HDTV/Sat. Trouble

[WAID]

So based on the great feedback from this forum we bought a pair of Samsung DLP TV's several weeks ago. I tried using OTA broadcasts without much luck before upgrading my Dish system to an HDTV package (I have learned to not like the games these companies play but I have to admit that as a horror fan I like the Monster Channel on this system). Then, based upon feedback here again, I have gotten a pair of Sony DVD changers to hold a good chunk of my library, and with the up-conversion the picture does look better than using my 7-year-old Pioneer Elite changer on the new TV (and I'm not going to replace hundreds of DVD's with HD's).

My problem is this: Since we had the upgraded Dish box installed, we have noticed a lot of picture problems. The picture will be fine for several minutes, then will break into weird colored boxes for sometimes a second, sometimes a few seconds, and sometimes for a couple of minutes. I doubt it's the TV because I don't see this while watching DVD's, although I haven't run a test where I watch a problem show on the DVR, then rewind to see the problem again and watch it on the other HDTV to make sure the problem still happens.

My gut says it's the DVR. I notice that when I fast forward or rewind it seems out-of-synch. As an example, when I fast-forward during a commercial break on a recorded show I'll slow the speed to 4X so I don't get too far ahead beyond the commercials. So if I notice the show back on and hit "Play" within a second while fast-forwarding at 4X, in theory I should be about 4 seconds into the show. But I find that often I am at least 30 seconds into the show. While I am fast-forwarding at 4X, I will often see the timer at the bottom of the screen moving much faster than 4X, so it makes sense that I am way ahead of where I thought when I go back to normal speed.

I can live with the speed issues (although it can get frustrating when you slow down only to have a spoiler thrown at you, like a missed field goal), but the picture loss is going to be a problem I can't do as frequently as we see it happen. I taped a football game where we lost 4-5 straight minutes of picture and only sound was available.

Has anyone else seen this and have any suggestions? I haven't tried calling Dish yet because I am not ready to deal with what I expect will be useless suggestions of it being my TV. I also don't want to lose the investment I just made into the system upgrade and start over.

[ganthc]

If regular broadcasts are fine, then it is probably a defective dvr box. You can try exchanging that and seeing if things improve. I have never been a big satellite fan, as I haven't found a satellite HD picture that comes even remotely close to looking as good as cable does. I wish I could see FIOS and see if that is better than cable.

[Rileydog]

i have had this problem with directv, but only on the local channels

you get a scrambled picture that is sort of digitized?

it is the box. I could have sent mine back cause it happened like clockwork every monday between 9 and 9:30 when i was recording 24. Now it just happened during 2 and half men. So, it isnt the channel.

but, it happens randomly enough that i didnt want to lose all the stuff in memory (like star wars trilogy in HD)

i would send it back now and hope it fixes it.

[Dogg]

It sounds like signal interference issues. The HD channels are more likely to show signal issues than the SD channels. If it is signal related, you might be able to notice it using using the receiver signal/meter level (if the dish receivers have that option). If they don't allow you to check yourself, you could have a tech come out to verify the signal level and repeak the dish.

[WAID]

This is good stuff I hadn't thought of, and I'll do some more testing before contacting Dish. Now that I think of it, it probably is only on HD local channels. We get some independent local stations in SD and I don't recall the problems happening with them, and I don't recall having this problem on non-local HD channels.

Is the weirdness with the DVR timer something that has happened to others, and does it seem petty?

[Iguana Man]

I agree with Dogg. The randomn blocks of different colors happens to me on DirecTv when nasty rain storms are around. Usually for a few seconds, sometimes for minutes. I gotta believe Dish has a signal strength option in their menus. Check out your signal strength on days your signal looks stellar and then when the blocks occur. On a scale of 1 to 100, anything above 85 is usually stellar.

Ganthc, just remember with FIOS that you could be putting all your eggs in one basket. The reason I opted against FIOS was if some knucklehead slams into the pole or digs up the line, I loose everything: Phone, internet & TV.