New Freeview HD hardware: eXtra Terrestrial Freeview HD tuner

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258 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#164862 16-Sep-2008 16:29

I have also tested the Coax output. It continues to drop sound consistently on channels C4, TVNZ6, TVNZ7, Maori TV and Central TV was just terrible. I tested both PCM and BYPASS with later giving better sound quality to my ear. TV1, TV2 & TV3 seemed alright for the short time I tested them. Picture and sound is all good through my ET HDMI output to my HDTV HDMI input. I also noticed another issue with TV3 sound. The ET seems to default to DOLBY making the sound very dull and quiet. I change it to MPEG and it becomes more crisp and louder which is on par with all other channels. However when I change to a different channel TV3 defaults back to DOLBY. Any fix for this?

UPDATE: After a longer test tonight TV1, TV2 & TV3 still have Audio dropout from the ET's Coax output.

UPDATE: Possibly need to install the latest Firmware Sept 12th.

Cheers
BazNZ

foxp

27 posts

Geek

#164869 16-Sep-2008 16:48

Thats exactly whats happening to mine, sound drops out on C4, TVNZ6, TVNZ7 & Maori TV on Coax output and defaults to Dolby when switching to 3 on bypass.Thats on latest firmware. Another question I had a new aerial installed and the aerial guy said I was getting a full/max signal on UHF 45 (666) but on the unit it shows only 25-30% signal but 100% quality is that ok, I get the odd picture drop out on TVNZ 2 and C4

Spong

1016 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 341

Trusted

#164877 16-Sep-2008 17:17

TV3 with the Dolby sound track is a far better quality feed. Sure, the level is lower, but that's not a fault of the ET box, it's more a result of less compression and probably a lower average modulation level at Mediaworks. There's just no pleasing some people! If you don't want the better true 5.1 soundtrack (well 5.1 when the source material provides that) then simply change the setting in the ET menu from BYPASS back to PCM. That way, you'll get 2 chan sound on all TV channels and your AV receiver can molest it into "simulated multi-channel".

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

foxp

27 posts

Geek

#164890 16-Sep-2008 18:15

I actually like how it defaults to 5.1 sounds good to me. I think the unit is great value and has an awesome picture, Im very happy I purchased it.

BazNZ

258 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#164950 16-Sep-2008 22:07

Spong: TV3 with the Dolby sound track is a far better quality feed. Sure, the level is lower, but that's not a fault of the ET box, it's more a result of less compression and probably a lower average modulation level at Mediaworks. There's just no pleasing some people! If you don't want the better true 5.1 soundtrack (well 5.1 when the source material provides that) then simply change the setting in the ET menu from BYPASS back to PCM. That way, you'll get 2 chan sound on all TV channels and your AV receiver can molest it into "simulated multi-channel".

Well I don't want my ears blasted off everytime I change the channel from TV3 to another. As far as changing the settings from BYPASS back to PCM it makes no difference it keeps defaulting back to DOLBY from MPEG as soon as you change from TV3 to another channel and back regardless. On top of this... I still have bad Coax audio dropouts on all channels even after installing the latest firmware. Not to mention the red output on component that has never worked since it arrived therefore making HD or SD viewing hopeless from this output. My ET box also suffers from pixelisation from time to time too but I put up with this issue. So should I be pleased with all these faults? I guess there's just no pleasing some people! I am pleased with the picture and sound through HDMI output into HDTV as I bought this ET box to view HD content. At least it does something right.

Regards
BazNZ

BadMac

69 posts

Master Geek

#164967 16-Sep-2008 22:58

BazNZ:
Spong: TV3 with the Dolby sound track is a far better quality feed. Sure, the level is lower, but that's not a fault of the ET box, it's more a result of less compression and probably a lower average modulation level at Mediaworks. There's just no pleasing some people! If you don't want the better true 5.1 soundtrack (well 5.1 when the source material provides that) then simply change the setting in the ET menu from BYPASS back to PCM. That way, you'll get 2 chan sound on all TV channels and your AV receiver can molest it into "simulated multi-channel".

Well I don't want my ears blasted off everytime I change the channel from TV3 to another. As far as changing the settings from BYPASS back to PCM it makes no difference it keeps defaulting back to DOLBY from MPEG as soon as you change from TV3 to another channel and back regardless. On top of this... I still have bad Coax audio dropouts on all channels even after installing the latest firmware. Not to mention the red output on component that has never worked since it arrived therefore making HD or SD viewing hopeless from this output. My ET box also suffers from pixelisation from time to time too but I put up with this issue. So should I be pleased with all these faults? I guess there's just no pleasing some people! I am pleased with the picture and sound through HDMI output into HDTV as I bought this ET box to view HD content. At least it does something right.

