HD LEEZA - new firmware - Page 2  

Dear Alan

You worry too much:-)
Thank you

Dear bpage

I guess the request is to add 1440x960.
Thank you

Hi Ofer

are you talking NTSC or Pal or Both?

What is the exact problem on CRT with 48/72hz?
Thank you

Dear Thomas

We appreciate the compliment, its great to hear once in a while good things as well.
Thank you

Dear Craig

No techical issue, its on to do list as soon as we have time. we are releasing new firmware with 11 VERY IMPORTANT upgrades. One of the things that everyone forgets is that HD Leeza is an interface to EVERY display, source, format, standard, etc........ Its very tough to keep up with upgrades as technologies change, so we need to make choices. Do we add features to support growing market or do we work on features that support dead markets. For example: we added the Native Resolution for JVC DILA because we saw this as a growing market. To add a resolution of 1440x960 requires a lot of time and money. Please tell me what digital display uses this resolution? if its a CRT projector, than we would only do it when we have the time, otherwise, we want to add other features to benefit MOST of the market. This said and done, i will ask Ofer to make a list of ALL resolutions that Member would want and ALL issues with PAL, etc... and mailto:michael@keydigital.com and I will sit down with Mike and go over the list and report back to you. Let me know
Thank you

Dear Craig

I just received an email asking about new resolution for JVC
will the new firmware support 1400x788 for the new JVC Dila?

This is exactly what I am talking about in my first answer to you.
Thank you

To all Members

Please do not PM me, I would prefer that if you have any private messages, please send them to mailto:michael@keydigital.com
Thank you

Having demonstrated the HD to approaching 180 people at Gordons Event 11 in England (I ran the scaler room), I can assure KD that CRT is certainly NOT dead, there was a number of VERY 'interested' parties who are waiting for 960p and PAL issues to be resolved. Fix these and sales will take off in these markets, at the moment everyone is just waiting and the only looser is KD :(

I was one of those interested parties and can confirm the above. The picture from a Barco 1209s being fed from the Leeza (? resolution) was better than anything I saw from LCD, DLP or D-ILA (all professionally setup). I'm going to buy a 1209s when my house extension is finished.

Martin

Michael,

Yes, I was requesting 1440x960p. Also understand that while front projection CRTs may be sick(not dead quite yet), many folks who are in the market for your product still use them. In addition, there are still a TON of REAR projectors using CRT technology and probably will for quite some time yet. This is a huge and growing market.

Also, wanted to say thanks for what you have been doing. Most manufacturers wouldn't even begin to have the dialog and listen to their customers like Key does. The HD Leeza is coming along nicely. I love mine even if it does still have a few quirks. The updates in the upcoming firmware seem like logical things to address the majority of the market. I certainly understand that you can't do everything all at once. 1440x960 just seems like a no brainer compared to 1280x960. Not sure who would use that.

Again, thanks for everything and welcome back to the discussion.

I am another interested party. I have an Electrohome 9500.

Michael:

I'm also very happy with the performance of my HD Leeza and feel justified in being an early adopter. The lack of 960p and the slightly clunky interface are much less important than the great picture quality, essentially free of glitches when set up properly.

The main reason you should consider adding 1440x960 is that 9" CRT projectors are still producing the best images and therefore will continue to be used as demos in shows and such, and 960p is probably the best resolution to use when playing DVDs, and that's where a lot of people will first see the HD Leeza, even if they later hook it up to digital.

The other consideration is that on this forum probably at least half of HD Leeza owners use them with CRT projectors, and this is the only resolution, as far as I know, that we've asked for. Fair's fair.

Craig

Dear Dominick

Why dont you try this:

1. select 1366x1024
2. adjust horizantal to 1440
3. adjust vertical to 960
4. save it

Let me know if image quality improves. Most of the CRT installations we saw in the States are being done in 1080p.
Thank you

Dear Craig

Why dont you try this:

1. select 1366x1024
2. adjust horizantal to 1440
3. adjust vertical to 960
4. save it

Let me know if image quality improves.
Thank you

Dear Dominic

I need specific PAL issues, please mailto:michael@keydigital.com

I will talk to Mike about 1440x960
Thank you

I am getting my HDL setup early next week. Is there an easy way to tell which firmware I have? TIA

Must... resist... replying...

