ViP622/ViP722 - L6.21 Software Experiences/Bugs Discussion

Flasshe · 06-12-09, 06:03 PM

I found one issue already. The aspect ratio on the modulated output is majorly out of whack compared to what it used to be. Everything is fine to my HDTV through HDMI, but my other TVs connected via of the TV1 modulated output show the wrong aspect ratio. This happens with both SD and HD channels, and on both widescreen and 4:3 TVs. For example, if I'm watching an HD channel through the modulated output on a widescreen TV (with the format on "normal"), the picture still goes all the way to the sides, but is now very squished vertically and there are large black bars at the top and bottom. The picture used to fill the screen in all dimensions. (Yes, I know I'm not actually getting HD through the modulated output, but at least it didn't used to change the aspect ratio.) It used to be when watching an SD channel on the 4:3 TV through the modulated output, I would have to switch to "stretch" mode to avoid the gray bars on the side. Now there are no side bars on the 4:3 in "gray bar" or "normal" mode and doing "stretch" cuts off the sides of the picture.

Note I am running in single mode, not dual.

I was hoping there was some new setting to control the modulated output, but there doesn't appear to be one.

harsh · 06-12-09, 06:55 PM

The display mode should follow whatever your main TV is set for in HD Setup (16:9). What do you have the HD Setup set for?

Flasshe · 06-12-09, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harsh

The display mode should follow whatever your main TV is set for in HD Setup (16:9). What do you have the HD Setup set for?

It's 16:9, but it's always been set that way. I didn't change it with the new update. In the past, it's always displayed things correctly without changing format on any of the 16:9 TVs. But now, no fiddling of the aspect format on either the DVR and/or the TV itself makes it look exactly right on the 16:9 ones connected to the modulated output. Something's always getting cut off or distorted. This is definitely a change.

In addition, I just noticed that watching an SD channel on the 16:9 connected via modulated output acts just like "stretch", even though the DVR is in "normal" mode. In fact, "normal", "gray bar" and "stretch" all give the exact same picture!

I can put two 16:9 TVs side by side and output the same thing to them. In "gray bar" mode watching an SD channel, the one connected to HDMI has the gray bars on the side and the one connected to the modulated output has none (it's stretched).

You know, it's almost looking to me like it's always assuming the modulated output is hooked to a 4:3 TV, no matter what you have the HDTV format set to.

Gene Steinberg · 06-12-09, 09:32 PM

Oh well, I haven't gotten my update. I'm still on L.618.

I can live even without the features you folks mention, actually.

Peace,
Gene

tedb3rd · 06-12-09, 10:00 PM

I got the update... They seem to have added an auto reboot too about every 45 minutes.

Gene Steinberg · 06-12-09, 10:07 PM

Why would it auto reboot every 45 min?

That sounds illogical.

Peace,
Gene

tedb3rd · 06-13-09, 09:05 AM

I was being somewhat of a smarty. Ever since the upgrade yesterday, the 622 will lock up and reboot. Twice, when it's come back, I've gotten an error message saying the DVR events can't be used and to try to unplug for one minute. That corrects the DVR problem but it will still reboot about every 45 min - 1 hour. Kinda annoying.

Flasshe · 06-13-09, 10:12 AM

No spontaneous reboot problems here, so far.

Gene Steinberg · 06-13-09, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedb3rd

I was being somewhat of a smarty. Ever since the upgrade yesterday, the 622 will lock up and reboot. Twice, when it's come back, I've gotten an error message saying the DVR events can't be used and to try to unplug for one minute. That corrects the DVR problem but it will still reboot about every 45 min - 1 hour. Kinda annoying.

This sounds like a case for the tech support people.

Peace,
Gene

**Ron Barry** · 06-13-09, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedb3rd

I was being somewhat of a smarty. Ever since the upgrade yesterday, the 622 will lock up and reboot. Twice, when it's come back, I've gotten an error message saying the DVR events can't be used and to try to unplug for one minute. That corrects the DVR problem but it will still reboot about every 45 min - 1 hour. Kinda annoying.

