Rogers SA3250HD Issues

[57]

Here is a summary of the "issues" that I’ve noticed on my own 3250HD. Others feel free to add more. Maverick, it’d be appreciated if you could forward these within your organization so that they’re looked into. I know that some of them are already "known".

Any channel numbers mentioned apply to Rogers Toronto.

1. Black Level Issues

Edit: With the latest firmware (1.52.6.1) this problem seems to be resolved, if not completely, mostly.

There is a major issue with black level on digital channels. Some channels are worse than others with Fox-ED perhaps being the worst (285, 294).

This manifests itself with almost a total lack of shadow detail and no amount of TV tweaking makes up for the lack of detail. If you brighten up the TV for the digital channels, then the analogue ones look washed out. Rogers is aware of this issue.

2. Audio/Video Dropouts. Edit This issue appears to be resolved, mostly. There are still some dropouts on some HD channels, but nowhere near as many

There are regular audio/video dropouts on many of the digital channels. These dropouts occur regularly every 23 seconds, starting 23 seconds after you tune to the channel. Some of the affected channels are: 103, 110, 132, 170, 179, 182, 242, 243, as well as audio dropouts on some Galaxie music stations. 177 (MuchRetro) used to have this problem, but it seems to be repaired – why has only one channel been repaired? Rogers is aware of this issue, but did they only fix one channel?

3. Improper/No Zooming.

Edit - This issue also appears to be resolved as you can now stretch & zoom all the HD channels.

On certain HD channels the Zoom function doesn’t work. The stretch seems to work on all HD channels. Channels that do not zoom are: 277, 278, 287, 289 and I also could not zoom Ch. 280 when the All-star hockey game was on - can zoom with the preview currently running.

4. Pass-through Setting "Forgotten"

Whenever you need to reboot the STB, it forgets the pass-through setting and goes back to "fixed" picture format. This is irritating and very confusing for "newbies". It sometimes seems to "forget" the pass-through setting and you need to go back and reenable it.

5. 480P Setup Wizard Issue.

If you select "480P widescreen" in the wizard, "Fox 480P widescreen" channels are not passed through to the TV. They are upconverted to 1080i. Only if you select "480P Standard" does the Fox 480P signal pass through to the TV. This is counter-intuitive.

6. Closed Captioning Not Active - Correction - CC works, on most channels, but not all and is dependent on programming.

Correction - you can enable cc by pressing the settings button once and scrolling through the options to turn it on. Apologies. The settings now also allow CC on mute - a nice feature It's a bit confusing because the first line of the instructions on CC discusses pressing the "settings" button twice, however, to enable CC you press the button only once. The instructions say to "press settings" and since I had been pressing it twice to do everything else, it never occured to me to press it only once...

7. Shimmering Letters

On some channels, writing "shimmers" instead of being calm, when viewed through component video connection. This doesn’t happen on S-video or composite video. The best example is the yellow lettering on The Weather Channel – 23.

8. Zoom/Upconvert

When viewing a 480i signal, if you hit the "#" button to stretch/zoom the signal, the signal is converted to 1080i. Also typically only zooms, no stretch. Also the black level is altered (picture gets darker). This is not a big issue since I can use the TV to perform the stretch/zoom, but this may be some sort of "underlying problem".

9. Slow/irregular Channel Changing

Several people have mentioned that after Wink was added back to the SA3250HD, that channel changing times can be "erratic" especially after teh STB has just been turned on. For example, you press 2-0-3 to get to channel 203 and the 2 appears, then the 01 comes a while later, but in the meantime, the STB has changed to channel 2, then to channel 3, etc.

10. "Static, Clicking"

Several people have recorded a "static" or "clicking" sound. A reboot usually solved the problem

Edit, latest flash is 1.52.11.2 As of 2004.05.31 for me.

Just so this thread doesn't all seem negative, there's lots I like about the new STB.

- ability to stretch 4:3 upconverted HD
- analogue audio converted to digital
- ability to view HD in the IPG.
- use of component video for all signals
- no need to switch stretch modes if you set up STB & TV "properly".

[otown47]

This is a great summary 57. I'm waiting until the major issues are fixed, then I'll pick up the new box.

I find it amazing that Rogers would release a product with all these problems...what were they thinking???? I really have a low opinion of the capabilities of this company...

