Thin Line Flicker

[shortcut3d]

On Showtime, I started seeing a thin line / flicker that appears like the frame was split with the prior frame briefly. The InfiniTV6 ETH shows 57.8C, -1.6dbmv and 39db. Any ideas?

[Sammy2]

Is this on the echo or on an HTPC (or both)?

[Crash2009]

On Showtime, I started seeing a thin line / flicker that appears like the frame was split with the prior frame briefly. The InfiniTV6 ETH shows 57.8C, -1.6dbmv and 39db. Any ideas?

Sounds like you are describing "macroblocking". I don't know how to fix it, but try searching the word, to confirm that is what you are seeing. Or, better yet, take a picture and post it here.

[shortcut3d]

This is on the Echo. It doesn't look like macro blocking examples I've seen in the past. The picture is perfectly clear with no pixelation, but there is a thin line a little more than half way up the screen for a split second that appears to separate two perfect frames that are out of sync. I'm wondering if this is a different manifestation of the 29/59 frame rate bug.

[Sammy2]

It sounds more like tearing to me. You are not seeing this on the HTPC directly? I am just trying to rule out the tuner or tuner software as being the issue.

[richard1980]

So does it look like above the line is one frame and below the line is a different frame?

[shortcut3d]

So does it look like above the line is one frame and below the line is a different frame?

Exactly!


Not seen on the HTPC. However, the HTPC it seems to be dealing with the worse of the 29/59 frame rate issue. The AMD 6630M on the system handles 29/59 fairly well. Only in the most severe instances (the frame rate switch is wildly variable in speed) is it noticeable.

[shortcut3d]

The solution was to disable Interrupt Moderation. Not sure what changed since this has been enabled without this issue since receiving the Echo. Possibly something changed with the Comcast premium channels. These channels seem to have many problems on the Echo.

[richard1980]

Sorry I didn't respond to your previous post. What you were seeing is called tearing.

[shortcut3d]

Sorry I didn't respond to your previous post. What you were seeing is called tearing.

What are the primary causes of tearing? I keep adjusting my network settings and think its fixed only to appear again. The issues that are left are only on the premium channels. On Sunday night all 6 tuners were in use recording and play back on the two premium channels had tearing, but the regular copy-freely channels were perfect. Is this a tuner issue or an Echo issue?

[richard1980]

I was surprised when you previously claimed that the issue was resolved by adjusting network settings. Tearing is a mismatch between the graphics processor and the display device (they aren't in sync), so I wouldn't think that network settings would have anything to do with it. Instead, I think the problem resides with the Echo's graphics processor...either the physical processor or the firmware/settings.

[shortcut3d]

I was surprised when you previously claimed that the issue was resolved by adjusting network settings. Tearing is a mismatch between the graphics processor and the display device (they aren't in sync), so I wouldn't think that network settings would have anything to do with it. Instead, I think the problem resides with the Echo's graphics processor...either the physical processor or the firmware/settings.

The network changes were probably a placebo effect.

[Sammy2]

Although I have seen different video issues with the echo, I have never seen tearing on it.

[shortcut3d]

Although I have seen different video issues with the echo, I have never seen tearing on it.

My guess is it has to deal with the 29/59 problem. I know HBO and Showtime both have this issue.

FWIW, support has "confirmed" all my Echo/InfiniTV6 ETH issues are with my setup. They do not have a solution. Ceton has been very polite and responsive, going far beyond most companies in support. At this point, I have to agree to disagree with Ceton because everything has been swapped out short of the router and switches (upgrading the network equipment to Ubiquiti this weekend). Ceton has a network diagram with the existing network equipment models, but can't tell me which consumer grade unmanaged switch is the culprit.

Not to mention, last night on boot one of my Echos decide to recover for no reason.

[Sammy2]

Although I have seen different video issues with the echo, I have never seen tearing on it.

My guess is it has to deal with the 29/59 problem. I know HBO and Showtime both have this issue.

FWIW, support has "confirmed" all my Echo/InfiniTV6 ETH issues are with my setup. They do not have a solution. Ceton has been very polite and responsive, going far beyond most companies in support. At this point, I have to agree to disagree with Ceton because everything has been swapped out short of the router and switches (upgrading the network equipment to Ubiquiti this weekend). Ceton has a network diagram with the existing network equipment models, but can't tell me which consumer grade unmanaged switch is the culprit.

Not to mention, last night on boot one of my Echos decide to recover for no reason.

Interesting..