Audio dropouts?

[shendley]

Got the most severe audio drop I've ever seen on Starz last night. At the end of a recording I made of "The Pillars of the Earth" (on the 23rd, I think), the entire preview of the next episode was silent except for a couple of split second bursts of sounds. My receiver showed it was continually cycling back and forth between 5.1 and stereo. During the show itself, the sound was perfect. Sound came back just fine as soon as the preview segment ended. Odd, indeed.

[hasan]

Maybe ... but the same thing was said of Brriips which all of a sudden completely disappeared from every channel at the same time. I can't believe that EVERY CHANNEL suddenly fixed their "problem" at the exact same time. The same thing will happen with audio drops .... they will suddenly disappear with a software update which would seemingly point to it being a software issue.

I guess audio dropouts are the new brripps. :)

I've had the very same thought, or at least it may be related. I don't want to jump to the conclusion that they traded brrrrip for a period of silence, but I can't say that it hadn't occurred to me.:)

[BKC]

And here is the answer to why things aren't fixed........ http://www.speedinfinity.net/forums/Smileys/default/yes.gif

but this would cost literally tens of millions of dollars.

[bigzeto]

I'm visiting my brother in Albuquerque and we were watching State of Play on HBO last night. Had 4 or 5 dropouts in the first hour. Pathetic.

[The Fuzz 53]

This is getting to be ****ing ridiculous. I was watching Deadliest Catch: Behind the Scenes Season 6 and the audio cut out 8 friggin' times. THIS IS BULL****!! I already have FiOs Internet service in my house. Maybe it's time to add television as well and clear some space off my roof.

[BKC]

Email Ellen's office and tell them just that!

[twentysided]

Not that it's any detailed confirmation, but my brother has FIOS and he got much worse dropouts than I did - every 3 seconds he said - making some shows unwatchable. 2 technicians were unable to resolve his issues. I had him follow the same advice being given here: disable Dolby Digital - and he said it worked very well.

For my part, I get the dropouts regularly, but not very frequently. Few shows get more than 1 or 2. It is annoying (and I have reported it), but not quite enough to switch, knowing it's not just an issue on this service.

Disabling Digital out on my HR-20 mostly resolves the issue. However, if you watch VERY closely, you can see it clip out even on 2.0. I don't think you'd notice it if you didn't know where the dropouts were already and watch closely. At any rate, that's not acceptable to me because the DSP version is just not the same. I will also be very happy when this gets resolved.

[BKC]

One post and a knock against FIOS for audio drops? :lol:

[sigma1914]

One post and a knock against FIOS for audio drops? :lol:

Did you miss the following paragraphs acknowledging he has them on Directv? :rolleyes:

You seem to think since you're the OP of the thread that you can talk down to others and regulate the thread. Most of your posts come across as condescending and mocking with your smiley inserts. Be an adult and keep the thread helpful....not a playground for you to mock others.

[veryoldschool]

Did you miss the following paragraphs acknowledging he has them on Directv? :rolleyes:

You seem to think since you're the OP of the thread that you can talk down to others and regulate the thread. Most of your posts come across as condescending and mocking with your smiley inserts. Be an adult and keep the thread helpful....not a playground for you to mock others.
Sometimes the ignore feature of this forum, is the only option left.

[BKC]

Did you miss the following paragraphs acknowledging he has them on Directv? :rolleyes:

You seem to think since you're the OP of the thread that you can talk down to others and regulate the thread. Most of your posts come across as condescending and mocking with your smiley inserts. Be an adult and keep the thread helpful....not a playground for you to mock others.

I think nothing of the sort. Have someone change the OP to your name that would be fine with me or remove my name from the heading.

The guy that posted that up there said his brother's dropouts were "Much Worse" with FIOS than his did he not? While others that have made the switch say there are none with FIOS. There is even one poster here that is supposed to know what he's talking about that has said FIOS uses MPEG-2 instead of MPEG-4 and the dropouts don't exist with MPEG-2 I just want this thing fixed just like anyone else that has the problem.

Funny when one of the fanboys say something about a hit and run post that takes a shot at DTV it's ok?

I don't tell you what to post, I suggest you do the same with me. While we are on the subject, how was your post helpful to the subject and when did you become head man in charge? If you want to talk condescending, read your post to me. <No smiley here>

I really don't care what you think of me, until today I hadn't formed any kind of opinion of you.

I realize this thread isn't a popular thread as it's been almost closed before. I know it doesn't shed a very flattering light on DTV to have a problem go on so long and they won't fix it but that's the facts.

Again, feel free to have your name put on the subject line, having a long thread with my name there means absolutely nothing to me. I would rather have the quality sound they advertise. <Again, no smiley here>

Stuart and I had a little talk about this before and he and I know exactly where each other stand on this. I'm sure he would tell you I'm not here to impress anyone. I am not here to make enemies either :) <---------- Smiley

[sigma1914]

...I just want this thing fixed just like anyone else that has the problem.
Me too...we all do.


Funny when one of the fanboys say something about a hit and run post that takes a shot at DTV it's ok?
Name calling? Real mature.


I don't tell you what to post, I suggest you do the same with me. While we are on the subject, how was your post helpful to the subject and when did you become head man in charge? If you want to talk condescending, read your post to me. <No smiley here>
I didn't come close to your level of sarcasm or condescending remarks...like your new way "<No smiley here>".


I really don't care what you think of me, until today I hadn't formed any kind of opinion of you.
If you form an opinion of someone based on forum posts trying to help you realize your demeaning nature here, then ok. I have no opinion of you whatsoever off of here. I don't judge people off there repetitive posts on an audio issue, maybe you do?


I realize this thread isn't a popular thread as it's been almost closed before. I know it doesn't shed a very flattering light on DTV to have a problem go on so long and they won't fix it but that's the facts.
Not popular?? 1,260+ posts & 56,000 views is quite popular. IMO, we need this thread and people like VOS who help educate others on it.


Again, feel free to have your name put on the subject line, having a long thread with my name there means absolutely nothing to me. I would rather have the quality sound they advertise. <Again, no smiley here>
And I'd rather have a week or even 2 days go by where some people here don't post snarky remarks and talk down on people with smart a$$ smileys. Maybe one of us might get what we want?


Stuart and I had a little talk about this before and he and I know exactly where each other stand on this. I'm sure he would tell you I'm not here to impress anyone. I am not here to make enemies either :) <---------- Smiley
I know we all want the same thing...no drop outs. But, we (all posters who've been here awhile like you & I) need to go about it with a level head & help new people understand the issue.

[txfeinbergs]

You both get demerits! Now each of you go to a corner of the room for a timeout.:D

[BKC]

You both get demerits! Now each of you go to a corner of the room for a timeout.:D

:D When can I come out?

[BKC]

and people like VOS who help educate others on it.


And now we get to the root of it....... http://www.speedinfinity.net/forums/Smileys/default/chuckle2.gif

[Carl Spock]

Today on the Cartoon Network HD, I watched Looney Toons: Back In Action, a pretty bad movie but infinitely better than that Michael Jordon/Looney Toons POS, and there were multiple drop-outs each minute. They were in both the program and the commercials, but more severe during the movie. Switching to PCM made no difference. It was by far and away the worst I've ever heard drop-outs on DirecTV.

I was using HDMI hookups throughout.

[sigma1914]

And now we get to the root of it....... http://www.speedinfinity.net/forums/Smileys/default/chuckle2.gif

There you go, again. I guarantee VOS has done way more than you & I for this issue.

[betterdan]

In my opinion nobody has done enough as we are all still experiencing the issue.

[BKC]

In my opinion nobody has done enough as we are all still experiencing the issue.

I couldn't agree more.

[BKC]

There you go, again. I guarantee VOS has done way more than you & I for this issue.

I'm going to say one last thing and I'm done with you. There is a poster here that is supposed to be on top of this stuff but that poster burned the bridge with me when the told me that I have to be mistaken there were no audio dropouts on the channels I watch.

This same poster has time and time again came up with many different reason as to what is wrong and told me that it didn't start with last fall's software update when in fact that's exactly when it started with mine and many others on here.

