My VANTAGE HD has ARRIVED!!!!!

First question: What country are you in?

Rdjam:


When you get a chance I would like you to review Video Essentials 1080I Dtheater tape if available, specifically the end of the tape where the young man demonstrates audio and voice.

Also what firmware is shown in your Vantage?


Thanks

Lon

Rdjam,

If you are running to an HD2K, I think you will need to change the output resolution using a different display. If I remember correctly when I originally researched this setup issue, the Vantage default output is 640x480, which I don't believe can be read by the HD2K. And I believe you can only change the output resolution using the OSD. Another way might be to feed the output of the Vantage into stock HD2K scaler just for the purpose of changing the output, then removing the stock scaler.

Btw, my suggestions to you are mostly motivated by self-interest as I am trying to streamline your setup process so you will be able to share your impressions of the unit with the rest of us more quickly.

Good luck and have fun.
Alan

Rdjam,

Once you have checked out the 'normal operation', I would be interested in just how bad (or good) is PAL (50Hz) output at 60Hz? I realize that there is strictly no need to do this as the HD2K works at both frequencies, however I have another application in mind and would be interested in the answer.

Thanks

John

Congratulations on being one of the first


Can you see if the sharpness goes into the negative to help reduce EE and also check to see if it has chroma delay.

Thanks and have fun!

Thanks, in the VE 1080I look for deinterlacing jaggies around the young mans face and nose.

Congratulations on your new toy.

Can anyone confirm if it has any sort of Stretch mode for 4:3 pictures?

Thanks!
Oliver

Any bets on how long it takes for HDMI/HDCP issues to start being reported

The biggest HDMI issue has been a HDMI/HDCP source communicating to an HDMI/HDCP display through a relayer (like a processor). The sequence is supposed to be a source asking the relayer are you an HDMI/HDCP display? The relayer is supposed to answer No, I am an HDMI/HDCP relayer. The source is then supposed to the send a second request in essence saying please relay my question to the display and send me its answer. The big problem has been sources which don't ask the second question because that sequence has no been enabled in the source. Relayers have now solved the problem by being enabled to lie to the source, saying it is the display and then asking the display itself whether it is HDMI/HDCP. Hopefully, the calibre does this or there indeed will be problems with any source that doesn't send the second request.

Also HDMI to DVI connections can cause problems. Adapters can cause problems and dedicated HDMI to DVI cables can cause problems. One brand cable might not work and another will. Weird.

I would like to know this as well. Not so much about stretching 4:3 content, rather the ability to blow up non-anamorphic 4:3 materia to preserve aspect ratio. i.e. cropping top and bottom of the image to fit in 16:9 window.

Most likely the answer is yes, but it would be nice if rdjam can confirm.

Interesting bit of information on the VHD from the Calibre website:


As is often the case with new and complex software-based products, Vantage-HD does have some known issues which we are working hard to fix, but for which there are work-arounds available.

Known issues are:

1. HDMI audio output - the embedded audio channels are unreliable when 1366x768 output modes are used and with certain HDMI display devices.
* Workaround - for multichannel audio use S/PDIF Coaxial or Optical audio output connections. For 2-channel audio only you can also use the analog audio output connections if preferred.

2. S-Video2 input cannot be reliably selected from the front panel input select button.
* Workaround - use the IR remote control instead of the front panel button, or use a different input channel instead of S-Video2.

3. Serial RS232 remote control port does not work
* Workaround - use the IR remote control instead. IR discrete codes are available for download from our website.

4. Rear-panel scratches - some batches of units show marking on the rear panel beneath the connector ident printing.
* Workaround - we are providing a printed self-adhesive rear label on request. This can be placed over the bare-metal rear plate to make it look much smarter. No equipment disassembly is required to fit this, but the signal/power connections must be temporarily removed.

They have a file that is labeled as 'HDMI Connection Advice'.

In it, at the end, it says:

'We very strongly recommend that HDMI inputs are only used where essential for
compatibility with your source equipment and that the use of HDMI audio is
avoided unless demanded by your source equipment. This will avoid
unnecessary inter-operability/compatibility issues.
For all SD sources we recommend use of Component video since this is likely to
give a more reliable, trouble free connection and may also give a better image
quality. HDMI is only an 8-bit connection system whereas Vantage-HD has true
10-bit processing capability from input through to output on its analog video
channels.'

They are admitting that the unit has HDMI problems and are requesting HDMI NOT be used if possible.

Abbas

Great. And other procerssor manufacturers are withholding release pending HDMI solutions. Great! Who shall we condemn? I have it. Calibre for premature release to grab market share and the others for general production incompetency. Yea. That' it. Maybe we should be condemning the HDMI folks. Yea. Let's do that. What do you mean they don't give two fecal excretions. Thems da HDMI folks.

lol @ rear panel scratch fix oh and lol @ a known issue being HDMI

Dang, what's the point in a standard if no one implements it, right? I mean that's not exactly a small niggling detail of the standard.

LOL?

Hell, the fact that they even bothered with it earned a sale from me.
Now, that is attention to detail...and a desire to do the right thing for their customers!

where is this file ??

" HDMI is only an 8-bit connection system"

I though DVI was limited to 8bit but HDMI could do 10bit or maybe even 12 bit?

Shqawn

And oh yea. If its a component out for the best picture then why the F why no 1080p at 72hz? You see HDMI (but now they say that sucks) can't do 72 HZ but lil ol analog can no problem. So PLEEEZE then giva me 108p at 72 for film. But it is a mass market machine right and that market wants HDMI. WTF are they trying to say. Be a moran, settle for evrything at 50 or 60 and close our eyes to judder and oh yea use analog. I give up.

So I guess they gave up on HDMI and went the Theatersync route

Mark---why isn't 48 good enough for you; i.e., why do you need 72? Are you running an analog "cheater" to a CRT? I probably knew that answer from a previous thread but I've had two beers tonight, forgive me.

Here.

That file has somewhat decreased my excitement with the Vantage HD. I have one on order but it almost gives me second thoughts about the purchase.

People said Calibre wanted to perfect the unit before they released it. It sure doesn't sound perfected to me.


This problem is also listed in the file:

"Typically, HDMI compatibility issues manifest themselves in three
i) Loss of audio, or corrupted/distorted audio
ii) Loss of picture and audio or "HDCP patterns" on the
iii) Freezing of the HDMI source or the HDMI display"

It is like by telling us NOT to use HDMI, they are covering any problems that may occur with HDMI. I just hope it is not as bad as this file makes it out to be.

Abbas

HDMI is annoying the heck out of me.

Been experiencing tons of compatibility issues in the last few months as well. The resolution and HDCP protocols SUCK. No one is implementing them right because they're so damned complex...