It is very likely an issue with the STB. Try swapping the inputs on the back of the TV. Try a cold reboot of the STB (unplug/replug). Are you using HDMI? Try component video cables

See: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=19694

And: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741 (more)

Thanks 57 - powering down the box seemed to reset the signal and that faint line is gone. Sorry about the double post.

Also reset my HD box to your specs and everything is hunky dory.

Cheers.

Please help me with an issue being experienced with HDMI and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.

My Hardware:

HDTV: Samsung LN-T4042H
STB: PACE DC551P
Reciever: Sony STRDG510

My Hardware Connections

HDTV video is connected via HDMI cable (from TV to STB)
STB audio is optical connected to the receiver (from STB to receiver)

What's Happening:

Whenever I turn on (or reset) my components I have to re-apply the Digital audio out setting on the STB or it reverts to the (other) setting.
Audio is still heard but at a lower volume. Once the DD setting is applied everything is great. The problem only occurs when I power off.

RECAP

1) HDMI (for video) and OPTICAL OUT (for audio)
2) Change AUDIO OUT under SETTINGS from HDMI to DOLBY DIGITAL

*All is well at this point until you turn off everything and and turn it back on

3) HDMI is now outputting sound again until you scroll over the option under SETTINGS again. Once you have it highlighted, it immediately stop and outputs correctly under DOLBY DIGITAL!

Can you please help me? I'd really appreciate some assistance.

Thanks in advance
Bryan

Edit - post moved to existing thread. You may wish to quickly browse this thread for similar issues?

Hi all,

I am new to TV and HDTV (I actually have not owned a TV until a few months ago after 5 years of going without TV).

Anyways I have a 32" Sceptre Komodo 720p tv and got an HDMI cable. When it works it works really well. What ends up happening often (30% of the time) is when I turn on the box/tv, there is no audio! I have to either turn off and unplug/replug the HDMI and turn the box on - sometimes that doesn't work - other times I need to cold boot (turn off, unplug STB from power) and the audio goes back on.

Any suggestions on how to fix this myself, or do I have a dud STB? I am renting so I could complain and switch.

I have a new LG LCD 37" with a 551 Pace Box from Rogers for a week now. I'm in Ottawa. When I watch hockey (HD or not) the TV does not seem to support the brightness of the ice (rink), the image goes bright and then darker (flashes). It does this every 15 seconds or so. Very annoying. Anyone as the same problem or heard about this ???
A technician is coming to my home on Saturday, I'll post any new development since then. I'm waiting for your imput on this problem. The problem occurs on TSN, TSNHD, RDS, Sportsnet and Sport's Pak.

The things I've tried :
-Two different plugs in the wall for the TV
-Switched to my old cable box (non-HD)
-Switched from HDMI cables to component

Also, when I'm not on HD and have the Vertical Bars on (not a streched screen) those bars' brightness changes too.

Phild44

greanie, as you can read from previous posts in this thread, there are a huge number of issues with the Pace and HDMI. See the following thread as well for suggestions/comments.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=71112

You can perhaps switch to component video cables on this STB or component video cables on the more reliable SA3250HD.

Phild44. Most LCDs have an auto-contrast or auto-backlight setting. Turn these off and the issue will most likely go away. What happens is that as the brightness on the image changes, the contrast/backlight changes, but doesn't change at the appropriate times, so you notice. What may also happen is as the image changes (lightens or darkens, the light is reflected around the room and back into the TV's light sensor, the auto setting then goes into a feedback loop. A proper setup of your TV will also help. Please see:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17713

Perhaps simply lowering the range of the backlight setting so it can't swing as much may also help, since the auto-backlight may help a bit if you watch both daytime and nighttime.

Both of you then please see: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741

Thanks for your answer 57, I'm at work right now, but are you sure the 37" LG have Backlight Adjustments...I've heard on other LG's there is none you can switch from on to off. I'll check though...

Phild44

That's why I say "most" in my post. There are often advanced settings or other settings in the user menu that can affect the contrast, screen brightness (backlight) (not the brightness setting), etc. There are simply too many makes/models to keep track of the capabilities of them all.

The backlight adjustments I've seen have not usually been "on/off", but rather sometimes a scale that is adjustable from -10 to +10 with one setting as the default, or sometimes you can change the range so that instead of being allowed to go from -10 to +10, the range can be limited to -2 to +2, etc. All depends on the make/model.

It is always best to go through all the user settings (including the advanced settings) with the operating manual in hand to assist, to understand what each setting does, then to calibrate the TV properly using those settings - often best with many/most/all of the automatic settings set to "off" (but not always)

I'm using a Pace now after a Rogers tech guy exchanged my old 3250 after issues switching from an HD channel to a SD one only to have that channel and possibly other go "black", requiring a reset.

Now, using a Pace. The image from HDMI or component is good. My query surrounds the issue of taking a SD S-Video out to your VCR or a PVR. When I recorded an HD show on my SD PVR via the S-Video or RCA video out, I noticed the image was enlarged slightly, enough that my image would be cropped noticably. The Rogers guy I called today had no explanation. The controls I have access on the Pace or my SD PVR do not allow the tweaking of this so I suspect the Pace outputs a slightly "zoomed" SD downconvert. I notice this when recording an HD channel, say NBC, 30 Rock, for example, then record it on my SD PVR for later viewing. The HD framing was perfect when viewed on my HD TV from HDMI or component.

Anyone noticed this before? I can't recall if the 3250HD did the same...

It is possible that when taking an HD signal and downconverting for the SD outputs that there is some overscan done by the STB, or perhaps by the recorder. Have you tried composite video just for kicks?

