jeff_coil

Denon 3803 have you seen this? normal?

Hello,
I am wondering if an other 3803 owners have experienced this anomaly. I have finally resolved all my crappy reception issues with my cable (long story) but now when I run the digital cable box through the 3803 and during channel surfing either direction intermittently I can hear the rcvr clicking-sounds like a relay and a purple or green line flickers on top of the RPTV during the channel switch and before the cable box locks onto the new channel. Example if I channel up from say ch 7 to 8 I hear the clicking and then the flicker then the ch tunes in. It should be noted that the channel surfing isn’t smooth with our cable provider there is a slight delay between channel on all sets in the house. I hooked up my cable into my JVC D-VHS dishnetwork box (analog) and I the flicker the problem is not there however I did hear the click once. I should mention that the up conversion doesn’t show any of the other problems discussed here actually it works quite well. But this clicking flicker thing is unacceptable. What I have concluded is that the signal from the cable box may dip during the channel change and the rcvr is re syncing???

Setup
Motorola Cable box composite -> 3803-> component out -> Toshiba 57hdx82
JVC s-video ->3803-> component out -> Toshiba 57hdx82

Curious if anyone else has seen this and potential fixes
Thanks Jeff

Jon Duke

I have a similar problem when using my JVC VCR (connected to the rcvr w/ composite) through the component connection. While I don't have purple lines, there is a significant delay (5-7 sec.) for the video when changing channels. I have borrowed a friends Sony vcr that is a year or two newer and there was no delay.

Some at the AVS Forum have mentioned this is due to the lack of TBC within the vcr, but I don't see how.

Maybe someone else has some ideas...

jeff_coil

Thanks Jon
did you hear the clicking sound? When I use the JVC there is no delay and it seems to pretty good pretty smooth. I am going to try a processor reset today and some other stuff to see what I can come up with. I really don't like the flicker click thing as it just seems to be putting additional stress on the RPTV and rcvr.

Mike Up

That's normal. The Denon has a noise block screen. This happens also after watching a VCR tape, when there's noise.

First of all, the Denon offers higher grade video circuits than any receiver I've had. Denon uses "MECHANICAL RELAYS" instead of the inferior, bandwidth limiting Integrated Circuits(ICs) that most other receivers use. The clicking is the relays.

The problem your having is most likely because of your cable box. I use Directv and do not have that problem. What your describing, happens when the noise circuit tries to put up a blue screen when video noise is detected. The clicking is the relay that does this. Your cable box must be very slow in changing channels, therefor triggering Denon's noise blocking circuit and causing the relay to click in, to display the blue screen. The green and purple lines are noise that's created by the relays opening and closing, using the component output. With the S-Video output, the color is then grey instead.

This is completely normal. With other components I have, when they use their noise blocking circuit(by putting up a blue screen also), initially there is also a glitch of noise and these units use IC circuits.

The Denon has different modes that 'may' help with this. Try the ON SCREEN MODE 2 instead, this may help. Blue screen are displayed to block noise and allow on-screen menu text to be displayed correctly. Noise will not allow on-screen text to be displayed correctly and is why components offer the blue screen noise blocker. Mode 2 most likely will correct your specific problem.

BTW, receivers that don't offer this blue screen can only have their on-screen menus read while using a stable video signal. Denon gives the On Screen mode to allow you more flexibility.

Unfortunately Denon should had mentioned if a problem as yours, is happening, to use Mode 2.

Some of my VCRs put up a blue screen without the option to disable it. Denon does give you the option to disable it. It's frustrating because on certain parts of movies where this is a bad spot on the tape, the blue screen comes on and I miss that entire scene. Very frustrating.

Good luck.

jeff_coil

Thanks Milke I was hoping you would chime in. I switched it to mode 2 and the clicking is gone still have the flickers on some slower channel selections. I wish I could get local on my DirectTV I just use it for the sunday ticket. Dishnetwork has just started carrying my locals but they don't have the NFL....

Thanks everyone!

Mike Up

Wow Jeff,

That's weird as the noise glitches are directly related to the relay's switching. Since you've used mode 2, disabling the noise blocking mode and control relay, the noise your seeing must be caused by the cable box. The fact that there's noise is evident by the Denon's noise blocking circuit kicking in.

From my experience, noise through the component output creates green and purple noise glitches. Going through S-Video, the color is only grey. It may be that the noise has always been there, but the component output is making it more obvious in giving it a color now.

By the way, I wouldn't go with Dish. I had Dish and switched to DirecTV because of continuing problems with equipment, signal over-compression, 2nd local Dish antenna installation screw-ups, poor and very inaccurate customer support, continuous price hikes, and etc. DirecTV has been a dream compared to the previous nightmare. Dish Net? Never again!


Have a good one and good luck.

jeff_coil

Mike,
I agree with the DTV vs. Dish. However I have a really nice D-VHS Dish rcvr. I used it for a couple of years and really haven't used lately other than for VCR. The one thing I do like with this box is how the local (cable) is integrated. Not sure if this is true with Direct but the way the JVC integrates the cable or OTA is transparent you really never know if it is a Sat channel or cable when surfing. Is that true with the Direct system? I have one of those $1.99 DirectTv rcvrs for the NFL and I am torn what to do as my cable (Mediacom) sucks! So many options so little Time I love this addition! The weird thing is- the DTV web site said that my area was getting local in the future so I called them and the gal said nope, she also checked what she said was to different lists and we are not, it would be so easy if I could get my local channels on DTV

Sorry to get off topic and thanks again HTF for all the help
Jeff