I read through this thread...all 100 or so posts and it would seem that audio dropouts are a thing of the past.

I just bought a new receiver -- nad t752 to replace my Marantz SR 580. Ever since I did this I have had audio dropouts accross all channels. The STB is connected to the receiver via coaxial digital cable. My first thought was that it was the receiver seeing as I had never had the problem with the old receiver connected the same way.

I spoke to the store where I bought the receiver and they suggested that I try different digital inputs to see if the problem occured accross all inputs. They seemed to indicate that this would rule out the receiver as the culprit. I tried it and the dropouts were still there.

I then thought to take my SA8000 from my bedroom and hook it up to the receiver to see if the audio dropouts continued. To my surprise they were gone. So it must be the STB.

I'm going to take it back to Rogers this week. My question is this:

Is the SA3270HD out and should I get it instead of the 3250HD?

Thanks for the help guys.


Darren

Did you try a different digital coaxial cable?

The reason I say this is because the output of the SA8000HD may simply be a bit "stronger" than the one from the SA3250HD...

I once had issues with my new flagship A/V receiver not sending a video signal to my TV, despite the fact that the same cable "transmitted" the signal from an old VCR. I changed the cable and the signal was good....

I don't believe there are SA3270HD's available, or in the future for Rogers...

That is the one thing that I didn't try...I didn't have another cable. I'd hate to buy another cable for $50 just to have it not be the problem. I think your point is valid though.

I suppose that future shop would take something like that back if I returned it right away.

Thanks for the advice 57.

Darren

A "yellow" composite video cable could substitute for a test as it has the proper 75 ohm impedence....

I learned something new today. Thank you fine sir.

I'll try that when I get home tonight.

Darren

I don't believe there are SA3270HD's available, or in the future for Rogers...

Why do you say this 57? Is there much difference between the 3250HD and 3270HD other than an active firewire port?

I believe the issue was regarding an optical output, although the new SA3250HDs may have an optical output and may solve this issue for some...

It's been a while since this was discussed and I've got too many threads and STBs in my head to keep this straight... and not enough time to search right now.

My Saga continues....

I tried a yellow composite cable in place of the digital co-axial cable as "57" suggested. It worked but I still had audio dropouts.

So, this morning I went to Rogers and exchanged my SA3250 for a new one.

"57" is bang on in that the new box has two digital outputs -- one coaxial and one optical. I tried the coaxial cable again and still have audio dropouts. My last line of defense is to make use of the optical out to see if that fixes my problem.

Wish me luck.


Darren

Last night I hooked up an optical digital cable from the STB to the receiver fully confident that my problems were over. I still have audio dropouts!

The only other thing that I can think of to do is to get Rogers here to test the signal strength. If the signal strength is fine then I'm in a bit of a fix. I'm beginning to think that the Rogers SA3250 and the Nad T752 just don't see eye to eye. The Nad is looking for a stronger signal than the STB is prepared to offer. Is there such a thing as a cable signal booster?

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Darren

I googled "cable signal booster" and this is what came up...

Has anyone used it?

http://commerce.motorola.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=247496&prmenbr=126&bcs_cgrfnbr=230509&zipcode

darren

If the cable signal coming to your residence is weak, then Rogers typically can increase it to the "drop" coming to your residence, or they can put in an amp if it's required.

The amp needs to be "bidirectional" so you can't go out and buy just any amp. Get Rogers to look into it, it's free...

Darren,
Try the SA3250 analog sound output (instead of the digital) to see if you still get audio dropouts. If you do, then I would suspect the cable signal (although ok for the SA8000) maybe marginal for the SA3250. If so, then Rogers will install a cable amplifier (at no extra cost).

Try the SA3250 analog sound output (instead of the digital) to see if you still get audio dropouts.

I did that last night so that my wife could watch tv without cursing my name...it works fine in 2 channel and PL.

57 wrote -- If the cable signal coming to your residence is weak, then Rogers typically can increase it to the "drop" coming to your residence, or they can put in an amp if it's required.

I just got off the phone with Rogers. The fella said that he tested the signal strength at the 3250HD and that it was definitely weaker than it should be. The numbers that he quoted me was a measurement of -20 with up to -14 being considered acceptable. They're sending out a technician later this week.

I spoke to Great Met Sound and they said that the cable signal boosters that they sell run in the $250 range. So, I think I'm going to let Rogers take a shot at fixing it.

Darren

To check signal strength, visit the FAQ on "Tips for SA STBs".

http://www.digitalhomecanada.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=30

The Rogers technician finally came by my house today. He checked the signal strength going into the box and said that everything was just fine...really good in fact, and putting a booster on the line would accomplish nothing.

So, the only other thing that I could think of to fix my audio dropout issue was to change to a different model of STB...I figured the SA8000HD would be the logical choice.

I called customer service and once again explained my problem to the fella with my only goal being to see if I could get them to give me an SA8000HD at no extra charge since it was clear to me that the SA3250HD was simply not compatible with my receiver. The guy that I spoke to was one of the best CSR's I have ever spoken to...he knew Home Theatre and he knew what he was talking about. The first thing that he asked me was "What do you have selected in the audio range aspect of the settings menu?" My answer was "Hmmmm...I dunno...never really considered that...let me check." I sort of assumed that if you were outputting your signal via digital cable that the audio range setting would be disabled -- who would want to allow the STB to alter sound when you're sending the signal to a receiver that would do it?

I checked and it was set to "Narrow"...I changed it to "Normal" and I haven't had an audio dropout since. The STB must alter the signal leaving the box in such a way that my receiver didn't appreciate. The weird thing is that these boxes must have "Narrow" as the default setting -- I'd only had this box for a few days and had never adjusted it. I checked my SA8000 and it was also set to "Narrow".

It's something that everyone should be aware of.


Thanks for all your help guys.


Darren

The "audio range" of the STB only affects the analogue audio out. It should do nothing to the Digital output.

Speaking of the digital output - do you have it set appropriately for "Dolby Digital?"

I think you'll find that the problem will return if all you did was change the audio range to normal.

Although the CSR appeared to know what he was talking about, he didn't really because audio range doesn't do anything to the digital out.

Well,

That's kinda what I thought going into it. However, I haven't had any audio dropouts since.

And, as a test I tuned to channel 280 for a 5.1 signal and then toggled between "Narrow" and "Normal". The sound shape changed dramatically with much more sound directed toward the centre channel when "Narrow" was selected. So, it must affect a digital output.

Maybe you could try it on your system to see what it does.

Darren

I just checked how my SA3250HD behaves. I use the digital coax output for sound. The "audio range" has an effect when the ''Digital Output" is set to "Other", but has no effect when set to Dolby Digital. My SA3250HD "audio range" was/is also set to "Narrow" but the ''Digital Output" was/is set to Dolby Digital.

Darren, I also noticed this big difference but only when the "Digital Output" is set to "Other". When you noticed this big difference, what was your STB "Digital Output" set to?

My digital output was set to "Dolby Digital".

I'm at work right now but on my way home. I'll check it all over when I get home and see what's what.

I just hope that my troubles are behind me.

darren

Ya..."Audio Range" settings didn't change a thing...you were right 57. I didn't realize that my receiver had reverted to receiving it's audio signal through RCA cables and not via digital cable. It's still dropping out every 30 secs or so.

The last thing to try is to switch my SA3250HD for an SA8000HD. I'm hoping that it throws a signal that my receiver will like.

Darren