I assume you did pull the plug on it and watch a few minutes and plug it back in to see if things restore to normal. Can you provide details as to how many timers you have, timer events, and Dish Passes. Might be good to track your configuration to see if that is related. Also might want to include details as to if OTA is connected and what Sats you are pointing to.

First step is a pull the plug reboot and see if that clears things up. Some have the opinion that sometimes memory does not get fully flushed and some strange things can happen.

DaGnome · 06-13-09, 01:18 PM

I'm still on 6.18 on my 722... and *knock on wood* so far no issues (though I did have Audio issues on a few channels way back when)

I noticed Ron mentioned:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Barry

ViP622/ViP722 - L6.21 Software Experiences/Bugs Discussion

Reported Fixes or new Features:

Playlist
History Changes (split up into "DVR history", which tells you what you watched when - very cool, and "timer history", which just goes to the Daily Schedule screen)
"My Groups" option (Create your own custom groups)

Could someone elaborate on these features? Specifically the MyGroups option? Is this Dishs way of letting us move recordings into Folders of some sort? I can't find any information about any of the features mentioned above.

Thanks in advance

DustoMan · 06-13-09, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGnome

Could someone elaborate on these features?

And what exactly does "playlist" mean? We can queue up recordings to play in a particular order? I didn't know I ever wanted to do that.

MrC · 06-13-09, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaGnome

Could someone elaborate on these features? Specifically the MyGroups option? Is this Dishs way of letting us move recordings into Folders of some sort? I can't find any information about any of the features mentioned above.

My Groups allows you to create named groups (think: folders), where you can move recordings from the main DVR list into the group folder. This helps reduce clutter.

So, if you had various household members who each had their own programs, programs can be moved into a Kids folder, Mom folder, General folder, etc. You get to name the folders.

In addition, you can set/modify your timers to automatically place newly recorded programs into a given group. Group folders will sort according to your Sort preferences. When sorted by DVR date, empty folders will sort to the bottom of the list.

RoughDobermann · 06-13-09, 06:54 PM

My 722 received this alleged "upgrade" this morning. While the guide and other menu items were available, when a channel was selected, neither video nor audio was displayed. Just a black screen. So, I did the press and hold down power button re-boot and after all the usual tests finished, we had audio and video again. Went on a hike up in the mountains and came back to the same problem. Re-boot fixed it again, but I really don't want to have to do this every few hours.

Any suggestions? I haven't tried the remove power supply re-boot yet. Nor do I think I should have to. I hate firmware.

**Ron Barry** · 06-13-09, 10:42 PM

Next step RoughDobermann would be to do the power cord reset. See if that clears up things.

DaGnome · 06-13-09, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrC

My Groups allows you to create named groups (think: folders), where you can move recordings from the main DVR list into the group folder. This helps reduce clutter.

Finally!!!!!! Have any idea if this works on both the internal and external drives? or just internal for now?

Can't wait for my update....well that is if the 'reboot' problem is just a selected few machines... if it's the entire firmware... this guinnea pig will pass for now.

FarmerBob · 06-14-09, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flasshe

I found one issue already. The aspect ratio on the modulated output is majorly out of whack compared to what it used to be. Everything is fine to my HDTV through HDMI, but my other TVs connected via of the TV1 modulated output show the wrong aspect ratio. This happens with both SD and HD channels, and on both widescreen and 4:3 TVs. For example, if I'm watching an HD channel through the modulated output on a widescreen TV (with the format on "normal"), the picture still goes all the way to the sides, but is now very squished vertically and there are large black bars at the top and bottom. The picture used to fill the screen in all dimensions. (Yes, I know I'm not actually getting HD through the modulated output, but at least it didn't used to change the aspect ratio.) It used to be when watching an SD channel on the 4:3 TV through the modulated output, I would have to switch to "stretch" mode to avoid the gray bars on the side. Now there are no side bars on the 4:3 in "gray bar" or "normal" mode and doing "stretch" cuts off the sides of the picture.

