Weird Symptom ~ No Audio on BBC/1 HD if Switching from Another Channel

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  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Weird Symptom ~ No Audio on BBC/1 HD if Switching from Another Channel


    I use my PC as the basis of a Home Theatre with all my TV, DVD watching being projected via HDMI cable and audio via Sony amp. I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit and have just upgraded my TV card to a TBS6280 DVB T/T2 Freeview HD Twin Tuner Card. Yesterday my TV region completed the Digital Swtichover and so I can now receive BBC HD, BBC1 HD, ITV1 HD and 4HD.

    All has gone fine after a re-scan but I have one weird problem. If I open WMC and then select BBC HD from the channel guide it opens OK and with audio. If, on the other hand, I choose another channel first and then switch to BBC HD the volume (on BBC HD only) stops (but the muted volume icon does not appear).

    I have searched around for solutions and have tried the following, all without success:-

    1. deselecting "Exclusive Mode" on the Advanced tab of my "Speakers' Properties" from the Sound section of the Control Panel.
    2. configuring the speakers back to Stero (currently, I run 7:1)
    3. selecting "languages" when watching BBC HD on WMC and trying either of the "English" options (in fact this might be a clue and might help because, when the audio is OK (because I have selected this channel first) but then try to select an alternative "language", the volume/audio stops and won't return, even if I switch back to "language" that was selected originally.

    I hope my explanation is clear enough for someone to be able to resolve this problem. My soundcard is Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Soundcard PCI-Express.

    I wondered if it could be down to signal strength but that wouldn't account for it being OK if I go to BBC HD first. Incidentally the problem also occurs on BBC1 HD, although infrequently, and very rarely on ITV1 HD.

    I am also getting slight flickering on all the HD channels as well. I've tried updating my nVidia driver (GeForce GTX 260) but that created stuttering!

    Oh dear, this is not going as smoothly as I'd hoped.

    Many thanks in advance.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #2

    Hiyya and welcome Snakes mate I don't pretend to be any sort of expert but one thing I could suggest is a signal amp perhaps. If that doesn't work then I'd be looking at drivers for the new gear.
    You mentioned too that the service had only just begun and I am wondering if that may have something to do with it as I had problems when we went all digital out here with the vid and audio being non synchronised.

    Failing that ? dud card mate - by the way does it update the software when on line as it were cos my Panny PVR odes all the time.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for your suggestions all the way from NSW!

    A signal amp implies a poor signal and I do think that is the route to take and I'm going to replace the aerial as a first step but logic doesn't account for why the audio always plays OK if I opt for that channel first?

    Incidentally, I was playing around with Windows Media Centre last night (did I mention in my first post that I have no reception/audio problems on the two conventional TVs in the house) and once I'd got to the state where I was watching BBC HD with no audio I then tried editing channel source whilst having channel preview "On". As I selected one more of the 12 available sources I'd get sound. But I'd lose it if I saved that choice and then went back to the guide and selected that channel. Sorry that probably doesn't make much sense!

    I think there is something in letting things settle down because from switchover I couldn't get those channels on multiplex Com6/ArqB which carries channels like Film4, ITV4, Yesterday, etc. but these all came back last night!

    Definitely not a dud card because I had another issue (Jeez! This was with getting the remote to work with WMC! Still not resolved) and as part of that process the retailer have sent me a replacement card to try so I know that is not the cause.

    Not sure about the software updating but I may try updating the drivers today.

    Thanks mate!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #4

    No probs my friend let us know how you go and if you track it down - always helpful for someone else if they get similar glitches LOL!

    (Ex pat Sussex)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    OK, this just got even more weird!

    I recorded a programme on Channel 4HD (Series 2 of Homeland which is excellent!).

    Started watching it and audio fine. It came to the advert break and still OK but then as soon as the ads ended the audio went off! The workaround was to stop the programme and then choose resume from the options and the audio would be OK again.

    This happened at every advert break - programme fine, ad's fine, ad's end and programme restarts with audio missing!?

    Can anyone use logic to suggest what could be doing this? Could it be the transmission is in 5:1 and the ads in stereo and that triggers something?

    HELP!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,686
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and numerous virtual machines
       #6

    Hi,
    This sounds like (sorry no pun intended) an HDMI issue. You may need updated firmware in the TV, the reciever (seriously happens all the time) and the latest computer audio, TV tuner and video drivers. Check you have the latest updates and codecs. This is a very annoying issue as it can happen any time and on any channel recorded or live. Get the model number of your TV and Hi Fi receiver and look on the manufacturers websites for firmware updates. Spent half my life over the last five years updating TV's firmware as HDTV took off here in Indiana. Channel surfing clients got annoyed very quickly when the audio dropped out.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks for the suggestion but you'll see that the HDMI cable is going to a Sony amp (to provide the audio) then from there to the projector (for the video) so doubt whether this is a firmware issue for the amp.

    Do you agree given the setup?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,686
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and numerous virtual machines
       #8

    Google HDMI audio drop out. Start with firmware for your Sony receiver. I suspect the receiver is decoding the audio not the sound card. Sony equipment generally have an enormous issues with HDMI. I would look on Sony's website for updates.Or you can ignore me and look at other options
    Last edited by Indianatone; 09 Oct 2012 at 14:50. Reason: Additional info
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,686
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and numerous virtual machines
       #9

    This could also be caused by the video card driver as the HDMI audio is often processed on the video card.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #10

    Hello and welcome Indiana yep you're right I was thinking maybe renewing th cable and / or checking the sockets too. I have had a few probs with cables dropping (physically) out or having lousy contacts.

    Personally with my computers I always go DVI and audio differently as at least the plugs are fixable (screwed in) the HDMI too prone to sloppy fit for me.
      My Computer


 
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