Regards
BazNZ

Return it for a new unit. It has a 1 year Gaurantee. There are certainly a very small proportion of units with a few more issues. I'm keeping my bad one as it gives a good test unit for trialing firmware.

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Spong

1016 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 341

Trusted

#164974 16-Sep-2008 23:13

BazNZ:

Well I don't want my ears blasted off everytime I change the channel from TV3 to another. As far as changing the settings from BYPASS back to PCM it makes no difference it keeps defaulting back to DOLBY from MPEG as soon as you change from TV3 to another channel and back regardless. On top of this... I still have bad Coax audio dropouts on all channels even after installing the latest firmware. Not to mention the red output on component that has never worked since it arrived therefore making HD or SD viewing hopeless from this output. My ET box also suffers from pixelisation from time to time too but I put up with this issue. So should I be pleased with all these faults? I guess there's just no pleasing some people! I am pleased with the picture and sound through HDMI output into HDTV as I bought this ET box to view HD content. At least it does something right.

Regards
BazNZ

When using optical or coax audio, if I set Digital Audio to PCM in the main TV Setting menu, it remains PCM for ALL TV channels, TV3 included, depite how much switching back and forth I do. Even if I bring up the Audio menu on TV3, you still get PCM no matter what. Perhaps your problem occurs via HDMI only? Maybe you're not using the Sept 12 firmware? Have you done a full system reset? I've checked this on a few ET's and they all operated as above, as expected.

Tivo upgrades to operate with the new OzTivo EPG, support and service. Over 400 performed here so far. See: www.hillcrest.net.nz

BazNZ

258 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#164988 17-Sep-2008 07:03

When using optical or coax audio, if I set Digital Audio to PCM in the main TV Setting menu, it remains PCM for ALL TV channels, TV3 included, depite how much switching back and forth I do. Even if I bring up the Audio menu on TV3, you still get PCM no matter what. Perhaps your problem occurs via HDMI only? Maybe you're not using the Sept 12 firmware? Have you done a full system reset? I've checked this on a few ET's and they all operated as above, as expected.

I have set this in the main TV Setting menu and TV3 still defaults back to DOLBY even on PCM. This occurs via HDMI and Coax outputs. I have the firmware update installed that I believe you last sent me possibly the father's day one on September 5th or 7th? Maybe I don't have latest firmware then Spong? I haven't done a full system reset either. Thanks. I'd still like all new customers intending to purchase a new HD receiver to know I believe this eXtra terrestrial brand is still the best STB on the market even with its few bugs... but with good continued firmware and customer support these minor issues should get fixed.

NOTE: I will download and install latest firmware tonight after work...fingers crossed this is my problem.
Regards
BazNZ

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 267

Trusted

#165011 17-Sep-2008 08:57

BazNZ: NOTE: I will download and install latest firmware tonight after work...fingers crossed this is my problem.

You may be right, I dont remember if it always defaults to Dolby or not. Can't you just get your receiver to increase the volume for Dolby source only?

Otherwise, how would you prefer it to work? There's no "bug" per se. How would you expect it to work? I suppose it could remember the last setting used for each channel.

BazNZ

258 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#165020 17-Sep-2008 09:33

Can't you just get your receiver to increase the volume for Dolby source only?

How would you expect it to work? I suppose it could remember the last setting used for each channel.

I need to have my sound receiver volume turned right up to get a decent volume level on TV3. If I turn to another channel and forget to turn the volume down... it blows 500watts(RMS) in my face!

If it could remember settings I select in the menu this would fix it. I'm hopeful the latest firmware I've yet to install will fix all the little bugs..sounds like it will by other comments here. Anyway its not a major as the ET still gives me great HD Picture quality through HDMI

Jaxson

8172 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1332

Trusted

#165022 17-Sep-2008 09:43

Hi Baz,

Yeah you'll definitely need the latest firmware, it's the one on the satlink website now, dated 12 Sept from mammary. That said I'm not sure it completely fixes the problem of the audio drop outs, some say it does, others are certain it doesn't. I haven't had a chance to do an extended test yet but it does seem better for me initially.

Can someone who has latest firmware installed, and has access to a Zinwell box, please set these two units up side by side and watch for audio drop outs on either? We need to sort if the audio drop outs are ET box or freeview broadcast related.

