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Samsung LCD and H20 HMDI problem

1565 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  purtman
Is anyone ware of a known problem with the HDMI interface on the H20 not supporting past 480p? I can hook up component video and it works but nothing past 480p on HDMI. I just bought a new Samsung LN-S4095S and it doesn't seem to work with HDMI but my 2 year old DLP downstairs works fine on HDMI with my HR20. If this is a known problem, is there a fix coming?
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Try going to MENU-SETTINGS-SETUP-TV TYPE-TV RESOLUTIONS. Select the resolutions that your TV accepts. Also go to display then preferences and turn the Native setting off; otherwise, it is probably your TV.
I have the exact same problem you described on my new Samsung LN-S4096D. There is an apparent compatability issue with the H20 chipset and the Samsung TV.

I read on another thread that it is only the H20-100, and that the H20-600 will work, but the 600 has a whole set of different issues that are worse. I think I will stick with my 100 and use component cables for now, which will work fine, although technically your best PQ is HDMI.

Apparently DirecTV knows about it and supposedly the next software update will fix it. When that happens is anybody's guess.
Hi I have the same problem with my new Samsung HL-S5687W 1080P DLP TV, when I connect the HDMI picture plays for a few seconds, freezes and then goes to black, it keeps doing this constantly. Everything is fine with component cables. Called Samsung but they are pointing the finger at Directv, Directv admits that they know about the problem and are trying to fix it, when, nobody knows. Directv didn't bother to tell me about this problem before I signed up with them, so I'm thinking about calling the better business bureau about this. Samsung and Directv should have communicated to each other about this problem and solved it. I'm tired of being the guinea pig for these companies.
I have a Samsung plasma {S-5053} hooked up to HR20-700 via HDMI and now component cables as well because the audio on the HDMI cable goes out on the TV after it has been on for about 15 minutes exactly. I have tried all the reboots,unplugging and replugging etc. to no avail.The video looks great but the audio issue has been a problem since day 1 with the HR-20. It is discouraging when you think you are buying new and expensive equipment and small things such as a cable not playing well between the receiver and sat box do not work as they should .Hopefully D* and Samsung will work together to alleviate said problem. To repeat this is a small issue compared to some of the problems others with HR-20 are having but it is still irritating just the same.
I have the same issue with my Samsung HL-S4666W and my H20-100. One would think that DirecTV and Samsung would work together as they both push the NFL. One being the Official HDTV of the NFL and the other the only provider of the NFL Direct Ticket.

I also have an Olevia 527v LCD in my bedroom that has the same issue. I am 0 for 2 using HDMI. :nono2:

- dk
As I mentioned earlier, the H20-600 works fine with HDMI and the Samsung TV's. After switching some things around between home & office I ended up with an H20-600, hooked it up through HDMI to my Samsung TV and it works perfectly. This confirms that the problem is obviously the H20-100 chipset. If you feel it's important to hook up your Samsung with HDMI you can ask DirecTV to swap your -100 box for a -600 box.

I'm just hoping I don't experience some of the problems I've heard others complaining about regarding the -600 box. Overheating, and constant rebooting seem to be the most common.
Meanwhile, there is nothing wrong with component hookup, although it takes more cables.
There may be nothing wrong with component hookup, but there is clearly a definite color change in my picture when switched from component to HDMI which would require a recalibration. I haven't performed this to see if the PQ would be any better or worse, but my concern is to take every step to assure my HD is at its best. It's very difficult for anyone to determine the difference visually without seeing an actual side by side comparison. I believe that HDMI is technically the best connection for HD, although I can't say for certain if the difference is detectable by the human eye. I did quite a bit of research before spending $2400 on what I believe to be the best 40" LCD set available and would hate to think I had to settle for anything I believe could possibly be a lesser quality connection.

From Samsung USA:

"Note that if your TV does not have a DVI or HDMI connection, you can use Component connections, if your TV has them, and get a picture almost as good."

For what it's worth, this is the analogy of an electrical engineer who has been working on HDTV design for 9 years.

