Hd-PVR and 5.1 surround

[derringer]

I wanted to revisit this topic and see if anyone had any current advice. I have posted on this before, so I will recap what I have learned in hopes that someone will give me some ideas for further testing:

I am currently running the HD-PVR on rca 2 channel audio with no problems until I can find a working 5.1 solution.

When I try to run on Optical SPDIF, everything runs well *except* i can hear a slight 'digitized' distortion every 15-30 seconds. It doesn't happen continuously, and it is actually somewhat hard to hear, but I can hear it, and after watching something for an hour, it really starts to annoy me.

Things I have found in testing:
1. Quality of Power can and does cause artifacts in sound quality. Once I tightened up my power equipment with better stuff, most of these went away; but not this lingering occasional 'digitized' artifact.

2. I have used third party USB boards and found the same problem, so it is not a USB issue, to my knowledge.

One theory I have is that my receiver upstairs that I used to test the STB itself for issues does error correction on the stream and prevents this distortion from coming through when it is plugged directly into it? The only strange thing about this is I am running the signal back through this same receiver from the HD-200 extender, so I am leaning away from this idea.

I have also tried multiple HD-PVRs and it has occured with 3 different units with 3 different revisions.

Does anyone have anything else I might be able to try? If so, thanks in advance,

[Skirge01]

Have you tried bypassing everything except the HD-PVR and the computer? You could use the Arcsoft software to record and play back.

Also, have you tried alternate cables (audio, USB, etc)?

Are you running everything on a UPS (not a $20 surge protector)? If you have known electrical issues, they may be playing more havoc with other components. I'm not electrician, but perhaps something has also been damaged due to those issues you alluded to?

[stanger89]

I thought that was a problem with some STBs that one of the drivers fixed sometime along the way.

[derringer]

Thanks for the ideas, guys.. it helped me think of a few things I hadn't tested (cables, etc.)

As for the STB, i think it was a DirecTV one or something that there was a fix for? I have a SA 3250 from WOW Cable; but I've never seen the Scientific Atlanta brought up as a problem child..

[stanger89]

Fios I thinki it was, but if it could happen to one, with the broad range of cable STBs and cable STB firmwares out there, it could happen to another. You could have a box no one else on the forum with an HD PVR has. Just something to check.