I'm never going to fit in here because I don't spend endless hours in front of the tv and I only have one receiver not hooked to the internet, I could care less about MRV or doubleplay or any other trinkets. I don't buy PPV or any events. The only way I'll ever have 4K or more posts here is if this problem isn't fixed or if they screw up something else that causes problems. I'm not in the clique here and don't want to be. All I want is the service I pay for, nothing more and nothing less.

And yes, I like to screw around a bit and have fun. You might say I'm normal. :lol: If you can't handle what I post then maybe you should go with VoS and use the ignore feature. Or maybe you can have me removed from the forum if you try hard enough.

[swans]

I couldn't agree more.

of the DD5.1 audio. Hence the people experiencing the problem are running digital out from their HD-DVR to an AVR.

The real issues revolve around the fact that the 'FAN BOYS' avoid this thread like the plague, and DirecTV pretends that there isn't an inherent problem with the delivery of a premium product to their most discerning customers!:nono:

[joed32]

of the DD5.1 audio. Hence the people experiencing the problem are running digital out from their HD-DVR to an AVR.

The real issues revolve around the fact that the 'FAN BOYS' avoid this thread like the plague, and DirecTV pretends that there isn't an inherent problem with the delivery of a premium product to their most discerning customers!:nono:

I really don't see anyone trying to hide this problem. I certainly have it on the sports talk shows that I watch and I do watch them now with DD turned off. So I don't see them anymore. I record a lot of movies to DVDs and never get any audio dropouts on those. Is anyone saying that there is no dropout problem? I'm not seeing anyone denying the existence of the issue.

[The Fuzz 53]

Today on the Cartoon Network HD, I watched Looney Toons: Back In Action, a pretty bad movie but infinitely better than that Michael Jordon/Looney Toons POS, and there were multiple drop-outs each minute. They were in both the program and the commercials, but more severe during the movie. Switching to PCM made no difference. It was by far and away the worst I've ever heard drop-outs on DirecTV.

I was using HDMI hookups throughout.

There's one difference between our experiences. I have NEVER ONCE EVER heard a drop out on a commercial.

[The Fuzz 53]

Email Ellen's office and tell them just that!

Who's this Ellen and how do I get a hold of her?

As for just turning off DD, I've tried and can't do it. Turning off the DD makes it sound like complete dog-****. The bottom-line is that Directv is not holding up to their end of the bargain for the service that I am paying them dearly for.

But then again, what company in this country does? Every single company we deal with is out looking to screw us every which way they can because they have zero respect for the people that keep them in business. They view all of us nothing more than $ signs.

[fornold]

Today on the Cartoon Network HD, I watched Looney Toons: Back In Action, a pretty bad movie but infinitely better than that Michael Jordon/Looney Toons POS, and there were multiple drop-outs each minute. They were in both the program and the commercials, but more severe during the movie. Switching to PCM made no difference. It was by far and away the worst I've ever heard drop-outs on DirecTV.

I was using HDMI hookups throughout.

Cartoon Network HD was horrible all night long.

BTW, my son loves that movie.

[Taltizer]

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIFnorail.jsp?assetId=P4960016#h:573.612

Email them here and they will call you and try to get the problem resolved with the dropouts.

[nccasinc]

Tried this route about 2 months ago. They call and talk to you about the issue to obtain more information. Then for me they scheduled a service call to check signal which was fine. They called back about a week later to tell me the issue is probably with my AVR (even though the drop outs are in two rooms each connected to different brands of AVR's). The last thing was that the engineers are doing research. Anyway to make the wife happy I've subscribed to Cable (I hate their DVR's) and suspended my account with D. Only been about a week and I'm learning to cope but NO drop outs. Their DVR's are hooked to the same HDMI cables and all is well with the audio.

[hasan]

Cartoon Network HD was horrible all night long.

BTW, my son loves that movie.

Just so we don't go down a blind alley...there were several channels this morning showing severe pixellation and audio break-up. (MSNBC-HD among them). This is not the problem we have been discussing in this thread. They started for me about an hour ago, and stopped about 10 minutes ago. (on MSNBC-HD). There was no corresponding problem on CNN-HD. Discussion is in another thread.

Just didn't want this thread to get polluted with an unrelated problem.

[corey99699]

I just signed a 2 yr. agreement with Direct,had I known about this issue I might have waited.The date of the first post of this thread has me kinda worried since they've known about this issue for so long and no resolution.I was very happy coming from dish until I noticed these drops in audio.I have an Onkyo AV receiver that makes a loud clicking noise every time it happens so that makes it even worse.I have only seen this on DD programming so I disabled it and haven't noticed it since,but I hate not being able to use it.Sorry if it's been mentioned,but has Direct given an estimate as to when this should be fixed?

[Carl Spock]

What receiver do you have, corey? If it is a HR24, I believe they are working on this. It's part of getting the bugs out of a new model.

It sounds like what you are experiencing is a HDMI handshake issue. That's something diffferent than my problem last night with the Cartoon Network, and is also different than many of the other problems in this thread. Fortunately, HDMI handshake problems are often more identifiable, too. They come about because HDMI sucks. There have been many threads here recently about that (search using HDMI sucks).

For now, you might want to try going optical or coaxial digitial out from your DVR to your Onkyo. You'll have to go into your Onkyo's menu to tell it to get the audio from that connection rather than the HDMI cable, but it might well solve your problem. You could turn back on Dolby Digital.

[Carl Spock]

Today on the Cartoon Network HD, I watched Looney Toons: Back In Action, a pretty bad movie but infinitely better than that Michael Jordon/Looney Toons POS, and there were multiple drop-outs each minute. They were in both the program and the commercials, but more severe during the movie. Switching to PCM made no difference. It was by far and away the worst I've ever heard drop-outs on DirecTV.

I was using HDMI hookups throughout.
There's one difference between our experiences. I have NEVER ONCE EVER heard a drop out on a commercial.

When I was watching I HAD THEM in every commercial break during the movie, and my bold trumps your caps, so there! :p


Really, in a thread about dropouts, do you need to shout your point?

[corey99699]

I have an HR22,I too thought it was an HDMI handshake issue so I tried the optical without HDMI and still have the issue.


BTW,This happens at certain spots in movies or shows and when I rewind it happens at exact same spot,UNLESS DD is disabled.

[hasan]

What receiver do you have, corey? If it is a HR24, I believe they are working on this. It's part of getting the bugs out of a new model.

It sounds like what you are experiencing is a HDMI handshake issue. That's something diffferent than my problem last night with the Cartoon Network, and is also different than many of the other problems in this thread. Fortunately, HDMI handshake problems are often more identifiable, too. They come about because HDMI sucks. There have been many threads here recently about that (search using HDMI sucks).

For now, you might want to try going optical or coaxial digitial out from your DVR to your Onkyo. You'll have to go into your Onkyo's menu to tell it to get the audio from that connection rather than the HDMI cable, but it might well solve your problem. You could turn back on Dolby Digital.

No, it doesn't sound like an HDMI handshake issue. Some of the Onkyos have a problem re-syncing quickly after a loss of DD. The older units also had a loud click when recovering. I had one. Until the true drop out is solved (as evidenced by his success turning DD off), he is going to have to run non-DD, and use the DSP capabilities of the Onkyo to get by.

BTW, this is NOT a criticism of Onkyo...I love them. I have an SR605 and it doesn't do the loud click, but my previous Integra did.

DirecTV never announces a time line for a fix. This one is particularly difficult, because it involves the encode/decode process long before it comes to our sat boxes. (if we are talking about the non-HR24 drop outs).

So, if the OP has an HR24, he may get that particular problem fixed real soon now. If not, it's going to be a while.

[corey99699]

My Onkyo is an NR-1007,love it but the clicking noises are very annoying ,It doesn't bother me as much between commercials but I can't take it anymore in the middle of movies.

[fornold]

Just so we don't go down a blind alley...there were several channels this morning showing severe pixellation and audio break-up. (MSNBC-HD among them). This is not the problem we have been discussing in this thread. They started for me about an hour ago, and stopped about 10 minutes ago. (on MSNBC-HD). There was no corresponding problem on CNN-HD. Discussion is in another thread.

Just didn't want this thread to get polluted with an unrelated problem.

