A110 Stuttering Video

[db13]

I have exhausted all solutions available to me including forum searches...Please help if you can.

I have 2 PCHs, A110 and A100 hardwired network. A110 has Caviar Green 1.5TB internal HDD.

System has worked flawlessly for better than a year. Recently all HD files, regardless of the container, have started stuttering. Some worse than others...It appears the higher the bit rate the worse it is. I have had no issues with SD files.

The interesting part is that they all play fine when viewing through the network on the A100.

All Apps are turned off on the A110, my drive was a bit full (90%) so I moved off several hundred gigs. Slight improvement.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[zombiehunter]

does the drive model end in EARS?

[db13]

I believe it does...

[db13]

I take it that from that question there is an issue with the green drives...did a little more research (though it appears to be a parking issue with the EADS drives) mine may be a similar problem.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Like many others I spent a little too much time watching TV and not staying current on new apps...you guys are just too damn good as a resource...lol.

So, I hope this will solve my issue:

- Installed CSI, in particular...StopActiveHDDStandby
- Using File Manager app to remove data from internal drive to USB external drive (doing now)
- Will be reformatting drive (not too sure if this is needed...Can my drive be saved?)
- Copy single HD file back to drive as a test (hopefully successful)
- Copy rest of files back to Internal Drive if test is successful.
- Install new drive if unsuccessful (have a new 2 TB WD Caviar Green EARS already).

My intent was to install the new 2 TB drive anyway and use the 1.5 TB drive in my pc for back ups...but I need to know if the drive is pooched or not.

Please feel free to comment on any errors in my thinking or process...as a relative newbie I can take positive criticism.

Thanks for you help

[db13]

Update

I put on my glasses and low and behold my 1.5 TB Caviar Green drive model does end in EADS. I replaced it with a 2 TB Caviar Green model ending in EARS. It appears the park issue is not a problem with this model. If it is my hope is that the "StopActiveHDDStandby" application will stop or at least slow the drive degradation.

I copied an HD test file and there was no stuttering (freezing). Copying the rest of the files back now and will report back.

Question though...is my 1.5 TB Caviar Green drive (model ending in EADS) salvageable? My hope is to reformat it to NTFS and us in my desk top as a back up drive...comments?

[db13]

I am truly at a loss and look forward to any ideas...stuttering persists. Better...but still there.

I have:

- tried older firmware
- latest firmware
- new formatted HDD
- apps
- replaced and tried variety of cables (diff HDMI, Component)
- and more than I can remember.

Is it possible that it is the TV? 50" LG Plasma 50PG20 or 30 (can't remember)
Is there a way and would it help flashing the PCH or the TV? (Not sure if this is even possible).

I guess the next step is to try another TV...on another day...lol. (Might toss it tonight!)

The A100 still plays flawlessly off the network from the A110's HDD.

I see there are many views to this thread so it appears I am not alone...any insight or input would be appreciated before I go nutz.

GSB? You watching the forums?

Thanks in advance.

[BanditRider]

What video mode is your A-110 set to? 1080P/60? 720P/60?

The LG 50PG20 is a 720p panel
The LG 50PG30 is a 1080p panel

Which do you have?

Also, framerate sync? what is yours set to?

[db13]

Thanks for the reply and clarification.

It is the LG 50PG30

Video mode has been tried at 720p/60 and 1080p/60 but was always set to Auto.

Frame Rate Sync has been tried at OFF, NTSC/24p, NTSC/PAL/24p and NTSC/PAL (normally set to this).

I have spoken with LG Canada and they would not give me the tech access code for this model...just power down for 2 minutes (unplug) and depress power button for the 2 minutes it is unplugged...I take it is to drain the power completely. I am told this is the only reset option...and there is no firmware updates.

The set up has worked flawlessly for 2 years and the freezing began after the the August PCH firmware update. I don't feel it is the firmware though as reverting back did not resolve the issue. I should note that I have the December update loaded and there was no resolution.

Thank you for your consideration.

[BanditRider]

The proper settings are: 1080p/60 for the video mode (never use auto) and Framerate sync to NTSC/24 since your TV supports 60/30/24 fps but not PAL.

