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Topic:
Screen Dropout on Direct TV...
This thread has 13 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Sunday November 27, 2005 at 19:13
Mitch57
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I have Direct TV and am using a Tivo HR10-250 HD DVR connected to my Panasonic TH-50PX50U Plasma TV via HDMI. Somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes(I haven't timed it yet) after turning on the TV and the DVR the screen goes black for about 2 to 3 seconds and then returns to normal. During this 2 to 3 second screen black out I still hear sound. I have only seen this black screen apear once during each viewing session. In other words, I don't see it happen the rest of the time that I am watching TV until I turn the TV off and put the DVR in standby.

I have also checked the DVR to see if the resolution changes on the DVR (i.e., indicator LEDs switching from 480i/480p/720p/1080i). It remains constant at whatever I have it set at. I currently have it set for either 720p or 1080i.

Initially I thought it was isolated to HD channels but today I saw it happen on a SD station. Direct TV claims they know nothing about this and have not seen it before. I am suspecitng that the problem is most likely in the DVR and the way it's communicating with the HDMI connection. I am using an Accoustic Research HDMI cable.

Anyone else ever experience this strange behavior?
Post 2 made on Monday November 28, 2005 at 02:11
Daniel Tonks
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I'd try switching to Component to at least eliminate the whole HDMI thing (which can be notorious for causing issues).
Post 3 made on Monday November 28, 2005 at 11:25
Spiky
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Does your display show anything indicating it is re-syncing the video? If not, it should not be a connection/wire issue. My TV has a little readout in the lower corner that tells me what input I'm on and what signal it is receiving. Anytime there is a disruption in the signal, it comes on, even if the screen doesn't blink. Anything similar with yours?

Have you tried rewinding quick to see if the blackout repeats?

You may notice that there is a hesitation in both audio and video in Series 2 Tivos (which includes the HD model) about 2 seconds after changing to a program or coming off pause most times. Perhaps your blackout is similar and is just something you have to live with from a Tivo. I have seen blackouts like this occasionally, but I never use standby since it is pointless. Usually when I see them it is in the signal and the fault of the TV network.
OP | Post 4 made on Monday November 28, 2005 at 13:19
Mitch57
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I don't see any syncing issue when I get the blackout. Other then the black screen the entire system including my Home Theater receiver acts as if it never lost the signal. I still have sound and no clicking or syncing messages.
Post 5 made on Monday November 28, 2005 at 23:38
Ernie Bornn-Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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What if you don't turn off the DVR between sessions, but only turn off the TV?

For that matter, what is accomplished that is an advantage by turning off the DVR? In some models, all that does is turn off the video out, in some it spins down the hard drive. Please let us know. If the problem occurs a half hour after you turn on the TV, not a half hour after you turn on the DVR, you have totally eliminated the DVR as a problem.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
OP | Post 6 made on Tuesday November 29, 2005 at 10:46
Mitch57
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With the Tivo, the only thing I am turning off is the video signal. the only purpose in doing this is to make the LED lights go out so my wife thinks it's turned off. If the lights stay on she complains that it's wasting electricity. I know.... I know.... the amount of electricity it uses is so miniscual that you probably can't even measure it. But try telling her that.

Ernie,

I will try leaving the DVR on for at least an hour before turning on the TV to see if I still get the screen dropout. If it's not the DVR then I would assume it would have to be the HDMI cable, HDMI connector (either on the DVR end or the TV End) or the HDMI circuitry in the TV. I don't experience any of these anomolies when using other sources connected through component connections.

What would you say is the most likely culprit?
Post 7 made on Tuesday November 29, 2005 at 12:15
Spiky
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On November 28, 2005 at 13:19, Mitch57 said...
I don't see any syncing issue when I get the blackout.
Other then the black screen the entire system
including my Home Theater receiver acts as if
it never lost the signal. I still have sound
and no clicking or syncing messages.

I think this proves that you are not losing signal. Which means cabling/connections are not at fault. The Tivo is simply blacking out for a couple seconds.

It's most likely a symptom of the same issue that causes most of the quirks of the HDTivo: slow processing system.
OP | Post 8 made on Tuesday November 29, 2005 at 22:48
Mitch57
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Thanks for all the input everyone. As a side note, I think the Tivo sucks and from what I've been reading so do many others.
Post 9 made on Wednesday November 30, 2005 at 10:36
Spiky
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Tivo has its problems. The biggest problem is that other DVRs suck MORE. The best ones don't exist anymore, and they were only partly better than Tivo. It was a toss-up.
OP | Post 10 made on Wednesday November 30, 2005 at 12:14
Mitch57
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It just amazes me that someone hasn't stepped up to the plate with at least a "good" product in the HD DVR category. I'm sure the day will eventually come.
Post 11 made on Thursday December 1, 2005 at 10:22
Spiky
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They don't want to. The cable boxes are shit that they put out because people heard the name "Tivo" and thought it was supposed to be neat. Most people don't know what a DVR does or what it should be used for. I'd bet a clean 40-60% of cable DVR customers don't even record shows to watch, they just treat the box like a standard box.

If you've been following the FCC comments this week about ala carte cable/sat programming, you'll see all these network/cable/sat spokesmen coming out whining about this stuff again. God forbid customers actually have a choice to watch what shows or channels they want to watch. And watch it when they have time.
Post 12 made on Sunday December 4, 2005 at 10:00
avslave
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From what I have found, HDMI should not be used at this juncture. Either DTV has output issues, or HDTV's are having input issues. Either way, I try any other source for HD other than HDMI.
It takes 2 to tango, but only one to be nice!,
A/V Slave
Post 13 made on Monday December 5, 2005 at 13:18
Ernie Bornn-Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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On December 4, 2005 at 10:00, avslave said...
From what I have found, HDMI should not be used
at this juncture. Either DTV has output issues,
or HDTV's are having input issues. Either way,
I try any other source for HD other than HDMI.

Ditto. And Gefen, who make some pretty neat HDMI products, responded to my request for detailed information on how I might expect HDMI products to interact, control-wise, responded by waiting two weeks, then sending me a catalog with no technical specs, and not even retail pricing.

On November 30, 2005 at 10:36, Spiky said...
Tivo has its problems. The biggest problem is
that other DVRs suck MORE. The best ones don't
exist anymore, and they were only partly better
than Tivo. It was a toss-up.

I have Replay, which was the primary competition for TiVo, and wow, does it ever suck way much more, extremely.

Winston Churchill once said that the worst type of government is democracy, except for all the other types. There is definitely something way worse than TiVo. I long for the nice remote (you have to hit buttons two or three times on the Replay and it takes forever for the unit to respond) of the TiVo.

On the other hand, we got three Replays from a friend who does commercial installs and they cost me nothing. Sometimes when you get something for free, you don't appreciate it. If I had had to pay for these, though, I would seriously want to hurt someone.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 14 made on Tuesday December 6, 2005 at 10:18
Spiky
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That's strange, I wouldn't expect Replay to have those problems. Many people liked them more than Tivo since they had more features and were quicker. Perhaps your freebies were free for a reason.

I was referencing Dish and cable companies that have put out glorified VCRs and let people think it's a Tivo.


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