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View Full Version : Fox-HD NY local (not OTA) audio problems


rfowkes
03-02-06, 08:26 AM
This topic has been brought up peripherally in a couple of other threads but there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer so I'm asking here in the hope that others with a ViP622 and HD locals in the NYC area might chime in on this in a thread specifically devoted to this channel in this location.

Generally my ViP622 is performing quite nicely with one notable exception. When viewing live or recorded material from the FOX-HD local feed (Station # 6303) I get audio dropouts and audio synch problems of varying lengths. I believe this happens mainly when DD surround sound is being broadcast. At the same time the "regular" Fox broadcast (on Station #005 or all the mirrors) doesn't have this audio problem. It appears that the problem is somehow tied to using the jump ahead (yellow) control or the jump back (green) button in conjunction with the pause button. Sometimes you can actually improve the synch or the number of dropouts if you skip back and forth, but sometimes it has no effect.

My question has to do with the source of this error. Is this a FOX-HD error (since at least 95% of the problem has to do with broadcasts on that channel -- the occasional audio glitches on other channels seem to be unrelated to this and due to different issues and conditions) or, since the amount of distortion and synch problems seems to be linked to how I maneuver the program with the ViP622 is this a Dish issue? I'm leaning toward blaming FOX for this problem but maybe it's a combination of the faulty Fox audio signal and how the 622 deals with it?

My 622 is the only box I have that receives 6303 so I have no basis of comparison. Fellow NYers, is FOX-HD (not the OTA feed) sending out some real audio garbage to you as well on 6303 or am I having Dish problems?

I'd appreciate any feedback and discussion on this matter as well as whom to contact regarding this. Do I call FOX or do I call Dish? I don't want to address the wrong people (they'll probably end up blaming each other anyway).

:rolleyes:

Seriously, how many others are seeing (hearing) the same thing? This is taking away from my enjoyment of the outstanding picture that shows like 24 and American Idol are providing. I'm hoping that this is a transmission issue and not a 622 issue. Like I said, most everything else is running smoothly on my 622 (best "beta" unit I've had yet from Dish)

:D

BobMurdoch
03-02-06, 08:33 AM
24 had the problem for me Monday Night. After 20 minutes of hearing a 1/2 second dropout three times a minute, I switched over to the SD feed.

American Idol recorded last night without a glitch however, but I don't know if they are in DD or not.....

Reminds me of my old Dishplayer days when Stargate SG-1 used to have a similar problem on Showtime. Then it happened about once every 5 minutes and was followed by some pixellation.

C'Mon dish. I'm loving my HD, but please fix the sound!

rfowkes
03-02-06, 08:42 AM
24 had the problem for me Monday Night. After 20 minutes of hearing a 1/2 second dropout three times a minute, I switched over to the SD feed.

American Idol recorded last night without a glitch however, but I don't know if they are in DD or not.....

C'Mon dish. I'm loving my HD, but please fix the sound!

Actually, the sound on American Idol last night (The guys) was a lot better than on Tuesday night (the gals) and they definitely broadcast in DD 5.1 (at least my Lexicon pre/pro displays this as the mode.) Like the little girl with the curl on her forehead, when the sound is good, it is very, very good, but when it is bad (on FOX) it is horrid!

;)

I'm thinking it's a FOX-specific problem but just wanted to get some input from others to make a more informed decision. No reason for me to get on Dish's case if it's not their fault this time.

Thanks for the comments.

BobMurdoch
03-02-06, 08:50 AM
No problem. I'm glad it isn't some issue with my Integra A/V receiver either......

aussiejohn
03-02-06, 10:10 AM
I posted something similar as a bug report, but I saw the problem with ABC as well, and found a few things that seemingly straightened it out, although only temporarily.

I have a bit of a problem buying it would be a Fox problem, or for that matter perhaps it isn't a 622 problem either, but it doesn't happen on SD and hasn't happened to me on an OTA feed from the same channels.

BobMurdoch
03-02-06, 02:10 PM
Actually, I've mostly been watching NBC and FOX, so I don't know if CBS and ABC have the same problem. CBS HD has been fine for years.....

rfowkes
03-02-06, 05:28 PM
Every time this happens (the audio problem on the HD FOX channel in DD 5.1) if I switch to the SD FOX channel the SD audio is fine (no droupouts, no audio synch problems.)

David D
03-02-06, 07:32 PM
I have the same situation - and noticed it from the first day I got my 622. All the DD 3/2 has audio problems, dropouts, so rapidly sometimes it sounds like "stutter". Only on Fox HD.

I am just curious if this is happening anywhere else besides NY area. Is there anyone who gets Fox HD either OTA or in another local area that can say if this problem exists..


Not sure whether to complain to Dish or to Fox just yet..

If we knew that the problem does/does not exist in the NY area using OTA that would sort of narrow it down..

Thanks
David

moman19
03-02-06, 08:08 PM
I have the same situation - and noticed it from the first day I got my 622. All the DD 3/2 has audio problems, dropouts, so rapidly sometimes it sounds like "stutter". Only on Fox HD.

I am just curious if this is happening anywhere else besides NY area. Is there anyone who gets Fox HD either OTA or in another local area that can say if this problem exists..


Not sure whether to complain to Dish or to Fox just yet..

If we knew that the problem does/does not exist in the NY area using OTA that would sort of narrow it down..

Thanks
David

Earlier this week I viewed 24 on Fox via OTA in HD here in St. Louis. Other than a few brief picture breakups (known to occur here locally) the DD 5.1 audio seemed fine.