I have an XT-1143 unit that I am doing a custom home theater integration with, and I seem to be having some issues with the HDMI handshaking on the Live Video input and was wondering if you might have some tips on how to manage it better. I’m pretty close to getting it perfect, but there’s a resolution or handshaking glitch happening that I can’t quite pinpoint.
The HDMI input on the XT is actually being fed from a home theater receiver – a Marantz SR5009, which is a 4k-capable receiver. The screen is a 65” Panasonic plasma, which is a 1080p screen, NOT 4k. Under normal use, without the XT in-line, all systems work as they should. So I know that cabling and the other devices shouldn’t be the issue.
I attached a diagram of the components so you can see how they are being utilized. Also, I put together a short video of the setup in action. I thought you might be interested in it anyway – I have yet to see anyone use it to tie in home automation and security cameras into a home theater (I really think BrightSign should consider it, btw).
Each of the source devices can use different frame rates depending on the content, and they signal for the TV to change frame rate to match. A video being played on the Kodi Media player, or the Tivo unit will run at 24fps, but the menus and dialogs may operate at 60fps (while not playing video). The Xbox may be 60fps depending on the title as well. This frame rate change works seamlessly and the TV displays the content how it should.
When I introduced the XT into the setup, it raises some questions and problems. The Presentation Properties are set to 1920x1080@60p, not forced, not 10bit. It appears that the TV is still changing frame rates depending on content like it should. But I am having issues at start-up, turning the TV and receiver on for the first time and for certain sources while switching.
I will occasionally get a completely corrupted screen output on the TV, flashing / blinking / garbled output. Since the XT is the last device before the TV, it seems that the XT is not sending the correct resolution to the TV because the entire XT Presentation is garbled. It’s almost as if it is attempting to force a 4k or other invalid signal to the TV. Sometimes republishing the presentation while everything is on seems to work. I have tried other framerates, with varying success: 30p, 60i, 24p, etc. The Progressive framerates seem “less stable” than using 60i. I can’t quite figure that out but it might be that using an interlaced mode forces the Marantz receiver to do its video processing to make the signal progressive and that in turn helps the handshaking?
I introduced an EDID clone device between the XT and the TV (which I am still experimenting with), and it seems to have stabilized the corrupt image problem on startup, however I have a handshaking issue with the Roku3 (ironically). This device blinks and glitches out most of the time, and it takes a lot of restarting devices to get it to stabilize again.
So based on this I have a few questions about how the Live HDMI input functions with respect to the overall Presentation. If I am viewing the Live HDMI input full screen with nothing else on the screen does the signal get passed through uninterrupted to the TV from the source? Does the XT dynamically change frame rate (or even resolution) based on what the source is requesting? Further, when I am using a resized Live HDMI input, does the Presentation frame rate follow the input, or does it follow my original Presentation Properties?
I think this solution is really close, and so far its pretty impressive. I’m hoping you might be able to guide me a bit on how to best handle this based on my schematic and the video of it in action.
