Audio Dropouts, Directv DVR

[PeterWhite]

A few months ago, I started getting audio dropouts lasting 3 to 5 seconds while watching live programming, as well as recorded programming. It's a DirecTV HD-DVR. Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver. I also have the Oppo BluRay player and another Oppo DVD player. No other source has the audio dropouts. When watching recorded programming, I can back up and replay the segment with the dropout over and over. When the dropout begins, there's an audible click from the Onkyo receiver and the "Dolby Digital" display on the Onkyo front panel disappears, as well as the tiny red "Dolby" signal indicator. When the audio comes back, so do the indicators on the Onkyo front panel.

If I switch off "Dolby Digital" from within the DVR's setup, instead of a 3 to 5 second dropout, I get just a very brief, fraction of a second dropout. I have used HDMI from the DVR to the Onkyo, and I've used an optical cable for the audio, and nothing changes. I've tried a different HDMI cable, and I've tried all three HDMI inputs on the Onkyo.

I don't watch enough television to be able to say with certainty that the problem exists on all channels. I watch all of the Formula 1 racing on Speed TV and it's a constant problem on that channel, 607. It also happens on Bravo HD. But last night I spent a few hours watching National Geographic HD and it was fine. The Science Channel HD was also fine. I switched over to Speed TV and there it was again. I also watch the Late Late Show Craig Fergusson on CBS, Channel 4 in Boston, and the problem shows up there.

Directv has replaced the DVR twice. Same problem on all three units. They have gone up on the roof and re-aimed the dish. Directv is unaware of any issues with Speed TV or any other channels.

There is no problem at all with video quality.

Any ideas?

 

[jostenmeat]

I don't know why this is happening, or more specifically where it is happening, but maybe you can work around it for the time being.

I might consider running a shotgun set of component video cabling to the TV, and a pair of RCA stereo to the Onkyo. I am assuming Speed channel doesn't broadcast in discrete surround, but since it's been years since I've had cable/sat, well maybe they do now . . . which kind of makes my idea lame. . . . but I continue. . .

Use component/RCA for the Speed channel exclusively.

The issue probably has something to do with the Dolby encoding/transmission. I think I remember some people might get clicks/dropouts with commercials, as it may have to do with the transmitted codec . . .

Just a preliminary thought. Please report back with updates . . . and good luck . . .

 

[TLS Guy]

A few months ago, I started getting audio dropouts lasting 3 to 5 seconds while watching live programming, as well as recorded programming. It's a DirecTV HD-DVR. Onkyo TX-SR805 receiver. I also have the Oppo BluRay player and another Oppo DVD player. No other source has the audio dropouts. When watching recorded programming, I can back up and replay the segment with the dropout over and over. When the dropout begins, there's an audible click from the Onkyo receiver and the "Dolby Digital" display on the Onkyo front panel disappears, as well as the tiny red "Dolby" signal indicator. When the audio comes back, so do the indicators on the Onkyo front panel.

If I switch off "Dolby Digital" from within the DVR's setup, instead of a 3 to 5 second dropout, I get just a very brief, fraction of a second dropout. I have used HDMI from the DVR to the Onkyo, and I've used an optical cable for the audio, and nothing changes. I've tried a different HDMI cable, and I've tried all three HDMI inputs on the Onkyo.

I don't watch enough television to be able to say with certainty that the problem exists on all channels. I watch all of the Formula 1 racing on Speed TV and it's a constant problem on that channel, 607. It also happens on Bravo HD. But last night I spent a few hours watching National Geographic HD and it was fine. The Science Channel HD was also fine. I switched over to Speed TV and there it was again. I also watch the Late Late Show Craig Fergusson on CBS, Channel 4 in Boston, and the problem shows up there.

Directv has replaced the DVR twice. Same problem on all three units. They have gone up on the roof and re-aimed the dish. Directv is unaware of any issues with Speed TV or any other channels.

There is no problem at all with video quality.

Any ideas?

Have you checked the signal strength on all 3 satellites. See if you can tell if your problem is one satellite.

Direct TV is very touchy and there equipment the wrong side of junk. The service techs are as dumb as pig dribble.

I have the system, but I have had to learn it thoroughly, otherwise there are lots of issues.

 

[PeterWhite]

I don't know why this is happening, or more specifically where it is happening, but maybe you can work around it for the time being.

I might consider running a shotgun set of component video cabling to the TV, and a pair of RCA stereo to the Onkyo. I am assuming Speed channel doesn't broadcast in discrete surround, but since it's been years since I've had cable/sat, well maybe they do now . . . which kind of makes my idea lame. . . . but I continue. . .

Use component/RCA for the Speed channel exclusively.

The issue probably has something to do with the Dolby encoding/transmission. I think I remember some people might get clicks/dropouts with commercials, as it may have to do with the transmitted codec . . .

Just a preliminary thought. Please report back with updates . . . and good luck . . .

I swapped out the HDMI cable for Component cables. No change.

The dropouts do seem to happen more frequently soon after commercials.

 

[TLS Guy]

I swapped out the HDMI cable for Component cables. No change.

The dropouts do seem to happen more frequently soon after commercials.

I would check your satellite strength. The last time I had trouble with a Direct TV DVR, I had increasing drop outs, which was followed a short time later by a complete hard drive failure. This of course required replacement.

 

[adk highlander]

What firmware version do you have on the 805? The early versions of the firmware (pre 1.04) there is a know issue with locking on a signal and how long it takes to relock once the signal has dropped. I updated my 885 after I got it from 1.04 to 1.08 and it made a huge difference. I still get drops but they come back in less than a second.

The link at AVS to download the firmware and instructions is here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1016297&highlight=onkyo+firmware

 

[bsheasby]

... I am assuming Speed channel doesn't broadcast in discrete surround, but since it's been years since I've had cable/sat, well maybe they do now . . . which kind of makes my idea lame. . . . but I continue. . .

