[robertrobert]

I hope this is the right place to post this.


After having two techs come out and replacing my ViP 222 HD receiver box last night, I still experience the video and audio dropping out for 1-2 seconds and then coming back on. This occurred quite a few times even after hooking up the new receiver. I called Dish Network and after being put on hold for a while, the person said there's a known HDMI problem on ALL their HD receivers and they are working on a software update to fix the issue with the picture and audio dropping out. Can anyone else confirm this.


Boy Dish really need to train their folks with getting the information out. Their recommendation is to go from HDMI to component so that is what I did last night. I didn't experience any more drop out for now but will need more testing. I'm thinking they are right since I had quite a few in a very short time with the HDMI cable installed. I sure hope Dish gets on the ball with this fix.


Any feedback out there. I'm hoping someone can verify if this is true. The person at Dish said someone will call me when the fix is available. I'm not holding my breath this will occur. I guess I'll call back every month to see the status since this problem is noted in my account.

 

[CPanther95]

Moved to Hardware forum.

 

[shive]

I have been having trouble with my dish vip211hd receiver for a while. Tried two receivers and multiple cables with no luck. Dish support told me there was an issue with some specific cable / tv combinations. I've been using components for now with no problem.


I am running a vizio 32 with this receiver and tried multiple hdmi cables. Waiting on a software fix here... I'm out of contract so eventually will leave dish if it's not fixed.

 

[robertrobert]

Shive,


Thank you for confirming this for me. It's good to know that someone else out there is at least going through the same thing as me even though better fixed. Have you noticed much improvement with HDMI compared to the component cables you're now using? I first had component installed until my HDMI cables arrived. I noticed a picture clarity improvement but my component cables are the ones from Dish Network compared to the HDMI being excellent quality. I didn't know if getting component cables from the same company that made my HDMI cables would be an improvement or not over the Dish supplied component cables. Any thoughts on this?


Hopefully Dish will get a fix out soon. They've had HD receivers out for some time now so very concerning it is taking this long.

 

[|| Vitty ||]

I have a vip211 and the first one I received from Dish worked for about 3 months then all of a sudden decided to quit displaying picture and sound via HDMI one day. I couldn't get it to come back at all. Gave Dish a call and they said to try the component so I did and it was working. They said it was a known issue that the HDMI had problems at which point I made the argument that I had no free component inputs and that if they would not replace it I would drop their service. They sent me a new one and I haven't had an issue since(approx 7 months). I also just bought a new vip211 for my bedroom and haven't had any issue yet.


On a somewhat related note...How are your HD channels? I am very unimpressed by the quality of the HD feeds.....I am running a 40" Sony xbr4 via HDMI through the 211.

 

[robertrobert]



Quote:
Originally Posted by || Vitty || /forum/post/12998035


I have a vip211 and the first one I received from Dish worked for about 3 months then all of a sudden decided to quit displaying picture and sound via HDMI one day. I couldn't get it to come back at all. Gave Dish a call and they said to try the component so I did and it was working. They said it was a known issue that the HDMI had problems at which point I made the argument that I had no free component inputs and that if they would not replace it I would drop their service. They sent me a new one and I haven't had an issue since(approx 7 months). I also just bought a new vip211 for my bedroom and haven't had any issue yet.


On a somewhat related note...How are your HD channels? I am very unimpressed by the quality of the HD feeds.....I am running a 40" Sony xbr4 via HDMI through the 211.

Yeah, this is why I posted. I wonder if Dish is telling everyone to use component since they are having this issue with a lot of their receivers but not all of them. The person on the phone said all the various HD receivers had this issue on "most" of them and they are working on it. I'm thinking it isn't really a priority with them unless a lot more folks call in and start complaining about it. I'm thinking about keeping it on the component connection since the picture quality also looks very good especially since this will give me an HDMI connection available on my LCD TV for a Blu Ray HD DVD player that I'll probably buy some time this year.


I'm not sure what you're experiencing on your HD feeds. Can go into more detail on this. Not sure if it helps but when I was using the HDMI cable, I noticed both on SD and HD channels that gray and black areas would look kind of blotchy looking on my Panasonic 32" LCD (LX700 m/n). It was really bothering me and couldn't understand especially why a good HD channel would do this. Anyway this has gone away since going to component. The worst SD DVD channels still have a much softer picture especially compared to HD channels but at least the blotchy black and gray areas are gone. It sounds like you might be experiencing a different problem if your HD channels just don't look good at all. I would recommend service come out. I know the Dish Network tech replaced something on the end of the dish for receiving the signal. It can actually cause picture quality issues if the signal strength is low or bounces around even if it doesn't always drop off the signal. This was also occurring with mine but the signal strength got a little stronger and a lot more stable after the tech replaced this part. He also replaced the small splitter at the dish just for the heck of it since he said they can go in and out causing signal issues as well. I'm really amazed at the picture quality of the best HD channels. One that I'm really liking a lot lately is the HD music channel. It has three letters to it......can't think of it right now. The picture quality is superb.

