V+ HDMI problem

mstirk · 25-08-2010, 15:20

Hi all,

and firstly apologies if this has been asked and answered previously, but I couldn't find a problem like it listed.

A number of times now my V+ box (connected through HDMI) has suddenly lost picture. Most times it happens I still have sound and always I can still view the menus, EPG etc.

Scart/Composite output is still working fine if I switch to that.

One other odd thing that will happen in the midst of this, if I'm switching from scart to HDMI, when I retune the tv back to HDMI and see the menu asking me if I can view the picture ok, in the top right hand box the current tv channel output is visible. As soon as I accept that I'm happy to keep the changes that picture disappears again.

Generally after leaving it on scart output for a period of time (>1 hour), or just switching off completely I can switch back to HDMI output and it will work again.

I don't want to call out an engineer unless this is a known issue because unless I'm very (un)lucky by the time they arrive the problem will have fixed itself and I'll liable to be billed for that.

Anyone else experienced this? And Virgin employees heard of it? Any help at all gratefully received.

smeeg · 25-08-2010, 17:21

It always sounds daft but have you checked that the HDMI lead is the correct way round. There are arrows on the cable and/or connectors to show the signal direction which should point to the TV

hedgie · 25-08-2010, 19:37

Try swapping the cable, a spare is never lost and at least you can tell the engineer you have tried that. Do you have another HDMI Source to check the TV and cable with? DVD, Blu Ray maybe.

Hope this helps.

Martin

RobboEdin · 26-08-2010, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by smeeg

It always sounds daft but have you checked that the HDMI lead is the correct way round. There are arrows on the cable and/or connectors to show the signal direction which should point to the TV

You learn something new every day. I thought HDMI was bidirectional and it didn't matter which way you plugged the cable in. Strange to have a cable system that allows you to make such a mistake!

mstirk · 26-08-2010, 09:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by hedgie

Try swapping the cable, a spare is never lost and at least you can tell the engineer you have tried that. Do you have another HDMI Source to check the TV and cable with? DVD, Blu Ray maybe.

Hope this helps.

Martin

I have tried another source (my pc and camcorder can both output over HDMI) and they're ok. I've tried a different cable as well.

The odd thing to me (and this applies to the other suggestion about the cable being the wrong way round) is that the menu/epg can still be seen (and often the sound as well), so something is coming through. If the cable was faulty or the wrong way round neither of them would work surely? And then without swapping cables or anything, it will start working again.

Oh well sound like it'll have to be an engineer call and hope he finds something. Thanks for the thoughts.

hedgie · 26-08-2010, 15:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstirk

I have tried another source (my pc and camcorder can both output over HDMI) and they're ok. I've tried a different cable as well.

The odd thing to me (and this applies to the other suggestion about the cable being the wrong way round) is that the menu/epg can still be seen (and often the sound as well), so something is coming through. If the cable was faulty or the wrong way round neither of them would work surely? And then without swapping cables or anything, it will start working again.

Oh well sound like it'll have to be an engineer call and hope he finds something. Thanks for the thoughts.

Yeah I think you have done all you reasonably can before calling an engineer so I would be amazed at a call out charge. The menu thing is weird, I don't know enough about how the video overlay is "merged" with the video image to give any more insight

Just a thought is the V+ set to the same settings as you PC and camcorder? maybe its a wierd 720p/1080i comparability issue with your TV?

Let us know what the engineer comes up with

ShadowTD · 27-08-2010, 14:20

You've got a SA V+, yes? This has come up a few times before, and it's proper weird. It appears that the HDCP handshake is failing, which causes the loss of the TV picture. However, because of the design of the box, the GUI overlay is still displayed. It seems to be related to the beginning of the death of the HDMI port, and you should push for a replacement.

**Graham M** · 27-08-2010, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobboEdin

You learn something new every day. I thought HDMI was bidirectional and it didn't matter which way you plugged the cable in. Strange to have a cable system that allows you to make such a mistake!

There is nothing in these cables that should make them only work 1 way around, none of the wires are crossed and there is no other electronic circuitary

RobboEdin · 27-08-2010, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham M

There is nothing in these cables that should make them only work 1 way around, none of the wires are crossed and there is no other electronic circuitary

..which was the reason for the sceptical tone in my response. I thought the person was talking baloney.

PlanBee · 27-08-2010, 23:18

I had the same problem. I could get the menu but no sound or picture. Despite being a time served TV engineer I even tried the "turn the cable round" trick without success or understanding why.

The nice Virgin engineer triedand failed to make it work, swapping the SA box for a Samsung didn't fix it. My laptop seemed ok. The engineer suggested it was a TV compat issue and left. As he did I suggested that the two original VM cables maybe the problem. He said no but left me a new one. I tried it and its worked at treat ever since...

So my tip... try a different make/generation of cable.

Take care

hedgie · 28-08-2010, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShadowTD

You've got a SA V+, yes? This has come up a few times before, and it's proper weird. It appears that the HDCP handshake is failing, which causes the loss of the TV picture. However, because of the design of the box, the GUI overlay is still displayed. It seems to be related to the beginning of the death of the HDMI port, and you should push for a replacement.

OK if the HDCP handshake is failing that sounds like it could be ecaserbated by a poor, marginal cable. If the timing on the SA is on the edge and the cable is iffy then it will fail if yoiur other sources are better timed then the dodgy cable might not tip it over the edge.

I agree with the other poster try a different brand of cable, its only few quid. Personally I would avoid the the cheapo end of the market and go for something in the mid range. Check out cablemountain.co.uk MUCH cheaper than Maplin or the high street.

spiderplant · 28-08-2010, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlanBee

Despite being a time served TV engineer I even tried the "turn the cable round" trick without success or understanding why.

Turning the cable round does sometimes work. I assume by fixing bad connections between plug and socket.

mstirk · 01-09-2010, 09:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by hedgie

OK if the HDCP handshake is failing that sounds like it could be ecaserbated by a poor, marginal cable. If the timing on the SA is on the edge and the cable is iffy then it will fail if yoiur other sources are better timed then the dodgy cable might not tip it over the edge.

I agree with the other poster try a different brand of cable, its only few quid. Personally I would avoid the the cheapo end of the market and go for something in the mid range. Check out cablemountain.co.uk MUCH cheaper than Maplin or the high street.

Thanks for that guys. I'll try one of my other cables. None are "premium", but can't all be dodgy. Will see what happens.