Flicker line along top of the screen

[benthered]

Hi, Ive just got an Optoma 745 projector and it looks great showing HD programs. My problem is when viewing non-HDTV I get a flickery line along the top of the screen- anyone know how to correct this? I am using a motorola HD-DVR cable box from Adelphia. Is it the projector or the cable box?
Thanks
Ben

[57U]

If the line is like a series of white dots/dashes, this is information (for CC, etc) that's supposed to be "off screen". Can you adjust the overscan on your FP a bit?

I've seen this on upconverted SD programming on HD channels, but I've got my overscan pretty low. This is why when someone adjusts overscan, they should not go below about 3%.

http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/3930/overscan.html

http://www.videoessentials.com/D_Theater_signals13.php

Is this what you're seeing?

[benthered]

Yep, that's what I see. I have looked on the projector and can't see where to adjust for overscan - anyone familar with adjusting this for a FP?
Now you've put a name to my problem I did a google search and found a statement on the OptomaTV site :

"Low 1% Overscan Rate
Overscan is the amount of screen image that runs underneath the outside edges of all televisions. Typically, about 3 or 7% of the screen images is lost to overscan. OptomaTVs features an amazing low 1% overscan, giving you 8-23% more picture compared to most televisions."

I guess the downside of a lower overscan is a greater propensity to getting these flickery edges ;-(

[57U]

If you have a screen with a black border, or an edge, you should be able to adjust the image so that what you don't want to see is "off screen"?

[JSein456]

I have the exact same problem, but it's on my Olevia TV and when I use the DVI port with my DVR. Funny thing about these sets is, you can adjust the picture in VGA mode, but not in DVI, so you're stuck looking at that line no matter what. Component inputs work flawlessly, so why not DVI?

[oman321]

It's probably an adjustment you might have to make through a service menu. If your able to access it look for V. adj. and/or H. adj. for that input.

[JSein456]

I just got a reply from Syntax on this flickering. The other reply is right...it's some kind of CC information because on some channels it's there, on others it's not, and the tech service rep said that it's part of the transmission.

Also, in DVI mode, the picture may not stretch out as far to the corners on some channels as it does with the component inputs. The reason for this, also from the tech rep, is because if the TV is computer compliant, they don't cut off the picture to fit the screen size.

The interesting thing is, I checked it out myself...I paused the picture and switched from DVI to component (same channel) and I could see the sides of the picture in component are being slightly cropped! I couldn't believe it! In DVI mode, this doesn't occur, because if you're using it for your computer, you wouldn't want your picture cropped I bet.

Apparently that's why picture adjust for DVI is not allowed on the Olevia sets, and why trying to access the service menu (which isn't possible anyway) to tweak the image size is inadvisable.

As the tech rep suggested (as bluntly as he could) if you can't deal with the line, use the component input. :(

It's sad, but for me, I'll stick to watching flickering line channels as opposed to having my picture cut off like that...

[Ratman]

Your TV needs geometry adjustment(s). This will also fix the overscan problem on the DVI input.

Each input on many sets needs to be adjusted separately.

The black/white 'jibberish' that you see to the top or bottom of the screen is the VBI which can be resolved by a tech. If it's under warranty... give them a call.

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/VBI.html

[JSein456]

The flicker isn't really all that annoying (most of the time)...and it's not on the digital channels (thank goodness), except for upscaled HD content. Channels like HBOhd and SHOhd display movies with point to point precision on the TV. Some channels have a very small black line at the bottom (almost not noticeable).

Supposing the tech does adjust the overscan so I can't see the VBI on certain channels, would that cut off some of the picture on some other channel? I don't think I want that...that is, if they agreed to come over and do it anyway. That e-mail from the tech rep was pretty stern and to the point.

Does this kind of thing happen on a lot of LCD displays and projectors with DVI inputs? Is HDMI like this as well?

[JSein456]

Well, Syntax tech support turned out to be stubborn. They refuse to help me fix the overscan issues because it's supposed to be computer compatible, so it can't be fixed. That's just ridiculous...there's a way to adjust it, but they are too lazy. I'd do it myself if I knew how to get to the service menu, but no one seems to know how to do that.

That's the trick with adjusting overscan...service menu. I don't know if it's the same with projectors, but you can't simply do it from a regular menu.

Just thought I'd let you all know how bad they are with support.