Black and white STX-HD100 composite video

[SnyperBob]

Hey guys,

I got my HD Media extender on Thursday and I finally had time to hook it up today. Everything works GREAT, except my picture on my TV is only in Black and White.

Just some info, I hooked up the media extender and first tried to update the firmware. I think it was on version 02-04-2008 and it said there are no updates available.

My TV ONLY has composite video input (yellow RCA input). I plugged the yellow RCA output from the media extender into my TV's yellow RCA input and all that I see is black and white on the TV.

I've used this composite RCA input on the TV before and it's worked fine with color. I went into the HD Media Extender's video config and it was set to composite (yellow).

Is there anything I need to know? I'm new to SageTV, so I don't know much about service mode or whatever. I'm running the latest version of the SageTV server software on my 'server'. My extender connects fine to the server and I can stream everything/anything...

I use Placeshifter on my server, and everything works fine with color on that. MY recording/capture card records everything in color. It's a Hauppauge 1600 card.

Does anyone have any ideas? I don't have a 'better' TV to test of the component or HDMI outputs of the HD Extender work in color. I tried searching but couldn't find much

Thanks

[rtengvad]

Same situation here. I got my HD100 yesterday and I was surprised to see only black and white. The problem is for me (I found out a bit late) that the HD100 so far only support NTSC. Not PAL. While apparently that is not a problem on newer TVs (and hdmi?) it is for those that have tvs that can only show PAL on S.VHS and composite.

If you like me live in a PAL zone there are two things you can do. Wait for that firmware update Sage has promised in the future will support PAL. Or buy a new TV.

Rasmus

[SnyperBob]

Hmm, that is interesting. I wonder if it's a bad batch of extenders or something? I live in the US, so I'm NTSC.

I just wish I had a better TV to be able to test out the component or HDMI....

[rtengvad]

Yes, in that case I can't explain it. Maybe others can come it closer. Keep posting your findings.

Good luck.
Rasmus

[SnyperBob]

Thanks. Just a little more info....with my HD media extender, EVERYTHING is in black and white. When I first boot it up and it's on the server select screen (screen with refresh and settings), it's black and white as well...

I wonder if I can take it to a friends house and try out the componet just to see if the setup screen of the extender is in color...

That might provide a little more info. I guess if componet and HDMI is in black and white on another TV, that would defo indicate a problem with the media extender itself.

BTW, my TV doesn't have any sort of adjustments on it to help with this black and white issue. I've used the yellow RCA composite input before and it was in color. The TV doesn't have s-video, so trying that is not an option...

[SnyperBob]

ok, I just want to post up quick. I haven't confirmed it 100% yet, but it appears the problem was with the stock 3 cable RCA cord that came with my Media Extender.

I just tried out the extender at my parents house on their TV with a different cable and it worked fine. I just hooked it up to my TV at my place with that same cable and it's in color now.

When I get time, I'll try out the stock cable again that came with the extender and see if it is in fact the cable, or just some fluke issue I was having....

I don't know much about PAL, but maybe it's your cable too rtengvad

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by SnyperBob

I don't know much about PAL, but maybe it's your cable too rtengvad

Yes, that would be great, but I did try with two different cables, a composite and a S-VHS. So I don't think its that in my case.

Thanks for the update and good to hear that you solved your problem

Rasmus

[MrD]

sometimes you get black and white if one of the cables is swapped.

[Taddeusz]

S-video has the luminance and chrominance on separate wires. This means that if you have a lose connection or a bad cable you could get just a black and white picture if only the luminance is getting through.