811 - P3.37 Software Release Notes and Discussion

**Jason Nipp** · 03-15-06, 08:00 PM

Software revision P3.37 for the 811:

Corrects an HD Zoom issue with certain HD monitors.
Updated Daylight Savings Time processing.
Corrected filtering for mapdown locals.
Reduced occurrences of blackscreens when changing channels.

Skates · 03-16-06, 08:15 PM

It's a little too early to tell, but I think this update may have helped me. I've still been plagued with OTA stations going to black screen and locking up my 811 - the latest one to cause it was KNBC 4.

However, after taking the update, I rebooted then rescanned and KNBC is back and working.

zoomer · 03-16-06, 09:36 PM

NO INFO bug is still there. Will they ever fix this? I have to reset box every day. And yes I do turn it off every night.

**Jason Nipp** · 03-17-06, 07:29 AM

I haven't seen no info in a very long time. What dish/switch setup are you using?

KLUMP · 03-17-06, 07:58 AM

SKATES, My problem was the same as yours seemed to be, I deleted all my ota channels, them went to the return the system to "default" option, and this fixed my problem, have you tried doing that yet.

Skates · 03-17-06, 09:48 AM

I did actually try that, but it didn't work. However, I've rescanned everything since the update and so far, so good.

blkhouse · 03-17-06, 01:28 PM

Well my black screen with SD seems to been fixed. No longer have to use the "Recall" button. Hope for some I guess.

annwills · 03-20-06, 09:20 AM

I am disappointed that P3.37 does NOT correct an HD zoom issue with certain HD monitors as implied in the release notes. With a 42" plasma monitor, all SD satellite channels display a 1" black band on either side of the screen when in stretch, partial zoom or full zoom mode and connected via DVI. The problem does not occur with HD satellite channels, OTA analog, OTA digital, nor when connected via analog. I brought this to the attention of DishNetwork 18 months ago and after numerous phone calls reached a technical person who acknowledged the problem as being related to overcompression of SD channels and underscanning. P282 (the ill-fated and aborted update which caused more problems than it corrected) apparently attempted to address this problem because the release notes state "zoom HD video output by 105% ... when connected via DVI to correct certain underscan conditions".

I would be interested in knowing if others share my concern over this basic picture quality issue, and whether Jason has any insight on DishNetwork's current position with regard to this problem.

WHNB · 03-20-06, 06:17 PM

My 811 displayed "No Info" in the Electronic Program Guide as recently as yesterday. It happens when the receiver is "parked" on an OTA channel for more than twenty minutes (approximately).

Holding the power button in on the receiver for 10 seconds to cause a soft reboot refreshes the EPG. If I did not do a reboot, and just advanced the program guide as far into the future as it will go to force a programming download, "No Info" would still appear in every block of the guide after the alleged download.

My receiver has the 3.37 software update.

**Jason Nipp** · 03-20-06, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annwills

I am disappointed that P3.37 does NOT correct an HD zoom issue with certain HD monitors as implied in the release notes. With a 42" plasma monitor, all SD satellite channels display a 1" black band on either side of the screen when in stretch, partial zoom or full zoom mode and connected via DVI. The problem does not occur with HD satellite channels, OTA analog, OTA digital, nor when connected via analog. I brought this to the attention of DishNetwork 18 months ago and after numerous phone calls reached a technical person who acknowledged the problem as being related to overcompression of SD channels and underscanning. P282 (the ill-fated and aborted update which caused more problems than it corrected) apparently attempted to address this problem because the release notes state "zoom HD video output by 105% ... when connected via DVI to correct certain underscan conditions".

I would be interested in knowing if others share my concern over this basic picture quality issue, and whether Jason has any insight on DishNetwork's current position with regard to this problem.

You must remember that "Certain HD monitors" doesn't necessarily mean "All HD monitors".

Please remember that E* cannot possibly test every brand and model display available for compatibility. There's probably always going to be a corner case.

In any case this is not your fault, but it is so easy to place blame upon E*. The problem that I see is when other manufacturers don't quite adhere to specs the way the should. A good example of this is PSIP where the FCC had to step in last March and mandate to broadcasters that a certain format to be followed, and yes we still see corner cases with that example.

