Can't get HDMI to work Above 480p

[peternm22]

I recently bought a new TV (Samsung LN40A650), and I am using it with the SageTV HD extender. I used component cables when I first got it, since I didn't have an HDMI cable. I got a couple HDMI cables today from Monoprice, and I can't get the TV to display anything from the extender apart from 480p. The resolutions 720p, 1080i, and 1080p cause the TV to display "Mode Not Supported".

I tested both HDMI cables, same result with both. My PC works using 720p, 1080i, and 1080p via a DVI -> HDMI cable. Also, I have a 1080i upconverting DVD player which can also display 720p and 1080i via HDMI. It's only the SageTV extender which doesn't work at high res over HDMI.

Also, I noticed that when I set the output of the extender to HDMI, and component output still stays active. It is suppose to?

I'm using the latest beta firmware (and server software). Any ideas?

Thanks.

-Peter

[peternm22]

Update: I've tried all the HDMI ports on the TV, same result. My satellite receiver (Starchoice 505) has a DVI output, so I used the DVI -> HDMI cable to the TV, and it works perfectly fine.

So I have 3 HDMI devices that work when connected to the TV @ 1080i (or 1080p): DVD Player, PC, and Satellite receiver. The only one that doesn't work is the SageTV media extender.

I've tried rebooting the server, power cycling the extender, turning the TV on then the extender, turning the extender on and THEN the TV, 2 different HDMI cables. Nothing works. Has anyone else had this problem?

The Video Output setting on the extender (Component or HDMI) doesn't seem to have any effect on anything.

Thanks.

-Peter

[doc]

Have you been into the extender config when it boots up, and in the video setup chosen HDMI and then made sure 1080i is ticked?

You could try unticking all other resolutions, that would force it to use 1080i - hopefully.

[peternm22]

Originally Posted by doc

Have you been into the extender config when it boots up, and in the video setup chosen HDMI and then made sure 1080i is ticked?

You could try unticking all other resolutions, that would force it to use 1080i - hopefully.

Yes I have. Originally I just had 1080p ticked, didn't work. Tried 1080i, didn't work either. Eventually I ticked all of them and cycled through them using the remote. The highest I could output over HDMI was 480p (as reported by the TV).

-Peter

[doc]

Originally Posted by peternm22

Yes I have. Originally I just had 1080p ticked, didn't work. Tried 1080i, didn't work either. Eventually I ticked all of them and cycled through them using the remote. The highest I could output over HDMI was 480p (as reported by the TV).

-Peter

In that case I'm totally clueless.

I'd give it a day or so to see if anyone else has any idea, and if not contact support.

[Ryand833]

Can you try any other device hooked up to your TV with the new HDMI cable(s) you bought? If you can get your DVD player or satellite receiver to work in 1080p with the new HDMI cables that would at least rule out that the cables are the problem.

[peternm22]

Originally Posted by Ryand833

Can you try any other device hooked up to your TV with the new HDMI cable(s) you bought? If you can get your DVD player or satellite receiver to work in 1080p with the new HDMI cables that would at least rule out that the cables are the problem.

I hooked up the DVD player via HDMI @ 1080i with the same cable and it works, the extender won't work at 1080i via HDMI so that rules out the cable. The satellite receiver is DVI only, so I can't use the same HDMI -> HDMI cable for it.

Any other ideas?

Thanks.

[Opus4]

Contact SageTV support.

- Andy

[peternm22]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Contact SageTV support.

- Andy

Will do.

[peternm22]

I e-mailed Sage 3 days ago (right after I posted my last message), and I haven't heard anything back yet. Nothing in my spam folder either. Sage usually gets back to me within in a day, should I e-mail them again?

-Peter

[Opus4]

If you think that perhaps they didn't get your email, I would use the form in my sig lines or on the main forum index instead of sending an email, though technically, I suppse the 72 hour response time isn't over until tonight.

- Andy

[peternm22]

Oh, I didn't realize the response time was up to 72 hours. They've always been quite quick getting back to me in the past. I'll wait until tonight before I contact them again.

Thanks Opus.

-Peter

[Kimper]

Same trouble with my new Sammy (LN32A450).... I get a blank screen when I try anything other than 480i or 480p. Let me know what you figure out.

[Kimper]

This reminds me of the good old days when no HDTV would work with a PC short of hours of labour with software to change your resolution and refreshes to all sorts of weird settings.. Anyway, I found a list of display modes in the Samsung manual that it supports for HDMI input (a much smaller list than its analog support btw).

Here is the chart:

All Resolutions listed as VESA

..................................HorizFreq.............. Vert Freq
..............640x480.........31.469..................59.94
..............800x600.........37.879..................60.317
.............1024x768........48.36....................60.004
.............1360x768........47.712..................60.015


So I tried a custom resolution with this syntax:

extender_resolution_extra_modes=1360x768p@60.015|standard=VESA_1360x768x60

Put that in the extenders properties file as Opus describes in the faq, booted the HD extender to the settings screen and it looked exactly the same with no new options for my custom resolution. So not sure if my syntax was wrong or if I was just barking up the wrong tree entirely.. Could someone maybe provide the correct syntax for this?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Kimper

So I tried a custom resolution with this syntax:

extender_resolution_extra_modes=1360x768p@60.015|standard=VESA_1360x768x60

Put that in the extenders properties file as Opus describes in the faq, booted the HD extender to the settings screen and it looked exactly the same with no new options for my custom resolution.

If you mean the settings screen on the extender before you connect to a server, then the extra mode will not be there -- custom modes would only be available in Detailed Setup -> Multimedia after connecting to the SageTV server.

- Andy

[eded9698]

I'm also having the same problem with my Samsung. Has anyone with this problem found a solution?

[Kimper]

I went back to component... works great..

[brb84]

This concerns me because I just bought an HD100 for my Samsung (same model, 52"). Still no luck??