Also, your TV has a ton of different settings you might want to investigate. 180Hz, Cinema, game, 1:1 pixel mode etc..
Try different settings.

[db13]

Thanks for the reply...I will make those setting adjustments.

How do I access the TV settings you speak of?...the menu system does not seem have those options.

I will investigate further.

Thanks again and hope you have a merry XMAS.

[BanditRider]

I just downloaded the Specs from LG's site. The user's manual is there too.

[db13]

(12-23-2010 04:25 PM)BanditRider Wrote:  I just downloaded the Specs from LG's site. The user's manual is there too.

Thanks...already have those...just not very clear on some of the settings you mentioned.

I made the adjustments and reset the TV as per LG's instructions and the stuttering persists.

I thank you for all your efforts. I will keep investigating and maybe will get lucky...at least stuttering is reduced to about 30% of my collection (1.3 TB).

Another anomaly is that it appears to affect about 80% of the new HD data I add to my collection...but only on the A110. As I mention earlier the A100, (feeding off the A110 internal HDD) plays them flawlessly.

Maybe I will take my 30" LCD down (uhg!) from my bedroom wall and see how it works on the A110. (Think I will wait til after XMAS lol).

Thanks for the support and effort...its appreciated.

[db13]

Well...the news is not great...sort of.

Its not the TV - tested with another set (good news I guess as thats the most expensive fix)

Its not the HDMI or Component cables (tested new of each)

Its not the HDD (new drive, formatted via PCH)

Its not the network (A100 plays same files flawlessly)

Its not the files (A100 plays them flawlessly)

Its not the firmware (tested previous 2 updates + now using Dec. update)

Its not the settings (set as prescribed, and have tested all reasonable combination's also have factory reset unit and reentered appropriate settings)

Next I will install new skin, (no connection but have tried everything else and want to change the look anyway)(LOL...oddly enough seems difficult to find new skins to download...all links are dead)

Anywho...any other advice or direction would be appreciated...starting to look like an A110 hardware issue>

Thanks for your help thus far...by the views it would appear I am not alone.

[db13]

Happy New Year all!

Just wanted to report an added glitch. I now regularly get a "no signal" whilst connected via HDMI with the A110 only.

I am using a Harmony remote and have changed the boot up order with no success. The A110 requires a hard boot to reconnect with the TV.

I have done only a little research as it is a new issue but it appears this is a growing concern.

Based on my issues at present along with this new one I can only assume there is a problem with the PCH A110 communicating with external devices. I am unclear as to whether it is hardware or software issue.

I hope that Syabas is aware of these issues (I am sure they are) and will conduct some testing.

For now I am able to use other devices to watch media...the presentation is not as pretty but hey...what good is presentation if you can't watch the show...lol.

I hope this information is of some assistance.

Again...happy New Year to all and I hope 2011 bring only the best to you all.

[sysalo]

To add my perhaps related, recent, experiences. I have an A100 and an A110, they used to run fine without stuttering (noting that I never attempted runing both at the same time). For a while, due to decorating I shelved the (bedroom) A100 and used only the A110 in the lounge. I have a 1 Gbit network in the house, all wired.

I was using XP and happened, due to losing the PCs boot drive, to upgrade the file server to Windows 7. Later 'updated' to the latest firmware, etc, on the A110 (this was the most recent patch). Terrible stuttering. Downgraded to 2010 March version - problem solved went away.

I reintroduced the A110, and started getting audio loss after about 10 minutes - didn't matter if it were an HD movie with Dolby, or an SD show in stereo. This was on both the A100 and A110. Performance monitoring the Windows 7 PC showed that the PC was running at 20% CPU, and reporting 1% network use. I could not trace the app causing the high CPU, since it was the OS 'system' reported as the cause of the high CPU. Tried shutting down 'myihome' (huge use of TCP-IP connections) but no difference.

Eventually discovered that powering off the idling Popcorn solve the problem - back to 3-4% CPU and no audio drop out. Very weird, but there it is. (If anyone knows what causes this, that would be helpful)

Happy New Year, everyone