Note I am running in single mode, not dual.

I was hoping there was some new setting to control the modulated output, but there doesn't appear to be one.

I'm in single mode on a 722 and noticed that through those outputs I was getting the 16:9 ratio but with a wide band of black around the edges (proportionally reduced picture) or full screen height but SD width. Also noticing a "smoothness" flicker. For a second that picture goes grainy with shiny edges and then it smooths and the edges no longer shine. Then it flicks back.

Also I have noticed a change in the PQ. I was promised by my TSR that there was a fix on the way for the bad PQ, inaccurate and hyper-dense blacks (muddy grayscale). It's not exactly fixed, but getting there and I have lost the use of several picture settings on my set. Mainly the HDMI Black Level that has Normal and Low settings. It is now set to Normal, grayed out and unchangeable. I tried to run my color calibrator and it knows not of DLP and gets half way through the test and freezes. I'm hoping that they don't think that they are done fixing the PQ? And blocking out calibration features since my 50A650 has so many settings could be a good thing, you can really mess yourself up. The miracles of HDMI technology. As long as they don't strip out too many controls.

UPDATE:
I had the opportunity to play with my rack monitor and have notice that it no longer shows a 1:1 16:9 picture, I have to set the aspect to Zoom 1 and I get a perfect picture with no overscan compared to the HDMI connection. But if I return to the setting, Aspect, to where I use to get a proper 16:9 RF picture, the picture is proportional 16:9, but small, not filling the screen. Setting it to "Full" where it should be proper, it stretches the picture widthwise. Whereas, the same setting with Component gets me a proper 16:9. I get this from both modulators on various channels. Before I was really happy that I was getting proper 16:9 that I could, when need be, inject directly into my in-house system giving me back two channels that I would have to use for that box.

Also . . . I'm having a harder time dialing in a good picture now that certain adjustment options through HDMI are disabled. I do not like this at all.

Another UPDATE:
On my 50" DLP I am noticing a lot more motion pixelation since 6.21. I have gone back and reviewed programming that I had seen under 6.18 and I know of places where there was no motion problems, there are now. Equilibrium was on a premium channel (which I recorded and used as later reference) and I decided that I wanted to add it to my collection, since it's not out on Blu-ray yet I'd have to go DVD. I was able to snag a new copy from Blockbuster for $7. When I got it home I put it in my Pioneer DVD carousel and to catalog it it has to play. WOW! There was a definite audio difference (audio hooked up identically to the 722) and I watched some scenes that caused motion problems on the 722 and off the DVD via component, none. 722 via HDMI, problems. This, along with the disabling of monitor settings . . . I'm beginning to think 6.21 is a major step backwards.

UPDATE on the above . . .
Just got a reply from DISH asking the same ol' boiler plate questions that really have nothing to do with the root problem, but talk of a complete signal outage, weather relates issues and the lot. But is step one start as they always do hoping that you'll get tired and stop responding to the tiresome process. I did all their tests on a crystal clear afternoon, so . . . I also gave them the body of text from early in L6.18 when I was told of the PQ issues that where to be fixed one day and asked that they start there, if not inquire of the same Tech who told me of them. We'll see what happens now.

UPDATED UPDATE:
Just as I was done typing the above I got a reply to my reply saying that a service call was in order. I'm not going through this again. But then I always gt a ton of info and handfuls of lovely parting gifts. Oooo! I wonder what I'll get this time. That is unless I talk them out of it over the phone when making the appt. A service call is really not necessary.

tigrbuzz · 06-14-09, 06:33 AM

assuming based on, drum roll please.......

dreaded reboot problem appeared yesterday.

About every 45 minutes to 2 hours yesterday it ran the reboot cycle and would come back ok.

