I am noticing a great deal of audio drop outs on all chanels, I think? Not sure where that problem lies. Bob

Audio dropouts on recorded programs are are real annoyance and can last several seconds. They seem to be worse on HD recordings but can occur on any channel. I notice that the sound drops and then there is a slight instability in the picture and pixilation when it recovers in most cases. However the video interruption is minor, the audio drop out is not. The recovery takes longer with Dolby 5.1 sound. I think that may be because of extra processing required by the sound system to resync the dolby information. This is something that appears to have become more common recently. I don't know if it is CC or some other change.

Recently I was in B. C. and had the 'priviledge' of watching Bell. The number of audio dropouts was amazing and made me appreciate the few dropouts (relatively) that *C has. I hated the guide, particularly the loss of sound and picture when in the guide. I don't know what receivers were in use other than not HD but it sure made me appreciate *C.

jbobh- Instead of pressing "jump" a number of times, try this. If you want to go ahead 3 minutes for a commercial block, push the # 3, then jump. It will take you ahead 3 minutes into the recording. 15 jump will take you ahead 15 minutes, etc. I have my "jump back" set for 20 seconds, so if I go ahead too far and get into programming, I can quickly get back to where it starts. It's a great feature and you'll find that you can get very familiar with how long the commercial blocks are at various times in your favourite programs.

Thanks for the tip I'll give it a try.

Bob

I had been relatively happy with my 530. I was an early adopter and got in on the very first shipment. I have been waiting for ages for CC code and was happy when it arrived. I was resetting about once a week but noticed that my HD picture wasn't what it should be.

After reading a few posts on this forum I realized that I had left the receiver set at 480P. So about a week ago I set the receiver to 0000 and all hell breaks loose. I am having lockups every time I sit down to watch TV. I am about to call *C and complain, we will likely do a master reset, and they will tell me that I am the only one having lockups, but that a new code is coming in a few weeks that will fix it.

Should I be requesting a new unit? Were there any changes made to the 530 after the initial shipment that may affect how it runs?

Thanks

instead of 0000 why not set it to what your display is native for.....720P or 1080i. I have mine at 720P.

Also, did you notice a picture improvement on the display after watching it all that time at 480?

I think 0000 looks better. I see less blockiness in the grass when watching football and other sports. I also notice less macroblocking with movement.

Of course you know how subjective picture quality can be... it may be that the feeds are good this week. Ask me again in a couple of weeks.

I'll try 720p and be back to complain later :)

720p will not zoom to fill my screen so I get the black bars on the sides of my plasma screen. The last time I tried this my screen started to show the side bars whenever the screen went dark so I'm not very eager to run in this mode.

In 0000 and 480p the TV zooms the picture properly and fills the screen.

Anybody know what type of DVI cable I need for the 530? I keep reading on the internet but there seems to be different ones.

I just need to know which type to get.

I wanna go from HDMI on my TV to DVI on my satellite receiver.

Thanks

DVI-D Single Link if you really must.
I'm told http://www.monoprice.com seems to be the endorsed supplier on the threads here, I've never used them, but at least you won't get hosed like at FS or BB on a Monster cable with a Monster price!

See if the combo cable with DVI on 1 side and HDMI on the other is less expensive than a DVI-DVI +HDMI Adapter

See I am now more confused. I checked on the web for information regarding DVI cables and the different types.

My guess is I need DVI-D Dual Link? :confused:

And curious why you say "if you must"?

Thanks

See I am now more confused. I checked on the web for information regarding DVI cables and the different types.

My guess is I need DVI-D Dual Link? :confused:

And curious why you say "if you must"?

Thanks

I bought a DVI cable from Monoprice.com and it is fantastic !!!!!! HDMI DVI cable (24AWG) w/net jacket- 6ft (Gold Plated) (N) Product ID
2218 Above is the number and description, if you go to monoprice.com and look at the picture, you will see and if you buy you will find out it is the same as the Monster cable for a huge saving. I also bought one from tiger.ca and have found the cable at mono to be superior. lol I will sell you the tiger one cheap....just kiddn. Good luck, oh also never paid any duty on it, came to me marked as a gift.:cool: I also have found out that DVI to HDMI is better than using an adapter. Better signal without the adapter.:D

See I am now more confused. I checked on the web for information regarding DVI cables and the different types.

My guess is I need DVI-D Dual Link? :confused:

And curious why you say "if you must"?

