New DVDO iScan VP30 - Page 217

I don't know what to do myself. I was looking into upgrading to the VP50Pro in a few months, but don't know if I should.

I think the policy is quite clear:

• VP30 released: dec 2005
• VP30/ABT released: may 2006
• (informal?) end of software support: nov 2007

Which counts up to 23 months of support for the VP30 and (only) 19 months of support voor de VP30/ABT solution. (I'm not counting in the audio bug which was solved relatively recently.)

Josh: Can you tell me whether the bug I've reported by email to Aaron is still going to be looked at and fixed? I originally emailed him in mid-August and his reply to my request for an update last month was that they were still looking into it.

I've included a copy of the email below for those who are not familiar with the issue. The problem occurs with varying degrees of annoyance on many anime discs, but the examples below show the problem most severely. Swapping out both my VP20 and my ABT-102 did not correct the problem.


On Crest of the Stars DVD 1, episode 1, just before the end credits, there is a scene with serious feathering on the image. The image is fine if I bypass the VP20 and it is fine in game mode 1, but every other mode produces a very bad image. I wasn't able to attach the pictures I took of the problem, but you can download a ZIP of them at:

http://www.cephira.com/Temp/VP20.zip

CotS_bad.jpg shows what the scene looks like in Auto or any of the other modes except Game 1. CotS_game.jpg shows the same scene in Game 1. Just switching the mode while the DVD was paused was sufficient to fix it, and switching it back caused the problem to reappear.

Sai_bad.jpg shows another example just for comparison from a show called Saiyuki. Game 1 also fixes this one but I didn't include a photo.

Both bad scenes have something in common. In the CotS case, the previous scene shows the girl jumping discontinously into the forground over the course of several seconds. In the Saiyuki case, the two horizontal bars with the character closeups appeared suddenly one after the other. The first one (the guy with the monocle on the left) appeared with no problem, but the appearance of the one on the right caused the feathering to appear.

I realize anime can be challenging to deinterlace, but obviously this is some sort of glitch since the cheap deinterlacers in my DVD player and TV handle it fine. I'm hoping the fact that Game 2 has the problem but Game 1 does not will help narrow it down for you.

Donovan

Sorry to ask a question that I am sure has been answered somewhere in the 200+ pages of this thread, but that is a lot to go through. I was thinking of getting a "factory renewed" VP30/ABT102D and was wondering if anyone knew if this is a bad idea? Will I be able to upgrade in the future if I have a factory renewed VP30/abt102d? and do you think they are coming up with a new VP30 device that might be worth waiting for (since they are making it end of life)?

DonovonH:

I've seen this on occasion in anime, and most likely it is a video editing error in the source material. By chance, are those scenes still shots? Or is there stillness in the jagged areas that lasts for 4 fields or longer?

I saw this on an anime disc where a short segment had been mangled such that the low-quality bob was part of the image on-disc, at a 30fps rate. So the processor was actually getting a 2:2 lock and presenting the image as-is. Even in the video deinterlacing mode, the still areas would appear like that, so the only remedy was to switch to Game Mode 1. This was during an opening sequence where the licensor had added their English titles (the textless sequence as an extra on the disc was fine).

As to why your TV/DVD handles it fine, perhaps because it is using its usual bob algorithm and is not getting a 2:2 lock?

It's hard to tell what's happening without having the disc, but I've never seen the VP30 with ABT card, or VP50, resort to a straight vertical bob as an error. I've seen plenty of instances of imperfect anime deinterlacing but never the effect in the screen shots you've attached, except when it's on-disc like that. But I've seen plenty of instances in anime where there is a low-quality bob in the video itself on disc--more than I could ever list.

Hi all,

I seem to be having problems getting my DVDO VP30 with ABT 102 working properly on my Hitachi PJtx100 projector. I have a cable box and a DVD player going in via component cables and then outputting HDMI - DVI to my projector. I get the picture but it is really devoid of i think the colour Red and maybe other colours. It comes out very dark and quite green in colour. I think i have tried going through most of the options but nothing seemed to make any difference. I presume the options change on the fly? Should i use a component out to my projector from the VP30 instead of HDMI - DVI?