I was talking about audio drop-outs just like Carl Spock pointed out. Every minute or two the audio would drop out and then come right back. The video was fine. Even my wife noticed it and she is usually oblivious to these sort of things.

This was with the Looney Tunes movie, both episodes of Unnatural History, King of the Hill and Family Guy.

[Carl Spock]

corey, hasan is one of the most even tempered, knowledgeable guys around here. Plus he's from Iowa. ;) Listen to him.

You might want to either upgrade your Onkyo, or get DirecTV to get you a HR24 to see if that solves your problem. Convincing them of that, especially when HR24s are in such short supply right now, might take you a bit of work but would be the cheapest solution.

Actually, I took the first option. Back in 2007, when I realized I had drop out/compatibility issues between my HR20-700 and the Denon receiver I owned at that point, I got rid of the Denon in favor of the Yamaha, which lessened the problem dramatically.

HD drop outs have historically been a bugaboo for DirecTV. In times of stability, they go away. A year ago, I had no drop out problem. Now, with a new satellite and Whole House DVR coming on board, they are back with a vengence. If you can hang in there, experience has shown they will go away with time. If you are impatient like me, you'll change out a piece of hardware first.

[veryoldschool]

corey, hasan is one of the most even tempered, knowledgeable guys around here. Plus he's from Iowa. ;) Listen to him.

You might want to either upgrade your Onkyo, or get DirecTV to get you a HR24 to see if that solves your problem. Convincing them of that, especially when HR24s are in such short supply right now, might take you a bit of work but would be the cheapest solution.

Actually, I took the first option. Back in 2007, when I realized I had drop out/compatibility issues between my HR20-700 and the Denon receiver I owned at that point, I got rid of the Denon in favor of the Yamaha, which lessened the problem dramatically.

HD drop outs have historically been a bugaboo for DirecTV. In times of stability, they go away. A year ago, I had no drop out problem. Now, with a new satellite and Whole House DVR coming on board, they are back with a vengence. If you can hang in there, experience has shown they will go away with time. If you are impatient like me, you'll change out a piece of hardware first.
Not sure I can completely "sign off" on all of this.
The HR24 does have a flaw/bug in its software and "I know" the next NR will resolve this as I'm running a test version with the "fix in it".
This flaw as "above and beyond" the major topic of this thread. There doesn't seen to be an MPEG-4 receiver that isn't affected by this.
"The variables" seem to be more related to the stations we watch and when we watch them, along with our model AVR, though I "hear" them straight to my Sony TV.
As for the thought that new SATs have some effect on this, it would only seem like the encoders may be moved around a bit in the uplinks, where perhaps some work slightly better than others.
I haven't seen any correlation between any feature being added to the receivers and any change in the dropouts.

[hasan]

My Onkyo is an NR-1007,love it but the clicking noises are very annoying ,It doesn't bother me as much between commercials but I can't take it anymore in the middle of movies.

Since turning of DD solved the majority of the drop out issues for you, I would advise leaving it off, and taking advantage of some of the excellent DSP capabilities of your Onkyo. All Channel Stereo does pretty well, and if you have PLII-Movie or PLII-Music, I find them to do a very fine job on non-DD sources (which yours will become, if you turn it off in the sat box). I don't see any reason at all to upgrade your Onkyo. That won't solve your problem, as it isn't "your" problem. As VOS has noted, it is a D* problem (outside of our sat boxes, except for the HR24 series, which suffers from both an external and an internal problem).

If you take the time to read some of VOS's posts (Very Old School), on the topic, you will see why this is such a trying problem. Patience is going to be required, and in the mean time, we can use our Onkyo's to their best, or live with the irritation (major or minor, depending on one's outlook), while leaving DD 5.1 on. I have found, so far, that I can live with it, but on any given day, and at any moment, I could change my mind and turn DD off.:)

In the mean time, I don't find it functional (for me) to get worked up about a known very difficult problem that is being tackled by D*. I got this stuff to enjoy it. If I need to employ work-arounds while it is being worked on (and I continue to test for it in the CE group), then that's fine by me. In this way, I actually enjoy my investment, instead of being perpetually dissatisfied. But hey, that's just me, YMMV.:)

...and to Mr. Spock: your kind words are much appreciated, if not fully deserved.;)

[The Fuzz 53]

[QUOTE=http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global...0016#h:573.612

Email them here and they will call you and try to get the problem resolved with the dropouts.[/QUOTE]

Just fired off an e-mail to them. Below is a copy of what I wrote. It's a shame there was a character limit because I had plenty more to say.


For the past few months I have had a very, very poor experience with the audio quality of my Directv service. It seems that every program I watch has the audio continuously drop out. It may only happen 1 time during a show, or it has happened over 10 times during a program. Every time it happens, I can't hear what is being said for about 4-10 seconds, which gets to be very irritating.

I have a Directv HR22-100 HD-DVR connected to my Onkyo TX-SR705 AV receiver via HDMI, which is connected to my Samsung HL-S5087W DLP TV. I have tried using different HDMI cables and connecting the Directv receiver with an optical TOSLINK cable, but the audio drops still persist. I have never heard an audio drop from any other component connected to my AVR. This leads me to believe that the problem is related to my Directv equipment and/or service.

This issue appears to be widespread however. I have read of others having this problem on the Directv tech support forums, and a 52 page, 1,300 post thread on DBSTalk.com that was started in November 2009 (here's the link: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=167900&page=52).

I personally have only been a Directv customer for 2 years since I purchased my first home in August 2008, but have been using Directv service for the majority of my life. My parents have been Directv subscribers since 1995 (when I was 12 y/o), when we had to drive to Radio Shack and purchase our own RCA 18" dish and receiver and install it ourselves up on the roof of our house, as we were fed up with the poor quality of our cable service. They too have experienced the same issue (on an Onkyo TX-SR707 AVR).

I currently have Verizon Fios internet service in my home, and as much as it pains me to say it, I may need to get my television service from them as well if Directv cannot resolve this issue. Between the constant Verizon mailings and Cablevision salesmen trying to get me to switch, it is getting hard to keep telling them "no" with this going on.

[hatchet]

Some of the Onkyos have a problem re-syncing quickly after a loss of DD. The older units also had a loud click when recovering. I had one.

BTW, this is NOT a criticism of Onkyo...I love them. I have an SR605 and it doesn't do the loud click, but my previous Integra did.

I have an older 803, clicks and all. And we all remember the DTS "bomb" :eek2:!

[hasan]

Just fired off an e-mail to them. Below is a copy of what I wrote. It's a shame there was a character limit because I had plenty more to say.

<much snipped>

I currently have Verizon Fios internet service in my home, and as much as it pains me to say it, I may need to get my television service from them as well if Directv cannot resolve this issue. Between the constant Verizon mailings and Cablevision salesmen trying to get me to switch, it is getting hard to keep telling them "no" with this going on.

I think you did very well, without belaboring the point any further. If they can't "get it" from what you emailed, then no further information is going to help them.:)

[txfeinbergs]

I have a Pioneer VSX-32 on order that should arrive in the next week or two. Once I get it I will let you guys know if the new Pioneers are better at resyncing than my Onkyo TX-SR805. Not a solution to the root cause of the issue obviously, but if it masks the problem than I guess I don't necessary care.

[Matt L]

My Onkyo is an NR-1007,love it but the clicking noises are very annoying ,It doesn't bother me as much between commercials but I can't take it anymore in the middle of movies.


Have you updated the 1007 firmware? I have the 807 and have the latest firmware and ZERO clicks. I do have the annoying dropouts on all my systems but never any clicking on the onkyo...

[corey99699]

Since turning of DD solved the majority of the drop out issues for you, I would advise leaving it off, and taking advantage of some of the excellent DSP capabilities of your Onkyo. All Channel Stereo does pretty well, and if you have PLII-Movie or PLII-Music, I find them to do a very fine job on non-DD sources (which yours will become, if you turn it off in the sat box). I don't see any reason at all to upgrade your Onkyo. That won't solve your problem, as it isn't "your" problem. As VOS has noted, it is a D* problem (outside of our sat boxes, except for the HR24 series, which suffers from both an external and an internal problem).

