortunately. I am using the optical out to a Denon 3805. The inputs are two HDtiVos and a Sony 975 both by HDMI and the OPPO is using a coaxial input for the audio. I have heard a pop a couple of times but this is after well over 100 times of switching. My only complaint so far would be the few seconds it will take to re-sync when switching inputs. and of course the remote, but that doesn't affect me when using the DVDO remote since the unit is straight ahead from my seating position at 10 feet so it works as long as I point it toward the VP30. I'm just not used to pointing the remote at a device since I can point my Harmony 680 in almost any direction and my components will receive the IR signal.

Yep, should be no trouble getting one in your country. Here in Oz and in the USA it's a no can do. I imported one (that is RGBs) from Italy actually, only to find that one of the RGB lines was kaput. Besides, it was also a pretty low quality cable - thin, fragile and high capacitance leads. That's when I thought, 15 odd euros later, hell why not use one a good RGB only cable that I could get locally and just add the Sync line to it with a few cable ties. Definitely worth getting a good quality cable though - don't go for a run-of-the-mill one.

Ok. Thanks, I found a good cable from Keene electronics. Just another question,
I can't see if the analogue inputs have a passthrough option to analogue out, does it have to be processed and converted to somthing else?

Flintstone, which Keene cable is that? The SCART-4 phono jobbie? You got the product# ?

Thanks

Flintstone, which Keene cable is that? The SCART-4 phono jobbie? You got the product# ?

Thanks


SBB62
(I need to post 5 posts before it alows me to put URLs in)

SCART TO 4 PHONO RGB COMPOSITE SYNC (1.8M)

High quality scart to four phono plugs. Gold plated connections.
Application: RGBs (composite sync)

http://www.keene.co.uk/cgi-bin/codesearch.pl?SBB62 (works now!)

Thanks, should save me nearly £30 compared to what avsales quoted me for a SCART-4 BNCs (which wouldn't have worked anyway I now realise)

anyone that needs the 1080i update better grab it ;), I need to remove it from my space tonight, I will do so at 12 AM

-Gary

I would like to address several issues.

The first is the senstivity of the IR on the iScan VP30. We have identifed that the IR lens is the cause of this issue. We would like our customers to have the best user experience and as such we are offering to correct this issue at little to no cost to our customers*. These are the ways to go about this service.

1. Return your iScan VP30 to DVDO via ground shipping and we will service your iScan VP30 and ship it back to you via ground shipping within 48 hours. This option retains all of your system settings and shipping is paid by DVDO both ways.

2. Return your iScan VP30 to DVDO via overnight shipping and we will service your iScan VP30 and ship it back to you via overnight shipping within 48 hours. This option retains all of your system settings and is expedited relative to Option 1. Only the return shipping is paid for by DVDO.

Send an email to help@dvdo.com with ‘VP30 IR’ in the subject line. Please be sure to include the following information:

Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Shipping Address
VP30 Serial Number (on the bottom of the unit and the original box)
Which option you will be using

A third option is available to those who feel comfortable removing the front panel on their own. Instructions will be provided to simplify this procedure. Please note that we do not expect you to do this fix on your own and that is why we are offering to do the fix ourselves.

Next, I would like to address the audio issues that have been reported by users. We have been trying to duplicate these problems in our lab with the equipment that we have. From what we can tell these problems are hardware incompatibility issues as some systems do not exhibit any problems at all. It looks like several of those with issues are in our local area. We would like as much information about your system and if you are open to it we would like to come check out your system to try to debug the problem. If you are in the Bay Area and you would like to help us out, send an email to help@dvdo.com with your system info and contact information and 'VP30 Audio Help' in the subject line.

Please note that we have resolved one of the reported audio issues. The VP30 can pass 5.1 from an HDMI or Coax/Optical input over the HDMI output. If this output is connected to a display which can only process PCM or DD2.0 you may get noise through the speakers. This can be corrected by forcing the source to output one of these audio signals. If this is not an option you can use the analog audio input for that source.

We will have the software with the 1080i input->1080i output bug resolved posted on our website by tomorrow evening at the latest. Thank you GaryM for your support.

We will have the complete list of factory remote hex codes posted on our website by tomorrow evening at the latest. In addition, we will have a .ccf file. We will continue to update this with many other discrete IR codes in the next couple of weeks.

Josh -
In option 3. that you mention above, can I assume DVDO pays the Overnight cost and the user pays the shipping on the unit that is returned?

Thanks.

Josh -
In option 3. that you mention above, can I assume DVDO pays the Overnight cost and the user pays the shipping on the unit that is returned?

Thanks.

Correct

Will the instructions for replacing the IR lens be posted on the DVDO website? I'm comfortable opening the unit up - I already added the SDI option to my VP30. If it's a simple procedure, I think that's the way I'll go.

Thanks again.

The instructions will be shipped with the lense and posted on the website. I need to write them and take some pictures first though.

Briefly, it requires that you remove the top cover (9 screws) and the front bezel (3 screws). The front bezel pulls off of the chassis with the buttons attached. Next, you remove and replace the lense. Reinstall the front bezel, insuring that the buttons are aligned and work correctly before reinstalling the screws and top cover.

Fantastic.

BTW, great idea to get out of the lab and offer to visit the setups that are exhibiting the audio issue. I'm sure once you can easily reproduce the issue, you'll be able to get to the root cause quickly.

We will have the software with the 1080i input->1080i output bug resolved posted on our website by tomorrow evening at the latest. Thank you GaryM for your support.

One of the things with the update I received was that I needed to make the output 59.94Hz to work correctly. If I left it at 60Hz it wouldn't work right. It would work intermittently. Has this been correted or is this the same update I received in December?

One of the things with the update I received was that I needed to make the output 59.94Hz to work correctly. If I left it at 60Hz it wouldn't work right. It would work intermittently. Has this been correted or is this the same update I received in December?

I will look into this and post an answer tomorrow.

I found this to work as well with my SA3250HD hooked up to the VP30 outputing
to a H79 projector via DVI. With this change, the projector doesn't resync
anymore, all I get is a 1 sec blue screen when changing between SD and HD
channels.

hdefjunkie - There was no reason for you to download the software as you are outputting 720p. This software only corrected a bug which happened when 1080i is the both input and output resolution. If you send me an email, I can send you the original production software (1.00) which you can use until you download version 1.01.

hdefjunkie - There was no reason for you to download the software as you are outputting 720p. This software only corrected a bug which happened when 1080i is the both input and output resolution. If you send me an email, I can send you the original production software (1.00) which you can use until you download version 1.01.

Ok.. No problem. I sent you an message with my email addr.

Josh@DVDO,

This is why I still buy DVDO. Thanks for the prompt response. Since I'm local I'll email you my info. BUT regarding the IR issue, is there an option for locals to SAVE DVDO some money by brining the unit to you and perhaps picking it up? Just a thought.

