Sony V5500 - HDMI input cause Freeview Signal to be Dropped

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spanky999

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#63561 29-Jun-2010 22:30

Hi,
Really hoping someone can help me here. Tried searching the web but not much luck ...

I have the following:
- Sony 32v5500 TV (has 4 x HDMI ports)
- Panasonic DMR-BW850 HDD Recorder
- Panasonic DMR-EH65 HDD Recorder
- Western Digital WDTV
- Sky TV Digital Receiver (std white satellite receiver)
- 2 x HDMI Cables (cheapies: 1 DSE, 1 Harvey Norman)

Connections:
External aerial is connected to Sky receiver.
Sky connected to BW850 via std TV cable, and to EH65 via SCART.
BW850 connected to Tv via std tv cable, and also via HDMI
EH65 connected to TV via HDMI.
WDTV connected via HDMI.

The Sony TV receives freeview reception fine. That is until I turn on the BW850 while it is connected to the TV via HDMI. This causes the freeview signal to be droppped (ie. Go to digital channels on Sony TV - no signal; try to view tv channels on Bw850 - no signal). I can still watch content on the Bw850 (recordings/ bluray etc) but because the freeview signal is dropped, I can't record tv (Bw850 has digital tuners) and watch via HDMI at the same time.

If I unplug the BW850's HDMI cable from the TV while it's on, the freeview signal is restored. I don't have any freeview signal problems if I connect BW850 via s-video (but then I can't watch content via HDMI and record TV at the same time).

I also experience the same problem when I plug in my WDTV via HDMI - this too causes the freeview signal to be dropped. But for some reason, I don't have this probem when I plug in my EH65 via HDMI.

The HDMI cables seem to be fine and have used them with each device (with the same disspointing results except for the EH65). Have also unplugged everything, tried one connection at a time etc and still no luck.

I upgraded the firmware of the TV but this hasn't resolved the issue.

I've tried various HDMI settings within the BW850, WDTV, and the Sony TV but still no luck. I'm at a loss as to why my older EH65 doesn't cause me the same grief.

I haven't looked at the Sky receiver as the culprit yet given the problem only occurs when I plug into the TV via HDMI.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

MikeB4

18435 posts

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#346555 30-Jun-2010 07:10

Have checked you are using compatible HDMI cables . Check to see what your TV takes , e.g HDMI 1.3 then check your cables, these need to be the same.

spanky999

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#346559 30-Jun-2010 07:50

Thanks. TV I''m pretty sure is 1.3. How do I check the cables (as no markings/visible signs as to what spec these are?)

MikeB4

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#346562 30-Jun-2010 08:04

Do you still have the receipts ,packets ? if not try taking them into and "independent" store to have the looked at. Or if you can purchase or borrow a HDMI 1.3 cable and test.

jonboy

27 posts

Geek

#346570 30-Jun-2010 08:41

I have had the same problem with my Samsung 6 series LCD. I have a Sony receiver and Blu-ray player with HDMI 1.3 cables (not cheapies). When the Blu-ray player is on and the receiver is set to BD the freeview reception drops out. Its almost as if the HDMI signal is overpowering the freeview signal.

My freeview reception wasnt that great to begin with so i got an signal amplifier and now freeview doesnt drop out (although the reception quality does drop), so this seems to have solved the problem. I would reccomend giving one a try. You can pick one up at DSE or TM for around $70.

spanky999

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#346791 30-Jun-2010 21:45

Jonboy - thanks heaps for the info. Really intersting to hear how you solved your problem (and a little dissapointing to hear the solution). My digital signal strength is High but I'll keep this in mind. Question - did you have any other devices plugged into the 6 Series via HDMI and did these cause the same problem?

Thanks KwiNZ, will look into getting HDMI cables checked.

jonboy

27 posts

Geek

#346849 1-Jul-2010 07:43

Yeah, its not the ideal fix for the problem. I only got the amplifier to boost reception and as an unintended bonus it fixed the loss of signal when switching to BD on the receiver.

The TV only looses reception when the Receiver is set to BD and the BD player is on. When I switch the receiver to another input (video 1/ FM tuner) the reception comes back, however no video is being fed through the receiver on these settings.

I dont have any other HDMI inputs used on the TV so I dont know if other devices cause the same problem. I will plug my camera into the receiver tonight and feed it to the TV and see if this causes the same issue on the TV.