PBS-HD Audio/Video Breakup?

[57]

I haven't been watching much PBS for a while due to Christmas programming, but now that they have some programming I'm more interested in, I've been recording/watching PBS again. I receive PBS Buffalo WNED via Rogers 525/530 on an SA8300HD.

Recently I've noticed several cases of pixellation (picture breakup, not macroblocking) several times per programme, accompanied by audio breakup, and/or dropout. I believe people at Shaw have seen/heard this issue, but they have a lot of ongoing issues....

Happened on Frontline, Pioneers of TV and several other recent programmes. I don't have the issue on any other channels that I watch/record and I've checked my signal strength - it's OK - it resembles a signal strength issue, although the breakup is not as massive.

Anyone else get this? Please state:

- Service provider
- STB
- Programmes
- Type of problem
- Which PBS - Detroit, Buffalo, etc.

Thanks

[sleemo]

I watched Frontline the other night and Pioneers of Television last night. Didn't notice anything. I watched about half of Jews In America last night also and it was ok too. I have this week's Nova recorded but haven't watched it yet but I'll let you know if there was anything wrong with it.

PBS Buffalo WNED via Rogers recorded on an SA8300HD.

[jbracing24]

I have been watching PBS Buffalo-DT via OTA with no signal issues. My other alternative is *C which is PBS Detroit-HD. No issues there either

[scotta]

I get picture breakup and sound dropouts on PBS quite frequently. It happens on PBS much more than any other station.

If I see these problems when watching a show, I verify that I am watching a PBS show, then ignore it. It would be a concern on any other channel.

I did notice it quite a bit on the first episode of Pioneers of TV. Not so much on the second episode.

Rogers cable, Scarborough Ontario, SA8300HD, WNED Buffalo

[wingzero]

I have all the same specs as 57 and I've noticed the same problems for the good part of this week on the same programs. Seemed ok last night. Noticed it only on PBS HD not the SD channel.

Haven't been able to figure out how to check signal strength as of yet.

[sleemo]

Originally Posted by wingzero

Haven't been able to figure out how to check signal strength as of yet.

It's in the FAQ.

[57]

I did notice it quite a bit on the first episode of Pioneers of TV. Not so much on the second episode.

Interesting, the second episode was worse for me. It may depend when the episode was recorded. For example, I don't usually record at prime time, so I probably recorded it the following morning or afternoon...

Perhaps I'll try recording the same programme several times and then if I get breakup, I can check the next recording... Interesting also that sleemo didn't have issues...

[JoeSoap]

I reported in another thread twice complaining about the audio issues from recording the later showings from PBS Buffalo on my 8300HD on Rogers.

The posting dates were Nov 11 and Dec 12. Note too that in both cases, my pvr lost sound on all channels right after the audio problem happened. I had to reboot to get sound back.

I do recall with those shows there were video issues too, but it was the sound killing aspect that alarmed me.

[sleemo]

57 - What time slot did you watch these programs? Pioneers and Nova, I have set to record from 11PM-12AM, the others I don't remember when I recorded them but I usually record PBS show at later time slots.

[57]

I believe I recorded them on the next day - around 9AM, perhaps noon, perhaps 3PM, can't remember for sure. I had only one breakup of the latest Nova programme on the cold (absolute zero). The breakup was at the 12 minute mark, so I recorded the next airing and checked last night and there was no breakup at the same time - so it's not their encoding, since it would then happen at the same time.

I also re-recorded Pioneers yesterday and had a quick look through it and it appeared to be fine, at least for the first half that I looked at. So, it does vary with timing.

So, I guess I'll just keep track and see if things get worse or better.

[HDTV_fan]

I am having same issue with all channels on Rogers 3250HD box since last 2-3days. First I thought if it was the caused by new Onkyo 605 (a month old) which sits in between my HD box and TV and connected via HDMI to my TV. So I connected the HD Box directly to TV and still the issue remained the same. I tried hard rebooting of terminal, but no change. Signal strength seems to be fine, so I have called Rogers technician.

[waterug]

I have had severe pixelation/audio dropout problems on PBS for a long time now. It was worse sometime ago when PBS ran the World War 11 series. It was equally bad on PBS Detroit and Buffalo (Star Choice). It was also bad on cable (COGECO), so it's not the provider. At the time, I decided to record off the Seattle feed and there were no problems at all. The problem seems to be worse on Sunday nights and my guess is that all eastern PBS stations take the same feed from NY (why that would create a problem I don't know) while the western stations record the eastern feed for local showing. In short, if there are problems with the eastern feed, record the western one.

[Cyclism]

I'm currently watching PBS-HD now via OTA (American Experience: Oswald's Ghost) and I am experiencing picture freezing and audio dropouts but no loss in signal strength, a solid 25db. The last time I experienced this was during the premier of The War back in September/October.

[57]

Hmm, if that's the case, I will contact the engineer at PBS Buffalo. I'll let you know when/if I hear anything back.

[taxtwit]

Originally Posted by Cyclism

I'm currently watching PBS-HD now via OTA (American Experience: Oswald's Ghost) and I am experiencing picture freezing and audio dropouts but no loss in signal strength, a solid 25db. The last time I experienced this was during the premier of The War back in September/October.

Watched this a couple of times last night (had to put kids to bed in the middle of it ). While the audio of the actual program seemed OK, the audio on the intro and the prologue (i.e. the PBS "commercials" that are shown at the start and finish of a program) was definitely not. The announcer sounded like his mouth was stuffed with chips or something - could hardly make out what he was saying. I, too, think it's a PBS issue, not a provider issue, as I also had major audio issues with "The War" on a different provider than the one I'm using now.