dvb318 locking up

[grizzly660fan]

I just got my Zenith DVB318 and it seems to be locking up on me. can anyone help?

I have my video connected from dvb318 to my mitsubishi 65inch hd tv via the dvi cable. I do as instructed in the zenith manual (turn on tv, then turn on dvd player) however it freezes on the "hello" screen on the zenith unit.

If I disconnect the dvi cable (so no video inputs are connected) then the dvd player boots up just fine, I can then connect the dvi cable, insert a dvd and watch a movie.

anyone have any ideas on what may be causing this one? Note: I am using the dvi cable supplied by zenith.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[sonick182]

There have been reports of odd glitches using the DVI connection with the DVB318 unfortunately. not sure if they're fixable or workaround-able.

Do a search.

[HoustonGuy]

The Zenith DVB 318 is ONLY meant to be bought for it's great component properties on CRT monitors and various other type monitors. Why are you asking this question? It is not a good DVI player. Return it if you want DVI. Get a refund.

[zbman]

Received my unit on Thursday and it has already failed. Can't be sure it is the manufacturer's fault as this thing might have been mishandled during shipping. I worked for one day, but the picture on my GWIII was terrible and the transport made some funny noises. Tried both DVI and component and various resolutions, but my $80 Sony at 480p still looked better. The next day, it wouldn't read any disc, period.

I'm going to give another unit a try before throwing in the towel on this model - although might depend on how the exchange/repair is handled by Goch.

[aydu]

Originally posted by HoustonGuy
The Zenith DVB 318 is ONLY meant to be bought for it's great component properties on CRT monitors and various other type monitors. Why are you asking this question? It is not a good DVI player. Return it if you want DVI. Get a refund.

This is incorrect information. Opinions are like noses - everyone has one. This fits into that category.

The issue here is some incompatibility between how different manufacturers have implemented the DVI interface on their sets. I'm using the 318's DVI interfact with my Sony GWIII with absolutely no problems and the PQ is stunning.

[dgeorgatos]

I have the same exact issue with my 318 and my Infocus 4805. I am bringing to a local zenith repair shop to have them check it out before I send it to zenith.

[zbman]

Aydu,
I'm anxious to get a functioning unit for my GWIII. Before it quit, the picture was pixelated and the brightness and colors were off (via component). I had the tv tweaked using UMRs recommended settings, which works great for all of my inputs. Did you have to make any significant setting adjustments after connecting the zenith?

[aydu]

I made no adjustments at all. I had not done any service menu adjustments to the set, just some initial user menu changes.

I have been very impressed with the 318 and the GWIII. Together they produce a very good picture on both DVI and component. I use 1080 upconversion, as to my eye it looks a bit smoother than the 720.

[zbman]

Thanks. Looking forward to the same results.

[grizzly660fan]

so the general consensus is that the implementation of dvi between zenith and my mitsu tv are to blame? should I try a different cable? I am using the one that came with the zenith dvd player currently.

its really weird how it behaves via dvi, it locks up the dvd player totally, I have to unplug it and then turn the dvd player on without the dvi connected to the tv. once the dvd player has booted itself, then everything works perfectly.

any other help or advice would greatly be appreciated.

[Beaker1024]

Originally posted by aydu
This is incorrect information. Opinions are like noses - everyone has one. This fits into that category.

The issue here is some incompatibility between how different manufacturers have implemented the DVI interface on their sets. I'm using the 318's DVI interfact with my Sony GWIII with absolutely no problems and the PQ is stunning.

I will second this statement. I just got my 318 on last Thursday and it looks amazing through DVI at 720p to my Panny 50" RP LCD. I know people say don't use DVI and don't do 720p over DVI but heck I'm doing both and you know what it's jaw dropping amazing picture quality.

Admittedly I got this player because it's the only upscaler that isn't >$1k and will not get wierd IR commands from my Pio reciever and my only previous player almost died.

I will also admitt that when I ran DVE to calibrate my TV with 720p over DVI the player (and TV) were set way to bright. So I had to lower the TVs brightness substainually along with the contrast a little. I will also admitt that over DVI it was very very easy to see the "White Crush" over DVI on the contrast test screen. But I gave it a try anyways and watched "Finding Nemo" and "Shrek" back to back using 720p over DVI and was capivated.

These are just my findings. As for bad units and such, when I ordered through "G" I spoke with him on his volume of sales and he said they get ~ 75-100 calls a day on this player. Were sold out with the stock they had and for the next weeks shipment (last weeks, with my unit) he had already sold 228 of the 250 units they were getting in.

Again just the information that I know about this player.

BTW Make sure you put your audio options to 96kHz and turn that darn DRC Off! With these settings I heard things in Nemo and Shrek I never heard before! Outstanding.

EDIT: NOTE: I am currently using the DVI cable that came with the 318.

[NorthJersey]

grizzly, my 318 has been working great over DVI to my Sony directview for over 2 wks now. No one in this thread has asked this question:

do you have "autoplay" enabled/on in the player's setup menu ?

This has been known to cause the player to lockup at the hello screen.

if it's not enabled, did you try turning the tv on first before turning the dvd player on ? the dvd player may need the tv already sending out the DVI-HDCP handshake

just some ideas

[grizzly660fan]

thanks Northjersy, yes, I have tried autoplay enabled and disabled, no difference, still seems to lock up. I have tried dvd player on first then tv, and tv on first then dvd player. still locking up.

must be something with my mitsu hd tv and the dvd player? I might try a different dvi cable and see how that goes.

thanks all for your help and suggestions.

