Denon 3808 & 4308 Bugs, undesired features, and enhancements desired - Page 21

What's fixed/enhanced with this new firmware?

Hi this is my first post.

Recently installed my 3808 and love the sound. Have a problem with using both powered and unpowered USB drives. First time into a directory and down on level seems ok. After opening folder and selecting track the first time it takes 30 sec to several minutes to change folders up the directory or select another track (while first track is playing).

The OSD works great on first time into the directory but after selecting the first track and then trying to get back to the track list or folders it (OSD) locks up or goes to a complete white screen. ( Connected via HDMI to Sony KDS 50A3000).
Need help figuring out if it is a busted receiver or a firmware problem.

Power cycling sometimes will bring the OSD back, most times not.

Changing functions on the receiver front panel to different source or by using remote doesn't help either.

2nd question is remote code for Toshiba XA2 HD DVD. Denon preset codes in manual don't seem to allow control. One of them results in HD DVD showing on Toshiba front display but no functions are controlled. Same problem with Sony KDS 50A3000 remote. Tried Sony and Toshiba tech support but no joy.
Any ideas on the correct codes for Toshiba control.

After doing the Firmware update for an Australian 4308, here are the versions
(took less than 5 minutes for update using wired LAN connection)

Main 1.31
Sub 0.66
DSP1 36.49
DSP2 39.39
Ether IMG I2007 09 05 0328
Ether BL B2007 07 02 0733
Ether CNE C2007 09 05
Ether WEB W2007 09 05 0330
GUI FPGA A070629B
GUI PRG 7621
GUI DAT 3775004
DGTL FPGA 00.71
Video PLD 00.50
DAB 300

Martin

1. You need to do the FW update to correct the NET problem.
2. I also have the Tosh XA2 and could not locate a remote code.

Any info on what is fixed/enhanced with this new update?

Thanks

An update on the HDMI to DVI connectivity issue: I've tried a couple devices that are listed as HDMI repeaters, but none of them actually help the problem. What we really need is an HDCP repeater (i.e., a device that decrypts the signal on input and then re-encrypts it on output) but these devices seem to be very hard to find (or very expensive -- see below). If anyone knows of any true HDCP repeaters, please let me know.

The one device that I found to work is the DVDO VP50. When I connect the Denon HDMI output to one of the VP50's HDMI inputs, and then connect the VP50 HDMI output to the DVI input on my Sony projector, everything works just fine. Of course, the VP50 is twice the cost of the 3808, but the encouraging part is that it fixes the problem for me, so hopefully there is a solution that is more moderately priced.

Also, I tried a Denon 2807 just to see if this DVI problem is common in the Denon receiver line, but the 2807 worked fine with DVI, so this appears to be a new issue.

Lastly, I've heard reports from several people that do not have an issue with the 3808 or 4808 connected to various DVI display devices. Hopefully a pattern will emerge that will help Denon to diagnose (and eventually work on) the issue.

Thanks,
Kevin

Nothing on Denon's site and I'm not planning to spend hours on the phone with Denon's help desk to find out.

Cheers,

jr

Kevin,

My 4308CI is connected to a Sony KDP-65WS550 via a HDMI to DVI cable without any problems.

Cheers,

jr

What erxactly is the issue with DVI devices? I don't have any problem outputting the 3808 HDMI to my Hitachi PJ-TX100 Projector with an HDMI-DVI adapter.

Is the audissy still unable to do 6.1 surround sound?

Please reply if this update cured your problem.

The HDFury has not worked with either 3808 or 4308. The problem appears to be that the Denon requires the sink device the either have correct or no extended data block in the EDID. If the extended data block is incorrect or corrupt, all you will see is snow. There is a temporary fix for the HDFury. By changing 2 bytes, which tell the source device to ignore the extended data block, it appears to fix most DVI issues. The only device that I can't get working is my Panasonic DMP-BD10.