 

[pachanga22]

I'm on my third 222 since Nov. This one's HDMI completely failed video-wise yesterday, forcing me to go back to component. The HDMI isn't all that anyway. I'm probably going to call direct today and see what they'll do for me. I don't want another 222, this has been a huge pain in the a$$ and not worth it. I had SD from D* for years trouble free, I kinda wish I'd just stayed with it. my D* HD experience has sukked.

 

[shive]

Well I like the Dish network HD channels, and the voom network HD's only offered on Dish. I've had it for a few years with really no complaints. PQ on HDMI vs Component cables is close, though I think the colors are off on component. That may be tunable but have not bothered. I've compared Dish HD to cable and OTA, and IMHO OTA is better than Dish is better than my local cable. For watching tv, I think the HD channels look great, and I like the selection.


I am getting a new 40Z4100 to replace this tv and the vizio 32 will then go in front of my treadmill. When I do that, I will only have HDMI at that point (cable is already run).


Customer support did not tell me it was a hardware problem, they thought it was software. Especially since I tried two receivers. Both receivers were installed same day - i.e. probably same batch. Maybe there are different firmwares or versions of the 211? My hdmi has now cut out completely, I get no output on hdmi on this tv on both receivers...


I'm going to call back and swap out my receivers. As long as theres no contract extension involved it will be interesting to see how that works. I also figure the more swaps they do the more serious they take the problem...

 

[westfield60]

I first experienced this problem over two years ago and still it has not been resolved. For the past two years they have been saying it is a software glitch and they are working on a fix. Two Years???????????????


Now some people are saying it is just bad hardware design. The ports are really really delicate and a small amount of pressure on the port separates the port soldering on the motherboard. I tend to believe this since it would have been easy to fix the software bug, but to change the hardware design is not that easy, especially when you have factories making these receivers by the dozens.

 

[def.used]

I've been a Dish Network Technician for some time now, and due to the increasing number of HD conversions and the low prices of HD televisions out there I have seen numerous HD related issues.


I will tell you that when you call Dish Network and prompt technical support through the menu you get nothing more than an $8 an hour Customer Service Rep sitting at a desk somewhere reading from a computer screen. Their only objective is to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. I wouldn't take anything they've said seriously if I had to. I as a technician always advise people to request to be transferred to an advanced technician for problematic issues. You can easily tell the difference between a tech and a csr through Disn Network because a tech will have a 4 digit id number (ie: "Hi my name is Brian, my tech id is 0000) a csr will have a 3 digit operator id number that always involves letters.


But in my experience as a tech, granted Dish Networks boxes are all mass produced in foregin countries so I definately wouldn't rule out bad HDMI ports on a few. But we're talking of less than a percent of a percent. There are no "software" issues involving the HDMI output of the boxes, it is simply an output it is hardwired to work and is not software driven. The only software on the boxes is used to decode the programming signal and to operate the system menu/program guide. As stated before the HDMI port is simply an output to the television just like the component/composite/rf, there is no software... It simply works, or it doesn't.


A vast majority of the issues lies either within your television set or your home electrical system. Some of the HD televisions (especially Samsungs in my experience) seem to want to backfeed power through the HDMI port into the settop box. In doing this it causes the reciever to have intermittent moments of stupidity and do such things as flash colored screens, disable audio, and even lose signal acquisition all together. The new Dish Network recievers (both the VIP and the K line. ie. VIP211, 222, 612, 622, 722, 211K, 222K, and 722K) work off of a constant current not a variable one like recievers of old used to, so any alteration in current within the reciever itself be it from the wall outlet or television itself can cause unexpected results from your reciever. This is not a stand alone problem with Dish Network recievers either, Time Warner and DirecTV customers are also experiencing similar issues.


After many service calls, reinstalling complete systems, and replacing recievers I have found that most often in cases such as these the TV's are the culprit.


A few tips to find out what the problem is:


1: Check the satellite junction (a silver block in which the cables from the dish meet the cables to the recievers) and ensure it is grounded to a NEC approved grounding location.


2: Verify through the Dish Network reciever via "Menu 6-1-1" (ie: the "Point Dish Screen) that your signal strength on all satellites is abouve the "minimum" (often 65 or greater) with the exception of the Eastern Arc 1000.4 (61.5, 72.7, 77 orbital locations) setup in which 50+ is ok.


3: Through the STB Health Life screen via "Menu 6-1-3 and under details" after test is complete ensure Values 0-9 report no abnormal numbers (-1, -2, 0, 2, 4, 200) are normal, something like 33 or 109 would be considered abnormal and depending on which value (0-9) is being reported could indicate reciever malfunction. If so call Dish Network (with Value info) an RA the reciever.


4: Lastly, if all above checks out ok. Disconnect the HDMI cable from the reciever and "drag" the metal end of the cable flat against the metal housing on the back of the reciever while the Tv is active on that input (ie: HDMI1, HDMI2 or w/e) and look for ANY form of static discharge or arcing between the two pieces of metal. (minimal to no lighting works best as this will not be a substansial arc, but will definately be visable). If this is the case, your television is "backfeeding" power into your satellite system, and is the resoning for your troubles. Switch to a component input and your problem will be resolved, then call your Tv manufacturer to have the issue corrected.