Andy

Well since I really wanted the switching and audio delay features (scaling is a secondary issue), today I bought a used DVD-HD+ on eBay. Down the road when the VP40 comes out perhaps I will up-grade. IMO if DVDO was to make just a combined switcher/audio delay unit and sell it at a reasonable price they would clean up as there is no one out there really addressing this problem.

I was starting to wonder if I'd buy the VP30 given the teething problems people seemed to be having. I have to say the sort of service being demonstrated here by Josh has convinced me. Especially as building a CCF will be faster now ;)

My DVDO VP30 is in transit.

Tim at DVDO sent me the Pronto ccf for the unit and thanks. I also now have the means to generate the IR codes based on IR format and keycodes, but am curious as to what is the precise frequency of the remote? Your code set (which Tim sent me seems to be very clean, altough the prior ones were not.

Do you have any idea when the full automation manual for the VP30 will be out.??

One of the things with the update I received was that I needed to make the output 59.94Hz to work correctly. If I left it at 60Hz it wouldn't work right. It would work intermittently. Has this been correted or is this the same update I received in December?
The problem you're seeing is related to the fact that both the input and output are interlaced. An interlaced signal has alternating pairs of fields, with one containing the even numbered lines and the other containing the odd numbered lines. As long as the input and output field rates are the same, an even(odd) input field produces an even(odd) output field. The 1080i bug is a hardware problem that resulted in an even input field producing an odd output field and vice versa.

When the input and output field rates are not the same, there's a potential problem. Since there is no longer just 1 output field for every input field, it will not be the case that an even(odd) input field produces an even(odd) output field. At some times, due to the frame rate conversion hardware repeating or dropping frames (well, fields in this case), the processing will produce the desired even-to-even and odd-to-odd input/output field relationship, but at others it will produce an even-to-odd and old-to-even relationship. When the non-matching field sense occurs you will see a degradation in the image, and the processor will drift in and out of this mode.

The only real way around this is to have a full 1080i deinterlacer which first produces a 1080p signal from the 1080i input, and then uses that 1080p frame to generate the 1080i output. Even this only works really well with film sources, and you will see an image degradation with 1080i video sources (albeit less than with the current VP30).

As a result of all this, you really need to keep the output rate locked to the input rate. While I can't state this with 100% certainty, I believe that you will not see a 'fix' for this issue with the VP30. Again, note that this will only occur with an HD interlaced input and an interlaced output - i.e., 1080i to 1080i.

What's the reason you're unlocking the output from the input?

- Dale Adams

question for owners.
what added functionality are you getting from the vp30?
i don't understand.
are your standard definition tv programs now looking like widesreen dvd? are you able to make 4:3 look like 16:9 without odd shaped, too wide characters?
if its just one cable advantage wouldn't a switch work? beyond that most already have top notched scalers in their pj, right?
so where are you fitting in the new functions provided by the vp30?

The problem you're seeing is related to the fact that both the input and output are interlaced. An interlaced signal has alternating pairs of fields, with one containing the even numbered lines and the other containing the odd numbered lines. As long as the input and output field rates are the same, an even(odd) input field produces an even(odd) output field. The 1080i bug is a hardware problem that resulted in an even input field producing an odd output field and vice versa.

When the input and output field rates are not the same, there's a potential problem. Since there is no longer just 1 output field for every input field, it will not be the case that an even(odd) input field produces an even(odd) output field. At some times, due to the frame rate conversion hardware repeating or dropping frames (well, fields in this case), the processing will produce the desired even-to-even and odd-to-odd input/output field relationship, but at others it will produce an even-to-odd and old-to-even relationship. When the non-matching field sense occurs you will see a degradation in the image, and the processor will drift in and out of this mode.

The only real way around this is to have a full 1080i deinterlacer which first produces a 1080p signal from the 1080i input, and then uses that 1080p frame to generate the 1080i output. Even this only works really well with film sources, and you will see an image degradation with 1080i video sources (albeit less than with the current VP30).

As a result of all this, you really need to keep the output rate locked to the input rate. While I can't state this with 100% certainty, I believe that you will not see a 'fix' for this issue with the VP30. Again, note that this will only occur with an HD interlaced input and an interlaced output - i.e., 1080i to 1080i.

What's the reason you're unlocking the output from the input?

- Dale Adams


The VP30 says the input is 60Hz not 59.94 and the iscan HD+ didn't have this problem. So I figure if the HD+ did it right the VP30 should be able to. I am using two HD TiVos for a 1080i input over HDMi.

The VP30 says the input is 60Hz not 59.94 and the iscan HD+ didn't have this problem. So I figure if the HD+ did it right the VP30 should be able to. I am using two HD TiVos for a 1080i input over HDMi.
Although the VP30 says the input is "60" Hz, it's probably 59.94 as that's the standard frame/field rate. (Sounds like this could be a software bug.) In any event, unless you have a very good reason to not run in the locked mode, you should do so. That will prevent any inadvertent dropped or repeated frames. As long as you're in locked mode, regardless of whether the input is 60 or 59.94 Hz, the VP30 will generate one output frame/field for every input frame/field and will not drop or repeat frames.

The hardware in the iScan HD+ is the same as the (updated) VP30 hardware, at least with respect to this function. It should perform exactly the same. If it's not, then they're likely not set up the same way or perhaps there's something different in your setup. Is that the case or are you really seeing a difference in behavior between the HD+ and VP30 (i.e., both are in locked or both are in unlocked mode but perform differently)? If so, let me know and I'll ping the engineer who made the latest update to fix the 1080i problem. I don't think there's anything different - there isn't supposed to be - but there could always be some other issue or bug.

- Dale Adams

I would like to address several issues.
A fourth option is available to those who feel comfortable removing the front panel on their own. Instructions will be provided to simplify this procedure. Please note that we do not expect you to do this fix on your own and that is why we are offering to do the fix ourselves.

Hi Josh,
I've not noticed the IR issue yet but I'm still experimenting with the VP30 so it's sat on the floor about 5' from me. Just wondering what the best plan is for international owners, seems a little excessive to ship the thing back from the UK just to change a lens. ;)

I think I'll be able to manage it myself but I'll wait for the detailed instructions, I presume this will not effect warranty?

I've also not got as far as wiring up audio so don't know if those issues will effect me.

If a return is required then I may wait a while, just in case any other issues aren't resolvable via firmware.

Looking forward to the CCF file, save me a little time. :)

Guys...

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but the Xantech IR routing gear (emitters, receivers, emitter hubs (blocks)), work perfectly with the V30.

Just another option to consider

BG

P.S. - There are posts from alternate IR routing vendors with like solutions in the thread...

Any experience / suggestions for best parameters for a 50" Sony plasma KDE50XBR950 fed via component?

Native resolution is 1365 by 768. Manual says the unit accepts 480i/p, 720p, and 1080i, and is silent about whether it will accept a native rate feed.

Sources are Hughes 250 and Denon DVD at 480i, both via component, both through a Mosquito in front of the VP30.