Speed HD actually does broadcast in discrete 5.1 now. I actually watch all the F1 races on Speed as well and have never had issues like this. I wonder if it has anything to do with which channels are carried on which satellites, which might explain why some channels are fine and others not. Maybe the dish alignment is fine for some sats but not all. Just a thought.

 

[TLS Guy]

Speed HD actually does broadcast in discrete 5.1 now. I actually watch all the F1 races on Speed as well and have never had issues like this. I wonder if it has anything to do with which channels are carried on which satellites, which might explain why some channels are fine and others not. Maybe the dish alignment is fine for some sats but not all. Just a thought.

That is why I told him to measure the signal strength from all satellites. This can be easily done in screen with the remote.

 

[bsheasby]

That is why I told him to measure the signal strength from all satellites. This can be easily done in screen with the remote.

I think you're definitely onto it there. I'm interested to see what he finds.

 

[daheath]

I've been getting 2 second dropouts on my Onkyo TX-SR804 on Dolby digital broadcast sources. I Googled my issue and ended up here.

The problem seems to be a design flaw with the receiver itself.
It happens sometimes with over-the-air TV (mostly when commercial/program material is switched) and very frequently with my Dish Network VIP-722k satellite receiver. It isn't a signal strength issue. I have a pair of 36 inch Ku dishes for Dish Network and my signal strength is much higher than the average user of their smaller stock dishes.

I have a DVR recording of a movie on Showtime with about 6 to 8 drop outs during the 2.5 hours. The drop-outs are at the same place every time. It lasts 2 seconds if played from the HDMI digital input. Changing to the analog stereo input I can hear a very short "glitch" in the audio but not the 2 seconds of silence. Basically, any errors in the digital audio will cause a 2 second drop out. The TX-SR804 turns an acceptable little click into a very annoying 2 second loss of audio.

Is there any way to fix the receiver or do I need to put it on E-Bay?

Then there is the question of is this normal for A/V receivers in general? How do I find one that does not have this problem?

 

[TLS Guy]

I've been getting 2 second dropouts on my Onkyo TX-SR804 on Dolby digital broadcast sources. I Googled my issue and ended up here.

The problem seems to be a design flaw with the receiver itself.
It happens sometimes with over-the-air TV (mostly when commercial/program material is switched) and very frequently with my Dish Network VIP-722k satellite receiver. It isn't a signal strength issue. I have a pair of 36 inch Ku dishes for Dish Network and my signal strength is much higher than the average user of their smaller stock dishes.

I have a DVR recording of a movie on Showtime with about 6 to 8 drop outs during the 2.5 hours. The drop-outs are at the same place every time. It lasts 2 seconds if played from the HDMI digital input. Changing to the analog stereo input I can hear a very short "glitch" in the audio but not the 2 seconds of silence. Basically, any errors in the digital audio will cause a 2 second drop out. The TX-SR804 turns an acceptable little click into a very annoying 2 second loss of audio.

Is there any way to fix the receiver or do I need to put it on E-Bay?

Then there is the question of is this normal for A/V receivers in general? How do I find one that does not have this problem?

It sounds to me as if the trouble is on the broadcast end. If you are hearing a brief interruption in analog then the signal is getting interrupted.

If the digital signal is lost, even briefly the the receiver and satellite box have to re establish their repeater HDCP handshakes, this would take about 2 sec.

The next issue is that the repeater architecture of all cable and satellite boxes is suspect, because these huge companies are too cheap to have their gear HDCP certified. I would be certain they are all out of compliance to some degree and so you will get varying results with different equipment. Some units will tolerate the out of compliance variations and some will not.

 

[j_garcia]

I doubt it is the broadcast end, it is most likely the box, because I have a similar problem with my Dish box every now and again.

 

[TLS Guy]

I doubt it is the broadcast end, it is most likely the box, because I have a similar problem with my Dish box every now and again.

I tend to agree. The build quality of satellite boxes is way below par. Compared to everything else I own, the Direct TV DVRs are the lowest of the low end compared to anything else I own.

What I can tell you is that I had no end of trouble until both boxes were on a UPS with very tight control of voltage. Having one of my two on UPS did not do the trick. The slightest AC glitches upset the devices on the roof.

I had to put both DVRs on UPS systems with tight voltage control before I stopped getting continuous glitches.

I really think they should offer much higher grade units for those of us who would pay the price.

 

[jostenmeat]

I really think they should offer much higher grade units for those of us who would pay the price.

TLS I was a bit curious on the behalf of you satellite folks, and while it's still speculation/hearsay/rumors, it could be that your luck will turn for the better if and when DTV and Tivo make a deal (maybe next year?).

http://seekingalpha.com/article/222314-tivo-ceo-discusses-f2q2011-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=qanda

I don't know if you've played with something like a TiVo premiere, but man it is so much better than the typical STB.

 

[TLS Guy]

TLS I was a bit curious on the behalf of you satellite folks, and while it's still speculation/hearsay/rumors, it could be that your luck will turn for the better if and when DTV and Tivo make a deal (maybe next year?).

http://seekingalpha.com/article/222314-tivo-ceo-discusses-f2q2011-results-earnings-call-transcript?part=qanda

I don't know if you've played with something like a TiVo premiere, but man it is so much better than the typical STB.

I won't hold my breath.

I had some correspondence with the CEO of Direct TV on this issue. A satellite DVR is a very complex device. It needs the resources of a major manufacturer behind the development of a good unit. This will take the resources of a Denon/Marantz or Yamaha. It will take a manufacturer with depth. A decent one should probably cost between 1 and 2K. Tivo could probably be involved in the ergonomics, but no further than that.