If you take the time to read some of VOS's posts (Very Old School), on the topic, you will see why this is such a trying problem. Patience is going to be required, and in the mean time, we can use our Onkyo's to their best, or live with the irritation (major or minor, depending on one's outlook), while leaving DD 5.1 on. I have found, so far, that I can live with it, but on any given day, and at any moment, I could change my mind and turn DD off.:)

In the mean time, I don't find it functional (for me) to get worked up about a known very difficult problem that is being tackled by D*. I got this stuff to enjoy it. If I need to employ work-arounds while it is being worked on (and I continue to test for it in the CE group), then that's fine by me. In this way, I actually enjoy my investment, instead of being perpetually dissatisfied. But hey, that's just me, YMMV.:)

...and to Mr. Spock: your kind words are much appreciated, if not fully deserved.;)

Yes I can live with it for now(disabling DD),but I have noticed quite a difference between DD enabled and disabled,sounds much better enabled but the clicks are so distracting it's not worth it so I'm leaving it off until it's fixed.I definitely won't
be upgrading the 1007 as I bought it brand new just two weeks ago,but it still sounds very good and overall I'm happy.Hopefully Direct will get this fixed soon.Thanks to everyone for the replies.

[corey99699]

Have you updated the 1007 firmware? I have the 807 and have the latest firmware and ZERO clicks. I do have the annoying dropouts on all my systems but never any clicking on the onkyo...

Yes I updated the firmware and it seemed to help but they're still there,I don't think this is a defect because I've heard other 1007 owners claim they get them too on the AVS forum.

[BKC]

Who's this Ellen and how do I get a hold of her?

As for just turning off DD, I've tried and can't do it. Turning off the DD makes it sound like complete dog-****. The bottom-line is that Directv is not holding up to their end of the bargain for the service that I am paying them dearly for.

But then again, what company in this country does? Every single company we deal with is out looking to screw us every which way they can because they have zero respect for the people that keep them in business. They view all of us nothing more than $ signs.

ellen.filipiak@directv.com

They are a team that's supposed to get results when you get stalled going the normal route.

Make sure you tell them you are well aware they have a problem maybe mention this thread, it could cut down on a few back and forth emails. Even at this office they like to pull the old "We haven't had any reports of this" They will probably call you and ask you to gather a bunch of info for them and tell you how much you've helped so you feel better but don't be afraid to ask if you feel like they owe you anything.

Normally they get back to you in around 24 hours or maybe a little longer. Pretty fast though.

[Carl Spock]

Just fired off an e-mail to them.
Nice note. :) I'll be interested to hear what they say back.

[Dark Horse]

I was talking about audio drop-outs just like Carl Spock pointed out. Every minute or two the audio would drop out and then come right back. The video was fine. Even my wife noticed it and she is usually oblivious to these sort of things.

This was with the Looney Tunes movie, both episodes of Unnatural History, King of the Hill and Family Guy.
I recorded Family Guy with my DVR (HR22-100) last night and couldn't watch more than three minutes of it, because I was getting 1-second dropouts at least every 15 seconds. At one point, the dropouts were so bad that every fifth word of dialogue was missing.

I upgraded to HD in January, and by February I couldn't stand the audio drops any longer. My 5-year-old Onkyo HTiB was doing the popping/clicking/pausing thing every time there was a drop. When I complained about this issue to D*, the CSR told me to switch from using a digital optical cable to RCA cables running to the AVR. I hadn't turned off DD, and hadn't had an audio drop for a few months until last night.

So, just to clarify some things, would I get better audio quality (and hopefully no drops) if I:

switched back to the digital optical without DD
stayed with the current setup of using the DD with RCAs
turn off the DD with the RCAs and let my AVR matrix the sound

[corey99699]

I recorded Family Guy with my DVR (HR22-100) last night and couldn't watch more than three minutes of it, because I was getting 1-second dropouts at least every 15 seconds. At one point, the dropouts were so bad that every fifth word of dialogue was missing.

I upgraded to HD in January, and by February I couldn't stand the audio drops any longer. My 5-year-old Onkyo HTiB was doing the popping/clicking/pausing thing every time there was a drop. When I complained about this issue to D*, the CSR told me to switch from using a digital optical cable to RCA cables running to the AVR. I hadn't turned off DD, and hadn't had an audio drop for a few months until last night.

So, just to clarify some things, would I get better audio quality (and hopefully no drops) if I:

switched back to the digital optical without DD
stayed with the current setup of using the DD with RCAs
turn off the DD with the RCAs and let my AVR matrix the sound


Try using optical and enabling DD,not sure if it will work for you but it did for me.

[Dark Horse]

Thanks, corey99699. I'll give that a try.

[corey99699]

I'm sorry,I meant disabling DD.:confused:

[Dark Horse]

Ha! I must have been at work too long today, because that's what I thought you'd originally written. :D

[betterdan]

. Is anyone saying that there is no dropout problem? I'm not seeing anyone denying the existence of the issue.

Yes, Directv. They told me so when I received a call from them after I sent an email to Ellen. Cody from Directv told me there wasn't a problem because he and his family and friends didn't have dropouts. :rolleyes::nono2:
Cory ended up sending me another HR20-700 which of course didn't fix the problem. I shot off another email to Ellen and then another guy from Directv called me back. He then admitted they knew of the problem and took some info down from me then I told him it seemed like it started happening around the time they enabled Double Play on the receivers. The guy had no clue what Double Play was. Didn't make me feel too good that I had to tell a Directv employee about his product because he had no clue. :nono:

[hasan]

Yes, Directv. They told me so when I received a call from them after I sent an email to Ellen. Cody from Directv told me there wasn't a problem because he and his family and friends didn't have dropouts. :rolleyes::nono2:
Cory ended up sending me another HR20-700 which of course didn't fix the problem. I shot off another email to Ellen and then another guy from Directv called me back. He then admitted they knew of the problem and took some info down from me then I told him it seemed like it started happening around the time they enabled Double Play on the receivers. The guy had no clue what Double Play was. Didn't make me feel too good that I had to tell a Directv employee about his product because he had no clue. :nono:

They key is the engineering team. They know there is a problem. It's their responsibility to fix it. We've been told they are working on it, by reliable sources. We can complain, and should. The rest is just noise, composed of ill-informed csrs, or other "out of the technical loop" employees, and a tad of incompetence and bevy of intra-company communication flaws.

We need to keep reporting, keep their feet to the fire, and not waste our time lamenting those who do or don't know what they are doing, if we are really interested in getting this fixed instead of playing "gotcha" with the myriad parts of D*'s service bureaucracy.

[BKC]

I had dropouts on Speed channel that would last for at least 30 seconds last night. I've never seen it this bad. If they're doing anything at all they are headed the wrong direction.

[veryoldschool]

We need to keep reporting, keep their feet to the fire, and not waste our time lamenting those who do or don't know what they are doing, if we are really interested in getting this fixed instead of playing "gotcha" with the myriad parts of D*'s service bureaucracy.
As I think Rad mentioned earlier, the more information we can give DirecTV about the problem the more it should help them.
Logging the channel, time, show that is having the problem, would be more helpful to them than "just bitching" about it.
The network broadcast center tends to look like mission control with a wall of monitors. If the video goes down they can spot it in a min, but nobody can listen to all the channels at one time.
Any channel can be switched to a workstation and be monitored much closer.
The more input about which channels are doing this, the more eyes "and ears" can be put on the problem.
I simply can't imagine they have enough people to monitor
[listen to] every channel, 24 hours a day, so we could help them by narrowing down the channels that need this level of attention.

[hasan]

+++1

[swans]

As I think Rad mentioned earlier, the more information we can give DirecTV about the problem the more it should help them.
Logging the channel, time, show that is having the problem, would be more helpful to them than "just bitching" about it.
The network broadcast center tends to look like mission control with a wall of monitors. If the video goes down they can spot it in a min, but nobody can listen to all the channels at one time.
Any channel can be switched to a workstation and be monitored much closer.
The more input about which channels are doing this, the more eyes "and ears" can be put on the problem.
I simply can't imagine they have enough people to monitor
[listen to] every channel, 24 hours a day, so we could help them by narrowing down the channels that need this level of attention.