The instructions will be shipped with the lense and posted on the website. I need to write them and take some pictures first though.

Briefly, it requires that you remove the top cover (9 screws) and the front bezel (3 screws). The front bezel pulls off of the chassis with the buttons attached. Next, you remove and replace the lense. Reinstall the front bezel, insuring that the buttons are aligned and work correctly before reinstalling the screws and top cover.

Doesn't sound too complicated. I'd be up for it.

Josh, any word on the long delays and video static when switching between input sources or resolutions? The HD+ did not have this problem.

Josh@DVDO,

This is why I still buy DVDO. Thanks for the prompt response. Since I'm local I'll email you my info. BUT regarding the IR issue, is there an option for locals to SAVE DVDO some money by brining the unit to you and perhaps picking it up? Just a thought.

Andy

Sure, this is also an option. Please send an email to help@dvdo.com letting us know when you will be bringing it in.

Hi Josh,
I've not noticed the IR issue yet but I'm still experimenting with the VP30 so it's sat on the floor about 5' from me. Just wondering what the best plan is for international owners, seems a little excessive to ship the thing back from the UK just to change a lens. ;)

I think I'll be able to manage it myself but I'll wait for the detailed instructions, I presume this will not effect warranty?



We will handle this issue through our international distributors, so there will be no need to send your unit back to us.

Guys...

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but the Xantech IR routing gear (emitters, receivers, emitter hubs (blocks)), work perfectly with the V30.

Just another option to consider

BG

P.S. - There are posts from alternate IR routing vendors with like solutions in the thread...

I found the Zantech emitters with feedback (blink) didn't work and needed
to swap it out with a non feedback one. Works great now!! :)

I've been talking to my dealer about how I'd like this set up as they do a pre-config service matched to the screen I'm also buying from them, and there's one thing he's not 100% sure about yet. I'm sure he'll be checking with dvdo or the UK disti but I thought I'd ask on here out of curiosity...

I've got mainly SD sources to start with and I'm sure some of them for a while yet:
1: Sky+ satellite box (RGBSCART 576i @ 50Hz)
2: DVD (RGBSCART passthru 576i @ 50Hz)
3: xbox (s-video 576i @ 50 or 480i @ 60)
4: PS2 (ditto)
5: Gamecube (ditto)

So the options seem to be;

1. Output everything on a single DVI cable, but the Panasonic PHD8 will only allow pixel matching on 60Hz sources over digital so the 50Hz sources would come in at 720p and the screen scaler would come in. Since probably 75% of my content for the next year will be in that format, it's not an ideal return for the $2000 scaler

2. Output 60Hz sources (from the consoles basically) to DVI. Output 50Hz (consoles and everything else) to VGA which can be pixel matched. Is this one even possible? Can I say "if 576i/50 comes in on port A (xbox), then send it out at 1024x768 on RGBHV, but if 480i@60 comes in on that same port, then send it out on DVI?

3. One alternative solution might be to replace the cables on 3, 4 and 5 with component which would be either 480i or 480p at that point. I think the UK xbox needs hacking to output 480p and not all Gamecube (a US one) games support it either.

I'm beginning to think option3 is the way to go, but does anyone have an opinion? Thanks.

Josh could you guys look into a pretty serious color bug for me if possible, I am suprised no one else is seeing this

I have discovered the root of my color issues:

I have my VP30 set for 1080i output, I am using RGB Colorspace output to a DVI display with HDMI to DVI cable, my input colorspace for all sources is set to auto(so the info screen shows the correct input info)

with this setup above the internal color setup patterns are perfect and are spot on, this is good ;)

here is the problem:

When inputting HDMI devices with RGB colorspace the colors are all skewed, the green is severly undersaturated and too forest colored, the Red is oversaturated alot, the yellow's matrix is way off into brown, magenta and cyan are very slightly effected

I have a device that allows me to toggle between 422 and RGB on the HDMI output(the JVC HM-DH5u D-VHS)
All these color problems disappear when outputting 422 from the 5u into the VP30 the colors remain true to the internal test patterns :)
when you flip the switch to RGB on the 5u HDMI ouptput, the trouble above comes into play

all my sources could be set to 422 output and things would be peachy
the problem is that I have sources that are set to RGB HDMI output and cannot be changed

basically inputting RGB and outputting RGB is showing serious color problems

the sources that put out RGB on the HDMI output and screw up the colors on the VP30, show perfect color when directly input into my display

If you guys could look into this, I and many others would appreciate it very much, if you need any help making the problem show up in testing let me know and I would be more than happy to do anything

Thanks Josh and DVDO guys

-Gary

Where can I get more info on what the specifics of this bug are? I looked on the dvdo website but didn't find anything.

jcg

We will have the software with the 1080i input->1080i output bug resolved posted on our website by tomorrow evening at the latest. Thank you GaryM for your support.

jcg - Dale descibed this bug further up the post:

The 1080i bug is a hardware problem that resulted in an even input field producing an odd output field and vice versa.

When the input and output field rates are not the same, there's a potential problem. Since there is no longer just 1 output field for every input field, it will not be the case that an even(odd) input field produces an even(odd) output field. At some times, due to the frame rate conversion hardware repeating or dropping frames (well, fields in this case), the processing will produce the desired even-to-even and odd-to-odd input/output field relationship, but at others it will produce an even-to-odd and old-to-even relationship. When the non-matching field sense occurs you will see a degradation in the image, and the processor will drift in and out of this mode.

We will not have this posted on our website tonight as I previously stated, but if you would like the software please send me an email (Josh@dvdo.com) and I will get it to you within 24 hours (probably much less).

DVDO guys, can the VP30 be upgraded via firmware to accept 1080p?

The VP30 hardware does support 1080p pass-through on the analog and digital inputs. There will be a software upgrade for this feature when it is available. We do not have an exact date at this point, but when we do I will post it here.

Josh - did you get outvoted, or have the options changed. I opted to have you change the lens for me, since my unit also has audio problems. Sent email as instructed on last page. Just received an email saying dvdo is sending me a new lens to stick in myself. That is NOT what I desired. Whazzup?

Jon - Nothing has changed, and you can still choose any of the options that I listed. The email that you received just documented how to replace the IR lens. If you have spoken to tech support about getting a replacement unit, then that is what is going to happen.

Cool - sorry to be excited. And glad to have you back, even if it means you are back at work, instead of at CES :)

snip...................
With just that in mind, I sense that I am getting more audio "breaks:, that is, the sound just fading out for half a second or so then I used to in the middle of programs - so nothing to do with the plops and shrills issues some are having and not during silent or rather quiet audio passages. But, I really have to carry out some more exhaustive testing to verify that before I can be sure that this is not just a broadcaster's problem. I guess a lot of time is spent to determine what it's NOT, so that bit by bit you get to or home in on what it IS.

Phil.
.