3808 owner -
I'm having problems with the latest firmware update. I keep getting "Update Failed" message with only 5 min. left. Many elements were updated successfully (the other 40 min. worth), but each time I power the unit off/on and retry the update, it quickly gets to 5 min. left and then shows "Update Failed". Do I just keep trying over and over?

I have no idea what an HDFury, EDID, Extended Data Block, or "sink" device (which I assume should read "sync" device) is.

But, my DVI projector is working fine, so apparently it doesn't affect me.

An HDFury is a HDMI to RGB converter for TVs without a HDMI or DVI connection.

An EDID is a "file" which is read by the source device that identifies it and it's capablilities.

The extended dat block is an additional part of the EDID that has been added to provided additional information.

Finally, it is a "sink" device. In an HDMI connection, your Blu-Ray player is a "source" device. Your A/V receiver or HDMI switch box is a "repeater". The target device, ie monitor, TV, HDFury, is called a "sink" device

I'm not surprised you are having problems trying to convert HDMI to RGB...

First, thanks for creating this thread.

Don't know if this should be bug or enhancement, but...

I would like to see the recording circuits kept active when the receiver is in stand by mode. My old receiver (B&K AVR307) was like that and it is convenient to not have to turn on the receiver to record from say the satellite box to a DVR or VCR.

I just updated my 3808CI (purchased mid-Aug) for the first time.

I started the updatee without doing a reset and had no problem with that. I was expecting to go from 1/14 through to 14/14. Instead, it did show 1/14 for the first (Main Firm) module but thereafter it showed only names which seemed to correspond to those shown when checking versions with the Status button.

The first modules (Sub, DSP and Pflash?) showed percentage complete. The Ether modules did not. They would just sit there for a while and then show 3 rolling asterisks. The Pflash? module seemed to go through 2 updates. Maybe there was a problem with the first transmission or maybe (since it's not listed in the version numbers), it's something different (writing and verifying flash memory?).

The whole thing completed in about an hour without any problem.

I haven't checked the bugs previously reported. None of them have been in areas that I use regularly.

The one thing that I checked was the Web interface. Mine was so buggy and incomplete that it was essentially unusable. (Since mine was an early unit, others whose units are more recent may not have seen this.) This new Web interface is very much improved and now pretty much does everything that I would expect. One really nice feature is the ability to save the entire Receiver Configuration to your PC.

One thing with the Web interface that is, at least, confusing is the -20 db Volume Limit checkbox. You cannot permanently uncheck it. Instead, if you want to set a volume higher than -20 db, you uncheck it and then set the Volume. You have to do this every time you set the Volume or it will go no higher than -20 (and will go back to -20 if it was already set higher). This does not seem to affect operations outside the Web Interface, however.

All in all, I'm very happy with the update.

Version numbers:

Main: 1.57
Sub: 0.38 (3808 must be different than the 4308)
DSP1: 36.49
DSP2: 39.41

Ether IMG: I2007103001122 (10/30/2007?)
Ether BL: B200707020733 (07/02/2007?)
Ether CNE: C 20071030 (10/30/2007?)
Ether WEB: W2007103001101 (10/30/2007?)

GUI FPGA: A020629B
GUI PRG: 00007621
GUI DAT: 37750008

I noticed the Ether BL item didn't get updated, and you updated successfully.

It is at the Ether BL point that my receiver kept generating an "Update Failed" message, with only 5 min. remaining.

To make matters worse, ever since I tried this latest update (which keeps failing), I cannot use the receiver to watch TV or anything else for more than a minute, because it keeps shutting itself off, attempting to complete the firmware update, failing at the "Ether BL" point, and then freezing. In other words, my receiver went from a perfectly functioning unit to a completely unusable one.

I had successfully completed one update prior to this one - that update produced September dates.

My receiver is now on it's way back to the seller....I had only one day left for the 15-day return policy, so I had to act fast.

Can HDMI-CEC support be added via firmware update? All of my other components have it. My Denons (I have a 4308 and 3808 in different rooms) are my weak links in this area.

