[bradboy70]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a westinghouse 32" wide screen HD tv. It is a nice TV and i feel was worth the 600 dollar price tag (i know this TV isnt the best ever, but hey i am a college student so I dont exactly have enough money to buy a DLP blah blah). Anyway, I get a terrific picture through my DirecTV satelite and my DVD player and all the rest. But a few days ago I decided to use my friends employee discount and buy the "superior" cable, HDMI, to connect my satelite to my television. When I first connected it, it seemed superior, even on the 480i broadcasts. When I switched to 1080i it blinks and the picture goes in and out... much to my disappointment. I hooked my component cables back up and everything was perfect. Last night, out of curiosity, i tried my HDMI cable again and hooked it up and to my delight the picture was perfect and looked better than it had on component cables, and best yet no blinking or crazy resolution problems. After watching apolcalypse now until 6 am, i turned my tv off and turned it on this morning with the same HDMI hiccups. I have tried tinkering with the set up on the receiver and I cannot figure out what is wrong. Any help suggestions are appreciated. Forgive me with this is a common problem because I am a newb to this site and to HDTV. THANKS!!

 

[Santz]

The problem is most likely with your satellite box and how it well it implements HDMI. Search this forum with your unit model number and see what turns up.

 

[HDMI_Org]

I suggest that you try switching to another source device and see if the problem persists. So try using the DVD player for a while (maybe put it in repeat mode) with the TV. If the TV continues to exhibit the blinking issue, then it's likely the TV that is causing the behavior. If the blinking does not come back, then it's more likely the STB.

 

[CT_Wiebe]

I have the same problem (video/audio drop-outs) with my H20 DirecTV STB. My older HTL-HD box, using a DVI to HDMI cable, does not have the same problem. I've just decided to use the Component cables from my H20 box (the picture is just as good - possibly a tad less sharp, but its program dependent).

 

[bradboy70]



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


I have the same problem (video/audio drop-outs) with my H20 DirecTV STB. My older HTL-HD box, using a DVI to HDMI cable, does not have the same problem. I've just decided to use the Component cables from my H20 box (the picture is just as good - possibly a tad less sharp, but its program dependent).

seems that i will be going that way as well... i hate that feeling of giving up though. oh well. here i come, ebay.

 

[chicago25624]

I spoke to DirecTV and they are stating "If your receiver is an H20-100, The 100 is located inside the card door, your signal will interrupt every 16 frames. +/-. They are working on a software download, but have no idea when it will be ready.


So, in a nutshell, DirecTV sends out crap refurb equipment will technology that they know doesn't work.



Same issue with a Sanyo I bought for my mother. And she has the HD20 from DirecTV as well. Used the cable with another device and problem went away. Once again DirecTV markets a sucky product.

 

[jlee92]

Perhaps this might be applicable as well? A known issue with the TV that requires a firmware upgrade?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4212161.html


Then, another report where the TV manufacturer changes their conclusion about the firmware:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog...s/4212233.html

 

[greywolf]

The H20-100 is built by RCA/Thomson and has the problem with TVs using the MStar HDMI chipset including Samsung and LG. DirecTV is testing a software patch. The H20-600 is built by LG and does not have the problem. What I'd like to know is how each product can earn HDMI stickers and not work together. I'd like to see some testing required before a product can claim HDMI compliance.

 

[mtucker]



Quote:
What I'd like to know is how each product can earn HDMI stickers and not work together. I'd like to see some testing required before a product can claim HDMI compliance.

When you bring A/V equipment in for testing (to get the HDMI logo), you are supposed to turn off the HDCP (digital content protection). So when you go to production and have enabled all the security features it may or may not work with other A/V equipment. The testing for the logo is just to make sure your signals are "clean" (rise and fall how they should). They use a fancy scope with software to evaluate the signal. They also make sure the EDID info is correct (an TV has the resolutions it will support stored in a memory IC and talks to the source to make sure it gets what it needs).


The simplay testing was started to make sure your product will play well with others. However, it is not mandatory.

Since the testing (to get the HDMI logo) makes sure the hardware performance is good, usually a software upgrade is all that is needed to fix any problems with the almost constant handshaking between the two products .


I have two devices that I use the HDMI output on and both have treated me well even coming through a receiver (operating as a repeater device). I can only force 1080i out of one of those components.


Matt

 

[greywolf]

Cable and satellite boxes are having HDMI connection problems between many brands of TVs and projectors and HDCP is an important part of HDMI communication. Somebody dropped the ball in getting things to work together. All these versions of HDMI are software. If the software doesn't work, where is the standard?

 

[ptsenter]

Testing requirements have been adopted only in November 2006. Lately, standard keeps changing every half a year. Almost all fancy-schmancy features are optional. Even 1.0 device which support 480p+2ch stereo can claim 1.3 compliance. What can one expect? Every vendor points finger to the other one and all to HDCP as a scapegoat. But I believe it's been released prematurely.

 

[HDMI_Org]

HDMI has always required that both HDMI and HDCP be fully compliant and interoperable from day one. Recently, we have seen the commercial release of HDCP compliance testing equipment that has been developed in coordination with the Digital Content Protection, LLC (who administers the HDCP specification). As a result, the HDMI compliance test spec does now specifically call out the requirement to perform HDCP compliance testing on all HDMI devices which implement HDCP. We are also in the process of upgrading all the HDMI Authorized Test Centers with the equipment to perform this testing of HDCP as well.

 

[greywolf]

Does this mean that all pieces of equipment that pass the new test will definitely work together? Is there some way the consumer can know what equipment has passed the new test?

 

[HDMI_Org]

Unfortunately, there is not a new HDMI logo that would differentiate this, though this is being discussed. Sorry, don't have a great answer for you, but here are 2 things that might help:

- SimplayHD logo is one that does clearly designate a product has undergone pretty stringent HDMI & HDCP compliance testing (they are an independent lab that tests HDCP beyond the requirements of the standard HDCP compliance requirement). SimplayHD is not a mandatory test, but it appears that more manufacturers are beginning to participate in the program.


- In the near future, all new HDMI products will have undergone the mandatory HDCP compliance testing, so that should help clean up the installed base, though this does not address the existing installed base of products on the market.

 

[s2silber]

Why can't I send an HDMI signal from my DirecTV HR10-250, through my Denon AVR 3806, and out to my Sony KDF50WE610's DVI input?

I have no problem running this Tivo directly into the Sony, but I can't get a picture when I try to use my Denon AVR for switching. I've spoken to both Denon and DirecTV about this and each blames the other.