Finally, last night sometime after 9, just died and wouldn't reboot. Fan just running - TV1 light on. After about 3 to 5 minutes all the front lights would flicker and then it would go back to TV1 light only.

I unplugged the unit and went to bed. Got up this morning, plugged it in, and it came back on. I haven't had a reboot cycle. Yet.

Here is hoping it doesn't happen to you.

This is only the 2nd problem in 2 1/2 years with the 622. About 8 months ago the HDMI port went bad. My current 622 is a refurb that old.

kucharsk · 06-14-09, 07:24 AM

No problems with my 722 so far.

I somehow suspect the usual trick play bugs will be there.

Gene Steinberg · 06-14-09, 11:34 AM

Just a note that, as of today, I still have the L6.18 software on my VIP-722. So is this being rolled out very, very gradually? Or did they stop deploying it for last-minute bugs?

Peace,
Gene

**Ron Barry** · 06-14-09, 11:37 AM

The usually roll out software for the 622/722 in phases and it is been out for a day so I definitely would not call this very gradually. I would call this normal roll out procedure.

Gene Steinberg · 06-14-09, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Barry

The usually roll out software for the 622/722 in phases and it is been out for a day so I definitely would not call this very gradually. I would call this normal roll out procedure.

Thanks for the heads up. I've only been with Dish a short time.

Peace,
Gene

**Ron Barry** · 06-14-09, 11:47 AM

No problem Gene and welcome to DBSTalk. Cool Avatar! As far as roll outs go, they can take up to a couple of weeks to do a full roll out (Depending on how fast or slow Dish wants to go) and there have been times where they stop the roll out, fix and issue, and roll out another version.

At this point, too early to tell how things are going and anybody that gets it by all means provide as much feedback as possible.

The MyGroup feature is well thought out in my mind. To me it is more like a filtering system than a grouping system since you can toggle between MyGroups, Default Grouping, and no Groups. I created Groupings like Dad's Movies, Dads Shows, General Movies, Sons Shows. Makes it much easier for me to locate what I am interested in. I also like the fact that if I have multiples of the same show and I don't have them set for one of My Groups, they still maintain their default grouping rather than no grouping. Had two ways to go on that one and I am glad they choose that one. To me it was the right one.

Gene Steinberg · 06-14-09, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Barry

No problem Gene and welcome to DBSTalk. Cool Avatar! As far as roll outs go, they can take up to a couple of weeks to do a full roll out (Depending on how fast or slow Dish wants to go) and there have been times where they stop the roll out, fix and issue, and roll out another version.

At this point, too early to tell how things are going and anybody that gets it by all means provide as much feedback as possible.

The MyGroup feature is well thought out in my mind. To me it is more like a filtering system than a grouping system since you can toggle between MyGroups, Default Grouping, and no Groups. I created Groupings like Dad's Movies, Dads Shows, General Movies, Sons Shows. Makes it much easier for me to locate what I am interested in. I also like the fact that if I have multiples of the same show and I don't have them set for one of My Groups, they still maintain their default grouping rather than no grouping. Had two ways to go on that one and I am glad they choose that one. To me it was the right one.

It sounds like a great feature -- would be if we needed it. But it's just the wife and myself, and we have a unified diet of shows that has transitioned through our previous provider, Cox, and now Dish.

Peace,
Gene

phrelin · 06-14-09, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Barry

The MyGroup feature is well thought out in my mind. To me it is more like a filtering system than a grouping system since you can toggle between MyGroups, Default Grouping, and no Groups. I created Groupings like Dad's Movies, Dads Shows, General Movies, Sons Shows. Makes it much easier for me to locate what I am interested in. I also like the fact that if I have multiples of the same show and I don't have them set for one of My Groups, they still maintain their default grouping rather than no grouping. Had two ways to go on that one and I am glad they choose that one. To me it was the right one.

Ron, does it function on an external hard drive? If so, I'm going to shift moods from ho-hum to impatient waiting for it.