Rik, I thought this receiver supported CEC. You mean to tell me it doesn't?

Sorry to hear about your troubles. For me it just breezed right by the Ether BL. I was watching the display at the time and didn't even see Ether BL displayed. It's interesting, since apparently that module hasn't changed since the 3808 came out (date appears to be 7/2) and you apparently went by it OK for your Sept update. Sorry I can't add any insight to your troubles.

EDIT: It probably doesn't matter now since you sent the unit back, but did the previous update show a date for the BL other than 7/2? I'm wondering if somehow you had a later version for that module that then got pulled back and the update process can't properly handle the case where the update server has an earlier version than your unit. Normally that would never happen and there could be a bug. Just a thought.

I believe that I saw a post somewhere giving a procedure to roll back the update to that originally in the unit. This might be an idea for anybody else who has this problem. It might take an effort to find that post since I don't remember much about it, however.

My prior Ether BL firmware version matched another's posted here - 7/02.

I finally got through to a Denon CS rep and he gave me two possible reasons (after telling me there was no second update for the 3808CI):

1) The Japan servers keep crashing due to high levels of activity (I tried over and over for a 12 hour period, between yesterday afternoon, all night, and early this morning...but the update never got past Ether BL...).

2) I live in Florida and have Comcast broadband cable internet (Why then did the first 40 min. update successfully? The CS rep told me about another guy in Florida who hooked up with DSL at a neighbor's house and updated successfully, but since I was able to update successfully before, I doubt that's the problem.

The "Update Failed" came abruptly each time the display showed "Ether BL"...If it had been a server or ISP problem, it seems the failure would have happened at different times before or after, not faithfully at the exact same spot over and over.

What are you all finding new on the 1.57 update?

I haven't been through everything on my 3808ci but I found 1 completely new option= add new feature & 1 updated option=search for update as well as a new update procedure.
I also noticed there is now a screen saver that comes on if you leave the menu up for a couple of mins.

what else have you found new on 1.57?

Nothing to be surprised about....

http://www.curtpalme.com/HDFury.shtm

Posted this in the 4308 owner's thread. Figured I'd put it here as well...

7.1 configuration
Bitstream input via HDMI from HD-A35 (same for Blu-ray, but no player at this moment)
Just updated firmware, but this was happening before also

With DTS-HD MA bitstream input, the 4308 does not allow PLIIx processing to be applied and although the output icons on the display indicate 7.1 channel output, there is no audio in the side surround channels, back surround channels only. So, there is only 5.1 output with DTS-HD MA, but the surround channels are the back channels, not the side channels.

Any ideas?

How does it behave with Dolby Digital Plus & Dolby TrueHD?

Normally, ie, PLIIx processing is indicated and all channels are active.

UPDATE:

The problem I reported a couple of posts up now appears to be disc related. Something in the mix of the DTS Master track on the Studio Canal (France) release of Total Recall does not react well with PLIIx processing. No side surrounds on this disc only (so far). I tried the Studio Canal release of T2 and it plays in 7.1 as it should.

So, there is still a small bug in that the display does not indicate PLIIx processing is being applied to DTS-HD or DTS-HD MA, but it appears it is.

Hi,
have now taken 3808 to a place (=work) where can connect to the Internet...
But now I only get "Login Failed" when trying firmware update.

Any ideas?
What ports are this update using? (If our comp. adm. would have cut off the traffic in those ports)

I had a lot of problems updating my firmware on the first update - I ultimately had to use my neighbor's DSL connection, since my cable connection did not work. Here's more info:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post11919776

I'd like to update to this latest firmware - the ability to save your configuration to a PC is definitely a nice improvement. However, I'm a little nervous given all the problems I had before - especially since Transcend was successful before and had problems on this update. I'd like to get a sense of how many people have successfully upgraded to this latest firmware, and whether or not you did a reset prior to upgrading. Thanks...