I have a Panasonic TH-50PX60U and have DirecTV HD programming (newly installed). The HD channels are pixalating during great weather (local are most frequent, but THTN also has problem; none on HD Discovery channel). Connections are HDMI, and optical between components and RG6 coax from sat receiever to dish. I have had technicians out three times and all wiring, LNB, and DirecTV receiver were replaced. Dish was checked for proper placement and interference. All connections (even interwire coax), cables checked for nicks or cuts. Problem does not occur on SDTV. Problem is not related to any activity (changing channels, input..). Anybody have any ideas?
DirecTV Pixelation only on HD channels - help
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I have the same problem. Mine seems to be limited to shows between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. DirecTV sends someone out to look at me funny.
DirecTV asked I keep a log -- this problem occurred at all times -- (I get up early), 5:30 AM, 6:10 AM... then in the evening. Most often on local channels, but on the movie channels as well. I read somewhere today that this is caused by station transmissions -- nothing anyone can do about it at this time.
After working 40 years as an engineer, I can report that the hardest problems to fix are the intermittent failures. How do you fix something that doesn
The last installer to service the problem actually did realign the dish and did manage to get readings of near 100 on some channels, but said that there needs to be a compromise to access all channels. The compromise is, as you suggest a loss of signal strength on other channels. I
The specs say that a 100-foot cable doesn
Thank you
If you put it outdoors then you have to waterproof the connections. The best place for a midline amp is closer to the dish than the receiver, but it should be at least 25 feet from the dish. If the total run is 50 feet or less then extra connectors in the run is not likely a problem. -Ken
The whole pixilating/ Directv thing really has me puzzled. I'm sure, as you say, it can be caused by improper aiming of the dish, but what I am finding leads me to think it's a source problem with the broadcaster or how D* handles that specific broadcast.
Most of the NBC/NHL HD games ranged from annoying to unwatchable. This has happened since last year and had gotten worse this year until a couple of weeks ago where it showed an improvement that put it back on last year's quality, where the audio drop outs far out numbered the video problems. Frequent inquires yielded mostly nothing, except a couple of techs saying that it was the fast action of the game that caused ther pixilazation problems. This made sense because it only happened during game action. I'm not sure why this would affect the audio also. Then again, NBC football this year had none of those same problems that hockey had.
I also have problems with specific programs on during prime time, like Boston Legal, which has lots of video problems. I was able to solve this problem by not watching it anymore, as the ultra liberal producers and writers used and ruined this otherwise fine show with great actors as a vehicle to shamelessly hammer home thier political point of view.
But I digress. Why would an ABC show at 10pm have problems that another earlier ABC show would not have? Desperate Housewives will "jump" once in a while, but nothing like Boston Legal.
So what causes this stuff? Is it content, like a fast moving NHL game? Time slot problem, as Boston Legal seems to be? Maybe too much over the top liberal content?:)
Most of the NBC/NHL HD games ranged from annoying to unwatchable. This has happened since last year and had gotten worse this year until a couple of weeks ago where it showed an improvement that put it back on last year's quality, where the audio drop outs far out numbered the video problems. Frequent inquires yielded mostly nothing, except a couple of techs saying that it was the fast action of the game that caused ther pixilazation problems. This made sense because it only happened during game action. I'm not sure why this would affect the audio also. Then again, NBC football this year had none of those same problems that hockey had.
I also have problems with specific programs on during prime time, like Boston Legal, which has lots of video problems. I was able to solve this problem by not watching it anymore, as the ultra liberal producers and writers used and ruined this otherwise fine show with great actors as a vehicle to shamelessly hammer home thier political point of view.
But I digress. Why would an ABC show at 10pm have problems that another earlier ABC show would not have? Desperate Housewives will "jump" once in a while, but nothing like Boston Legal.
So what causes this stuff? Is it content, like a fast moving NHL game? Time slot problem, as Boston Legal seems to be? Maybe too much over the top liberal content?:)
I couldn't agree more with the last comments on that ultra "liberal" Boston Legal. I've solved the problem. though. I had a DVD made with only Bill O'Reilly reruns. Now, besides the constant erection, I don't have to put up with any feelings but pride in the 'ol US of A! Praise the Lord!
I have never seen the term
From your description, "video break up" would apply to the hockey games, except that the audio drop outs usually far out number the video problems. No real freezing this weekend or last, so my best guess is they started out the season (on NBC) trying to correct last year's problems, ended up making them far worse, and then reverted back to what they originaly did. Either that, or they tried doing something on the cheap and got caught.
I get a lot of the green (when the problems occur) you describe when watching Boston Legal via D*.
I get a lot of the green (when the problems occur) you describe when watching Boston Legal via D*.
The problem is quite severe sometimes -- but in all cases the picture freezes. There are times when I get vertical stripes/blocks of green and red that extend from top to bottom of the screen; other times squares of green or some other color (large squares, not individual pixels). This only occurs on HD channels, however. I am going to install a signal amplifier and see if that corrects the problem or at least improves it (on order).