[steviec]

Why don't you run it thru component?
As Houston Guy said this player works best using the component outputs.
The DVI connection has major issues, mainly white crush.
There are some better players that are superior when using DVI , namely the Momitsu V880 and the Bravo D2.

[zbman]

Just got my unit back from repair and can report the picture is as good as reported at 1080i to a GWIII. Gochnauer's commented that the repair was primarily a software update. Didn't realize a more recent version of firmware was available for March units, but if so it might help with some of these lock-up problems people are having.

[Beaker1024]

There is a thread on a firmware download (well waiting for them to release it to public as it has been in Beta testing since July 14th or so) for the Zenith 318. Maybe I should resurrect that thread.... humm....

[buzzly]

Check out this thread from Mits owners having ths same problem you have.
I have problem with my Zenith 318 connecting to Sanyo 30HT744 with HDMI input. The 318 just freeze up every time.

http://www.hometheaterspot.com/htsthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=622483&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Originally posted by grizzly660fan
I just got my Zenith DVB318 and it seems to be locking up on me. can anyone help?

I have my video connected from dvb318 to my mitsubishi 65inch hd tv via the dvi cable. I do as instructed in the zenith manual (turn on tv, then turn on dvd player) however it freezes on the "hello" screen on the zenith unit.

If I disconnect the dvi cable (so no video inputs are connected) then the dvd player boots up just fine, I can then connect the dvi cable, insert a dvd and watch a movie.

anyone have any ideas on what may be causing this one? Note: I am using the dvi cable supplied by zenith.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[NorthJersey]

from the threads, it appears the 318 does not like a DVI<->HDMI connection to a tv, there have been complaints with such a cable to the Sanyo, to plasmas, and other tv's that have HDMI connections. maybe zenith will correct this in future firmware upgrades but you may want to connect the zenith through the component input instead until a fix is available.

[buzzly]

My guess is the Zenith 318 does not implement HDCP via DVI right. Today, one have to assume that whoever uses a HDMI port should have implemented HDCP right since there is only one standard. It is more or less free for all on the DVI side. Zenith 318 has problem with DVI-DVI connection with some TVs as well.

Nonetheless, at the mininum, the Zenith 318 should not freeze up no matter what (even when the handshake fails). So I am holding Zenith responsible for fixing that.


Originally posted by NorthJersey
from the threads, it appears the 318 does not like a DVI<->HDMI connection to a tv, there have been complaints with such a cable to the Sanyo, to plasmas, and other tv's that have HDMI connections. maybe zenith will correct this in future firmware upgrades but you may want to connect the zenith through the component input instead until a fix is available.

[aydu]

I have my 318 connected via DVI to my Sony GWIII and it has no problem connecting. The GWIII is just DVI, but the 318 is supposedly HDMI compatible.

As the problems seem to be hit or miss, it's hard to tell who's implementation of HDMI compatibility is flawed.

[aydu]

Originally posted by buzzly
So I am holding Zenith responsible for fixing that.

Just how do you hold a manufacturer responsible for fixing something?

[buzzly]

Just ranting! That's all.

Originally posted by aydu
Just how do you hold a manufacturer responsible for fixing something?

[aweedman]

Just bought my Pioneer 5400HD and hooked it up to my Zenith 318 via DVI --> HDMI connection. Low and behold, the DVD player locks up. Not a huge deal because I can connect via component. Regardless, any word as to whether the firmware upgrade is going to fix this problem?

[Q of BanditZ]

Originally posted by buzzly
Just ranting! That's all.

If you've regsitered the product and are under warranty, then I believe your original statement could, in fact, be correct. :)

[truaudiophile]

Has Any firmware upgrade helped you guys?

I have had one just start locking up using the "baby Einstein" disc from Target. The DVD player is connected through component video only.

Any suggestions or do any of you have the same disc acting the same?

[NorthJersey]

[QUOTE=buzzly]My guess is the Zenith 318 does not implement HDCP via DVI right. Today, one have to assume that whoever uses a HDMI port should have implemented HDCP right since there is only one standard. It is more or less free for all on the DVI side. Zenith 318 has problem with DVI-DVI connection with some TVs as well.

Nonetheless, at the mininum, the Zenith 318 should not freeze up no matter what (even when the handshake fails). So I am holding Zenith responsible for fixing that.[/QUOTE]

hdcp from dvi on the 318 is just fine, that's how my 318 has been connected to my sony 34" directview since last year. Could be a problem with the hdcp implementation on the tv that you are attempting.

[garberfc]

[QUOTE=truaudiophile]Has Any firmware upgrade helped you guys?

I have had one just start locking up using the "baby Einstein" disc from Target. The DVD player is connected through component video only.

Any suggestions or do any of you have the same disc acting the same?[/QUOTE]

I've had the player for about a year now and it seems to lock up much more than it used to. I play mostly backed up DVD's on Memorex -R media. Some of the disks are dirty (young kids), but others are in pristine condition and play flawlessly on a cheap, older player...

It doesn't actually lock up, but I get a frame freeze. Sometimes for 5 seconds, sometimes for 5 minutes, but basically the disk is unwatchable.

I have the player outputting 1080i and connected via component to a Panny plasma.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Frank

[Chris Gerhard]

I am using my Zenith DVB318 connected by DVI to a Panasonic PT-L500U LCD projector using the new firmware. It looks slightly better than component using the old firmware that permits component upscaling. I also have no HDCP issues with the DVB318 connected by DVI to my Sony XBR910. I would conclude the DVB318 connected by DVI should work properly with most displays but apparently not all based on what I have read.

Chris