The SD ones.:rolleyes:

[JeffBowser]

My hat is off to those old timers who continue to participate in this thread. Your patience in repeating and explaining is legendary.

[veryoldschool]

The SD ones.:rolleyes:
Your post is about a helpful to DirecTV as it is to this thread.
While I will see/hear these dropouts, on the channels/shows I watch, they are fairly few and far between, and believe it or not, some don't have them at all.
For those that are serious and would like to see the problem address faster, report the problem with some detail.
Telling them "all HD" isn't going to get them any closer to finding "your problem".

[RAD]

Got a new AVR this week Denon AVR-891 and so far it looks like it does a worst job riding through the audio glitches then the Sony STR-DA50ES it replaced. Watching a recording from Science Channel and heard three drops of maybe .5 seconds with DD on, replayed them with DD off and could hear a very short 'blurp' don't know how to discribe it but it wasn't clear audio.

[BKC]

I get dropouts on every HD channel I've tuned into. Hope that helps.

[bigzeto]

I don't get the dropouts on every channel but some of the channels I do get them on are Food Network, ESPN, Speed, some of the Starz. I reported this to Ellen when I got a call back.

[RAD]

Off the top of my head I've had dropouts on SciFy, Showtime West, Science Channel.

[gitarzan]

I get frequent dropouts of 2-4 seconds every few minutes on CNN. CNN in the background is pretty much all I have had a chance to watch lately.

[djrobx]

If the video goes down they can spot it in a min, but nobody can listen to all the channels at one time.True, but as you know quite well, your AVR knows when the audio stream is broken. I can mute my AVR and still see each and every drop-out.

It should be fairly trivial for them to write software that monitors the continuity of the audio stream, much like your AVR is doing, and log problems.

[betterdan]

They key is the engineering team. They know there is a problem. It's their responsibility to fix it. We've been told they are working on it, by reliable sources. We can complain, and should. The rest is just noise, composed of ill-informed csrs, or other "out of the technical loop" employees, and a tad of incompetence and bevy of intra-company communication flaws.

We need to keep reporting, keep their feet to the fire, and not waste our time lamenting those who do or don't know what they are doing, if we are really interested in getting this fixed instead of playing "gotcha" with the myriad parts of D*'s service bureaucracy.

The key is this has been going on for way too long and we keep hearing they are working on a fix but nothing ever comes from it. If it is a known problem then I shouldn't be having someone call me from Directv after I sent Ellen an email about the situation then lied to and told it is not a national problem. The engineers may know it's a problem and our info could help them but unfortunately we get Directv employees telling us it is not a known problem and so the info is lost that could of potentially helped.
They need to be straightforward about this and get a fix implemented and not try to cover it up.

[dsm]

My onkyo TCDD797 does this on espn CNN , tnt, and a few others. No clicks just the dropouts. I swear there was a release last fall where I wasn't getting them, but I do now. I've been thinking of getting anew receiver but maybe I shouldn't bother.

[betterdan]

As I think Rad mentioned earlier, the more information we can give DirecTV about the problem the more it should help them.
Logging the channel, time, show that is having the problem, would be more helpful to them than "just bitching" about it.


What would be even more helpful is if they didn't try to have employees lie to customers and tell them it isn't a problem when they try to report it. Also it might be helpful if they had people taking down the info that had even a little bit of a clue about the equipment.

[veryoldschool]

True, but as you know quite well, your AVR knows when the audio stream is broken. I can mute my AVR and still see each and every drop-out.

It should be fairly trivial for them to write software that monitors the continuity of the audio stream, much like your AVR is doing, and log problems.
As I do know, not all AVRs "know" the stream is broken to the same degree. For an example:
I have two Sony AVRs, one is a STRDE898 & the other, STR-DH710, is basically the same thing with HDMI added since it's newer.
The 898 had to be sent to DirecTV to use to resolve the Dolby problem with the HR24. This would trip and indicate the slightest loss of DD5.1, which not all could be heard. This model showed a 4 min repeating drop, which sometimes was so short I couldn't hear it.
The 710 would show a break, but it had to be much longer before it displayed them. My ears could hear more of them than the receiver would show.
I don't think all the commercials have Dolby either.
It may be "fairly trivial for them to write software", but there must be more to it than just this.
I "want to think" their equipment logs errors/status but maybe it doesn't or at least not the audio problems.
I think some of us see this as something that should be "easy or trivial" to fix, but the reality of is isn't, or they would have resolved it by now. The network broadcast center engineers aren't dumb and are interested in curing it. I can't imagine any of them think this is "acceptable".

Maybe they need to copy the detection circuit out of my Sony STR-DE898 with it's DD5.1 blue indicator light and connect this to their wall of monitors. Then either your "fairly trivial" software, or the real people can watch the blue light blink and know there is a problem. :shrug:

[veryoldschool]

The key is this has been going on for way too long and we keep hearing they are working on a fix but nothing ever comes from it. If it is a known problem then I shouldn't be having someone call me from Directv after I sent Ellen an email about the situation then lied to and told it is not a national problem. The engineers may know it's a problem and our info could help them but unfortunately we get Directv employees telling us it is not a known problem and so the info is lost that could of potentially helped.
They need to be straightforward about this and get a fix implemented and not try to cover it up.

What would be even more helpful is if they didn't try to have employees lie to customers and tell them it isn't a problem when they try to report it. Also it might be helpful if they had people taking down the info that had even a little bit of a clue about the equipment.
There is no question about the disconnect between the whole customer service division and the network engineering group.
The best I can figure is:
The customer service know little other than "their job"
The engineering group is completely separate.
The Field operations division has little contact with Customer service, and little with the engineering group.
The network broadcast center may fall under Field operations, but I'm not sure they share anything with anyone else.

[hdtvfan0001]

There is no question about the disconnect between the whole customer service division and the network engineering group.
The best I can figure is:
The customer service know little other than "their job"
The engineering group is completely separate.
The Field operations division has little contact with Customer service, and little with the engineering group.
The network broadcast center may fall under Field operations, but I'm not sure they share anything with anyone else.
I've seen evidence of these things firsthand as well.

It underscores the need to deal with "the right people" for specific issues. CSR's, for example, would not be the place to expect anything more than scripted error message assistance. Tech Support has more than one level, and engineering has its own hardware-related focus.

For those very reasons, VOS....I bet you know this full infrastructure better than most when it comes to audio dropout diagnostics. ;):D

[betterdan]

Yep, speaking to the right people would be great. I kind of expected to be called by the right people after my email to Ellen, unfortunately I guess Directv didn't take me seriously and decided a guy that could lie to me and tell me I was just dreaming about the problem would shut me up.
I guess when I replied back again then they decided they could let the cat out of the bag and let me in on the secret of the known audio problem.

It seems it would have been easier if they took me seriously and just told me there was a known problem they were working on and asked me for some info from the beginning.

[BKC]

After nine months if they are still in the "gathering info on which channels have the problem stage" we/they are in serious trouble....

[swans]

The key is this has been going on for way too long and we keep hearing they are working on a fix but nothing ever comes from it. If it is a known problem then I shouldn't be having someone call me from Directv after I sent Ellen an email about the situation then lied to and told it is not a national problem. The engineers may know it's a problem and our info could help them but unfortunately we get Directv employees telling us it is not a known problem and so the info is lost that could of potentially helped.
They need to be straightforward about this and get a fix implemented and not try to cover it up.

It is pretty obvious (to me at least) that DirecTV has a problem with the MPEG4 implementation of digital audio from their HD-DVRs to customer's AVRs.

IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR WAY TO LONG!!!

Either they really don't know what they are doing, or they have a serious flaw in their design and implementation of their HD delivery!:mad:

[hasan]

The key is this has been going on for way too long and we keep hearing they are working on a fix but nothing ever comes from it. If it is a known problem then I shouldn't be having someone call me from Directv after I sent Ellen an email about the situation then lied to and told it is not a national problem. The engineers may know it's a problem and our info could help them but unfortunately we get Directv employees telling us it is not a known problem and so the info is lost that could of potentially helped.
They need to be straightforward about this and get a fix implemented and not try to cover it up.