Tom- If the ratio of video to audio breakups is atypical then it is not a reception error. Your only option is to find another channel to watch. They should be ashamed of themselves. You didn
I purchased, received and installed a Monster Cable Satellite In-line Amplifier and experienced an immediate and significant DECLINE in signal strength. When performing a reset on satellite receiver to see if I could improve the signal, I got the 'blue screen of death' and absolutely no signal from the dish - I had to remove the amplifier to regain any signal. Once removed, I regained signal and picture, and the signal increased significantly.
I connected the amp at splitter (connection for multiple receivers in home) on outside wall in protected area (approximately 30
I connected the amp at splitter (connection for multiple receivers in home) on outside wall in protected area (approximately 30
The
The DirecTV receiver is HD model # 20; http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/ ... d=1100066#. The amplifier model is: Monstercable: product description is available at: http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=678. The splitter is located at the rear of the house -- multiple wires come from sat dish, into splitter/connector, then the cable for the splitter to the TV runs out of the splitter.
The inline amp looks to me to be the right type. I have never heard of a receiver model # 20. There is an H20 and an HR20. Both of those are normally sold with the AT9 dish, which has 5 LNBs and has a multi-switch built in. Both of those receivers will work with an older 3-LNB dish that has an outboard multi-switch, but then you would not get the Ka band satellites. (If you live in NYC or LA then you would have no need for Ka band at this time. But DirecTV has announced 10 new HD channels soon and 100 more by New Years, and has not said what satellites they will go on.)
There is a rule that two UHF amplifiers must not be too close together. If the multi-switch has its own amplifier then you might need to put 20 feet of cable between the multi-switch and the new inline amplifier.
How long is the cable from the multi-switch to the receiver? What is the correct receiver model number? Where do you live? If you can get any identifying numbers off the dish or the multi-switch it would be a big help. The receiver probably has a menu item that tells whether the dish has 3 LNBs or 5 LNBs. -Ken
There is a rule that two UHF amplifiers must not be too close together. If the multi-switch has its own amplifier then you might need to put 20 feet of cable between the multi-switch and the new inline amplifier.
How long is the cable from the multi-switch to the receiver? What is the correct receiver model number? Where do you live? If you can get any identifying numbers off the dish or the multi-switch it would be a big help. The receiver probably has a menu item that tells whether the dish has 3 LNBs or 5 LNBs. -Ken
Very simple to check: Menu. Settings, Sat & Antenna, Signal Strength, Signal meters: Go to SAT B (119), trsp 28, should be 76% or better. Same for SAT A, Trsp 28. I get 98 - 100% on these trsp's on EVERY dish I install.
HD locals are different, mine are on SAT 99, Trsp 4,6, & 8. Yours may be on 103. Check ALL transponders! call DirecTV and ask for level 2 tech support. Give them your measurements. They will schedule someone to come out and re-point the dish if necessary. Unfortuneatly, many of the HD channels are on 119, which is the lowest in the sky. Trees may grow up into the line-of sight on this sat. Move the dish or cut some branches, if necesssary.
Channel assignments here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DirecTV_channels
HD locals are different, mine are on SAT 99, Trsp 4,6, & 8. Yours may be on 103. Check ALL transponders! call DirecTV and ask for level 2 tech support. Give them your measurements. They will schedule someone to come out and re-point the dish if necessary. Unfortuneatly, many of the HD channels are on 119, which is the lowest in the sky. Trees may grow up into the line-of sight on this sat. Move the dish or cut some branches, if necesssary.
Channel assignments here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DirecTV_channels
The signal strength was cut in half in some instances after installing the in-line amp. The reason I know that is because I checked the signal strength before and after installation on all transponders and channels. Some are 100 without amplifier, but others are 0. Most are in the 70-80 range.
I contacted the retailer who supplied the amp and they are sending me a replacement. After telling them what occurred, they think it is a faulty amp. We
I contacted the retailer who supplied the amp and they are sending me a replacement. After telling them what occurred, they think it is a faulty amp. We
After thinking about it for a while, I have concluded that the following must have occurred: Some time ago a crew from DirecTV replaced your old 3-LNB dish (which had an outboard multi-switch) with a 5-LNB dish (which has a built-in multi-switch), but they forgot to remove the old outboard switch. So now your system has two multi-switches. DirecTV systems are not supposed to have two multi-switches.
Here is what you should do:
1. Remove the outboard multi-switch, the thing that looks like a splitter that is 30 feet from your dish. You can discard it. DirecTV certainly has more of these obsolete devices than they will ever need.
2. Acquire an adapter that will connect together two cables. A Radio Shack 278
Here is what you should do:
1. Remove the outboard multi-switch, the thing that looks like a splitter that is 30 feet from your dish. You can discard it. DirecTV certainly has more of these obsolete devices than they will ever need.
2. Acquire an adapter that will connect together two cables. A Radio Shack 278
I returned the amp to the retailer and they are sending a replacement. I also have a request from MonsterCable to call them once installed so maybe they can troubleshoot the problem. I'll work on your recommendations in the meantime. Can't believe all the help, thanks a million.
Lloyd
Lloyd
I bypassed the splitter and the signal strength increased marginally (overall between 2 and 3 percent). The main difference is that most of the lower strength signals in the 60-69 range were increased to the 70s. I am going to see what happens if I connect directly to each of the other two lines (three go into the splitter). I am to get the new in-line amp in the next day or two and will try that as well. Thanks again.