If you're getting a picture, the signal strength should not affect the PQ. It's normal to take a few seconds 2-4 for channels to change. It's also normal for it to take slightly longer if changing formats (from 480i to 720P to 1080i for example) and it's also normal to see the "screen flicker" and then stabilize under the latter scenario. When changing channels between the same format, you should not see the "screen scramble" and the change may be slightly quicker.

There are recommendations in the SA FAQ on eliminating the scramble for HD channels by setting the STB to output only 1080i for example.

Okay so on certain channels like HD National Geo and HD Discovery are perfect, but then other channels like HD ABC, NBC, CBS sometimes don't show up at all. Also, SD channels like FOX don't show up, but HD FOX shows up fine. So it this a problem with the signal or the box?

Check your signal first. That's the most likely:

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

okay it say my signal is -17 and -14. I don't understand, i've changed nothing in my room and the signal has degraded?

Your signal is obviously too low for some of the channels. Disconnect the RF-coax cable(s), reconnect it/them, to check to ensure you've got a good connection, and remove any splitters or equipment upstream of the STB temporarily. Make sure any splitters are rated 5-1000 MHz.

Sometimes the Rogers signal to your home can vary, but usually it's pretty steady.

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

thanks a lot

Hey all, I know there's already a PACE thread but I figured not many would see this unless I made a new thread. I feel this issue is one of the most annoying I've yet to come across with this box.

I know there must be others out there who are using HDMI for VIDEO and OPTICAL OUT for AUDIO. In my case, I have a Sony 55" 1080p TV with the HDMI going directly from the TV to the PACE. This is fine but I don't want the TV to output the sound as I have a home theatre system attached. I know you can go into the SETTINGS menu (for the PACE) and swith the AUDIO OUT option from HDMI to DOLBY DIGITAL. This DOES let me use my home theatre....but here's the kicker! When you turn OFF the PACE and turn it back on, the audio is outputting via HDMI!? So, if you go back in to the SETTINGS menu, it DID in fact retain the changes from HDMI to DOLBY DIGITAL but you have to actually move the cursor over the AUDIO OUT option again for it to kick in! Does this make sense??

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 the PACE box 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!

It's very annoying to have to go into my SETTINGS every time and do this, and my parents won't have a clue of what's going on....they're quite impaired when it comes to technology!

Any ideas??

Mike

I moved your post to this thread. If everyone thought the way you did, we'd have nothing but one post threads, which wouldn't be very useful. ;)

Ideas?

1. Switch to an SA3250HD STB (no HDMI, but DVI and analogue audio).

2. Switch to using analogue audio cables from the Pace STB to the TV for audio - with TV speakers, you shouldn't hear any difference in sound quality.

3. Don't turn off the STB - off is really standby and saves little power. (sounds like the easiest solution)

4. Try a cold reboot - unplug/replug the box to see if that resolves the issue. See the SA Tips thread.

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

5. It's possible there's something wrong with the STB - exchange it?

Thanks for moving it, I should've posted it here in the first place...

I figured out the problem I guess, by kind of messing around. It turns out I wasn't exiting the SETTINGS menu by pushing the SETTINGS button again, I was pushing GUIDE or something else, which effectively works and retains the settings but it doesn't seem to forget the AUDIO Output when exiting with the SETTINGS button...I guess it makes sense!!

Thanks for that info. I've often exited the settings menu on my SA equipment with exit, or guide, or simply when the settings 'times out'. Not had any issues, but sounds like it may be best to exit the Pace using "settings".

For 5 months I have been calling Rogers about a 3250HD quirk that they claim they've never had reported to them before.

Every evening when watching 528 NBCHD or 529 CBSHD and that station is showing a program that is also being broadcast by GLOBAL or CTV at the same time, Rogers will switch to the Canadian station which results in CTV/GLOBAL being broadcast on 528 or 529 channel. Other than reduced volume and a somewhat softer picture this shouldn't be a big deal.

The problem that occurs is when 528 or 529 is switched at a commercial break - the video and audio signals disappear - the screen goes black BUT the guide and info bars are still show and the PPV channel info wallpaper still appears.

I now have an excellent Tier 2 techie contact at Rogers that I can usually get thru to in about 3 minutes and he immediatly connects to my 3250HD and says...'I can't see your box' - he can see the digital box - which never goes down, but the HD box has gone MIA in the control centre.

After we go through the reboot by Rogers or the Cold reboot by me, the box appears on his sysyem again with a booming 14+ signal and the channels return to normal and it doesn't happen again until the next evening at the same time (at 9 or 10pm when a simulcast is on).

This has been going on for 5 months.

In that time frame and at Rogers request:
the HD box has been replaced 4 times,
the DVI cable was replaced with a component cable (because that was obviously the problem).
This produced a softer picture and continued the problem.
3 service techies have arrived at the door at various times (but not at 10pm) to monitor the signal into the house and change all the cables to CAT6 (because that was obviously the problem) and
a 3 month "inconvenience" credit for the HD box rental was applied to the account.