Thanks
Dual Link is not needed and should work, but some have reported problems.
Basically Dual link has some extra pins and wires for higher data rates that are not used.

I said "if you must" because of the frustration 'some' have experienced in either getting it to work or maintaining proper handshaking.

While their can be a theoritical improvement in PQ, it was never designed that way over component. Possibly worth a look see on a fixed pixel device (LCD, DLP, PLASMA) and an inexpensive cable.

If it works great, if not, don't fret over it, it's no big deal.

That's the problem with evolving specs, especially post DVI with HDMI specs into later generations.

Just received my replacement 530 and got CC last night. Here's hoping! The last time I tried DVI-HDMI with a cable (no adapter), I didn't notice any improvement over component with my Sony SXRD ( I could A-B them on the same channel), but I did get a "blinking" in the video every minute or so with DVI. I don't use it anymore.

Dual Link is not needed and should work, but some have reported problems.
Basically Dual link has some extra pins and wires for higher data rates that are not used.

I said "if you must" because of the frustration 'some' have experienced in either getting it to work or maintaining proper handshaking.

While their can be a theoritical improvement in PQ, it was never designed that way over component. Possibly worth a look see on a fixed pixel device (LCD, DLP, PLASMA) and an inexpensive cable.

If it works great, if not, don't fret over it, it's no big deal.

That's the problem with evolving specs, especially post DVI with HDMI specs into later generations.


Hmmm ok, technical question: Is DVI-DVI better or worse than going HDMI to DVI?

Hmm I know I need a male to male DVI cable. Would this one work?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10238&cs_id=1023801&p_id=2499&style=&seq=1&format=1#largeimage

I am in the process of hooking up my new DSR530 (finally replacing my General Instrument 400/HD200). There is a connection on the back referred to in the manual as "Electrical Digital Audio Output". Is this the same as Coaxial Digital Audio?

Just a quick note about CC. Had no problem with A8 and then I got CC. I was a bit worried but the unit has behaved beautifully so far. I have not had any problems with it and I love the fact that phone calls now appear on the screen so I know who it is. Before I had to check call ID and by that time the machine had picked up. The only thing I notice is that when I finish watching a recorded show and then go to delete it, there are a few seconds blip before the screen settles and then I can delete.

I have been using my other PVR in another room to catch things I want to record to DVD and it is a lot more time consuming. I did use it for back up for a few important shows just after I got CC, but it turned out to be unnecessary as the *C behaved perfectly.

So right now I am a 530 lover, and I recomend it to all my friends.

Hmmm ok, technical question: Is DVI-DVI better or worse than going HDMI to DVI?
Should be NO difference. The signaling is 100% interchangable with HDMI being an extention that supports Audio as well and uses a different connector only.
Hmm I know I need a male to male DVI cable. Would this one work?
That looks like it should do the trick. Nice to see single link on 1 side so as not to cause any isses with extras wires. Just that I'm not familiar with the M1-D(P&D) nomenclature to refer to the other end.

There is a connection on the back referred to in the manual as "Electrical Digital Audio Output". Is this the same as Coaxial Digital Audio?Yes it is. BTW, Glad you finally made the plunge. CC seems to do the trick. My replacement 530 that took CC the first night has been 100% sold with NO crashes for several weeks now inspite of 4 HD timer per night and playback from disk with live and trick modes at the same time. Now just need a bit more smoothness in a few of the modes, but with the 3 Jump commercial skip, I'm very happy now.

The only thing I notice is that when I finish watching a recorded show and then go to delete it, there are a few seconds blip before the screen settles and then I can delete. That's most likely the TV resyncing as the screen changes from video to graphics. I recall mine doing that, but when I just checked, it wouldn't do it. I even checked when set for 1080i and also native and also an HD and an SD program.

I have a 35foot HDMI-HDMI cable and a HDMI-DVI adaptor sitting on the back of the 530. (www.totalsignal.com) Wouldn't work with A8 but was fine with BC and CC. The adaptor was about $6.00

Any new products will have HDMI and not DVI, which means a HDMI-DVI cable probably won't work with new equipment beyong the 530. But my cable will be fine.

DVI is older technology. Don't buy a cable that will keep you tied to DVI.

Installation (2nd line from dish) and activation was completed just before 5pm today. I have now officially joined the DVR530 club. So far it has worked great ... watched all my evening programming with it.

One thing I did notice right away ... if you push options and exit, for about 1 second the screen goes black after the bottom menu disappears. That does not happen on the 9200. But it is no big deal.