Well, using a different device I have been experiencing an occassional "plop" now as well as more drop-outs. So, this echos the findings of other people - it is device dependant. I gather from comments made by DVDO that they are aware of the problem and are trying to nail it down.

Afraid this posts doesn't help much in doing that, other than to confirm that the problem appears to be when the data stream type is Dolby Digital . When I had the digital output of this device set to PCM format, the problem was not there. In this instance, the connection is via Coax, Audio 4.



Phil.

First, thanks to DVDO for the great response on the IR issue. Was not expecting all the options. Much appreciated and sincere thanks. :p

E-mailed DVDO per Josh's instructions less than 10 hours ago that I wanted to replace the lens myself and got first a confirming e-mail and then another e-mail that the lens will be shipped on 1/11/06 via UPS. :)

Also, in the e-mail was attached a PDF with the instructions for replacing the lens just in case the printed instructions were not included in the package--but, more importantly, to also review the instructions in case I wanted to change my mind about installing it myself. (That's class, IMHO.)

The instructions indicated to follow the procedure closely so as not to void one's warranty.

Looks like a simple procedure to me--if I'm careful--but you should be your own judge. There are pictures included for each step, which are very, very helpful.

I'll probably use both the paper version of the PDF and the electronic version (to zoom the PDF to around 300% on some of the pictures to make up for lack of detail and contrast from my printer on the PDF.)

For those considering the lens removal, I'm sure we'll have reports here very soon on how it went for the first batch of people receiving the first batch of replacement lenses.

Wish I could post the PDF here for those considering the replacement. Josh--will the instructions be posted soon on the DVDO website?

Thanks again.

- Gerry

What's the issue with the IR lens? Is that what is causing the problems with the IR receive? How difficult is this to replace? Thanks!

What's the issue with the IR lens? Is that what is causing the problems with the IR receive? How difficult is this to replace? Thanks!
From the instructions it appears the lens was not "wide-angle" enough to pick up anything other than an almost straight on signal. By that, I mean that the IR receiver is not being replaced, just the lens on the faceplate.

For anyone who has opened the VP30 to install a SDI card, replacing the lens looks to be as simple a job as well.

Has anyone got the ccf as yet that could post or email it? I know Josh and the guys will post it soon, but no doubt they're working flat out on the audio problem and I'd really like to get my Pronto setup tonight. If anyone has a link or could email it, that would be great.

Another possible issue that maybe related to the audio problem: When I connect my HR10-250 via HDMI, I get audio from optical/coaxial only from HDMI 3 and HDMI 4. Optical/coaxial is completely silent from HDMI 1 and HDMI 2. I do get a picture from 1 and 2. This occurs with HDCP on or off. Has this occured to anyone else. Sorry if this as been already addressed.

I'm glad to see a fix for that IR response problem, it was really bothering me. I was beginning to think I was going to wear the buttons on the remote out, just trying to do simple things.

Just being curious, is having a firmware upgrade so the VP30 will accept 1080P something that will happen, or "maybe" happen?

Another possible issue that maybe related to the audio problem: When I connect my HR10-250 via HDMI, I get audio from optical/coaxial only from HDMI 3 and HDMI 4. Optical/coaxial is completely silent from HDMI 1 and HDMI 2. I do get a picture from 1 and 2. This occurs with HDCP on or off. Has this occured to anyone else. Sorry if this as been already addressed.
Have you tried unplugging the unit for a few minutes then plugging it back in (kind of like rebooting a computer)? I lost the audio over HDMI but this restored it.

Has anyone setup the VP30 with a Harmony remote yet? When I added it to my Profile via the VP30 it had in its database, there are lots of problems.

One, it doesn't think it needs to be turned on or off (during help it just says "Ensure switch box is on" isntead of "is the switch box on now") and the inputs didn't work and i had to manually learn them all from the remote.

Also, on another issue, can the VP30 pass through audio when nothing it attached to the video source? I have the Xbox360 vga cable going directly to my TV, but I have the optical audio going to the VP30. I have assigned the 2nd optical audio to the HDMi4 soure (which has nothing connected to it) but when i select that source with the xbox on, no audio comes out.

Thanks for any help!

Has anyone seen an issue with a video source not being auto detected? I have a D-Link DSM-520 Media player and the VP30 will not auto detect it when it's on; even when I have it set to #1 priority in the auto detect sequence (and no other sources turned on). I've tried using its svideo, component and HDMI outputs and the VP30 doesn't detect any of them. The HD+ had no problems with the same setup. If I manually select the VP30 video input for the D-Link, it works and doesn't drop it (with auto standby enabled). After locking on to the signal, if I choose "auto" again, the VP30 looses it. Are the detection thresholds the same on the VP30 as they were on the HD+? Any ideas?

Thanks.

no one else is seeing these color issues ?? My set is perfect spot on Color Decoder wise when directly inputting these said devices, per my post above when adding the VP30 in the chain things get nasty and quick

-Gary

Also, on another issue, can the VP30 pass through audio when nothing it attached to the video source? I have the Xbox360 vga cable going directly to my TV, but I have the optical audio going to the VP30. I have assigned the 2nd optical audio to the HDMi4 soure (which has nothing connected to it) but when i select that source with the xbox on, no audio comes out.

I'm fairly certain the scaler won't pass any audio if there isn't a corresponding video signal coming in with it.

no one else is seeing these color issues ?? My set is perfect spot on Color Decoder wise when directly inputting these said devices, per my post above when adding the VP30 in the chain things get nasty and quick

-Gary

Gary,
These strange color patterns show up with our setup only when changing the color space on either the input or output from defaults. We have the HDTivo's HDMI feeding the VP30 with the Input color space set to "auto"(YCbCr444) and the output (HDMI-->DVI) set to RGB.

I got my VP30 yesterday and am playing with it. My first step is to get all of the RS232 codes operating. That seems to be coming along very nicely with one exception.

I can not get the Remote control (IR) working through the RS232 port. Supposedly (according to the HD+ Automation manual) one sends a command (code "30" and a command ID of "A2"

I send the following: (STX)3005A2(NUL)B(NUL)(ETX)

I get back: (STX)02022(NUL)F8(ETX)

Which is the Error: Invalid Packet ID (Query Command etc.)

This implies that the Packet ID of "A2" is incorrect but is what is documented. The one byte data value I send is "B" whose Ascii equivalent is 66 and in hex that would be 0x/42. The code for "power on" in IR is decimal 66, and the code stated in the HD automation manual is 0x/42 so it all seems to make sense.

Is "A2" the correct code for IR remote control operations through the RS232 interface?