I never realised i would have so much problems getting it going, i should have checked to see if its quite fiddly or not i guess before buying it 2nd hand.

I was having problems settings up my VP30, so I did a reset on it to set it back to factory defaults. Everything worked fine after that. I guess I had just fiddled too much and messed it up.

My VP30 has suddenly stopped working.

The display shows "Powered by ABT" then it quickly flashes "DVDO Iscan VP30 Powered by ABT" with the power light coming on in a red color. It cycles between these 2 messages repeatedly. I've pulled the plug and done a factory reset (plug in while holding menu and exit). I was able to get the checksum displays after the reset, but it went back to flashing between those messages.

Anyone seen this before?

Hi,

Strangely, my VP30 yesterday started doing exactly the same thing!

Waiting for the dealer to get back to me.

This is the second vp30 that has gone faulty on me.

regards

Alan

Guys,

I had the *exact*same issue and it turned out to be a faulty power cable! Call DVDO (hopefully you purchased your unit from an authorized reseller) and they will take care of it for you.

I was skeptic at first that a faulty power chord could result in such bizarre behavior but once I got the replacement and plugged it in; everything worked!

Mine also just 2 days ago. Is it the cord or the transformer?

I had time today to take a voltage reading on the plug that goes into the scaler. It was something like 6.08 volts. So for me I don't think it's the power cord or transformer. The rated transformer output is 6 volts.

Just wondering if someone can help me? I just purchased a VP30 with the ABT add in card and I am using it to process cable tv (480i & 1080i) using HDMI connectors through a Panasonic AX100 projector (720p) onto a 150" screen.

Without the ABT card installed I see a pretty good picture - a decent improvement over the original unprocessed picture. It is sharper (clearer) to my eyes with little in the way of artifacts or noise.

With the ABT card installed I see a much sharper picture (as if it is too sharp) a lot more artifacts - jaggies, more noise & also more ghosting around the images. I am guessing this is not normal and that I should see a better (certainly not worse) picture with the add in card installed. I have reseated the card several times and upgraded the firmware to the latest and have factory reset and completed full power cycles to no effect. I have also tried different resolutions and settings etc including turning the sharpness way down.

Does anyone else use the ABT card on a big screen (100" plus) that could chime in with their thoughts on it? I am quite happy with the picture without the ABT card (I only watch cable tv and DVD movies) so everthing is cool but a lot of reviewers here say that the ABT is a significant upgrade. I am just not seeing that myself.

Don't know if this will help but I had to reset my tv to factory settings then tweaked it with help from the tv forum because of color issues when the ABT card was installed in the VP30. All looks good for us now.

I'm having an issue getting my display, an SXRD XBR1, to sync with the VP30. HDCP in/out are on, VP30's blue light stays on, but my display flashes on and off. Curtain remains open. This occurs regardless of which HDMI input I use.

My source is an SA8300 cable box. If I connect it up via component cables, still using HDMI output from the VP30, and disable HDCP on the output, the connection works fine.

I've tried changing the VP30's output resolution when the 8300 is connected via HDMI, but no luck. I've also tried unplugging both units, ensuring the VP30 is on before powering on the 8300. Is it possible that the VP30's HDMI output cannot effectively drive the 40ft HDMI cable between my equipment cabinet and the TV? Do I have a noise issue that only manifests itself when HDCP is enabled? Perhaps I need signal booster?

Anyone using one of these? I'm curious if it'll help with my issues.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...=2#description

SO I was looking at getting a VP30 with the ABT card. My goal is to play NES, SNES, Genesis, N64, Saturn etc on an LCD with no lag and the best looking display possible.

ANyone have any thoughts on this? OR personal experiences?

CRAP.. my power supply took a dump tonight. go figure. can't get one quickly. its almost impossible to find a 6v dc power supply localy. why oh why did they have to pick 6v.. well here is my solution... dvdo, try to burn this up.