While you work on fixing the communication problems, many of us are intensely interested in providing information to the people who are actually interested in fixing the problem at hand. Some of see this as the key, others are more broadly focused (and have a much more difficult job).

There are two sets of comments that have surfaced in this thread:

1. Audio drop-outs, their nature, frequency and any change or improvement.

2. Opinions about D*'s response to the problem and who deserves our wrath.

The people that can do something about it, are working on it (for the hundredth time). The other people are D*'s side of the noise issue.

You, of course, are free to take whatever approach you like. I just don't see such a shotgun approach being the most effective.

I didn't want the thread hijacked by #2 above, but have no control over it. So, you go ahead with #2, and I'll find another place to discuss the real problem (for me).

[betterdan]

While you work on fixing the communication problems, many of us are intensely interested in providing information to the people who are actually interested in fixing the problem at hand. Some of see this as the key, others are more broadly focused (and have a much more difficult job).

There are two sets of comments that have surfaced in this thread:

1. Audio drop-outs, their nature, frequency and any change or improvement.

2. Opinions about D*'s response to the problem and who deserves our wrath.

The people that can do something about it, are working on it (for the hundredth time). The other people are D*'s side of the noise issue.

You, of course, are free to take whatever approach you like. I just don't see such a shotgun approach being the most effective.

I didn't want the thread hijacked by #2 above, but have no control over it. So, you go ahead with #2, and I'll find another place to discuss the real problem (for me).

I am very interested in fixing this problem. I have tried to report it and was met with resistance. This is a problem that needs to be fixed so that Directv can get more info on the problem. You can try to ignore the customer service problem and say it isn't a big deal while at the same time saying Directv needs more info but that sounds kind of stupid to be honest. Directv has to be willing to take down info about the problem when someone reports it in order for the info to get to the people working on the issue.

You are free to find another place to discuss this I couldn't care less to be honest, I want Directv to fix the problem is all. If you get upset by someone pointing out that Directv has customer service issues when someone tries to report the problem maybe it is best you leave the thread, I hate seeing grown men cry.

Now can we get back to discussing this problem and how to report the problem to Directv without having them deny it exists instead of having the thread hijacked by someone telling others how they should react and feel about this problem? Thanks

[txfeinbergs]

Directv should at least provide a list of AVRs that are most "compatible" with their system. I don't think Onkyo's and maybe even Denon's would be on the list.

[hdtvfan0001]

Directv should at least provide a list of AVRs that are most "compatible" with their system. I don't think Onkyo's and maybe even Denon's would be on the list.
It may also come down to specific models, not just makes.

The number of folks with audio drop or similar issues is shrinking since the start...but there are still a few stragglers.

[Barry in Conyers]

Some things to remember about the audio drop out problem:

Audio drop outs are not caused by AVR's.

Audio drop outs are not a channel problem.

Audio drop outs are not caused by Dolby sound.

Audio drop outs are not caused by receiver software (with the possible exception of the Hx24's)

Audio drop outs are caused by the DirecTV mpeg2-to-mpeg4 transcoding process.

Audio drop outs are a problem that was created by DirecTV and that can only be corrected by DirecTV.



I am confident that DirecTV knows exactly what is causing the audio drop out problem. The other option is to assume that the DirecTV technical staff is ignorant / incompetent which I doubt.

I am confident that DirecTV would have already corrected the problem if they knew how to do so without major changes and major $$$$$.

I HOPE that DirecTV will do the right thing and put customers ahead of short term profit, but the problem drags on and on and on and on.

Audio drop outs ceased being a technical issue a long time ago. The issue has become the lack of corrective action by DirecTV.

Just my opinion, YMMV.

[The Fuzz 53]

I just got a call from somebody at Directv about the issue. He wanted to know some info about my receiver, but couldn't give it to him since I'm at work. He said he'll be in his office until 6pm Mountain time, and I get home around 6:30 eastern, so I'll call him back when I get home and see what info I can give them. Think his name was Matt.

[BKC]

Some things to remember about the audio drop out problem:

Audio drop outs are not caused by AVR's.

Audio drop outs are not a channel problem.

Audio drop outs are not caused by Dolby sound.

Audio drop outs are not caused by receiver software.

Audio drop outs are caused by the DirecTV mpeg2-to-mpeg4 transcoding process.

Audio drop outs are a problem that was created by DirecTV and that can only be corrected by DirecTV.



I am confident that DirecTV knows exactly what is causing the audio drop out problem. The other option is to assume that the DirecTV technical staff is ignorant / incompetent which I doubt.

I am confident that DirecTV would have already corrected the problem if they knew how to do so without major changes and major $$$$$.

I HOPE that DirecTV will do the right thing and put customers ahead of short term profit, but the problem drags on and on and on and on.

Audio drop outs ceased being a technical issue a long time ago. The issue has become the lack of corrective action by DirecTV.

Just my opinion, YMMV.

http://www.speedinfinity.net/forums/Smileys/default/bingo.gif

[mndwalsh]

Watched Rescue Me, Penn & Teller, and Hung last night and all had major audio drops. My wife actually asked if we could switch to cable, that is how bad it is getting and the drops are getting worse not better.

[swans]

Some things to remember about the audio drop out problem:

Audio drop outs are not caused by AVR's.

Audio drop outs are not a channel problem.

Audio drop outs are not caused by Dolby sound.

Audio drop outs are not caused by receiver software.

Audio drop outs are caused by the DirecTV mpeg2-to-mpeg4 transcoding process.

Audio drop outs are a problem that was created by DirecTV and that can only be corrected by DirecTV.



I am confident that DirecTV knows exactly what is causing the audio drop out problem. The other option is to assume that the DirecTV technical staff is ignorant / incompetent which I doubt.

I am confident that DirecTV would have already corrected the problem if they knew how to do so without major changes and major $$$$$.

I HOPE that DirecTV will do the right thing and put customers ahead of short term profit, but the problem drags on and on and on and on.

Audio drop outs ceased being a technical issue a long time ago. The issue has become the lack of corrective action by DirecTV.

Just my opinion, YMMV.

Maybe we'll get a free "bumper.":lol:

[mndwalsh]

Maybe we'll get a free "bumper.":lol:

I always love that one

[RAD]

I recored The Colbert Report last night on a HR24-500 and HR23-700. Both STB's had the same two audio issues at the same place, which again points to issues at DirecTV and not the STB's. I could hear a drop when played through an AVR via HDMI and DD on. When played through a TV it didn't come out as a drop but distorted, almost like the he was talking underwater.

[txfeinbergs]

Some things to remember about the audio drop out problem:

Audio drop outs are not caused by AVR's.

Audio drop outs are not a channel problem.

Audio drop outs are not caused by Dolby sound.

Audio drop outs are not caused by receiver software (with the possible exception of the Hx24's)

Audio drop outs are caused by the DirecTV mpeg2-to-mpeg4 transcoding process.

Audio drop outs are a problem that was created by DirecTV and that can only be corrected by DirecTV.


I am confident that DirecTV knows exactly what is causing the audio drop out problem. The other option is to assume that the DirecTV technical staff is ignorant / incompetent which I doubt.

I am confident that DirecTV would have already corrected the problem if they knew how to do so without major changes and major $$$$$.

I HOPE that DirecTV will do the right thing and put customers ahead of short term profit, but the problem drags on and on and on and on.

Audio drop outs ceased being a technical issue a long time ago. The issue has become the lack of corrective action by DirecTV.

Just my opinion, YMMV.

I understand that, but the resulting symptom (not the underlying cause) is more noticeable on certain brands/models of receivers. Let's face it, it isn't like Directv is going to fix it on their end (in a timely manner anyway.) A list of "compatible" receivers would go a certain distance to making a few people happy. (those in the market for a new receiver or with disposable funds)

[veryoldschool]

Some things to remember about the audio drop out problem:


Audio drop outs are not caused by AVR's.
Audio drop outs are not a channel problem.
Audio drop outs are not caused by Dolby sound.
Audio drop outs are not caused by receiver software (with the possible exception of the Hx24's)
Audio drop outs are caused by the DirecTV mpeg2-to-mpeg4 transcoding process.
Audio drop outs are a problem that was created by DirecTV and that can only be corrected by DirecTV.


