HDMI and Video Dropout
retiredme
Specialist - Level 1

There seems to be an increase in the frequency of the video dropout messaging, and I wonder if perhaps a moderator might consolodate the messages into a sticky for quick reference for those so afflicted. From what I have read on these forums (forii, fora?), there is a fix in the works via firmware, release TBD but "soon". A short-term solution that seems to work for some (incl yours truly) is the use of component cables versus HDMI. So, what causes the dropouts? The culprit seems to be the HDMI protocol itself because it does not contain error-correction capability like some earlier technologies and computers. Everybody assumed that digital transmission of data would be error free, but it turns out not true. This is due to the huge variety of consumer level electronics devices, as well as voltage patterns, and a major factor - impedence. When all these things are combined, the "1's" and "0's" streaming along your HDMI sometimes don't look like "1's" and "0's," and your TV goes "???". These reasons are why some TVs and STBs are particularly notorious for not playing well together.  I am not an electrical engineer but a Google search for "HDMI error" led me to these conclusions.( Google is the universal substitute for brains). The fix is in the works, but I do not know (and wouldn't understand anyway) what the engineers could do to correct this. Perhaps some of our more technically savvy might correct my simplistic attempt to clarify this problem, since so many are so frustrated.  Thank you.

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