Mark

Must... resist... replying... :mad:

Mark

Ever since a very early version, the firmware version has been displayed right on the basic OSD. But in any event, if you're setting things up next week, you will likely want to update to the new version that Michael says will be coming out within the next week. It is very very easy to upgrade - you just need a pc or laptop with a typical serial port connection.

I am sometimes a little leery of applying a firmware upgrade if my hardware is already working satisfactorily - it sometimes backfires. But since I am still in the initial set up phase, it can't hurt. Thanks again for your help Alan.

EB

Let us know how it goes. I've updated the firmware maybe 8 times on this thing, and each time it gets better.

And lest people get the idea that no one is happy with their HDL, I think it's terrific. Can't wait til the new firmware version with its true discrete IR inputs.

Yes, of course, Ofer. It takes the horizontal frequency of whichever initial resolution is selected and scales to 1440x960 within it... ie if you start with 1060 vertical lines, you end up with 960 scaled into 1060 lines...

Totally non-optimal as it drives the projector harder than required and has the possibility of introducing non-integer scaling artefacts.

A true 1440x960 resolution is the only acceptable solution and we've been asking for it since day one...

See what you did, you made me answer ;)

Mark.

Michael,

I've been thinking further on your opinions of CRT technology and hence the low priority you give to CRT specific upgrades.

Who is then buying the Leeza? People with low cost LCD projectors or plasmas are not going to buy a scaler costing significantly more than their display device. DLP projectors have a scaler built in. Of those that are considering the Leeza, the serious AV fraternity, I'm sure a significant minority will own CRT projectors. The second hand CRT market in the UK seems alive and kicking and I'm sure Barco still ship a lot of units in the Euro zone.

This and the PAL issus which Gordon has informed you of, are hindering sales of an otherwise excellent unit.

I would also like to add my thanks to you for participating in these forums. The communication helps us end users enormously.

Martin

Michael

I think Mark has summed up the resolution issues quite well but he has done that for ages.

Re the PAL issues, Gordon and Elliot demonstrated these to KD at Cedia and even left you with PAL discs!! Mark has been saying this for ages as well. KD are fully aware of them.

It isn't me who is missing out here, I am a very happy owner of the HD Leeza. [The demonstration were given with my own personal unit] but they are new sales to be had for KD which are currently'drifting away' to the SIL 504 based competition, and yes everyone knows the limitations of the SIL504 they are buying but the KD can't do the most basics thing right like PAL 2:2. It seems the HD Leeza does not do 2:2 pulldown accurately enough perhhaps all it needs is a tweakto cadence detection as it is too strong? :) Hint. I am not sure this is a big job, more a tweak.

Don't forget PAL market, it is HUGE, perhaps bigger than NTSC? I can't remember which is bigger but from memory there is not much in it, with SECAM taking the tiny proportion left. Basically there is 50% of the world market to go for, currently much of that market is 'on hold'. The interest Gordon generate at his Event was significant for 'our small shore'.

oh I forgot I need 576P@50 via DVI as well (make sure it is capable of the 572p@50 that a few pieces of AV equipment currently output (like ISCAN Ultra / Tag DVD players etc) :)

It think it needs to be able to deal with:

720x572 and 640x572 @ 50 Hz via DVI (inc 576p@50)

AND

720x480 and 640x480 @ 60 Hz (for the NTSC market)

Key Digital have had LONG document from me several months ago listing all the issues we have with the HDL including the PAL ones. I sent a PAL test disc months ago along with video content disc (Insurrection R2 just to show simple 2:2) and left another with video content showing a simple example of poor de-interlacing in Sept at CEDIA. It is not for my want of trying to show and point out the issues that they are not being fixed.

I will send it again when I have time in the hope that these issues might finally be resolved.

Gordon

jonesthegas:

the guys with 37" plasmas probably aren't looking at external scalers, but most of the folks with 50" and 60" units sure are, myself included.

i WISH my plasma cost "significantly" less than an HD Leeza!

doody.

Point taken. I still think CRT owners would make up a significant minority of the market for this product.

Martin

Dear EB

The firmware was released this morning. 5.5.55

We will also add to our website in the afternoon.

ATTENTION: If you currently have an HD Leeza and are not getting firmware upgrades directly from KDS, please mailto:mike@keydigital.com
your name and info and we will add you to new upgrades as they come out.
Thank you