Philips 42PFL9664 Sky HD - Random Screen Blanks - No Signal

[admin_exported]

Tried searching for this a while ago but didn't have a lot of luck and seemed to be a generic Philips problem.

Basically, I'll be watching something from the Sky Box planner (non HD) and the screen will suddenly go blank. This lasts for about 3 seconds - not quite long enough for the "no video signal" to be displayed. The screen then comes back on again and continues the viewing.

I'm running the latest version of the firmware on the TV. Looking at other posts with regards to Philips and Sky - Philips seems to blame sky and Sky blame Philips. Am I the only 42PFL9664 owner getting this problem with sky because if so I'm sending it back to John Lewis for a replacement.

It's a bizarre problem that might not show it's ugly face for weeks on end and then hit me about 5 times in 1 night (just got back off holiday and it's driving me crazy tonight!! and hence the post)

Thanks for any info.

Jason

 

[Anonymous]

I had a similar issue, although it was on a different source. The screen would go blank but the sound and ambilight would continue to function as normal. I'm told that it was the 'inverter' whatever that may be and it was replaced. I could recreate the problem by gently pushing on the rear of the panel around the area with the HDMI connections or rocking the panel in it's stand backwards and forwards VERY GENTLY!

 

[Anonymous]

Seems like a different issue to that. My ambilight switches off and the sound disappears. It's almost like someones pulled out the cable and then plugged it back in again (they obviosuly haven't!!)

 

[Andy Clough]

Now that's interesting. It happened to me the other night (for the first time) while watching my Virgin V+ cable box. Only lasted a couple of seconds, then the picture came back. Never happened before. Strange.

 

[Anonymous]

I was about to reply and say "now, we've got a What Hifi editor on board we might be able to get Philips to take some notice". BUT, turned on the TV tonight and a notice came up about an urgent update to the firmware. Hopefully it's a fix.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[Anonymous]

I've always had this with my Humax Foxsat HDR box and my 47pfl9664h...

Below is a description of what I get. (only occasionally)

1. Watching SD on Humax FOXSAT HDR box... (Box is ALWAYS set to 1080i output over hdmi)

2. Change channel to an HD channel (usually BBC HD).

3. Start watching.

4. Maybe 10 seconds later (estimate), the screen goes blank like there is no signal, no sound, no picture, no ambilight, for about 3 seconds, then comes back... Never does it again....

It seems it's ONLY when changing to the HD channel. Maybe it has something to do with HDCP, or maybe the dolby digital feed to the TV? (SD broadcasts upscaled to 1080i doesn't have dolby digital sound....)

It's never really bothered me too much to be honest and it ONLY seems to do it with the foxsat box, and just after changing channel to an HD channel, never affects the PS3....

The foxsat uses a Broadcom chipset, perhaps it's a marginal HDMI compatibility? I wonder what chipset the Sky HD box is?

Incidentally if I keep changing the "output" of the foxsat box between 576i, 576p, 720p, 1080i, occasionally the telly will refuse to "detect" the signal and says "no signal" or "incompatible signal" or something like that... (not always on the same signal format!)

This kind of lends creedance to the idea it might be a marginal compatibility between my telly and the foxsat box HDMI... Or perhaps I just need to spend a FORTUNE on some fancy HDMI cables??? ( lol... Though it would be irritating to me if this was true as I'm in the "use the cheap cables" camp!)

Cheers

Rob

 

[Anonymous]

Firmware hasn't fixed it.

I hardly watch any live tv, and use the planner all the time with Sky HD. I mainly record SD tv and each of the times it has been with SD recordings that I've seen the problem - don't record enough HD to witness it with that. Anyway, happened again twice today - once while I was watching a pre-recorded SD programme and then a little later on, my mobile phone rang, and I paused the same show and during the 5 minute call the screen blanked again. It's really wierd.

Why would the Sky box randomly send a bizarre signal while on pause (or playing).

The problem you are seeing on the Humax box is almost like a delay flicking from SD to HD (btw, don't get that on Sky)

 

[Anonymous]

Still getting the same problem.

Interestingly, it happened for a bit longer this time and I got this error message up on the screen

"Video format not supported"

 

[Anonymous]

I have a similar issue with my Philips 42PFL7404 and HUmax Foxsat HDR

After a few miutes of watching a channel, set in 1080i, HD or otherwise the screen goes blank for a few seconds then comes back - does that a few times within 5 minutes, then the fault seems to get worse, green flicking occasionally, then the left side of the frame starts violently flicking green and the whole picture moves over to the left, very strange. Apparently some sort of HDCO issue but ive checked all the settings, all seems fine, I believe it may be some sort of compatability issue with PHIlips sets and the box, anybody else had a similar problem? It upsets me resorting to watching it in 576i 🙁 not point in having it in my opinion. The picture looks splendid when the box is set to 1080i. The fault seems to be more magnified when watching a HD channel. Connected via HDMI provided with HUmax box, perfectly adequate for the job according to Humax.

Any help or thoughts?

Thanks, Simon

 

[Anonymous]

Thought I'd post the latest update in case someone was following this thread.

I contacted John Lewis about the problem and pointed them towards this thread to show them I wasn't making it up. It was collected by DK Audio Visual Services Ltd. They've had it for 6 weeks and have just delivered it back (I believe Philips were a big slow at getting the part of to them). The note says that they've replaced the SSB Board.

Fingers crossed!!

 

[Anonymous]

I remembered reading this thread a week or so ago as last night i'm sitting watching the F1 which i had sky plused earlier in the day.

I was flicking back and forward from watching the F1 to see what was happening in the american football but i suddenly noticed when i pressed play to go back to F1 the picture and sound appeared then for about 2 seconds nothing, no lights on the tv nothing and then back on it came.....weird.

It must have done this half a dozen times but it didn't do for just as many, are you other guys still getting this or is random?

Andy have you noticed it again?