I am certain E* is working on a resolution for this issue.

What brand and model # display are you using?

rthomp03 · 03-21-06, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHNB

My 811 displayed "No Info" in the Electronic Program Guide as recently as yesterday. It happens when the receiver is "parked" on an OTA channel for more than twenty minutes (approximately).

Holding the power button in on the receiver for 10 seconds to cause a soft reboot refreshes the EPG. If I did not do a reboot, and just advanced the program guide as far into the future as it will go to force a programming download, "No Info" would still appear in every block of the guide after the alleged download.

My receiver has the 3.37 software update.

I've also noticed that tuning to a DBS channel for ~5 minutes will refresh the guide as well. I had the problem quite often this past weekend watching "March Madness".

annwills · 03-21-06, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Nipp

You must remember that "Certain HD monitors" doesn't necessarily mean "All HD monitors".

Please remember that E* cannot possibly test every brand and model display available for compatibility. There's probably always going to be a corner case.

In any case this is not your fault, but it is so easy to place blame upon E*. The problem that I see is when other manufacturers don't quite adhere to specs the way the should. A good example of this is PSIP where the FCC had to step in last March and mandate to broadcasters that a certain format to be followed, and yes we still see corner cases with that example.

I am certain E* is working on a resolution for this issue.

What brand and model # display are you using?

This is a Sony PFM-42X1 plasma monitor. I wasn't blaming E*, simply reporting what they told me that the problem is related to overcompression of SD channels. I could, of course, ask Sony if they are to blame, but if I explained to them that all OTA channels display perfectly via DVI but satellite SD stations do not, they might not agree with your conclusion that they are manufacturing a corner case product.

**Ron Barry** · 03-21-06, 11:07 AM

annwells.

Well I think what Jason was referring to was the fact that there has not been a lot of posts regarding this issues and this could indicate that your particular model is part of a small subset that is having this issue. Does not make the issue any more annoying to you ofcourse, but it from an 811 perspective this would would fall into what one would term a corner case. This does not make the monitor a corner case monitor just a corner case with regards to this particular feature and from the perspective of the 811.

If you have been around a while, issues that crop up are usually immediately directed towards E*(PSIP issue that Jason described is a good xample), and on a number of occassion it turns out to be two companies interperting the spec differently or the issues is on the other side of the fence. I am not saying this is the case here, just that it possible Sony might not be doing it job correctly under this condition or it could be an 811 issue also.

If this is a huge concern or major impact, a possibility solution is to move to a 211 and that also might resolve the issue. The other is hope that Dish can eventually resolve your issue. Jason post does offer some hope in this area, but there is no guarentees when it comes to software.

CJPC · 03-21-06, 09:19 PM

Well, not sure if anyone posted this, but 3.37 broke the OTA time (AGAIN)

They fixed it in 3.35, was fine (ota channel time loss), but broke again!

AcuraCL · 03-22-06, 10:07 AM

Nooooooooooooooo .....

*grasping head in hands*

RJRobb · 03-24-06, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoomer

NO INFO bug is still there. Will they ever fix this? I have to reset box every day. And yes I do turn it off every night.

Same here, just leave it set to an OTA channel. In fact the whole guide is hung, can't toggle to different favorites, can't scroll through the favorites. Without resetting box I can only tune/change channels via channel number.

OldAnalogGuy · 03-24-06, 11:08 AM

I also (now) have the NO INFO bug with 3.37. Along with one of the OTA channels not locking even with 80% signal. This channel locks with the LG LST-4200A, so it’s not a PSIP problem.

All was right with the world with 3.34.

How could these bugs be so arbitrary?

We all have the 811. We all have similar dishes. Everyone gets the same data, but yet there are different problems: NO INFO; Black Screens; Lockups; seemingly selective OTA channel locks, etc. And some lucky people don’t have any problems with the 811 (?).

It defies logic and is aggravating. Especially for
US$100/mo.

**Ron Barry** · 03-24-06, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldAnalogGuy

Along with one of the OTA channels not locking even with 80% signal. This channel locks with the LG LST-4200A, so it’s not a PSIP problem.