[Danster]

I don't think Rogers would intentionally put a defective product on the market. I would say it has something to do with the way the testing is done in the labs. What seems to be "alright" for someone, might be "ok" for somebody else and "bad" for a video/audio freak (read fanatic) :wink:

In comparison: Should we mention companies like Microsoft? How many patches do we have to get before we have a safe operating system?

I think people like 57 help Rogers in finding their short comings. When it is clearly labeled like he did, I think it is probably more well received by the companies than having an as----e call the customer service and try to explain (yelling and cursing) what the booboo is.

Just my 2 cents. :P

[MarcP]

I found this while browsing. A really good read.

SA3250 Comprehensive Review Guide - Notes and Setup

[marvin23]

Great summary, 57, puts all the issues together into one post. I have one to add: IPG is sluggish compared to the previous model.

I'll also mention that I offered to test one of these boxes over a year ago, but alas there is no system in place for end-users to test products. I can safely say that 90% of these problems would have been reported by proper beta testers months before the launch.

M23

[AVphile]

Originally Posted by 57

8. Zoom/Upconvert

When viewing a 480i signal, if you hit the "#" button to stretch/zoom the signal, the signal is converted to 1080i. Also typically only zooms, no stretch. Also the black level is altered (picture gets darker).

The black level is also clipped when zooming or stretching some HD channels/programs. Some HD channels/programs are not affected.

[AVphile]

Originally Posted by marvin23

I have one to add: IPG is sluggish compared to the previous model.

The unit is overall less responsive, and this should not be as users in the United States have reported it to be faster than the 3100. This is probably due to the Rogers version using older firmware.

Here's a specific example: I had both the 3250 and 3100 connected and operating off the same remote. Pressing CH+ five times quickly on the remote would result in the 3100 advancing 5 channels and the 3250 only advancing 3 or 4 channels.

[AVphile]

Originally Posted by 57

5. 480P Setup Wizard Issue.

If you select "480P widescreen" in the wizard, "Fox 480P widescreen" channels are not passed through to the TV. They are upconverted to 1080i. Only if you select "480P Standard" does the Fox 480P signal pass through to the TV. This is counter-intuitive.

These Fox channels are also not displayed in the correct aspect ratio in 480p. Grey bars are added and the image is crushed when they should not be. The correct aspect ratio can be output by disabling 480p, in which case the signal is converted to 1080i and is unwatchable due to clipped black-level.

[JohnnyG]

I've been noting an odd fluctuation in black level too. The level will rise for a half-second, then drop again.

[opuscat]

I've also noticed it's less responsive. I've had mine a whole 3 days though and haven't had enough time to watch much. I've read that a patch would be available soon in these forums but read one that said April before it's released through Rogers? I'm thinking black levels etc ...

I'm very new to the HD tv business and Rogers being a subscriver for about a month now. Just swapped my 3100 for the 3250. Got it home and noted the reall junkie component cables it came with, yikes. The 3100 I got had half decent ones. oh well ... my other complaint is the remote I got. The remote I had for the 3100 was much better. You could power off programmed equipment with one button rather than pressing Tv then power for instance? Is there a setup option I'm missing on the remote? Further, the guide button is on the right, the guide page buttons are now 2 instead of a sliding bar type button and they put that way over on the left ... that's just plain dumb. Stupid question maybe but should the old remote work with the 3250?

[opuscat]

I forgot, there's a sheet of paper that came with it that says the DVI isn't functional? C'est true? I can't actually find anyone who sells a DVI cable in the Nation's Capital so it's a mute point for now buttttt

[Macos]

Yes, I have the 3250 with the remote from the 3100 and it works perfectly.

[opuscat]

Thanks Macos ... I'm taking this thing back tommorrow then and grabbing the old remote. Anyone seen any deals on half decent component cable

[marvin23]

The HD remote (with the 4 buttons on top and the # key) is much less "accurate" than the old one. What I mean by this is that the channel up and down doesn't register as well as the old one. One of the reasons I kept my old remote and use it regularly (switching over occasionally to use the # key to switch zoom modes)

M23

[dcomp11]

I've had a 4 mode remote on 1 of my boxes for more than a year and I've never found any problems with it.