I am confident that DirecTV knows exactly what is causing the audio drop out problem. The other option is to assume that the DirecTV technical staff is ignorant / incompetent which I doubt.

I am confident that DirecTV would have already corrected the problem if they knew how to do so without major changes and major $$$$$.

I HOPE that DirecTV will do the right thing and put customers ahead of short term profit, but the problem drags on and on and on and on.

Audio drop outs ceased being a technical issue a long time ago. The issue has become the lack of corrective action by DirecTV.

Just my opinion, YMMV.
This [yours] seems like a good list.


The only part the AVR plays in this is that some seem to magnify the problem. I wouldn't myself change my AVR because of DirecTV's problem. I'm lucky what I have doesn't seem to magnify them.
Since not every channel has the same problem, I'm completely "sold" it's not a channel problem. Some of this may be due to what the provider is sending. TNT seems to have more of them and are mostly sending "re-runs" shows. They could be sending something less than a "pristine audio track", that is causing the transcoder to dropout. This isn't to suggest it's not still a DirecTV problem to resolve, as they're still our provider and not TNT.
Dolby does seem to be part of this, but it may only be that Dolby code suffers more/first with the problem. As I've seen testing the HR24 Dolby can dropout when the sound doesn't. This seems to point to the duration of the loss. The shortest ones will trigger my Sony to show the blip, but it takes a longer duration to actually have a loss of sound. Again, I'm not saying it's a "Dolby" problem.
All MPEG-4 receivers had this and if it was in the hardware or firmware, then all channels would have this and we'd see it all the time. Since [again] it varies by channel and even by shows, it can't be in the receivers. The HR24s do have a fix coming for "their problem", which will simply bring them in line with all the other MPEG-4 receivers. I was testing the 24 last night and found while "the fix is in", it suffered from the SAT feed dropouts on Penn & Teller.
No question here. Regardless of what the provider is sending DirecTV, they need to be able to give us something that is no worse than what the provider is sending and their MPEG-4 conversion is worse.
In general I agree, but the "created by DirecTV" sounds like this was intentional, which is a stretch for me.

First we had lipsync issues, so they changed the firmware [I'd guess]
Then we had the brriipps, as they tightened up the timing.
Now they've blanked out the brriipps and we have dropouts. In this narrow view, yes, they created the current problem.


Having them at all still sucks and DirecTV still needs to resolve them. Too bad they aren't something as easy/simple to fix as the receiver firmware is to fix.

[betterdan]

Maybe we'll get a free "bumper.":lol:

:lol:

[Barry in Conyers]

In general I agree, but the "created by DirecTV" sounds like this was intentional, which is a stretch for me.

VOS,

When I say "created by DirecTV", I am not suggesting or insinuating that DirecTV intentionally created the problem. I am saying that the problem is the direct result of decisions made by and actions taken by DirecTV. DirecTV tested (or should have tested) the Harmonic transcoding system, selected the system, purchased the system, installed the system and operates the system. Harmonic is responsible to DirecTV, but DirecTV is responsible to their customers for the performance of the transcoding system. I certainly don't have any reason to think the situation is intentional, but I also do not have any reason to think that the situation has been addressed in a timely manner (quite the opposite).

FWIW, I suspect the the DirecTV technical staff can quickly address the problem if they are given the necessary resources and are allowed to do so.

As a final comment, preventing problems before they happen is much faster, much less expensive and much less aggravating to all concerned than allowing problems to happen and then slapping bandaids all over the place to "fix" a problem that could and should have been prevented.

Again, just my opinion.

[RAD]

I happened to notice on the Colbert Report example they had a graphic of a waving flag in the background. When the audio problem hit the flag also showed a jump in its movement on both the HR24 and HR23 recording.

[BKC]

Maybe we'll get a free "bumper.":lol:

That will carry a two year commitment. :lol:

[joed32]

I understand that, but the resulting symptom (not the underlying cause) is more noticeable on certain brands/models of receivers. Let's face it, it isn't like Directv is going to fix it on their end (in a timely manner anyway.) A list of "compatible" receivers would go a certain distance to making a few people happy. (those in the market for a new receiver or with disposable funds)

Dropouts happen for me with or without an AV receiver. If they put out a list of compatible AVs and mine wasn't on it I would simply switch providers. My sound system cost a lot more than my DVRs.

[hdtvfan0001]

I happened to notice on the Colbert Report example they had a graphic of a waving flag in the background. When the audio problem hit the flag also showed a jump in its movement on both the HR24 and HR23 recording.
Poor quality looped background video perhaps?

I've seen that for quite some time, even on a Comcast user HDTV.

[RAD]

Poor quality looped background video perhaps?

I've seen that for quite some time, even on a Comcast user HDTV.

Nope, since I only saw it at the same occurance of the audio glitch and not at any other time.

[je4755]

Nope, since I only saw it at the same occurance of the audio glitch and not at any other time.

I recently upgraded my A/V receiver from a three-year old Yamaha to a Denon 3311. I now notice a very-subtle stutter in the video (not evident with the Yamaha) when an audio dropout occurs, as happened last night three times in a recorded “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and twice during a recorded “No Reservations.”

[olc]

I just got a call from somebody at Directv about the issue. He wanted to know some info about my receiver, but couldn't give it to him since I'm at work. He said he'll be in his office until 6pm Mountain time, and I get home around 6:30 eastern, so I'll call him back when I get home and see what info I can give them. Think his name was Matt.

They don't care. I have escalated this to the President's office and all I get are it's something wrong with my equipment. It's most noticeable on my Rotel HT processor, but it also happens in my bedroom set up which is a TV and an HR22 connected via HDMI. They blame it on my processor and just play deaf when I say it happens through a TV as well. They also appear not to want to understand that NOTHING has changed in my system since over a year before this started and not in the last several months when it has become remarkably worse.

It's something they or the programming providers are doing. Every time I call they claim they know nothing about the problem and no one else has complained. Since I complained, that's just a lie. My wife is pushing to go to Dish or Cox cable but I'd rather DirecTV admit the problem and fix it. They keep denying it and keep insisting a service call will fix it. They have reformatted the hard drive, forced a software upgrade, even moved the dish (claiming an alignment issue) with no change.

Here's the channels I've seen the problem on in the last week since I've begun documenting each dropout I notice: Showtime, HBO, TNT, USA, CNN, Bravo.

Anyone know if this is a problem with Dish also? A Google search shows for Dish audio dropouts comes up with virtually nothing compared to the same search for DirecTV. If not, DirecTV is out of excuses.

[DarinC]

The number of folks with audio drop or similar issues is shrinking since the start...but there are still a few stragglers.
Has the occurrence of the drop-outs shrunk, or have people just stopped complaining because they've given up on DirecTV even admitting there's a problem, much less fixing it? At this point, I consider audio drop-outs to be a normal trait of DirecTV service. I think I've learned to subconsciously read lips well enough that sometimes I don't even notice it unless I pay attention.

Audio drop outs are caused by the DirecTV mpeg2-to-mpeg4 transcoding process.
Here's the channels I've seen the problem on in the last week since I've begun documenting each dropout I notice: Showtime, HBO, TNT, USA, CNN, Bravo.
Wouldn't that suggest that it's NOT an MPEG2 to MPEG4 transcoding issue? I thought they were supposed to have switched to an MPEG4 feed from HBO a long time ago.

[je4755]

Has the occurrence of the drop-outs shrunk, or have people just stopped complaining because they've given up on DirecTV even admitting there's a problem, much less fixing it? At this point, I consider audio drop-outs to be a normal trait of DirecTV service. I think I've learned to subconsciously read lips well enough that sometimes I don't even notice it unless I pay attention.

If my own attitude reflects other D* subscribers, your assertion is more accurate than hdtvfan0001’s sanguine view cited in your last post. As with many contributors to this thread, I have experienced audio dropouts for months (employing three different D* boxes and four different A/V receivers). Since the dropouts occur only once every ten to twenty minutes, I simply have learned to tolerate them. Nevertheless, I share everyone’s frustration the dropouts have not been eliminated and greatly appreciate the efforts of VOS and others who have pressed senior D* staff on this matter.