Usually when you have another receiver that is locking and the 811 is not and is getting 80% strength. One of the possible causes is PSIP. Just because one receiver locks does not mean it is not a PSIP issue. Every receiver has its level of PSIP support and each receiver has it own level of conformance acceptance. From experience, the 811 is rather strict and is also more dynamic in how it handles PSIP information than other receivers from what I have seen posted. I have seen a at least half a dozen threads where one receiver picks it up and another does not. Most of the time it turns out that a change in the PSIP at the station is the cause.

One thing you can try is deleting and readding the channel to see if come back.

I am not saying that it is PSIP related, but just wanted you to be aware that the statment about the LT locking makes it not a PSIP issue is incorrect based on what we have seen in the past. One receiver locking and another not does not equate to "not a PSIP" issue.

One thing to take a look at. Hope over to AVS forums HD local forum and look for your area. See if anybody else is reporting issues for that station.

OldAnalogGuy · 03-24-06, 02:13 PM

Thanks for the tips, Ron!

I guess I shouldn’t be dealing in absolutes here. It stands to reason that two different receivers would , or may, perform differently.

There is another fellow here in Medford that is having the same problems as I am, at least with the OTA channel lock. Don’t know about the NO INFO, but I’ll ask. I’ll also check the other forum and try deleting and re-adding the offending channel.

Thanks again!

-dave-
Medford, Oregon

cyberized · 03-24-06, 05:47 PM

I thought I'd better come back to report that I finally was updated from 335 to 337 Software and AFTER I set everything BACK to DEFAULT - - - it appears that my problem with incorrect HD Picture Format over OTA has been resolved and it now works as it did prior to the 335 "upgrade". The only MINOR complaint I have now, not going to really complain though, is since 335 it takes LONGER when changing channels than it used to prior to 335.

BEST of Luck!

Skates · 03-24-06, 07:15 PM

I'm also dropping back in to report that it appears my "OTA goes to black screen and reboots" appears to have been resolved. I have not had one reoccurrence of it since the upgrade.

However, I agree with Cyberized - as I reported in a previous version, my 811 is taking a painfully long time to change channels and that issue remains.

P.S. Cyberized - what in the world is on your cat's head?

audiomaster · 03-26-06, 12:13 PM

P.S. Cyberized - what in the world is on your cat's head? >>

Looks like the skin of a large Lime! And the cat does not look exactly thrilled about the new headgear! Looks more like it's thinking "more stupid human tricks"

cyberized · 03-26-06, 01:32 PM

Hey, IF I knew I'd tell you, it's NOT my cat, just a CUTE photo I found somewhere in Cyberspace - - - could be Lime skin alright, I was guessing some kind of squash skin??? Cute though isn't it? He's ready for Battle!

AcuraCL · 03-29-06, 11:18 AM

3.37 here, last night a power-on reboot, and the "no info" bug later in the evening. It occurred after watching digital OTA and analog OTA. Don't know if that matters, but that's what was on.

No other issues noted yet.

WHNB · 03-29-06, 08:31 PM

Yesterday evening I was watching an over-the-air channel when my 811 suddenly went into the "Acquiring Satellite Signal" mode that forces you to wait while the receiver goes through the five-step acquisition procedure, followed by the program guide download, before returning you to the channel that you were watching.

I've encountered "Acquiring Satellite Signal" before, such as when there is heavy cloud cover and the sky is "green" just prior to a severe thunderstorm. It also happens as part of the normal soft re-boot process. But this is the first time that it appeared while the receiver was tuned to a local, rather than satellite-delivered channel, and while there were no inclement weather issues. It seemed to come out of the blue, for no apparent reason.

It was not the "Off-Air Digital Channel Lost" box that appears when the 811 can't lock onto a local channel - but rather the box that normally appears when the dish has lost communication with the satellites in orbit.

Shortly after, I pressed the "Guide" button on the remote and "No Info" appeared in every box on the grid. But when I pressed "Cancel" to erase the guide and then pressed "Guide" a second time, the correct program schedule appeared in the EPG.