[RickD_99]

OK, you guys really really need a good laugh...the following is a reply from an Elizabeth Fasolino of HBO regarding the annoying audio dropouts on DD 5.1 movies that I complained to them about in January. My original message is at the bottom of this post. Kind of redefines "clueless" for all of us no? http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Thank you for writing to HBO.


The Dolby Digital audio format includes some parameters that are set by the user (typically in "preferences") for things like audio-output dynamic range. A large drop like this typically is the result of setting the receiver / decoder to "TV (or sometimes called RF) mode" and connecting the receiver to a hi-fi.


Sincerely, [email protected]


-----Original Message-----

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]

Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2001 5:31 PM

To: [email protected]

Subject: Audio Dropouts on HBO-HD!!!




I watched the film "Any Given Sunday" on HBO-HD West on 1/26/01

and experienced frequent and VERY annoying audio dropouts during

the telecast. I use a 4DTV/HDD200 C-band receiver setup to watch

HBO-HD. I checked on my favorite HDTV Internet forum ( www.avsforum.com ) and read accounts of many others who watched the same telecast (and who receive HBO-HD from a variety of sources including DirecTV, Dish Network, and Time/Warner Cable) and they all reported hearing the same audio dropout problems. Thus the problem is obviously on HBO's end. Please have your engineers look at this issue, as it has been an on and off problem since HBO first began transmitting in HD.


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STOP DVI/HDCP; Boycott JVC


[This message has been edited by RickD_99 (edited 03-13-2001).]

 

[Jerry G]

Ahh... HBO at it's finest. Now Rick, you really need to learn how to set up your audio system and get rid of those dropouts by disconnecting the RF thingee http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif



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(The original Jerry G, not the new member named Jerry_G)

 

[lhamp]

rick... I'm in nyc... I've had a few video dropout problems lately. But in the last week I literally can not remember one audio dropout on hbo-hd. "any given sunday" was superb, audio-wise. The best I've heard so far.

 

[Ken H]

And I thought I was the only lucky one.


"Thank you for writing to HBO.


The Dolby Digital audio format includes some parameters that are set by the

user (typically in "preferences") for things like audio-output dynamic

range. A large drop like this typically is the result of setting the

receiver / decoder to "TV (or sometimes called RF) mode" and connecting the

receiver to a hi-fi.


Sincerely, [email protected]


-----Original Message-----

Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 11:26 PM

To: [email protected]

Subject: Your HDTV audio problems.



I have a serious investment in a complete HDTV system, including 5.1 Dolby

Digital surround processing. One of my primary sources for HDTV programing

is your HD channel and I subscribe to both DirecTV & Dish Network HBO.


I notice audio dropouts on almost all native HDTV programs on your HDTV

channel. This occurs on both DirecTV & Dish Network and is a common topic of

discussion on many internet HDTV forums, so I know it's not just a problem

with my equipment. I also receive Showtime HDTV and six local OTA DTV

stations and I have no problem with their Dolby Digital audio.


Can someone please tell me what HBO's plans are to solve this very annoying

problem?


Thank you for your time."




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"better living thru modern expensive electronics"

tm

 

[RickD_99]

Quote:

Originally posted by lhamp: rick... I'm in nyc... I've had a few video dropout problems lately. But in the last week I literally can not remember one audio dropout on hbo-hd. "any given sunday" was superb, audio-wise. The best I've heard so

Agreed...I also caught the most recent "Any Given Sunday" telecast and the

audio was incredible....the best I've heard on HBO to date. Hopefully

HBO has turned the corner on this annoying issue.




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STOP DVI/HDCP; Boycott JVC

 

[alv]

Watched Any given Sunday monday and I Dreamed of Africa Tuesday with no dropouts. I think the problem is fixed.


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[RZ]

When I first got DirecTV they had many dropout and sync problems with 5.1 sound. I have Sony STBs and each one blaimed the other. Sony said call DirecTV and of course DirecTV said to call Sony. It took about a month before the sound was fine and in sync. Could it be that the bandwith is not large enough to broadcast an HD signal and Dolby 5.1 and this is the main problem ?

 

[Don Landis]

Well, I suppose HBO had so many complaints that they needed to draft up an official "blaim it on the receiver" response. This past week most of us figured out how to attach the RF watchamacallit to our receivers and fixed the problem. Watsamatau that you can't figger out how to do this on your own? Now that you have directions from HBO engineer it should be easy so fix your receiver with the RF and stop complaining about HBO audio dropouts. http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif


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Don Landis

Home Theater Pics at: www.scubatech.com Last updated 6/24/00

 

[Dave McRoy]

Is it me or do these dropouts tend to occur on scene change "cuts?"


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HiDefDave


STOP HDCP!


[This message has been edited by Dave McRoy (edited 03-14-2001).]

 

[lhamp]

Dave... what I'm saying is there are no dropouts... for at least a week now I can't remember one.


Of course, this is hbo we're talking about. Starz (now that they're back in dd after the free weekend fiasco) still has some dropouts. Not too bad though... just a few every now and then.


Oh, and no... I don't think they are on scene changes or cuts... I'll check tonight.





[This message has been edited by lhamp (edited 03-14-2001).]

 

[Ken H]

Being a glutton for punishment, I responded to Elizabeth and she got right back to me (!), as follows.



-----Original Message-----

From: Ken

Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 1:35 PM

To: 'Fasolino, Elizabeth'

Subject: RE: Your HDTV audio problems.


Hi Elizabeth,


Thank you for your response to my e-mail.


As background, I have worked in the professional audio & video business

since 1987.


My Dolby Digital (DD) decoder is correctly configured. This is evidenced by

the always correct DD audio function with all other DD sources, like the 6

local DTV stations in my area that exclusively broadcast audio in DD, my DVD

player, which is only connected to the DD decoder by a digital audio

connection, and the other satellite sources that exclusively use DD audio,

like Dish Network Showtime HDTV, Dish Network HDTV demo & HDTV PPV channels

and the DirecTV HDTV Demo/PPV channel.


I did take your suggestion and reviewed my DD parameters. They are all

configured for standard use with no settings changed for dynamic range.


When I use the term "audio dropout", I mean a full loss of audio only, for a

brief period of a second or two, at a time. These dropouts do not occur

during any specific dynamic passage, they can occur randomly with all

dynamic audio levels. This normally takes place 3-4 times (or more) in the

course of a 2 hour movie. It only happens with native 1080i program

material.


Why is it that all my other sources that use DD work flawlessly and HBO-HD

is the only source that has this problem?


To be fair, in recent days the HBO-HD audio problem has improved

significantly. But I have made no change to how my system is set up.


I believe that this problem needs to be brought to the attention of the HBO

engineering management. I would be glad to discuss this in detail with them.


Thank you again,

Ken


"Dear Ken,


Thank you for the email with further explanation of the problems you are

experiencing. As per your suggestion I have forwarded your correspondence

to the attention of our technical operations group.


Sincerely, [email protected] "





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"better living thru modern expensive electronics"

tm

 

[Steve Richards]

FWIW, Last night (3/15) I watched the full HBO HD movie at 8:30PM EST and did not experience any audio nor video drop outs. (I don't think it was 5.1) but of course was DD. This was on the MITs HD400.


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Steve,

(STOP DFAST SUPPORTER)