Blue dropping and veritcal lines?

[bglynn]

I have noticed that my BHN signal has been irratic lately. I have lost the blue color from the cable box (Pace) several times, even after swapping out the box. I also notice veritcal lines, sometimes evenly spaced across the screen, sometimes concentrated or larger, on more than one channel. It's most noticeable on HD broadcasts showing a high contrast screen and panning. It's not the TV and not only the STB, I also had them last night on another old 27" directly into the wall on ABC. The cable guy has been out and says he can't see them, everything looks fine and I have good signal. Anyone have tips?

[jaymer]

hi,
first off, i think its the aliens.
cause this is pretty strange since you get it without a STB (ie. from "directly into the wall") AND also on a digitally DE-coded signal.

except for the fact that you've seen it on 2 sets, i would tend to think its NOT the signal, cause there's no way something from your environment is adding something to the digitally encoded signal - which would be all channels 100 and above on the STB (maybe a few below it also).

1. where do you live? there are 4 BHN service areas serving tampa. we need to narrow that down to compare with others getting the same data from the same head end. what you see in clearwater is from totally different transmission equipment than what i get in Brandon.
2. are you sure you have clean power? i mean, are you in a new neighborhood/house, or is this in a cabin out at the deer lease?

jaymer...

[bglynn]

I'm serviced by Hillsborough, in Camden Bay Apts. Power is fine, and my livig room stb and hdtv is actually on a battery backup/line conditioner also. I'm begining to think it's the actual transmission, just because it varies so much from channel to channel and show to show. I can be watching something on DiscHD and it can be fine, then flip to the next show and I see the lines. At the same time I can flip between INHD1 or 2 and see differences. It's really weird and frustrating. I have a DVI cable coming in a couple days to at least rule out the component cables, but I'm sure it's not them, I already switched cables and inputs.

[passedpawn]

I agree with jaymer... aliens.

If you are seeing video problems in HD cable, then it has to be either 1) in the original source material, or 2) in the STB/componentcables/TV. If you have observed it on a different TV, #2 is ruled out.

So, re-examine your data or call the cable guy a liar.

I would guess that the component cables are the problem. I had vertical line problems once with a composite cable that was being affected by something in the jungle of vines behind my equipment. Switched to components and poof/gone.

[bglynn]

I tried the component cables from my dvd player, and tried my other component input, same results. No lines on some channels and no lines from dvds. It must be from the signal somehow.

[mclaught]

I have a similar problem, but it is only one single greenish line, very thin, very faint, but definitely there. It sometimes is on the left of center, sometimes on the right, sometimes dead on center. Sometimes only on the regular digital channels, sometimes on the HD channels. Sometimes it's gone completely.
My cable reception is absolute crap, it's embarrasing to have a friend over if we're watching the analog channels. BHN has already run a new line from the box to my house, and that didn't really help a whole lot. My neighbor's reception is crap as well. Pinellas Park/Largo/Ulmerton/Belcher area. Today, everything was all herky-jerky and the digitals were pixelating. I know this is sort of a thread-hijack, but I just wanted to add that you aren't the only one with vertical lines in your cable signal.

[bglynn]

Last night, watching Fox, with the stb on 1080, I could see a pink/green blotch on the center, not always there, it depended ont he contrast of the shot. Wasn't on other channels, and wasn't there set to pass. Freaking rediculous - at least I'm not the only one!

[mclaught]

That's exactly it, let's say Kelly Ring is wearing a black suit, the line may have a greenish tint, if she's wearing yellow, the vertical line has a reddish tint. I'm making the colors up, but you get the idea. At first, I thought I had left the convergence bars on too long and burned my screen. Then I noticed it moved around and completely dissapeared. I would call someone out, but I know they would either (1) not see it, (2) tell me it's a problem with my set (my DVD plays perfectly) or (3), the line would be gone when they were there. I'm hoping one day it will just magically dissapear.

[bglynn]

DO you sometimes have faint veritcal lines about an inch apart on HD channels?

[mclaught]

No, the HD channels are usually pretty clear, except for the intermittent vertical line.

[jaymer]

mclaught
where do you live?

[millerman101]

notice no problem here in palm harbor...

[mclaught]

Jaymer, I live in Pinellas Park/Largo between Bryan Dairy and Ulmerton.

[bglynn]

If anyone needs a good deal on a 6' DVI cable, get a computer spec cable - compusa has an online-only part for $23 from www.compusa.com - just FYI...I'm trying it tonight to see if the picture is any better than using the Pace component outs.

[jaymer]

this really isn't the thread to discuss cables, so no more talk about it here.
put it in the deals section if you want.
BUT,
i normally recommend http://www.PCCABLES.COM
they are in florida, and i've ordered as late as 4:30pm and my pkg arrived next day (via UPS ground).

do a search for DVI.
NOTE there are DVI-I and DVI-M cables... these have different connectors - they show you a little picture. I'm not sure which ones are needed for BHN boxes and your TV.
But the interesting thing to me is, that COMPUSA's price is $79.95 for a 10ft cable, and its only $23 or $25 for whichever type you need from PCCABLES. The 6ft is about the same.

And on some thread recently, someone mentioned a 10ft limit on DVI.
If thats so, then why do they sell 15ft and 30ft lengths?