[secotton]

I'm trying to reach out again on this ongoing issue that I have - with audio dropouts.

I'm running my Bell Fibe (the old Bell Entertainment VIP 1216) receiver via HDMI to a receiver. I often get audioi 'dropouts' where the audio will blip for one second. If i use the replay feature and skip back 7 seconds, the audio doesn't drop out again at the same time, but it does continue none the less at other points while watching TV. I've got a 2 year old Denon 890 reciever, so it's not exactly 'cheap', and sometimes the cause of audio 'pops' when using cheaper audio receivers.

I just called Bell, and they advised that it was a known issue with the model of receiver I do have - being the Motrola VIP 1216 which is what was issued while they had the Bell Entertianment system in place over a year ago. They advised me on the phone that the newer model - the Motrola VIP 1232 did not have this issue, and that I'd have to purchase or rent a new model.

I'm fine if that is indeed the solution, but I'd like to hear from other fellow Digital Home members if they do or do not experience the audio dropout issue with the new model of receiver Bell is using - the Motorola VIP 1232. I thought the VIP 1216 and VIP 1232 shared the same guts with the exception of the Hard Drive size.

If I get the concensus that the new receiver does not exhibit issues like I have, then I can justify a bit more getting the new model. I just don't want to go and buy a $500 receiver and continue to have the exact same issues.

Any info from you guys out there would be appreciated! Thanks. Scott

 

[secotton]

I don't have the ability to update the sofotware/firmware on the Denon without taking it to a shop. There is indeed an update available, but it doesn't metion much about HDMI compatibility issues directly.

I know Bell is supposed to be releasing MediaRoojm 2.0 for it's hardware in the next several months (before end of summer or so), so I don't know if that would be what to wait for.

The thing about it too - is that I can replicate the issue using Component / Optical cable as well - bypassing HDMI.

 

[secotton]

That's great to hear! Thank you very much for the info jhollington!

I'm definitely going to call Bell back and request that they replace the unit as it's still under warranty until approximately June / July of this year.

The tech I spoke to suggested that I would simply get a replacement VIP 1216, and would continue to have the same issues - but I'm not sure if that was just a 'tactic' they used to essentially save themselves some coin.

I'll definitely be calling them back and being a little more forcefull with the fact that I'd like the issue resolved properly - wheter it be a replacement of same model, or a new model. The issue should not be present and I'm not willing to shell out $500 for a new receiver.

Thanks again for the great info! It's just what I wanted to hear from someone.

 

[secotton]

That's neat - you've got an almost identical setup to me WRT the receiver and remote. I'm using the AVR-890 with Harmony One too. I'll try the power up sequence a bit differently too to see if that helps.

I do notice however, that some nights (when I do most of my TV watching), the sound is just fine, and other nights, it's brutal. Sometimes I can go hours where it's fine, then it starts all of a sudden.

I'm hoping a firmware update will fix this issue - if and when Bell updates them