Anyone? Thanks

that is correct, same with me, all input devices are set to auto input color

the VP30 shows correct colors when inputting a 444 signal and outputting RGB
the problem is when inputting RGB and outputting RGB, the colors are seriously FUBAR

I have HDMI sources which only output RGB and I have another HDMI source that allows me to switch between RGB and 444 on it's HDMI output(I have the color decoder patterns for all devices), that is how I narrowed the problem down to RGB input and RGB output having the seriously skewed colors

Component and all inputs(except HDMI RGB) show near perfect color decoding

I am positive that someone could confirm this problem in no time with my info here and have it showing on their display

-Gary

peteS,
It's been put up on the DVDO site ! Look under Support - Automation
Has anyone got the ccf as yet that could post or email it? I know Josh and the guys will post it soon, but no doubt they're working flat out on the audio problem and I'd really like to get my Pronto setup tonight. If anyone has a link or could email it, that would be great.

Has anyone seen an issue with a video source not being auto detected? I have a D-Link DSM-520 Media player and the VP30 will not auto detect it when it's on; even when I have it set to #1 priority in the auto detect sequence (and no other sources turned on). I've tried using its svideo, component and HDMI outputs and the VP30 doesn't detect any of them. The HD+ had no problems with the same setup. If I manually select the VP30 video input for the D-Link, it works and doesn't drop it (with auto standby enabled). After locking on to the signal, if I choose "auto" again, the VP30 looses it. Are the detection thresholds the same on the VP30 as they were on the HD+? Any ideas?

Thanks.

Butchyboy,
This may very well be an issue. I have experienced the exact same problems with my setup. Even tried turning off " Auto Standby " in Config without any change.
Hopefully it's a software fix !

choddo2006: I've been using DVDO scalers and Panny PHD plasmas together for years in UK.

Best solution is to use analogue output from DVDO to panel, and BNC connections are the best: you get 50Hz material with no frame rate conversion, you can also get 48Hz to remove judder on Region1 DVDs if you wish.

The VP30's analogue output is EXCEPTIONALLY good, and combined with BNC input on plasma is indistinguisable from DVI connection in my setup.

StooMonster

the VP30 shows correct colors when inputting a 444 signal and outputting RGB
the problem is when inputting RGB and outputting RGB, the colors are seriously FUBAR

I have HDMI sources which only output RGB and I have another HDMI source that allows me to switch between RGB and 444 on it's HDMI output(I have the color decoder patterns for all devices), that is how I narrowed the problem down to RGB input and RGB output having the seriously skewed colors

I have an Oppo DVD player sending RGB to the VP30 by DVI-to-HDMI cable, and the VP30 set to output RGB to my projector by HDMI. I don't have any color issues like you describe.

I have an Oppo DVD player sending RGB to the VP30 by DVI-to-HDMI cable, and the VP30 set to output RGB to my projector by HDMI. I don't have any color issues like you describe.

Ditto.

the VP30 shows correct colors when inputting a 444 signal and outputting RGB
the problem is when inputting RGB and outputting RGB, the colors are seriously FUBAR

I am positive that someone could confirm this problem in no time with my info here and have it showing on their display

-Gary

sorry - using rgbhv input with hd signals, rgbhv out to projector, colors are fine. More to the point, I can switch outputs on my settop box, and I get the same colors with either DVI-> HDMI in on VP30 or RGBHV out ->RGBHV in on VP30. Only time I saw wierd colors was when the VP30 arbitrarily assigned tri-level synch to incoming RGBHV signal. Changing synch to any of the separate synch options corrected problems. (H-V-, etc.) Did you check that? (Sorry - I'm sure you have, but I DID have funky colors when VP30 had input synched at tri-level.)

Just installed my replacement IR lens. Works great! Thanks DVDO!

Nuz

Quick question slightly OT, I am upgrading from my HD to the HD+ (yea, finally). Will my settings for 1:1 mapping be the same?

Quick question slightly OT, I am upgrading from my HD to the HD+ (yea, finally). Will my settings for 1:1 mapping be the same?

From the HD to the HD+, yes I would imagine so. But be aware that (if this is a board level upgrade), your settings will not be saved in the unit. You'll have to write them down and re-input them.

Just installed my replacement IR lens. Works great! Thanks DVDO!

Nuz
How hard was it to do? I did manage to install my SDI board, but that is about the extent of my venturing.

I have an Oppo DVD player sending RGB to the VP30 by DVI-to-HDMI cable, and the VP30 set to output RGB to my projector by HDMI. I don't have any color issues like you describe.
No problem with me either. But I usually leave my outputs on 4:2:2.
I'm still wondering what I should set the output to with my Samsung 1080P set. My HDTiVos output 4:4:4. My Sony 975 outputs 4:2:2 and mu Oppo outputs RGB. What should I set the VP30 output on to get the best picture. My set was calibrated with the HD+ when I had my HDTivos connected to it and I had the Sony connected straight into the TV but now I'm running everything through the VP30 so what should I put the output on.

choddo2006: I've been using DVDO scalers and Panny PHD plasmas together for years in UK.

Best solution is to use analogue output from DVDO to panel, and BNC connections are the best: you get 50Hz material with no frame rate conversion, you can also get 48Hz to remove judder on Region1 DVDs if you wish.

The VP30's analogue output is EXCEPTIONALLY good, and combined with BNC input on plasma is indistinguisable from DVI connection in my setup.

StooMonster
Ah thanks, very interesting. And having seen PeteS' setup earlier today, I totally agree on the quality of the analogue output.

Do I need to use 48Hz, wouldn't 60Hz be ok? I suspect there's something unsaid here I don't know about.

That only leaves the question of SkyHD. If HDCP takes off on that, got no choice but to use digital and then there seems to be no way to get it pixel matched, is that fair? Would be stuck with 720p being scaled by the panel?

Or are Sky (thanks twohe) going to allow you to use analogue for everything, and just encrypt protected content on the HDMI port?

How hard was it to do? I did manage to install my SDI board, but that is about the extent of my venturing.

The same screws as adding your SDI card but 3 addition on the front bezel underneath. Pretty easy...

Is anyone experiencing random static (tiny white dots) with their SDI input? I see the static only while playing DVD with the SDI input in 480/720/1080/1366X768. The static is very little but noticable.

I did not see them the first week I got the unit. Last thing I did was upgrade the firmware. Does anyone have the original firmware I can load back to test?

Nuz

the VP30 shows correct colors when inputting a 444 signal and outputting RGB
the problem is when inputting RGB and outputting RGB, the colors are seriously FUBAR


yes I was playing with this the other day, and the absolutely psycadelic colours I was getting were cool to look at (for about 5 seconds), but otherwise useless for normal viewing.

I can not recall excatly what I had tried in terms of specific settings, but will do so again tonight and report back

cheers

I have seen those psycadelic colors :D, but that is not my issue here, it is a minor skewing of the colors into being incorrect

any RGB HDMI input device causes it, I am using HDMI to DVI RGB output

output is set to RGB, input for all RGB HDMI devices is set to auto

422 HDMI input devices show perfect colors that match the internal test patterns, RGB HDMI input devices show skewed colors compared to the internal test patterns

These Screen shots clearly show the problem in a big way:

http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/iscanpattern.jpg
-
http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/hdmirgbpattern.jpg
-
http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/hdmi444pattern.jpg

-Gary

I know that the analog video(bnc) input can not accept a 1080i signal, and I know that the BNC should give you a better image thanrcn. So, if I want to hook up my dvd player via component, is it best to do a 480p>1080i over the analog video (bnc) input or is it better to connect the dvd player to the component (rca) video and do a 4801>1080i?