Acopian Adjustable Current Limiting Linear Regulated Power Supply 0-6VDC 12A. Model # VP06HX1200

* Input Voltage: 105-125 VAC, 50-400 Hz, single phase.
* Regulation, Ripple (constant voltage operation): Load Regulation: ±0.005% or 2 mV, whichever is greater. Line Regulation: ±0.005% or 2 mV, whichever is greater. Ripple: 0.25 mV rms.
* Regulation, Ripple (constant current operation): Load Regulation: ±0.2% or 5 mA. Line Regulation: ±0.1% or 2 mA. Ripple: 0.1% rms.
* Remote Voltage Sensing: Provision for sensing the output voltage across the load, to compensate voltage drops in output wiring, is a standard feature.
* Remote Voltage Programming: The output voltage of all models may be controlled by means of external resistance connected in series with the -S lead.
* Voltage Programming Coefficient: See Output Specs. Calibration tolerance, ±2%.

After checking the block digram of the ADV7402 I still don't get it:
7402 has a 12 ch input matrix, this fits 2 x RGB/YUV (2x3=6 ch) + 2 YC (2x2=4 ch) + 2 x CVBS (2x1=2 ch), for a total of 12 channels. Then I'm still missing the RGBHV input of the VP30. Where does RGBHV go? Also not clear where the two seperate sync input's (from the RGBS inputs) enter the 7402.

I'm trying to set up a block digram of the VP30, so far I have an ADV7402 and 2 x SiI 9031 input stage. We also have a SiI 504 / ABT102 deinterlacer, and an ABT scaling engine in a Spartan? FGPA. Unclear are the components for audio inputs and outputs, the analog audio AD convertor, the video DAC and the supporting control cpu to manage it all.

Suggestions welcome..

Just buy a universal power supply.

Yes, unfortunately. Today I removed my VP30 and recabled the lot. After placing it back in its rack: identical error as described above. Quite funny, now it's four people these last weeks. Is the error already attributed to a cause?

A new power supply solved the problem for me.

Same here, new power supply and all is well.

Looks like I joined the club as well. Several "flashes" that looked like the unit was turning on and off, now it won't even power up at all. And during the holidays with lots of family and guests over.

Between this and the audio drop-outs (pre firmware update), my unit was unhooked during the majority of my ownership.

I should have spent 2k on a slot machine instead, I bet the payoff would have been better.

I'll give them a call Monday. Hopefully they are open and not on holiday. And hopefully it's just the power supply and they support it. While I am (just) over my warranty period, this should be graced in for all the troubles we've had with this unit.

I was actually ready to upgrade this unit but will be looking harder at the competition this time. I wish I had researched the reliability before plopping down $$ for this one.

I wonder if removing the ABT102 will help my issue. I still have terrible "purpling" in dark or neutral colored areas, and no amount of tweaking or color correction has helped. I'm gonna try removing the ABT102 tonight. I just wish they would make the standoffs easier to extract!

Thanks to Josh and DVDO for monitoring this thread and taking proactive action. Looks like I will have a power supply for football this weekend- now I just hope that's what fixes it.

I know I have been frustrated before with some of the VP-30 issues, but the service was excellent in this case. Thanks again Josh.

Wow, this is a huge thread. I'm gonna try reading it, but maybe some input will be quicker. I have an HP 5880 1080p DLP 58" RPTV. I watch both HD and SD and would like to see better SD. I have an opportunity to procure either the VP30 with the ABT card and latest firmware or an Algolith Dragonfly with the Realta HQV scaler for a bit more.
Thoughts?
Any input is welcome.

I am migrating to HDMI based receivers and have retired my VP30 + ABT card.

I'm willing to part with it for a reasonable offer

if anyone interested - please PM

Anyone know if there are any discrete pronto hex codes for Input Aspect Ratios other than just 1-4 that work. I got 1-4 from here? and these work fine. I tried the DVDO IR code generator from here but I'm not so sure they are all accurate since I can't get any of the other ones to work, along with the fact that 6-10 all seem to be the same hex code data.

Did DVDO ever finish the discrete implementation for 5-10? I didn't see it in the ccf file for the VP50 either.

I think the above document covers your question.