Monivision complaint

[zvogt]

I've noticed an interesting problem with my Monivision display
(actually the symptom is much more like the fault of the vision box than the display proper.)
Anyway, in a dark scene, if there a sudden bright flash, the image goes black.
In any shoot 'em up action movie I watch, the flash from the end of the gun barrel
is too much for the set to handle. What should be a few frames of very bright light
instead are displayed as about one full second of black nothingness!
It's most distracting. It's impossible to watch scenes with heavy gunfire,
as the display is off and much as it's on, displaying stupid strobing images.
:(

I first noticed it when watching movies from the 'Alien' series.
I was running my laserdisc player through an external scaler
and feeding a 1080i signal to the Monivision.
At the time I was thinking the fault had something to do with the
LD player and scaler not working well together. But tonight I was
watching 'Terminator' on HDNet Movies on my Dish811 receiver
(also set to 1080i), and was seeing the exact same symptom!
On a hunch, I set the satellite receiver to output 720p, and the symptom was gone.

Bottom line, there is something about the vision box implementation that doesn't like
frames of bright flashes in otherwise dark scenes in 1080i. I'm sure it's a
physical limitation, and nothing that can be corrected by changing any settings
on the Monivision.
Not cool. :mad:

[Joxer]

That symptom indicates poor DC restoration in the video circuitry, its common in cheap units. The Monovision is known to have a poor media box - its best only as a VGA-input PC monitor not as a TV.

[kharvel]

Yep, the VisionBox is a mediocre product. If you are using set-top boxes with your Monivision, you may be better off replacing the Monivision with a consumer-grade CRT display.

If you have a HTPC then use that for DVD playback via the VGA input and bypass the VisionBox completely.

[chosenfool]

exactly why i got a transcoder to watch HD from my 6208 now. unscrewed off the visionbox itself, removed it totally.

[sargonia]

I have experienced the same problem. I have the Monivision 30" DM6552SWTC monitor with visionbox.

I first noticed the problem when I use my Zenith DVB-318 HDTV DVD player. I have it connected to the component inputs on the vision box.

At 1080i the picture is fantastic, except when the screen goes black during bright flashes. I noticed it on the new Star Wars DVD series and on the Bourne Identity.

It has the same problem at 720 and 480. From my satellite reciever there's no problem.

I bought a transcoder, Key Digital KD-CTCA3 component to VGA adapter to see if I could send the component signal thru the transcoder and to the VGA input on the monivision, but I don't get ANY video signal only sound.

I'm not sure if the transcoder needs to be setup correctly via the jumpers. If anyone has done this, please let me know.

[Jack Gilvey]

Same issue here...I've only noticed it during HD trainers on INHD, though. I'm using component inputs on the vision box.

[sargonia]

I found out something using the VGA input directly. I have two key digital products, the KD-CTCA3 component to VGA transcoder and the key digital X-box transcoder. For the life of me I cannot get the KD-CTCTA3 to work regardless of what switch settings I tried. I connected the X-box transcoder on a whim and remarkably it worked! The only problem is that the X-box transcoder's highest supported resolution is 720p. I'll have to find one that does 1080i and give that a try.

So basically, if you have a monivision monitor, use something like an X-box transcoder instead of a fancy expensive one. It seems to work.

[sleazypete]

Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1

Unhappy Dont Buy Monivision! Scam!!
I have had a $2050 Monivision DM7352 - THE top of the line CRT 36" 1024x768 reso for just under 2 years. It just completely died!
First the sound went, and now it just turns off after about 3 min and gets horizontal black and white lines before just turning off - now it wont come on at all.
When I call the numbers on the warranty card (Albatron USA) they ARE ALL DISCONNECTED!! The emails all come back and error out monivision webpage is where I bought it in late 2003
Does anyone know how to get this resolved. I went to the BBB site and entered Albatron USA and they have an "F" rating

DONT GET BURNED BY MONIVISION - THIS $2000 MONITOR failed in under 2 YEARS!!

AND THEY WONT EVEN RETURN MY CALLS OR EMAILS

STAY AWAY FROM MONIVISION - THEY WILL DISCONNECT ALL THEIR NUMBERS AND EMAIL WHEN YOU TRY TO GET SUPPORT

Now I have a $2000 paperweight...that weighs 200lbs, in the middle of my living room. The picture tube is fine, it comes on for a bit - maybe its the "Visionbox" tuner on the back, I just dont know since they wont even return my calls or emails - DONT LET this happen to you.

If anyone knows what could be wrong with it or a technician in SEATTLE who can repair these - PLEASE POST!! I mean, its basically just a big PC monitor with a cable tuner-box on the back, right?
-36" of Black nothingness in Seattle, WA

[Q of BanditZ]

I wonder how many threads and posts we'll see this spammed in?

[QUOTE=sleazypete]I have had a $2050 Monivision DM7352 - THE top of the line CRT 36" 1024x768 reso for just under 2 years.[/quote]


Monovision? Top of the line?! LOL!

That's news to me!



It just completely died!
First the sound went, and now it just turns off after about 3 min and gets horizontal black and white lines before just turning off - now it wont come on at all.
When I call the numbers on the warranty card (Albatron USA) they ARE ALL DISCONNECTED!! The emails all come back and error out monivision webpage is where I bought it in late 2003
Does anyone know how to get this resolved. I went to the BBB site and entered Albatron USA and they have an "F" rating

DONT GET BURNED BY MONIVISION - THIS $2000 MONITOR failed in under 2 YEARS!!

AND THEY WONT EVEN RETURN MY CALLS OR EMAILS

STAY AWAY FROM MONIVISION - THEY WILL DISCONNECT ALL THEIR NUMBERS AND EMAIL WHEN YOU TRY TO GET SUPPORT

Now I have a $2000 paperweight...that weighs 200lbs, in the middle of my living room. The picture tube is fine, it comes on for a bit - maybe its the "Visionbox" tuner on the back, I just dont know since they wont even return my calls or emails - DONT LET this happen to you.

If anyone knows what could be wrong with it

It's a POS from a POS company. That's what's wrong with it. You'd be throwing good money after bad if you pay to get it repaired.



or a technician in SEATTLE who can repair these - PLEASE POST!! I mean, its basically just a big PC monitor with a cable tuner-box on the back, right?
-36" of Black nothingness in Seattle, WA

It's unfortunate that you found out these facts AFTER buying one of their products. I'm surprised there's anyone around that would make that mistake at this point.

I certainly would contact the BBB and see what they tell you. That's your best first step to take.


The more documentation you have and take in, the easier it will be for the BBB to help you.