Ah thanks, very interesting. And having seen PeteS' setup earlier today, I totally agree on the quality of the analogue output.

Do I need to use 48Hz, wouldn't 60Hz be ok? I suspect there's something unsaid here I don't know about.

That only leaves the question of SkyHD. If HDCP takes off on that, got no choice but to use digital and then there seems to be no way to get it pixel matched, is that fair? Would be stuck with 720p being scaled by the panel?

Or are Sky (thanks twohe) going to allow you to use analogue for everything, and just encrypt protected content on the HDMI port?
60Hz is fine, I just prefer Region1 movies with no 3:2 pulldown judder and with analogue input that option is available to me.

Sky HD set top boxes are going to have component outputs for the first generation, there are way more displays with component inputs that HDMI and they would be idiotic to reduce their potential customer base. Therefore analogue everything, but it's expected that all HDMI output will be protected.

The 720p and 1080i outputs can be scaled by VP30, if they are received either via component of HDMI from Sky HD stb.

StooMonster

I know that the analog video(bnc) input can not accept a 1080i signal, and I know that the BNC should give you a better image thanrcn. So, if I want to hook up my dvd player via component, is it best to do a 480p>1080i over the analog video (bnc) input or is it better to connect the dvd player to the component (rca) video and do a 4801>1080i?
It's always better to feed scalers with the rawest least processed signal -- why would you want to use the $0.10 deinterlacer and scaler chip in your "upscaling" DVD player when you've bought a $000's dedicated scaler?

Feeding iScan VP30 an unprocessed 480i signal on RCA as opposed to "upscaled" 1080i on BNC will give you much better picture quality improvement than differences due to connectors.

StooMonster

60Hz is fine, I just prefer Region1 movies with no 3:2 pulldown judder and with analogue input that option is available to me.

Sky HD set top boxes are going to have component outputs for the first generation, there are way more displays with component inputs that HDMI and they would be idiotic to reduce their potential customer base. Therefore analogue everything, but it's expected that all HDMI output will be protected.

The 720p and 1080i outputs can be scaled by VP30, if they are received either via component of HDMI from Sky HD stb.

StooMonster
Thanks. I should have twigged it was a 3:2 pulldown thing. Double film frame rate.

Understand that it'll scale the HDMI input, the only challenge with scaling 720p and 1080i is that if it's HDCP protected it'll have to stay digital and therefore still be one those resolutions when it hits the screen & then scale there. Nasty.

So certainly sounds like analogue is the way to go... don't suppose DVDO plan on selling a version of the VP30 with a couple of extra component connections & fewer HDMI? ;)

hi all,

I would very much like to hear anyone's experiences with PAL (576i) sources into the VP30, and if anyone is also connecting to a Fujitsu plasma (i have a 40-series/AVM-II model).

Being in Australia, all my source are more or less PAL/576i, and then scaled from there.

As mentioned a while back in an earlier post, I was seeing an overall on-par or reduction in picture quality when using the VP30.

I have since also engaged the services of a professional ISF calibrator, with much experience with DVDO equipment, and plasma screens, including the Fuji.

Unfortunately after several hours spent on the VP30/Fuji plasma, we were not able to configure the VP30 in such a way as to get any benefit (or extremely marginal at best) for PAL/576i sources.

Of most note was what appeared to be poor de-interlacing, which was most obvious when watching the tennis, (ie, the lines outlining of the tennis court), or the cricket (for example, numbers on the players backs had perceptible horitontal interlacing "lines" thru them when they moved), and any diagonal edges/movement in the picture for anything being displayed, looked generally bad compared to directly connecting the source devices to the Fuji panel.

This issue in itself was so noticeable and distracting as to detract from any benefit the VP30 may have been offering in other aspects of the picture quality.

Other PAL material, including some very specific test patterns (static patterns, and also patterns including motion), and video material as used in the calibration process, were also suffering from various "issues".

It is also very possible that the Fuji panel itself is still processing the signal to some degree, even when 1:1 pixel mapping was obtained (1360x768), however the ISF technician was unable to overcome any such additional processing (if it was in-fact occurring), or determine how or why the resultant picture from the VP30 was so very average (again, could be more related to the panel).

At this stage, I am open to any and all suggestions regarding the VP30, PAL sources, for use with Fujitsu panels (for anyone that has them), and would especially like to hear from other users where PAL/576i sources are the main (Australia, UK, others?)

I would love to hear from DVDO as to whether they have done any testing of PAL/576i sources via the VP30, into a Fujitsu plasma (ie, were they able to overcome all aspects of the panels scaler/image processing, and if so, how) - or failing that, any suggestions as to why the VP30/Fuji combo could be causing these issues.

Still willing to persevere for the time being, but would not mind a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak...

many thanks

Hi pandemik

I can perhaps help with some of this - I have the VP30 in the UK, but connecting to an old SD Panasonic plasma - 852*480. I run the output from my satellite into it via RGBs into one of the component inputs at 576i/50Hz. After doing pixel matching and just using the out of the box 852*480 config (with 1 minor sync tweak) I must say I'm delighted with the results. I haven't watched any tennis, so can't comment on that, but the results are definately much better than those from the same source into my old iScan Ultra doubler. I had choddo (another forum member) round yesterday, and he was likewise most impressed.

So, I don't think there's a generic 576i problem. Unless..... I did find that by default the VP30 is configured to output a 50Hz input as 60Hz (to better suit our american cousins), so the first thing you have to do is to change the frequency settings to lock the output to 50Hz for a 50Hz input.

pete S

Gary,

Are you sure the color patterns from your 5U and 942 are correct or perhaps the broadcast patterns are not correct? I cannot remember all of the information from your prior posts. Have you tried DVE HD Tape version to test from your 5U for color decoder accuracy? If you have addressed this already, I apologize?

I know that the analog video(bnc) input can not accept a 1080i signal, and I know that the BNC should give you a better image thanrcn. So, if I want to hook up my dvd player via component, is it best to do a 480p>1080i over the analog video (bnc) input or is it better to connect the dvd player to the component (rca) video and do a 4801>1080i?

My .02 is depends on the dvd player. I'm using a Pany rp82 w/ a Faroudja chip. I was told that for my situation component and 480i to the DVDO would be good for DVD movies since the chip in the DVDO is pretty good for film material. BUT I'd hit the progressive button on the dvd player to go 480p to the DVDO for video material because the Faroudja chip seems to do video better. That's what I've gathered from some of the posts on the forum.

