Tivo HD Periodic Screen Black Out

[edstewbob]

I thought there was a thread describing this problem but can't find it now. My problem is that I have periodic blackouts of the picture that last for about 2 seconds. The audio remains OK and the picture always returns. This occurs about once per minute and is very annoying. Sometimes it will go for 5 minutes and sometimes it will occur several times in one minute. I have contacted Tivo several times and they have been unable to help me. The problem occurs on both live tv and recorded tv but never on downloaded content. The black out on recorded tv appears to occur during the recording process because I can replay the show and the black out always occurs at the same place in the recording. I have a Motorola M-card from Charter installed that works fine and installed with no issues. I get the same problem when I remove the M-card and just watch standard channels. The same problem occurs on HD or non-HD channels. I also have the problem with premium channels as well as non-premium. I use component cables connected to my Sony KP-53HS10 TV. I tried to change the cables but that did not help. I think most of the problems started when upgrading to 9.2a. I have my Video Output Format set to 1080i Hybrid and Aspect Correction Mode set to Panel. I also still have my Series 2 attached to the same TV and have never had a problem with it.

[bizzy]

have you read this thread? (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=365824)

[edstewbob]

Yes, I have been reading this thread for a long time but this isn't my problem. My screen blacks out frequently but only for about 2 seconds each time. No loss of audio and no need to reboot. Rebooting doesn't change the symptoms.

[JacksTiVo]

I thought there was a thread describing this problem but can't find it now. My problem is that I have periodic blackouts of the picture that last for about 2 seconds. The audio remains OK and the picture always returns. This occurs about once per minute and is very annoying. Sometimes it will go for 5 minutes and sometimes it will occur several times in one minute. I have contacted Tivo several times and they have been unable to help me. The problem occurs on both live tv and recorded tv but never on downloaded content. The black out on recorded tv appears to occur during the recording process because I can replay the show and the black out always occurs at the same place in the recording. I have a Motorola M-card from Charter installed that works fine and installed with no issues. I get the same problem when I remove the M-card and just watch standard channels. The same problem occurs on HD or non-HD channels. I also have the problem with premium channels as well as non-premium. I use component cables connected to my Sony KP-53HS10 TV. I tried to change the cables but that did not help. I think most of the problems started when upgrading to 9.2a. I have my Video Output Format set to 1080i Hybrid and Aspect Correction Mode set to Panel. I also still have my Series 2 attached to the same TV and have never had a problem with it.It is the Sony TV that is the problem, not your TiVo unit. I have the same model as you, which I purchased in 2000. I know it is the TV and not my TiVo S3 since it had the same problem when using a Scientific Atlanta HD STB directly into the composite input on the Sony TV (Video 5). So since it occurred prior to installing my S3, I have concluded it is an issue with the TV.

My diagnosis of the problem is that the composite input circuitry of Video input 5 detects whether the signal is 480 (normal or letterbox), 720 or 1080i and then automatically adjusts the screen aspect size accordingly. The screen goes black whenever there is a sudden change to the video such as a fast action scene or dark to light such as a gun or lightning flash. The Sony TV aspect signal detection circuitry resets for some unknown reason and thus the black screen. When the picture reappears the TV displays the type of signal it is receiving (e.g 108i).

You may recall that this projection TV model was one of the first to be HD ready and by the time people started hooking up HD STB or TiVo HD units, it was out of warranty and who could you complain to. There is not way to set the Video 5 input to only display fixed 1080i mode. If anyone with this model set knows how to do it, I would welcome their input (no pun intended).

My ultimate solution is that I am looking to purchase a 52" LCD HD unit as soon as the prices for them approach the magical $2000 or less range.
(BTW, I started a previous thread last Fall asking for help with this issue, but no one ever responded.)