The dolby is the better audio option, well at least the one with 5.1 surround. For me, this is the only time I'll turn on the receiver really unless it's to play music better etc.

The normal audio mpeg4 is loud and can not got much louder without distorting, which gives it a limited audio range. The dolby is normally quieter but has a larger range to vary the volume without distorting. The bypass means it will select the dolby channel where present and will play either format fine via the receiver. This is great for me, but I admit the other side of this is that you'll get variations in volume across the channels. This happens on hdmi to TV too between say TV2 and TV3, though it's less noticeable on TV speakers.

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Garglo

49 posts

Geek

#165029 17-Sep-2008 10:21

Just and OBSERVATION. DONT D O N T D O N T
post a problem unless you have FIRST downloaded the latest Firmware update from the
http://www.satlinknz.co.nz/extra_terrestrial.html
web site. We are going around in circles here with old problems.
When setting audio selection - also do it on the remote. The main menu has a bug where it doesnt keep the setting.

Only Butterflys are more beautiful.

mattstutter

49 posts

Geek

#165042 17-Sep-2008 11:10

Make sure you've turned up the volume on the actual ET unit as well - although I've noticed the latest firmware seems a little funky with the volume level, two notches off full and it's dramatically lower. I've gone with 2 notches down as I was wondering if the higher settings might've been putting a bit of gain (and therefore distortion into the signal).

I'm talking about audio out via HDMI (to the telly) so just straight stereo.

I agree - it's a tad annoying that TV3 are so advanced and have lowered the average level of broadcast which in turn increases the dynamic range. It pains me to say that of course, as more dynamic range is a great thing - but it's tedious jumping back and forth between TVNZ and TV3. The level difference is HUGE.

One thing I wonder with these boxes though is if they shouldn't have flags/options available for dynamic range reduction (ala AC3 codec options) as late night viewings could do with a little reduction in the dynamics when you've got a baby sleeping in the room next door! Currently I'm watching shows with my finger on the volume anti-mixing the show...

Oh - where is the HD recording via USB firmware at????

BazNZ

258 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#165046 17-Sep-2008 11:24

Garglo: Just and OBSERVATION. DONT D O N T D O N T
post a problem unless you have FIRST downloaded the latest Firmware update from the
http://www.satlinknz.co.nz/extra_terrestrial.html
web site. We are going around in circles here with old problems.
When setting audio selection - also do it on the remote. The main menu has a bug where it doesnt keep the setting.

I'll install the latest firmware tonight and will certainly report back here if its an old problem. As far as I was aware I had the latest firmware update which Spong sent to me and I installed only last week. If firmware is released on a weekly basis could we expect 52 updates a year?

I'm hopeful these issue's will be fixed now anyhow. If so... you won't hear from me again. I hope other new customers with the ET out of the box know where to find firmware updates and know they need a USB flash drive to update and fix any future bugs.

BadMac

69 posts

Master Geek

#165047 17-Sep-2008 11:27

Is anybody logging and tracking the bugs as reported in this thread (with Peter) so that they can be addressed?

For instance the swapped over quality/signal bars is an easy problem but isn't fixed in the latest firmware, but was known about here since post 1, has it been reported and logged so it can be fixed in the next firmware release. For me its these little things that enthusists can put up with, but will cause the general public to return the units (the now fixed remote issue stopped me stocking and heavily advertising the units, the sound issue still causes problems). Its a great box but not quite polished enough to be fully mainstream YET (it will be soon if the final few things can be worked through).

I'll start the list, feel free to add to it and maybe Peter can ensure the items are logged on his list for addressing.

Maybe it would be useful to tabulate a few things.
Date Reported, Forum Name, Firmware Version, Short Description, Post# with long description, Fixed in Firmware Vx.xx.

- Release, ???, V1.3, Remote Control unresponsive, misses and repeats commands, ???, V1.4
- Release, ???, V1.3, PCM/D5.1 setting, Broadcast programmes swap but ET only outputs menu selection, ???, V1.4 (bypass setting introduced).
- Release, ???, V1.3, V1.4, SS/SQ Swapped, Signal Strength/Quality inverted on channel banner, ???, Not fixed.
- Screen resolution changes after exiting EPG,
- Main menu settings are not always saved (use remote buttons as work around)
- Audio output in Coax/Optical suffers dropouts
- Last digit on front display random (in some bootups and when loading from USB), very minor.
- Timer function doesn't have any controls or menus (does this function even exist?).
- PVR via HDD doesn't work [smile]
- etc

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