BUT the problem continues.

Rogers cannot replicate the problem and says no one else is reporting this issue. The Rogers store people say they have all kinds of problem with the 3250HD box.

Sooo . . to make a long story even longer...Rogers has decided to replce this 3250HD box with a PACE box complete with a techie to install it 'properly'.

I am madly copying all the comments in these pages about the Pace box and will try to replicate all the problems while the techie is here.
(Hopefully he brings a change of clothes)

And then at 10pm, when the techie is long gone, I'll click on to 528 or 529 and ... probably speed dial my Tier 2 techie for another chat.

I'll keep you posted.

I'm off to get a DVI>HDMI converter plug.

Maybe they'll credit me for the cost of this inconvenience too? (fotfl)

I was at work all day, came home and used the computer for a bit and then continued with some painting. i went to take a short break and catch some television and noticed that nothing was on the display. did the usual checks (power cable, cold reboot many times) but nothing happened. i even went back to painting and checked later but nothing changed.

for a laugh i called rogers which as i expected resulted in telling me to try again and then to go get another. i asked him if they normally die like this as i had not used it since yesterday. he said sometimes but what is he really going to tell me.

i never had to replace my old SA. it wasn't an HD box but it worked faithfully until i swapped it about a month ago with the upgrade.

Hi, I bought a pace dc551p box online (ebay) and wanted to use it with my rogers hd cable. The box was sent from montreal, and came in a box that says Videotron (guessing its a cable company).

When I connected the device the screen showed a msg "Your terminal is NOT AUTHORIZED for use. Please call (888)764-3771", which I expected. I phoned rogers and went through verious customer representatives, but to my surprise they all said that they cant find it in their system (s/n). I gave them anything that was written on the device, but they still couldnt find it. They all kept on saying its got to be something like 11 letters starting with "sab", but the s/ns i have start with "caf" / "te0" / "005".

2 days ago, some representative told me that she got it authorized but its on hold until I returned my rented 3250HD, so i wont get double charged. Unfortunatly, after i returned it, I had to wasted another 2 hours on the phone to get no where, and now im stuck without any TV.

Now im an electronic technician, but you dont need to be one to know that this product is compatible with rogers, since not only they sell it, but it uses the 3250HD firmware and it tells me to call rogers. The only 2 reason i can think of is either their database is limited to their products or I dont have the right s/n.

If any one can help me in any way, I would really appreciate it.

I really want to watch hdtv cable without renting the terminal, and since i got it for a cheap price, i dont want to return it.

Thanks.

BTW, I did read J-Wo's posts since he had the same problem as me, but unfortunatly it didnt help much...i do have a small imprint of a number on the bottom right of the s/n sticker starting with "TD" but its "TD0123456" which ment nothing to rogers.

See the following thread. You should have checked with Rogers before purchasing what may be a doorstop. Sorry for the bad news.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=35032

The technical explanation is outlined in post 8. If you get really lucky, Rogers MAY activate a Videotron STB, but they really have no reason to.

have you considered calling videotron to make sure this box isn't considered "missing" or if they have any notes on it's past performance?

post 8 refers to an SA box. is it the same for Pace?

It refers to SA-based boxes and headends. Pace are SA based.

OK, I really got screwed then...

The box it came in had a bestbuy post exchange infomation, so I believe it isnt missing from videotron, just a returned product. I really dont want to waste more money on shipping or long distince calls to quebec...

I dont know whether contacting Pace would help to get the EMM key. If there was a way to connect it to a pc or somehow get the key using specific equipment that would be great. From the answers I got from rogers, I dont think they have that kind of equipment.

here's another question. the pace box is currently the only rogers box that supports HDMI right? i have to return my dead pace box tomorrow (see rogers customer service thread for more) and just wondering if i should opt for an SA box instead.

The SA8300HD (DVR) has HDMI. The SA3250HD has DVI which is basically HDMI without the audio and since many people connect their STB to their AVR for DD5.1 sound, it's not normally an issue and analogue audio to the TV if required, is also another option. Component video when properly set up will also provide an excellent picture.

i went to switch my box today at my closest rogers location and they didn't have any Pace boxes. I was really considering that i just go with an SA box but it came down to the fact that i would have a useless HDMI cable. i went to another location that had Pace boxes.

edit: usage wise i didn't want to go with a PVR as i just wouldn't make use of it to justify it.

i currently don't have an AVR. it's my next step.

i am considering running analogue audio out from the STB to the TV. although the box i got today is producing great level and S/N readings, the audio on some channels is awful. it goes from static tainted sound to digital pops. i didn't have this problem with the previous box. what's interesting is that in some cases the commercials don't have the audio issues but the program does. however these are programs i have watched before (megabuilders for example on HDDSC and an episode i have seen before) and didn't have these problems.

would running analogue RCA's cure this issue?