Not a hum, but a scream

[whiteston]

Problem: When listening/watching satellite tv, there is a distinct high pitched whine in the audio.

Attempted work-arounds: I have switched out the surround sounds systems, speakers and the tuner. No change. This doesn't happen while listening to movies, music, etc.

My setup: My home theater is downstairs. The satellite signal comes off of the split output (secondary) from the back of the Dish PVR. I tune in the signal with a VCR and take the audio out of the VCR to the receiver.

Any help or ideas is appreciated.

 

[driver]

It seems that the problem would be in the splitting of the signals . Everytime you split the signal and send it through a splitter or in your case vcr you lose signal strength . also the signal that is patched through your vcr could be coming out with the hum from the vcr itself . I would invest in a separate source selector if inputs/outputs are at a premium . Maybe that will help ??

 

[whiteston]

Good thought, but the cable comes directly off the back of the satellite receiver into the VCR. So the split happens within the actual unit. Perhaps it is related to the length of the run since it travels about 25 ft from upstairs to downstairs?

OR (and this may be related to what you were saying) I buy something else to tune it with instead of a VCR. I've tried 2 different VCRs, but perhaps there is something else I can use.

Once gain, good thought.

 

[jaxvon]

Make sure you don't have a digital coax output connected to an analog input.

 

[whiteston]

hmmm

I'm pretty sure I haven't since the DVD and VCR are a single unit and the system is decoding dolby digital off of a DVD at the moment. However I'm definitely not arrogant enough to think that I might not ahve made a mistake. I'll go through all of the connections with a fine tooth comb tomorrow morning and report the results.

Thanks

 

[whiteston]

I have checked and rechecked, but I can not trace any possible solution. Man this sucks.

 

[Eric Apple]

How loud ?

How loud is this scream ? Is it just in the background and you still hear L and R audio, or is really loud and you can hear nothing else ?

What is hooked up to the VCR, L+R audio and video ? Do you get a picture that looks fine, or is it fading in and out ?

 

[whiteston]

How loud is this scream ? Is it just in the background and you still hear L and R audio, or is really loud and you can hear nothing else ?

What is hooked up to the VCR, L+R audio and video ? Do you get a picture that looks fine, or is it fading in and out ?

Good questions!

The scream is in the background (I think primarily in the center channel).

The VCR is a VCR/DVD combo. I have stereo outs and coaxial coming out of the back along with video. That goes into the receiver and the receiver switches both audio and video.

The picture looks fine. At least it looks the same as when I watch a DVD (when the audio is jsut fine) however, my video projector is pretty junky so I don't know if I would be able to tell small shifts in the picture quality.

 

[Eric Apple]

What outputs from the DVD/VCR are used when you watch a DVD (with out the screaming noise) - audio and video ? I am guessing this is co-ax digital audio and s-video.

How is the satellite connected to the VCR/DVD ? When you said you tune the VCR to watch satellite, what does that mean ? What outputs are used when watching sattelite with the screaming noise ?

I am guessing you are using L+R analog audio channels from the satellite + some video signal. Since you get a center channel scream, I am guessing this is some noise coming in on both analog lines and in the center because you have a dolby pro logic processer mode active.

Try unplugging the audio channels for the sat. from the back of the DVD/VCD and see if the scream turns stops.

If it does, things to try:

1) Removing the VCR/DVD from the route when watching sat. For example wire the sat. audio + vid. directly to the receiver instead of the VCR.
2) Try using better shielded audio cables from the sat to the VCR/DVD
3) Use a digital audio connection from the sat. to the receiver