"Most digital cable and satellite subscribers complain about the standard or normal channels being of low quality with lots of noise. And they find that the premium or pay channels have the best quality picture. This is because the pay or premium channels are broadcast in a digital mpeg format with a much higher ATSC resolution. And its signal path to your house to the set top box and to your HDTV is mostly all digital. However, the standard or normal channels are just re-broadcast from their old former NTSC analog formats of lower quality and then digitized. When any old low resolution analog signal is digitized, it make a very accurate copy of the signal along with any of the inherent noise and artifacts imbedded with it. And when it gets to your home into your set top box and to your HDTV through a completely digital path, it does a good job in retaining all of that noise it copied when it was digitized. The digital circuits don't know that it is noise and artifacts. It just knows it must keep the digital data signal integrity like a computer does so it keeps the noise. It never gets filtered out in a complete digital path. However to resolve this, you should use a component video cable from the set top box to the HDTV only for standard or normal channels. This is because the analog signal path provides chroma and noise filters that are standard in analog circuits. This helps clean up the noise when the digital signal is converted back to an analog signal in the HDTV component input. Only in this case does the analog component signal appear better then the digital signals of DVI and HDMI."
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From Samsung USA:

"Note that if your TV does not have a DVI or HDMI connection, you can use Component connections, if your TV has them, and get a picture almost as good."

For what it's worth, this is the analogy of an electrical engineer who has been working on HDTV design for 9 years.

"Most digital cable and satellite subscribers complain about the standard or normal channels being of low quality with lots of noise. And they find that the premium or pay channels have the best quality picture. This is because the pay or premium channels are broadcast in a digital mpeg format with a much higher ATSC resolution. And its signal path to your house to the set top box and to your HDTV is mostly all digital. However, the standard or normal channels are just re-broadcast from their old former NTSC analog formats of lower quality and then digitized. When any old low resolution analog signal is digitized, it make a very accurate copy of the signal along with any of the inherent noise and artifacts imbedded with it. And when it gets to your home into your set top box and to your HDTV through a completely digital path, it does a good job in retaining all of that noise it copied when it was digitized. The digital circuits don't know that it is noise and artifacts. It just knows it must keep the digital data signal integrity like a computer does so it keeps the noise. It never gets filtered out in a complete digital path. However to resolve this, you should use a component video cable from the set top box to the HDTV only for standard or normal channels. This is because the analog signal path provides chroma and noise filters that are standard in analog circuits. This helps clean up the noise when the digital signal is converted back to an analog signal in the HDTV component input. Only in this case does the analog component signal appear better then the digital signals of DVI and HDMI."[/QUOTE]


At least it looks like you heard back from Samsung.I sent them an e-mail complaint on this situation almost 2 weeks ago and no response as of yet.I called the support 1-800 number that was listed on the owners guide and that was a waste of time.The lady I spoke with could barely speak English let alone have any ideal as too what I was trying to say to her. My problem is once again is audio not video.My picture looks great I just cant believe that the audio thru the TV will work as is should for 15-20 mins. and then go silent.If it was messed up why would it work at all even if for only a short time thats what I`m wondering so much about.So hopefully D* will come up with a fix in the not to distant future.I heard somewhere in another post that only lesser quality { cheaper ones} were having HDMI problems.Last time I checked Samsung`s were not considered a cheap model television.
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My post may have been a little confusing. I never contacted Samsung, I found the "picture almost as good" quote from their support sections FAQ's, and the electrical engineer doesn't work for Samsung, that came from elsewhere.

Your problem is more unique than most of the others. The most common problem seems to be with the video and HDMI while using the H20 box. My audio always worked fine through the HDMI, even when there was no picture. My 40" set is their latest and highest end model and definitely not a cheap one either. Sounds like their support is non existent.
I actually have a Samsung DVD recorder and I only get a black screen if I try using anything other than the basic red-yellow-white cables. I can't get any signal from the S-video or anything else with this.
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