Pioneer VSX-1018 Issue...again!

[BoomerK6]

Ok, when I first got my receiver a couple of months ago I had an issue with the receiver constantly switching from the audio from Stereo to Dolby Digital while watching cable tv. Well, after doing a reset of my receiver it went away. And, last night the problem resurfaced. I've tried different HDMI cables, so I know that isn't the problem. Nor are there any problems while running a blu-ray on the BDP-S350. Has anyone else out there had this problem? I'm beginning to believe that it has to be the cable box. The cable company is up in arms, so I may have to give Pioneer a call. Any suggestions? Doing a reset really sucks since you have to input all the custom names and stuff back in...which takes forever. Thanks for any help!

[liquidice]

sorry for the obvious question, but is it switching right when programing is switching?...for instance, when a commercial comes on does it switch?...or right in the middle of a normal program?

[werewuf]

Originally Posted by liquidice

sorry for the obvious question, but is it switching right when programing is switching?...for instance, when a commercial comes on does it switch?...or right in the middle of a normal program?

Exactly. I go through similar experiences from time to time, but it's actually a cable feed issue or a channel issue. On some cable channels on older movies they are broadcast in stereo and not surround. If I switch channels I'll find them to be in surround sound and the channel in question is the only one in stereo. It's not a problem with the receiver.

[Sonny]

It's not a problem, thats normal. If you're watching a show/movie on TV with DD 5.1 & a commercial comes on & the receiver switches to PLII or what ever, then the TV show comes back on & it does not go back to DD 5.1, then there's a problem. Of course with the PS3 you're not going to get any switches (during the actual movie) because you're getting a constant audio feed, i.e., DD, DTS, PCM & so on...

[BoomerK6]

Originally Posted by Sonny

It's not a problem, thats normal. If you're watching a show/movie on TV with DD 5.1 & a commercial comes on & the receiver switches to PLII or what ever, then the TV show comes back on & it does not go back to DD 5.1, then there's a problem. Of course with the PS3 you're not going to get any switches (during the actual movie) because you're getting a constant audio feed, i.e., DD, DTS, PCM & so on...

Sonny, I understand that during a commercial or something like that it would normally switch. However...this is during a program, not just during commercials. Last night I was watching a show on the Discovery channel, and it started doing it...NOT during the commercials. Also, when I would bring up my channel guide it would do it as well. Both the audio and video would continuously blank out. Could it possibly be that I have two devices setup on the same port? I have looked, and it doesn't appear so but it's possible that I missed it.

[werewuf]

Originally Posted by BoomerK6

Sonny, I understand that during a commercial or something like that it would normally switch. However...this is during a program, not just during commercials. Last night I was watching a show on the Discovery channel, and it started doing it...NOT during the commercials. Also, when I would bring up my channel guide it would do it as well. Both the audio and video would continuously blank out. Could it possibly be that I have two devices setup on the same port? I have looked, and it doesn't appear so but it's possible that I missed it.

Did you switch to another channel at that time to see what was happening elsewhere at that time? How is your setup acting now, and as you flip through the channels?

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by BoomerK6

Sonny, I understand that during a commercial or something like that it would normally switch. However...this is during a program, not just during commercials. Last night I was watching a show on the Discovery channel, and it started doing it...NOT during the commercials. Also, when I would bring up my channel guide it would do it as well. Both the audio and video would continuously blank out. Could it possibly be that I have two devices setup on the same port? I have looked, and it doesn't appear so but it's possible that I missed it.

I've seen this happen on my father-in-law's Sony receiver using digital cable. It'll do this is there's a loss in signal where it goes to SD for a moment or loses DD 5.1 to just plain 2.0 stereo.

If it does it every time you bring up the guide, that could be because it's switching to the SD signal to display the little PiP window? Not sure.

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by BoomerK6

Sonny, I understand that during a commercial or something like that it would normally switch. However...this is during a program, not just during commercials. Last night I was watching a show on the Discovery channel, and it started doing it...NOT during the commercials. Also, when I would bring up my channel guide it would do it as well. Both the audio and video would continuously blank out. Could it possibly be that I have two devices setup on the same port? I have looked, and it doesn't appear so but it's possible that I missed it.

If the audio & video are cutting out also, there is another problem too (possibly, or?)....With BD its fine, so it's probably a weak signal (my guess so far...). If you have (like I do) Time Warner Cable tell them you want a power boost for the cable signal. It is free & works, as I have two "boosters" for all my crap. The signal was WAY to weak before & the HD DVR boxes would not be able to produce the intended channel, & now their fine?

[BoomerK6]

Alright guys...all is well...at least for now Not sure what I did or didn't do to fix it, but no problems now. I can definitely believe, though, that it could ultimately have something to do with poor signal. Heck, with TWC my broadband doesn't even work half the time because of poor signal. Maybe I will have a tech come out to take a look just for grins. Thanks for your help as always guys