Here's a thread on the connections if you haven't already.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17709

"The S/N ratio is good if it’s at about 35 dB, although a good HD signal can be received with slightly lower numbers. If your S/N is around 30 (or less) though, that could be a source of problems."

I read about this in the 'Tips For SA STBs' thread so I checked mine out. I am getting a S/N ratio of 37 on Digital & HD channels. My 'Level' on the QAM side is about 2. I find that, for the most part, I am generally NOT IMPRESSED with the quality of resolution I am getting from such HD channels as Discovery (which claims it's HD 24/7). Much of the picture becomes heavily pixelated when the image is moving fast. By pixelated, I mean larger squares pixelating & trying to 'catch up' with the image to regroup into what should be a completely crisp & highly defined image. I don't seem to experience this when watching a Blu-Ray. My Samsung LN-T4661F is hooked up to a Pace 551 HD box via HDMI, however, this 'pixelation' occurred when hooked up via component. The picture tends to be generally grainy, as well. The conversion is 1080i. Does anyone know if a 37 dB S/N ratio might be responsible, or if it might be something obvious that I'm overlooking here?

Any suggestions/info would be more than appreciated.

Thx.
A.

This is macroblocking and is normal for HD programmes with lots of action or scene changes. It's a limitation of MPEG2, which we are using.

A proper setup of the TV will help reduce this macroblocking and grain - reduce the sharpness, turn off edge enhancements, etc.

See: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17713

And: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741

Also make sure that the Pace STB is set up properly for the various formats - you've already read that thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719

Your signal is fine and digital channels either come in properly, or have massive pixellation or black screen if the signal is marginal.

The reason it doesn't happen on DVDs is because during the encoding of the DVD, the signal was "rate shaped" to minimize the macroblocking. This is not possible with live TV.

That makes me feel better. I am quite picky & maybe expect too much out of this stuff, as great as it is. Give me one good HD channel & I want it all! One major issue I have noticed with my STB & LCD is that the LCD DOES NOT like any setting from the STB other than 'Fixed' mode. In any other mode I get major lag when changing channels (understandingly) & often green or magenta coloured noise & striping when the set is in between channels. Do you think that is normal or a major issue with the equipment?

A.

Regarding that brightness problem (bright and dark constantly) when I watch hockey. The cable guy from Rogers came on the week-end and told me the cable wasn't the problem.

I adjusted the color temp. (warm), the brightness(85) and the sharpness(45).
I didn't play with the colors and tints since I'm not to sure about the right settings. But I found a Backlight meter that was set at a 100. I lowered it down to 45. I even tried turning it down to 0, way to dark and the brightness still changed on hockey games. I'll be exchanging the TV this week in the hopes it resolves the problem. If not I hope they let me change it for another brand or model. Tell you more later...

Phild44

Do you think that is normal or a major issue with the equipment?This is perfectly normal, especially when changing formats. After a few seconds, the TV should "lock" on the signal and all should be OK, but the "mad scramble" is normal on TVs, with each make/model reacting differently. Some simply go black for a few seconds, some have a "mad scramble" and some change faster than others.

57:

Thanks for the feedback. It has been very handy, not to mention 'nerve calming'. I can rest a little better now knowing I probably don't have to exchange my 2nd tv in 2 weeks!.

Please Help
I currently have a Samsung LN-T4661 HDTV 46”. I am subscribing to Rogers HD programming, Pace 551, and I’m using a HDMI cable. On my standard definition I get a real annoying vertical line down the middle of my screen. The line is approximately a Centimetre in width and runs all the way up and down the screen. It sometimes occurs on the HD channels but it is a lot smaller. The line is stronger when a red image is displayed. I have tried 3 different pace 551 terminals. I have had a Rogers’s rep out to check out the signal and he indicated it looks fine. Of course the line was not there when he came. The line is there 95% of the time but does go away. When I display the guide function and the screen shrinks to the upper right corner, the line still appears in the same spot that it would if the screen was expanded. (Down the middle of the shrunken picture not over the lettering of the guide).
I have tried the component cables and have the same problem. I hook the cable from the wall directly into my TV and I have no troubles. It seems to only occur when I run the cable through the digital terminal. I have never seen the line when watching a DVD or playing a video game.
At times on HD channels I will get small vertical line about 6 inches apart usually on red colours.
Is it a compatibility issue with the Pace 551 HDMI and the TV? The TV? Or something else.
Please Help me.

Please see the following thread on the issue.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73881

1. You need to properly run the Advanced setup wizard in the Pace enabling 480P STANDARD, 720P and 1080i. (For HDMI). If using component video, enable 480i STANDARD instead for 480P. This is because the Samsung will not accept 480i via HDMI.

2. Set the "set picture format" in the Pace to Auto HDMI (for HDMI) or Passthrough for component video. The line will be gone once the Pace is no longer on "fixed" and is no longer upconverting signals to an HD format.

See: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719

And then: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741

My picture format set to auto DVI and doesent have an auto HDMI format. Is this the samething? Having said that, i still get the line....you can see it more on Channel 1 (rogers info channel). The line goes right down the screen and changes colour.

Did you run the advanced setup wizard and enable the formats I suggested? Does your TV remote have an "info/display/status/select" or similar button that displays the incoming format on the TV? It's probably currently 1080i for all channels including SD instead of the various formats.

I'm surprised it says Auto DVI instead of Auto-HDMI, but that could be a firmware glitch and doesn't make any difference. If you can't get it to work with HDMI, I suggest you try component video cables and enable the formats I suggested earlier for those (and Passthrough).

See: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=71112