Don

Yes I had not covered that sorry

the HDNet Test patterns and any other HD test patterns I have at my disposal all match the Iscan's internal test patterns and a big $ pattern generator a Pro had here a few weeks back, all sources of color bars I have are perfect and the TV shows perfect color decoder when inputting any of those

my set being DVI will not take anything but RGB, no if's and's or but's, 442 or 444 gives a crazy ass green image, so the output part of this ordeal is taken care of(and is not a variable)

I am sure DVDO could match this issue in no time, my display is calibrated for the most perfect color decoder that anyone could possibly have, any input device shows that to be true(including the VP30's internal patterns)

one can easily see the massive difference between the pics above, the internal test patterns are perfect(top) look at the 2nd pic(HDMI RGB input) the green is destroyed and the yellow is brownish, cyan is also goofy

but things fix when inputting a HDMI 444 device(bottom pic)

this is some serious color distortion that my Color Decoder paramters on my set don't even have enough range to fix

-Gary

I have seen those psycadelic colors :D, but that is not my issue here, it is a minor skewing of the colors into being incorrect

any RGB HDMI input device causes it, I am using HDMI to DVI RGB output

output is set to RGB, input for all RGB HDMI devices is set to auto

422 HDMI input devices show perfect colors that match the internal test patterns, RGB HDMI input devices show skewed colors compared to the internal test patterns

These Screen shots clearly show the problem in a big way:

http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/iscanpattern.jpg
-
http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/hdmirgbpattern.jpg
-
http://home.bigsandybb.com/gmurrell/hdmi444pattern.jpg

-Gary

Gary,
I have a DISH 942 and am not seeing what you are showing. When I play the HDNET test pattern, with the colorspace on RGB, I get the same test pattern as the internal VP30 pattern. Maybe I'm not understanding what you are doing. I am running my 942 via HDMI into the VP30 and then to my Optoma H79 (via HDMI/DVI connection). Also, you may want to try some different cables, as I had some problems with color and it turned out to be a cable issue. SJ

Gary,

Perhaps you can take advantage of the IR upgrade procedure and obtain a NEW VP30 and send your unit back. This would either eliminate or validate the VP30 as the culprit.

I would be interested to see the outcome.

I have edited my post, because I have to do a few more tests. I may have found the cause of my problem, and if what I've found is the cause, then it's my own fault and I'm an idiot. If not, I'll re-post my problem.

I have exactly the same PAL vs. NTSC question. the VP30 doesn't seem to maintain seperate settings for 50 and 60hz on the same input - I thought it was supposed to do this. I've addressed this in the short term by locking a 60Hz input to ouput 50Hz - so the screen only has to receive one signal. However, this isn't a decent long term solution.

I think I was able to have the VP30 use and switch between separate settings for 50 and 60Hz on my setup (Denon 2900 over 480i component). I'm at work right now so I can not verify but I believe you will need to save two different output profiles and to enable auto selecting of profiles.

Hi pandemik

I can perhaps help with some of this - I have the VP30 in the UK, but connecting to an old SD Panasonic plasma - 852*480. I run the output from my satellite into it via RGBs into one of the component inputs at 576i/50Hz. After doing pixel matching and just using the out of the box 852*480 config (with 1 minor sync tweak) I must say I'm delighted with the results. I haven't watched any tennis, so can't comment on that, but the results are definately much better than those from the same source into my old iScan Ultra doubler. I had choddo (another forum member) round yesterday, and he was likewise most impressed.

So, I don't think there's a generic 576i problem. Unless..... I did find that by default the VP30 is configured to output a 50Hz input as 60Hz (to better suit our american cousins), so the first thing you have to do is to change the frequency settings to lock the output to 50Hz for a 50Hz input.

pete S

Hi pete,

thanks for your response;

yeah unfortunately much of this has already been tried, and it is possibly looking to be some kind of "issue" with the vp30/Fujitsu combo, as the ISF calibration technician commented that, although he had not configured too many vp30's just yet (but has configured countless HD/HD+), and in fact mine was the first vp30/Fuji combination he had played with - regardless, the indication was that he not seen the bizarre things that were occuring between the vp30/Fuji, when compared with hooking up the vp30 to other panels, for PAL/576i sources.

so I am hoping for some additional assistance from DVDO regarding this, and of course happy to hear also from the greater forum community :)

thanks again pete

cheers :)

I've downloaded the VP30 CCF but it doesn't contain a discrete code for the analog audio input. Any idea when we can get one of those? I think that's the only one I need to finally get my remote finished.

Is anyone experiencing random static (tiny white dots) with their SDI input? I see the static only while playing DVD with the SDI input in 480/720/1080/1366X768. The static is very little but noticable.

I did not see them the first week I got the unit. Last thing I did was upgrade the firmware. Does anyone have the original firmware I can load back to test?

Nuz

Anyone have the original firmware before the 1080 fix? I would like to get a hold of it to test over the weekend...DVDO has not updated their software link yet on their support page for the VP30.

Nuz

The same screws as adding your SDI card but 3 addition on the front bezel underneath. Pretty easy...

Pretty easy assuming you get your replacement lens in the mailer . . . :p

Mine just came in with the instructions and no lens. That's what I get for being the first one to post the remote problem. ;)

A quick e-mail to Tim at DVDO and 10 minutes later I get a reply back saying they are sending out a new one tomorrow. No big deal--mistakes happen. I can wait. :p

- Gerry

Pretty easy assuming you get your replacement lens in the mailer . . . :p

Mine just came in with the instructions and no lens. That's what I get for being the first one to post the remote problem. ;)

A quick e-mail to Tim at DVDO and 10 minutes later I get a reply back saying they are sending out a new one tomorrow. No big deal--mistakes happen. I can wait. :p

- Gerry

Mine was in the folded instructions. Sure it did not fall anywhere when you opened it? It's pretty small, flat and round.

Mine was in the folded instructions. Sure it did not fall anywhere when you opened it? It's pretty small, flat and round.

Thanks for the suggestion. :)

Did that three times--had the mail open on a flat counter. Just rechecked again after seeing your reply. No go.

No big deal. Got the usual quick response from DVDO. I'll see the new one by next Wednesday (but I will open it very carefully).

Best!

P.S. Although the wife did give me a funny look when she saw the picture of the "DVDO girl" on the shipping label of the disk mailer--like I was receiving a porn video from some DVD company . . . :p

- Gerry

Thanks for the input guys, thats a good idea Don :)

SJHT, so you are using the 942 via HDMI, you have the input colorspace set on RGB or auto(both are the same)
for output you are using HDMI to DVI which has to be RGB

and you are not seeing these issues ??

when I connect the 942 to my display I get perfect colors
when I connect the JVC 5u to my display I get perfect colors
when I connect the VP30 to my display I get perfect colors via internal test patterns

SJ the same cables are being used to connect my equipment directly to the display

this suck's :(

what is the possibility of Hue/Sat controls for Red/Blue/Green(this benefits 100% of customers), I am sure this is a addition that many folks would even be willing to pay for, I know I would

-Gary

hi all,

I have unfortunately struck a new issue with my VP30;

I can no longer get any output from the VP30 for any of my source devices, when the source devices are connected via the component inputs on the VP30.