[Die Hard]

I watched Pirates of the Caribbean on USAHD this evening with Dolby Digital turned of on my satellite receiver (listening thru Dolby Pro Logic) and I still got the audio dropouts, some associated with a picture stutter. So at least for me, turning Dolby Digital off did not help.

Earlier today, I watched a 2 hour PPV movie without any audio dropouts.
I always have at least 2 audio dropouts per hour when watching a HD channel, so why none with a PPV movie. To me, it's just another obvious sign that it's the signal that DTV is sending me and not my equipment.

One thing I don't understand is why don't more people have this issue?
For example, a friend of mine who lives just 5 miles away from me, and who has basically the same set-up as I do, does not have any audio dropouts.

I too, am in touch again with the customer advocacy team for a second time and I'm sure they will come back with the same excuse that it's me and not them.

[veryoldschool]

One thing I don't understand is why don't more people have this issue?
This is a good question.

One would think if two customers were watching the same channel/show, that they both would notice them/it.

Along this line: During the testing of the HR24 and its DD5.1 dropouts, I've had someone else record the same show at the same time.

I played it back with the internally generated dropouts.

He played it back and heard none. :confused:

Had my HR24 replaced and then new one did the same thing, so it didn't look like bad hardware.

The Firmware was found to be the cause of it and has been fixed.

Why could someone else with the same hardware & defective software not hear what I did with every recording with DD5.1? :confused:

Maybe some of us simply listen better than others. :confused:

[DarinC]

Maybe some of us simply listen better than others. :confused:

Well, they do seem more subtle than they used to be. I remember quite a long time ago (well over a year) where we had audio drop outs that were accompanied with some kind of pop or other noise, and they seemed to be on a more frequent cycle. I don't experience any noise any more. It's a much more subtle brief mute, much like having just a single "bad" word edited out.

[betterdan]

For me it's like having a single bad sentence edited out.

[gitarzan]

I left DirecTV six months ago. I was experiencing frequent intermittent audio dropouts with my HR21.

I signed back up a few weeks ago and got new HR24. It has double the audio dropouts I had with the HR21. Plus I also lose audio completely if I over use trick play until I red button restart.

[veryoldschool]

I left DirecTV six months ago. I was experiencing frequent intermittent audio dropouts with my HR21.

I signed back up a few weeks ago and got new HR24. It has double the audio dropouts I had with the HR21. Plus I also lose audio completely if I over use trick play until I red button restart.
Some of this will improve with the next firmware release, as the current one still has a problem with anything but "live TV". I had a repeat rate of every 4 mins. This has been addressed for the next release.
Trickplay has yet to be sorted out though. I haven't had to reboot mine for it, but 30 sec skips randomly do strange things and I need to either skip ahead or back to get it playing again.

[Die Hard]

This is a good question.

One would think if two customers were watching the same channel/show, that they both would notice them/it.

Along this line: During the testing of the HR24 and its DD5.1 dropouts, I've had someone else record the same show at the same time.

I played it back with the internally generated dropouts.

He played it back and heard none. :confused:

Had my HR24 replaced and then new one did the same thing, so it didn't look like bad hardware.

The Firmware was found to be the cause of it and has been fixed.

Why could someone else with the same hardware & defective software not hear what I did with every recording with DD5.1? :confused:

Maybe some of us simply listen better than others. :confused:

VOS

Are you saying that the firmware update fixed your HR24 and it is now free of the audio dropouts? What about your other sat. receivers, do they still have the audio dropouts?

[veryoldschool]

VOS

Are you saying that the firmware update fixed your HR24 and it is now free of the audio dropouts? What about your other sat. receivers, do they still have the audio dropouts?
The test version of firmware I'm running has fixed the HR24-500 problem, "BUT" it can't fix the SAT feed problem.
There are or were two Audio dropout issues. The oldest is in the SAT feed and effects all MPEG-4 receivers.
This masked a problem with the HR24-500, because its problem was being dismissed as the SAT feed problem.
The HR24-500 has/had a DD5.1 problem with playback from the drive or from the network using MRV.
This is what the new firmware has resolved.

[Die Hard]

The test version of firmware I'm running has fixed the HR24-500 problem, "BUT" it can't fix the SAT feed problem.
There are or were two Audio dropout issues. The oldest is in the SAT feed and effects all MPEG-4 receivers.
This masked a problem with the HR24-500, because its problem was being dismissed as the SAT feed problem.
The HR24-500 has/had a DD5.1 problem with playback from the drive or from the network using MRV.
This is what the new firmware has resolved.

I'm relatively new to this forum so please forgive me if I seem to be asking redundant questions. With the research that I have done it appears that you are or have been in touch with DirecTV about the audio problems. Do you know when or if these problems will be fixed?

I have had these same audio dropouts since last fall on 3 Different set-ups.
H20/600 connected via HDMI to a Samsung tv. No AVR involved.
H21/100 connected via HDMI to a Panasonic tv with an optical connection to a Sony STR-DE845 AVR.
H23/600 connected via HDMI to a Denon AVR then on via HDMI to a Panasonic tv.
I hear it on all. Obviously it's not my AVR's etc.

[betterdan]

Some of this will improve with the next firmware release, as the current one still has a problem with anything but "live TV". I had a repeat rate of every 4 mins. This has been addressed for the next release.
Trickplay has yet to be sorted out though. I haven't had to reboot mine for it, but 30 sec skips randomly do strange things and I need to either skip ahead or back to get it playing again.

So the HR24 problems haven't been completely resolved with the newer firmware since you are still having trick play audio problems?
Glad I didn't end up getting an HR24 when they replaced my receiver then. The audio drops are bad enough, if I then started getting trickplay audio problems too I would have been pissed.

[veryoldschool]

So the HR24 problems haven't been completely resolved with the newer firmware since you are still having trick play audio problems?
Glad I didn't end up getting an HR24 when they replaced my receiver then. The audio drops are bad enough, if I then started getting trickplay audio problems too I would have been pissed.
Trickplay on the HR24 is kind of like the old "pinky" in the early days of the HR20.
It's not always a problem/there, but pops up every now and then and has been there since day one of them.
One skip ahead or back gets it going again for me.

[veryoldschool]

I'm relatively new to this forum so please forgive me if I seem to be asking redundant questions. With the research that I have done it appears that you are or have been in touch with DirecTV about the audio problems. Do you know when or if these problems will be fixed?
I've sent a message off asking for anything they can say about it. I have yet to get a reply. :shrug:

[swans]

They don't care. ...

... They keep denying it and keep insisting a service call will fix it. They have reformatted the hard drive, forced a software upgrade, even moved the dish (claiming an alignment issue) with no change.

DirecTV doesn't care. They want to make the whole problem an inconvenience for us and say it is a problem with our equipment.

[swans]

Has the occurrence of the drop-outs shrunk, or have people just stopped complaining because they've given up on DirecTV even admitting there's a problem, much less fixing it? At this point, I consider audio drop-outs to be a normal trait of DirecTV service. I think I've learned to subconsciously read lips well enough that sometimes I don't even notice it unless I pay attention.

Wouldn't that suggest that it's NOT an MPEG2 to MPEG4 transcoding issue? I thought they were supposed to have switched to an MPEG4 feed from HBO a long time ago.

I could never recommend DirecTV to any body at this point.:nono2:

[john18]

DirecTV doesn't care. They want to make the whole problem an inconvenience for us and say it is a problem with our equipment.

I respectfully disagree. Why would D* do that when it would undoubtedly cause additional service calls and/or receiver replacements?

I agree with VOS and trust him when he says that the engineering team is both aware of the issue and working to find the problem in the encoding/decoding of the signal where failures cause AVR's to lose the DD audio feed momentarily before they once again find it. Also, perhaps you missed it in either this thread or a similar thread where VOS was discussing the loaner AVR he had been provided while his AVR was off at D* so they could replicate the issues he has been reporting.

I personally have the same audio dropout issues on my Onkyo and am content that the problem is being analyzed and that a fix will be found.

[Stuart Sweet]

Let's continue discussion here:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=182017