Thanks,


Hope I've helped.

 

[HDMI Guy]

The last post of this topic was nearly two years ago.

 

[AlbuquerqueJohn]

Yep and the same Fishy Network problems exist. MPEG compression 'flickers' abound.


They take our money and we take our chances. No incentive to REALLY fix the problems. Nice of the DN tech to offer suggestions though. Too bad the big dollar boys at DN don't give a hoot.

 

[FRITZER]

I purchased a new 52" energy efficient Sony TV for my mom in November. It worked well with the VIP 222k for a few months. Then the screen turned purple for no reason. This occurred a couple times a week. I live 1,800 miles away and tried to help her. Sometimes she had to reset the box up to 12 times before it worked properly. Her discussions with Dish were not all that good -folks with an accent and an attitude toward elderly people. Today, we finally got a repair person to come out. He replaced the box. This one would only provide an HDMI signal for a few minutes before it went black - no more purple screens. After trying each HDMI port on the TV, he finally gave up and rewired fpr component video. Things work fine now.


However, with the FCC allowing content providers to switch off the component outputs for up to 90 days, I foresee more problems in the future, not only for my mom, but the thousands of folks Dish saddled with this ridiculous "fix." Until HDMI really becomes a compatible standard and Dish can get their act together, switching off component outputs by content providers should be banned.


Beware Dish and content providers. I smell a class action lawsuit coming your way!

 

[MakoCSH]

I have a vip222 and had an issue with 2 different Samsung tv's dropping sound etc. One tv was fixed with an update from Samsung, took back the other. I haven't had an issue with my Panasonic plasma.

 

[DanB_Dish]

Hello, my name is Dan with DISH Network. The problem is the cable type itself does not take in the frames per second at the right speed going to a different hdmi cable should resolve this.


Daniel Busa

DISH Network Customer Service

 

[graniter]



Quote:
Originally Posted by def.used /forum/post/17938229


I've been a Dish Network Technician for some time now, and due to the increasing number of HD conversions and the low prices of HD televisions out there I have seen numerous HD related issues.


...


After many service calls, reinstalling complete systems, and replacing recievers I have found that most often in cases such as these the TV's are the culprit.


A few tips to find out what the problem is:


...

Hope I've helped.

Thanks so much. I just ran into this problem with a new Samsung TV install and was pulling my hair out - it worked, then it didn't, then it did....


Will try these steps tonight.

 

[graniter]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DanB_Dish /forum/post/19825719


Hello, my name is Dan with DISH Network. The problem is the cable type itself does not take in the frames per second at the right speed going to a different hdmi cable should resolve this.


Daniel Busa

DISH Network Customer Service

Daniel,


Are you saying that we need to be using an HDMI cable with a specific rating of some kind? If so, what rating? I appreciate your post (and tried everything listed by the dish tech above) but am not interesting in buying and returning a bunch of HDMI cables to find one that works by trial and error.


Thanks.

 

[graniter]



Quote:
Originally Posted by def.used /forum/post/17938229


I've been a Dish Network Technician for some time now, and due to the increasing number of HD conversions and the low prices of HD televisions out there I have seen numerous HD related issues.


2: Verify through the Dish Network reciever via "Menu 6-1-1" (ie: the "Point Dish Screen) that your signal strength on all satellites is abouve the "minimum" (often 65 or greater) with the exception of the Eastern Arc 1000.4 (61.5, 72.7, 77 orbital locations) setup in which 50+ is ok.


Hope I've helped.

I went through all of these steps without any luck. Can someone clarify step 2 above? How do I verify the strength on all satellites (and how many are there)?

 

[primetimeguy]



Quote:
Originally Posted by DanB_Dish /forum/post/0


Hello, my name is Dan with DISH Network. The problem is the cable type itself does not take in the frames per second at the right speed going to a different hdmi cable should resolve this.


Daniel Busa

DISH Network Customer Service

This is not true. The cable could be bad and a new one may resolve the issue, but there is no 720p or 1080i signal that comes out of the Dish receiver that would cause a problem with any version or rating of hdmi cable made to date.


If the receiver was replaced and you still have the issue then it is either the cable or the tv.

 

[arvinder]

Add my name to the list... ViP222 with Sony 52" LCD (KDL-52V5100). Combination has been working fine for past two years, but as of two days ago there is no picture via HDMI. I did verify on another TV that receiver itself is sending out HDMI... and also hooked up the receiver via composite and there were no issues. Sometimes I'll see the picture via HDMI for a split second before the TV goes back to "No Signal" screen. I tried resetting my TV to defaults... but no help. I was about to try updating the TV's firmware since I noticed it was a revision behind, but Sony ingeniously put the USB service port on the back of the TV and my TV is wall mounted - so I have to take the TV down or find USB adapter small enough to squeeze on the back! But after reading this thread, it appears that a firmware update might not fix the problem anyway. I'll try some of the suggestions posted, but I fear that I will have to take down the TV and run component cables as a workaround - oh fun. I wonder if a recent firmware updated for the ViP222 is causing this too.