When in 1080i I get Flickering on screen??

Hello all, Just want to say GREAT SITE!!

I just dove into the realm of HDTV this week with the purchase of a brand new Toshiba 34HF85 Toshiba Made (checked on that one) and a brand new Scientific Atlanta Optimum Cable HDTV/DVR box.

I hooked everything up last night and when i go to the 1080i channels they come in crystal clear but the picture flickers! It turns black in some scenes like sports or movies when the scene is moving. Some stations in 1080i actuallu come in with a blue tint. The channel 13 station in 1080i comes in in like a 3d looking way everything seems like its just levels no clarity.

Has anyone else had this problem. I called my TV store they said bring the TV back they will swap it out, i called my Cable provider they said they will give me new box (they think it is the box). I just do not want to go throught the hassel yet if i can fix it myself.

Anyone have any ideas???

Thanks in advance!!

can anyone help me here????

The stations you are having trouble with are local HD through your cable provider - right? How about Discovery HD etc (I believe that is 1080i). Did the cable company set it up for you?

How do DVDs look? Try both the 1080i and 540p settings - presumably using component cables.

What cables are you using for your STB?

By the way the 34HF85 is reported to be manufactured by Orion - does it have a Toshiba ID sticker?

Hello,

The box i installed, i am not a newb when it comes to that. The channels are from my Cablevision HD provider.

I currently have the Component cables hooked up to colorstearm 1 port.

Only when i am on a channel that is sing 1080i is when this flickering starts. It seems to happen when there is a moving scene in either sports or movies. I also am seeing a blue tint on some 1080i stations as well as the flickering.

Cablevision gave me the SA8300HD/DVR box. I have no problem in 720P just the 1080i.

I read some other posts that tell me its becuase the Tosh has a problem with the Componet cables in 1080i and i should switch to an HDMI cable and the flickering would stop. Is that true??

My DVD looks great, i had some weird lines appear when there were certain scenes in some movies but i think that went away. The lines only happen when i am watching DVD, i have yet to see them when watching cable.

Toshiba ID sticker. I called toshiba and they told me the tv's are built in Japan?? I will look at the Sticker.

I am a hair away from returning this unit but the problem is that this unit fits perfectly in my entertainment center and if i were to get a different brand of tv "sony" then i will have to go with a 32" because of the size., and ohh do i love widescreens!!

Yes - I got the Tosh for just that reason - it fitted my cabinet - but I'm very happy with the pq.

I never see strange lines on DVDs.

Is your SA box set to output 1080i? if not it should be.

as far as I know only ABC and ESPN use 720p so are you saying that these channels are ok?

Well the strange lines i fixed, i think.

The problem here is that when in 1080i i get flickering badly and i set the box at 1080i and the other modes as well 720-480 etc..

I then chose the box to do the upconvert 1 mode to show the picture as it is broadcasted to my TV or pass-through mode which does the same thing.

All of my 720 channels are PERFECT! The 1080i channel are flickering and flashing. When i switch the box to 720p then the 1080i channels come in Fine.

Spydaz...I don't claim to be the sharpest guy on this message board, but I did find some info in my D* HR10-250 manual. It states the following:

For any given resolution (number of scan lines), progressive scanning looks better than interlaced. Standard TV has 480 lines, uses interlaced scannin, and is referred to as 480i. many HDTVs offer a display format called 720p (720 lines with progressive scanning).
Video formats 720p and 1080i have similar picture quality, each having the edge over the other under particular circumstances. For example, 1080i shows detail better in still images or when there is little motion, whereas 720p excels when there is lots of action. The size and capabilities of your high-definition TV will also inform your choice of video output formats, so be sure to check its owner's manual.

I know that you probably don't want to here this but here goes anyway...you may just have to watch the sports programming and fast moving movies in 720p and the other programming that does not have the fast moving scenes in 1080i. If you are like me...you want to see everything in the 1080i to get the most out of the picture quality. But you know what they say..."You can't have everythin".
I actually have a cool feature on my Mitsubishi WD-62527 LCD called QuickMotion™ which displays sharp, crisp, clean moving images especially with fast moving scenes. Also, the SmartShutter™ technology displays deep blacks and improved dark scene detail. And Plush 720p™ upconverts lower quality signals to deliver maximum clarity from every source.

I hope that this helps you out.

Thank you so much for your info. I am going to pick up a HDMI cable tonight and see what i can do. I will continue watching the HD in 720p and see if calevision techs can fix my 1080i problem tomorrow.

But i called tosh i they told me it should be crystal clear in 1080i. So????

Thank you so much for your info. I am going to pick up a HDMI cable tonight and see what i can do. I will continue watching the HD in 720p and see if calevision techs can fix my 1080i problem tomorrow.

But i called tosh i they told me it should be crystal clear in 1080i. So????

Reading your experience here and from your e-mail, I do think the HDMI cable would solve your problem. The interlaced signal 1080i after being converted to analogue through the component cable probably has some degree of degradation loss. This should be corrected when the 1080i signal stays digital through the HDMI cable and is converted to analogue by the Toshi. Good luck.
:eek:

I will give all this advice a try. I will keep everyone posted!

I think some of what you may see is relatively normal for 1080i HD content but it can be aggravated by quality of signal, etc.

Some call this macroblocking especially in relation to upconverting DVD players and there are plenty of forum arguments as to the proper definition and applicable situations.

Regardless, fast moving sequences display this issue the most. CBS / NBC sports for example. Yet I never see it with Fox or ESPN sports (720p). Changing my output setting on HD tuner has no impact.

Furthermore, I've never had a problem with DVD but I use a lowly $80 progressive scan player with component cables.

The HDMI cable should solve your problem.

Hi,
I noticed the same problem, I just switched the Cable box to 720p. I may be wrong, but I don't think there is that much of a clarity difference (and I am picky), and the 1080i through the component cables is almost unwatchable when there is alot of movement. Also I had to change the Cable box to display the standard channels in 480p in order to get back the ability to choose the option for fullscreen or any of the zoom options. Now that I've done this I have no complaints. I do however plan to order Avia and do some tweaking with the color and contrast. By the way the standard channels in 480p fullscreen look far less grainy than they did in 1080i windowed (or boxed in, or whatever you call it).

-Phil