Black and White Image in Low Definition Mode

[Spartan]

Wondering if anyone has experienced the following problem. When switching from HD to low definition mode the image is in black and white. Slowly after 10 minutes or so the color returns but only a little at a time. For a while it looks like an Andy Warhol painting with little dashes of color here and there until the full color image returns. The picture is Black and White when viewing the picture on the RF channel 3 output, S-Video and composite video. I just got this receiver as a replacement for another which lost its Dolby output and tech support told me that this replacement has never been registered or used before. In case anyone cares, this is my fifth 921 that has had a problem and was replaced.
Since I pay for the additional warranty, the replacements are free, but I still have to spend a long time on the phone with tech support, go to the UPS Store, rewire the new receiver, lose all my recordings and go thru the lengthy setup process including favorites, etc. There has to be a better way.

[Mark Lamutt]

I'm sorry to say that you're probably going to have to do it again, as well. Hardware problem...

I can at least limit your time on the phone - email me what you've been through, your contact phone number(s), your current receiver's CAID, smartcard ID, boot, flash, and what troubleshooting you've done and you'll get a call from the 921 support team.

[dishbacker]

I've seen black and white on other equipment if I have both the composite video and s-video cables connected at the same time to the same input on the TV. Do you have this setup by chance? I know this doesn't explain the RF issue, but just a thought.

Also, did you try re-booting while in SD mode and see if it comes back up in color? just another thought.

[Spartan]

Thanks for your help Mark, I already emailed you the information I had with me at work, unfortunately I dont have the receiver ID or Smartcard numbers here at work. I can email them to you when I get home. To answer your questions Dishbacker, no I did not have both composite and S connected at the same time. Rebooting in the SD mode still gives me a B&W picture. If anyone cares, I can take a couple of pictures and attach them to another posting here. I think Andy Warhol took up residence in my 921.

[AVJohnnie]

Wondering if anyone has experienced the following problem. When switching from HD to low definition mode the image is in black and white. Slowly after 10 minutes or so the color returns but only a little at a time.

Yep -- Been there. I'm currently on my 4th 921. My 1st went out exactly the way you describe your current #5 is going. Mine eventually went to B&W on all outputs and stayed that way. :(

Mark was able to hook me up with the right people at Dish which greatly expedited getting the replacement -- Thanks again Mark! :)

So be sure to keep those special Dish contact numbers – they’ll come in handy again! :lol:

[jmotorman]

Thanks for your help Mark, I already emailed you the information I had with me at work, unfortunately I dont have the receiver ID or Smartcard numbers here at work. I can email them to you when I get home. To answer your questions Dishbacker, no I did not have both composite and S connected at the same time. Rebooting in the SD mode still gives me a B&W picture. If anyone cares, I can take a couple of pictures and attach them to another posting here. I think Andy Warhol took up residence in my 921.
I am having the same problem. 921 is a week old and keeps going to black and white and then to the Andy Worhal look. Very strange. Let me know what you go. Thanks so much

[jmotorman]

I am having the same problem. 921 is a week old and keeps going to black and white and then to the Andy Worhal look. Very strange. Let me know what you go. Thanks so much
Sorry for you trouble but glad to see its not just me. Am having the exact problem with my Brand new 921.

[Mike D-CO5]

My 921 will sometimes go black /white when my I adjust the inputs on the tv from say dvd to dvi or vcr to dvi. I find if I just change the inputs again on the tv it will come back in color. Check to see if it is the tv inputs. I have a toshiba 57 "widescreen hd tv if that helps.

[jmotorman]

My 921 will sometimes go black /white when my I adjust the inputs on the tv from say dvd to dvi or vcr to dvi. I find if I just change the inputs again on the tv it will come back in color. Check to see if it is the tv inputs. I have a toshiba 57 "widescreen hd tv if that helps.

I am using the same tv and have tried changing inputs, unplugging s video, resetting the 921 etc. Can't get the color back this time in SD mode running through s video. I guess I call dish at this point. Thanks for posting though.

[jmotorman]

I am using the same tv and have tried changing inputs, unplugging s video, resetting the 921 etc. Can't get the color back this time in SD mode running through s video. I guess I call dish at this point. Thanks for posting though.
Just so anyone reading this knows, these message boards do help. Thanks to Mark, a guy just called me from Dish without me calling anyone, and after a few tests, is sending me out a new 921. Hopefully no more Andy Worhal black&white.

[Rovingbar]

I have this same experince with my 921, but I didn't think anything of it. I often have a momentary loss of color when switching between components or inputs. I figured that it was related to circuit warmup on our Pioneer CRT RPTV. I know that we experienced it with our 811.

BTW: I've found that an easy way to observe this phenomenon is to go to the Display Setup menu (menu-6-9) and toggle between the different output modes. Watch the yellow highlight and you can see it is grey, then gets its color in a few seconds. But I noticed that after a few times, it doesn't go grey anymore.

Jeff

[zews]

I have the same problem, new 921 installed over the holiday season. I like the Andy Warhol description. I've been saying it looks like splashes of watercolor in only one or two of the basic colors (usually red and blue).

This issue was raised by a caller on the latest tech chat, a british engineer said they believe it was a software issue with the video driver and were looking into it.

Did I misunderstand, or could "the 921 guy" please confirm it's a hardware issue?

[Mark Lamutt]

Washed out color isn't hardware. Pure black and white is hardware. If you have the pure black and white issue, email me all of the required info.

[guyster]

Mark, I am experiencing the same problem with my new 921. You mentioned that washed out color isn't hardware. What if it starts out as complete black and white then slowly the colors start to appear?

[Mark Lamutt]

Send me the email, guyster with the required info, and I'll get you in touch with the 921 team.