I have tried PAL (DVD player, STB) & NTSC (xbox) sources, but nothing.

The LED on the VP30 remains green/yellow (indicates unrecognised source), however the sources are simply 576i or 480i/p.

I have tried each of my source devices via both component inputs on the VP30, with two sets of cables.

I have also verified that each of my sources are in working order via direct connect to the panel (no probs there). Also, if I connect one of these sources to the VP30 via another style of input (s-video, composite), I can get a picture out of the VP30 - but nothing when connecting via component.

I have also done a factory-defaults/reset of the VP30 - still nothing.

Have also tried every combination of power-cycling the VP30, source devices etc, and also flipping between inputs on panel/VP30 in case something was "stuck".

Thinking this is a hardware issue - wondering if anyone experienced this, or if any suggestions?

thanks

as a follow-up to my post above;

about the only thing I had not tried was having pulled the power-cable out of the back of the VP30, let it "cool down" for about 30mins, and am now getting the all-holy blue-light again, and hence am getting video out of the VP30 for the component inputs.

to be honest, not sure if it was a heat issue, or just the act of pulling the power cable out of the back of it.

if (when) it happens again, will simply go the plug-pull option to see if that solves it

cheers

The VP30 IMHO is pretty buggy right now, I have had to reset to restore functions on average at least once or twice a day, that combined with the incorrect color decoding is really bothersome at this point in time

-Gary

Thanks for the input guys, thats a good idea Don :)

SJHT, so you are using the 942 via HDMI, you have the input colorspace set on RGB or auto(both are the same)
for output you are using HDMI to DVI which has to be RGB

and you are not seeing these issues ??

when I connect the 942 to my display I get perfect colors
when I connect the JVC 5u to my display I get perfect colors
when I connect the VP30 to my display I get perfect colors via internal test patterns

SJ the same cables are being used to connect my equipment directly to the display

this suck's :(

what is the possibility of Hue/Sat controls for Red/Blue/Green(this benefits 100% of customers), I am sure this is a addition that many folks would even be willing to pay for, I know I would

-Gary

Yes, my 942 is connected via HDMI to the VP30 and then via HDMI/DVI to my projector (Optima H79). The internal VP30 test pattern and the HDNET test pattern (which I have stored on the 942) look identical. I have RGB/Auto selected. Per the advice above, you may want to go ahead and get another unit as part of the IR swap out process that Josh mentioned ealier in this thread. My projector also has settings for colorspace which obviously also needs to be set correctly, but given that you can go direct, this doesn't sound like an issue. What is interesting is that it seems like your colors are just slightly off, when I select other settings the colors go way off, nothing like what you are showing.

Also, I have NEVER had to reset my VP30 since I installed it..... SJ

Has anyone else tried using the VP30 with a new Samsung 1080p TV? I have the 5668 model and think I might have a big problem.

At the back of the manual there is a config/calibration guide that I tried to follow. On the second test pattern in the guide (checkerboard) it says if you don't see a checkerboard correctly, that you may not be able to bypass the video processing of the TV.

I am outputting 720p as the TV won't accept a 1080p signal from the VP30. So the TV has to scale to 1080p itself and I am getting incorrect test patterns -- won't this affect my video quality pretty severly?

I have exactly the same PAL vs. NTSC question. the VP30 doesn't seem to maintain seperate settings for 50 and 60hz on the same input - I thought it was supposed to do this. I've addressed this in the short term by locking a 60Hz input to ouput 50Hz - so the screen only has to receive one signal. However, this isn't a decent long term solution.

I had to edit the post that you're quoting, because I realised I had misunderstood a thing or two.

I did have a problem with the iScan HD, in that it wouldn't remember my zoom, pan etc. settings for PAL and NTSC. In other words, if I adjusted those settings for PAL, watched a PAL movie, then later adjusted for NTSC and watched an NTSC movie, and then went back again to a PAL movie, the iScan HD would have forgotten my PAL image adjustments, and was back at default aspect ratio again. This may have been a fault with my particular unit.

I thought the same, or at least similar, thing happened now with the VP30, but on further testing it turns out it works as intended (and as I hoped it would).

-What threw me off, is that I've been watching the Information pane on the VP30, in order to see what aspect ratio the DVD I'm playing has. It turns out though, that no matter what aspect ratio the movie has, the VP30 will say the input ratio is 1.78:1.

So yesterday I played a movie that I thought was 1.78:1, because the Information pane said so, and so I adjusted zoom and pan accordingly. I thought I had to do those adjustments again because I had just played an NTSC movie before, but it turned out the VP30 did remember the correct PAL settings, it was just that I thought the PAL movie I was watching was 1.78:1, when in fact it turns out it is 2.35:1.

So - the VP30 works as it's supposed to between PAL and NTSC, ratio wise, now that I've put those settings in separate Presets. It automatically swaps Presets correctly when I switch between PAL and NTSC movies. *phew*

I have set it up like this:

Preset 1 = PAL sat box, adjusted ratio with zoom/pan/overscan.
Preset 2 = DVD player, PAL - adjusted zoom/pan/overscan using a 1.78:1 DVD as reference.
Preset 3 = DVD player, NTSC - adjusted zoom/pan/overscan using a 1.78:1 DVD as reference.

That all seems to work, and the VP30 automatically switches between them, as mentioned.


Now - that begs another question though:

Why does the information pane on the VP30 say the input ratio is 1.78:1 regardless of the ratio of the movie? Does the DVD-player send out at 1.78:1 no matter what ratio the movie is?
If so, I've learned another thing today. But in that case - what's the point in having that info on the Information pane, if it's always going to be 1.78:1 from a DVD-player?

There seems to be a thing or two I still don't understand correctly about aspect ratios...

Now - that begs another question though:

Why does the information pane on the VP30 say the input ratio is 1.78:1 regardless of the ratio of the movie? Does the DVD-player send out at 1.78:1 no matter what ratio the movie is?
If so, I've learned another thing today. But in that case - what's the point in having that info on the Information pane, if it's always going to be 1.78:1 from a DVD-player?


The Input Aspect Ratio information is not determined by what format the content you are watching is, it determined by the settings the user has selected. These selections can be changed in the Input Aspect Ratio menu under both 'Frame AR' or 'Active AR'. Also if you push the 4:3 or 16:9 buttons on the remote you will see these change.

I am outputting 720p as the TV won't accept a 1080p signal from the VP30. So the TV has to scale to 1080p itself and I am getting incorrect test patterns -- won't this affect my video quality pretty severly?

The test patterns are used to help set up your iScan VP30. Have you evaluated your setup with and without the iScan VP30 with content that you are familar with? I have seen some displays that will not allow you to bypass the internal processing but when I displayed actual content the improvement was obvious.