Lastly, I can't make the Fox HD channels display right in any mode but 1080i. They end up with grey bars on all 4 sides in 480p.
Simply think of Fox as being like a DVD player (non-anamorphic). It is after all 480P. Use your TV stretch mode (the one that stretches 1.33 vertically and horizontally) to watch Fox. If they're transmitting an EDTV widescreen programme, it'll fill your 16:9 screen. If they're transmitting a 4:3 upconvert, you'll have bars on the sides, but no grey bars above & below.

If you use the zoom button on the SA3250HD, you'll get similar results, but I find the zoom seems to add some "overscan" almost like zooming 1.4 in both directions instead of 1.33.

This means when watching Fox in this manner, you'll need to change from the TV stretch mode you use for your other SD programming.

Hope that's all clear.

...as mud...but I'll figure it out. Thanks again 57 for the help.

I hooked up the DVI cable on the 3250HD, and found that the HD image is shifted towards the left, compared to the component output. Has anyone else noticed this?

I have the same problem. The left shifted image is only when using 480i for me. But when using 480p the image is squeezed to about 2/3 horizontal and is magenta, green is completely absent. Works great with 1080i so I've disabled all other modes. BTW, I've got SARA 1.52.11.2.

I know 480i and 480p don't work (hope they fix that soon). I thought the picture looked a bit left-shifted on 1080i, but perhaps I'm just seeing things. It could be that since I switched HD inputs, I'm trying to find a flaw with it. BTW, I have the same firmware as you, dc.

I have the same problem. The left shifted image is only when using 480i for me. But when using 480p the image is squeezed to about 2/3 horizontal and is magenta, green is completely absent. Works great with 1080i so I've disabled all other modes. BTW, I've got SARA 1.52.11.2.
Yeah, it's fubared on 480p. (480p from my DVD players work fine.)

Thus, I have turned off 480p completely on the 3250HD. Instead, I just upsample everything to 1080i.

However, there is a way around it if you have 480p active. Press ## (ie. # twice in succession) to zoom twice. It corrects the aspect ratio, IIRC by setting it to 1080i (with the right ratio). If you press # just once, and then wait and then press # just once again, the image stays distorted, just in a different way.

I view this as a bug in the 3250HD firmware.

1.52.11.2

Passthrough/fixed reverting is no longer happening.

To test, set your box to passthrough, then reboot by unplugging it. It will now stay at passthrough.

(57, you can sign off issue #4 on your original list as fixed)

M23

I think my 3250HD crashed last night! I set a VCR timer to record something a few days ago. I just happened by the TV 5 minutes into the recording time and noticed that the VCR was on, but not recording!! I was able to start it up manually, but I wanted to record the debate on Tuesday and I wanted to make sure the VCR blaster was working, so I set a timer for a show that was supposed to being in 3 minutes (at midnight). It all started up just fine, so I hit the "Exit" button to try to stop it. The VCR stopped, but the 3250 ended up with some undecipherable message on it's display and it was locked up solid (but still outputting a picture and sound). About 30 seconds later, it reboot itself.

Sounds like a good time to jump onto the SA8000HD bandwagon. I can't say enough good things about this STB. It's changed the way we watch TV. In fact it has made TV watching interactive. Very, very, very nice. And since June 2, no hitches whatsoever.

Damn, that's great timing Wayne! Check out the post I *just* made in the main 8000HD thread!

I hope this is the right thread for this.

I recently upgraded from my 3100HD to the 3250HD. I thought the audio synch problem would disappear with this box, but here it is still causing me problems. It seems to happen on only HD channels.

Does anybody else have audio synch problems and is there any way to fix them? It seems to be about a .5 second delay.

What type of display do you have??

What type of display do you have??

I have a Sony 43" RP-HDTV. Is that relevant? I get the synch issues with TV sound or through my receiver with coax input.

Yes, it's relevant because some types of displays take longer to process the video. Sync issues are not uncommon with plasma and DLP displays, for example. Do you see this delay always, or only sometimes? With DVD too, or just the 3250HD?

Always and only on HDTMN, to be specific. At least, I haven't noticed it on any other channel.

The movie Far From Heaven is on right now. I've got no problem with synch on my SA3250HD. I've also encountered no synch problems with the SA8000HD and TMN this past week.

Have you tried the analogue audio cables? Perhaps it's some issue with your A/V receiver?

I just swapped my 3100 for the 3250, and I've run into a little problem. I'm noticing that the screen is all fuzzy. I'm using the component input, and when the HD terminal is off its a very noticable fuzzy black that's on the screen. When I unplug the component cables from the tv, the screen returns to the normal black. This fuzz is drastically affecting the quality of my picture.

Maybe signal interference because of the thunderstorms in the greater toronto area? Or is there something wrong with my box and/or component cables(brand new monster thx)?

I have the same problem. The left shifted image is only when using 480i for me. But when using 480p the image is squeezed to about 2/3 horizontal and is magenta, green is completely absent. Works great with 1080i so I've disabled all other modes. BTW, I've got SARA 1.52.11.2.

DC -

I have the exact same problem. I have a Toshiba 51H83 and the 3250HD, and when I use DVI when watching any non-HD channel, everything is shifted over to the left. Is this a known error, and will it get fixed with an update any time soon?

Should I have to switch inputs when flipping between HD and non-HD channels?

Should I have to switch inputs when flipping between HD and non-HD channels?
No, you should be able to use the same input, but there are some limitations with the DVI that are different from Component Video. There are some setup hints at the bottom of the FAQ on "Tips for SA STBs". These may or may not apply to the DVI output, as there have been some issues noted.

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=57

George81, I think that it's a bug in the firmware. Hopefully, Rogers will fix it in the near future. What I do is disable all modes except 1080i in the setup wizard. For 4:3 programming, I just use the 3250HD's stretch modes, even though they kinda suck.