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Post by jlienard on Jul 18, 2016 3:32:55 GMT
Hi all,
Hoping I'll be able to get some help here. Before I get started here is my current setup:
Playing my content from a small PC, usually streaming netflix, hulu, and downloaded mkv's. PC is H81 chipset, running an i5 intel CPU. HDMI cable connected to the integrated intel GPU. (in other words, I'm not using a discreet graphics card) System is about 2 years old, running windows 10.
TV is an LG 47 inch LED TV. Forget the model exactly. Can look this up if it helps.
Dreamscreen is hooked up directly between the PC and TV via HDMI. No AV receiver.
Running the Dreamscreen app on a Sony Xperia Android tablet.
The Problem:
More often than not, I get flickering on the Dreamscreen lights. As in the lights will shut off for a split second. Which occurs anywhere between 5 sec to 2 min intervals. I have had lapses of time where the flickering doesn't happen at all. A couple days ago, I managed to watch a 2 hour movie with no issues. Yet the next day, the flickering came back while I had not played with any settings.
What I've tried so far: I had already exchanged a couple messages with Rakesh which inspired several things to try in order to resolve the flickering issue. On a couple attempts, I thought the problem fixed, yet a while later the flickering started up again. Here is what I've tried so far:
- Swapping HDMI cables running from PC to Dreamscreen and also the HDMI running from Dreamscreen to TV. I tried 3 different cables. - Originally had the HDMI splitter usb power hooked up to the TV, I changed this out and hooked it up to the supplied usb power adapter. Eventually, I tried a different power source. I also tried a different usb cable. - Attempted to change multiple output settings on my PC: Changing refresh rate to 59Hz, 60Hz, 50Hz. Changing color output from RGB to YCbCr. Changing resolution, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 720i. - Disconnecting the Dreamscreen completely, reconnect everything again and connecting the power last. - Restarting the Dreamscreen app anytime I made a change to my setup or ouput settings. - Obvious restarting of the PC and TV when in doubt. - I tested using ambient mode and I don't get any flickering at all for extended periods. - Writing all this down now, I realize I haven't tried on a different video source yet, I'll go home tonight and try with my PS4 and report back.
I've been testing on this thing for over a week now, and absolutely nothing I do seems to resolve the issue. Starting to feel disheartened as the flickering is terribly distracting. Which is a real pity because it really is an awesome product. I'm really hoping I can get some help on this.
Thanks!
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Post by lab714 on Jul 18, 2016 14:16:34 GMT
Hello, We look forward to hearing how it works with PS4. We will ensure that the issue is addressed. Do you see flickering in side of TV or just on particular sections. When testing, try to force close the app on your phone - to ensure that the BLE connection connecting back and forth is not causing an interruption leading to a flicker. We are confident in being able to resolve this issue for you so you can enjoy DreamScreen with your TV. Regards DreamScreen team
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Post by swatchcr on Jul 25, 2016 22:17:32 GMT
Hi,
Same issue here... I am trying to record a video and uploaded to youtube.
Regards
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Post by lab714 on Jul 27, 2016 2:00:35 GMT
Hello Swatchr, Can you please leave your Backer/Order number here so we can look up you email address and contact you. Or can you send us a Kickstarter message or message us via website? We look forward to resolving this issue soon for you. Regards Rakesh
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Post by jlienard on Jul 28, 2016 2:37:45 GMT
Ok, so it's been few days since I created the thread and wanted to take the time to test a few things before replying here. Hopefully this may or may not help other people out as I finally did find a solution to the problem.
First of all, to answer the Admins question, when the dreamscreen is plugged into the PS4 console, I have absolutely no problem at all. No flickering of any kind. Also the flickering when connected to my PC is not limited to just a section of the lights, when the flickering happens it is to all the lights at the same time.
I then proceeded to play around with a bunch of settings on my living room PC for a few days. When finally, I found a solution that works every time. Under my graphic options, I changed the refresh rate output setting from 60Hz to 24Hz. Fortunately, my TV accepts 24Hz refresh, not sure if that will be the case for everyone. I've had it like this for at least 2 days now, and I've had no flickering when watching video content at full screen. HOWEVER. Once in a very rare while, I might get a tiny bit of flickering when closing a full screen video and returning to the desktop. If that happens, I load up the Dreamscreen app, turn off the lights, and turn them back on again, and everything will be fine from then on.
Also, for anyone looking into flickering issues, it is also possible that the bluetooth connection may cause flickering. I've noticed that my bluetooth connection cuts off once in a while, and I'm relatively certain that when it reconnects it causes a flicker. I've made it standard practice to force close the app once I've turned the dreamscreen lights on.
Anyway, the solution is kind of a love-hate situation. On one hand, 24Hz refresh is kinda crappy for desktop usage. I realize it is an impression, but it makes it seem like the mouse cursor and scrolling through web pages is very laggy. But ok, that PC is used 95% for watching movies and netflix so it's not the end of the world.
On the other hand, I realize that a 24Hz refresh rate is MUCH more appropriate for watching videos as they playback at 24 fps anyway. This is unrelated to the dreamscreen issue, but this setting has solved something that has been bugging me for a long time now. I've always had stuttering when a video does a slow pan across a landscape. It's been driving me nuts. Doing a little google-fu on the topic will get you a proper explanation as to why this is happening on all devices that output at 60Hz. But the point is, changing the output refresh rate to 24Hz solved the issue as well, and I now get very fluid motion whenever I watch a video of landscape slow pans. yey!
To conclude, I'm happy I found a work-around for the flickering. However, (and I realize I'm jumping to conclusions) but I believe there is an issue with dreamscreens when connected directly to a computer. Or at the very least, there is an issue when connected to a PC that doesn't have a dedicated graphics card. It's possible that intel graphics drivers are to blame? I really can't be sure. Of course it's also possible that the motherboard itself is to blame. Again I can't be sure. I may try to bring in another pc (maybe a friends laptop) running on intel integrated GPU just out of curiosity. But if I were to make a bet, I would bet on the same flickering issue when running at 60Hz.
Additionally, I would still like to get some help on why I get flickering when running my PC at 60Hz output. I may have found a work-around for the time being, but this seems abnormal.
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Post by tmaniac on Jul 28, 2016 9:11:28 GMT
It sounds to me that you have a defective DS; The stick should be able to detect and match the refresh rate, and it does not seem to be able to do that. By the way, if you use kodi for media playback i suggest to enable the option to automatically match the display refresh rate to the video file. Some video files also use 25fps and then you'll need 50Hz; other files have 30fps and you'll need 60Hz. Movies generally use 23,97 fps and then 24Hz is the closest available
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Post by jlienard on Jul 29, 2016 2:00:53 GMT
Thanks for the tip! I haven't heard of Kodi, but it seems really cool. I'll give it a shot over the weekend. If it can automatically switch the refresh rate to match the video then that seems like a win.
The defective DS seems plausible, but wouldn't explain why I can connect it to my PS4 with no issue. I can't get access to any refresh rate settings to change on it, so I'm assuming its using a more standard 60Hz.
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Post by lab714 on Jul 29, 2016 20:54:51 GMT
Jilienard, When the flickering occurs, do you see the green light on the splitter go in and out? - Wanted to also confirm that the splitter is powered. DreamScreen components support 60Hz, so it seems like the problem may be elsewhere - can you try swapping out the HDMI cables connecting them? Is it possible that the resolution is not 1080P, 1080I, 720P or 720I? Regards DS team
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Post by jlienard on Aug 1, 2016 5:01:14 GMT
1) When the flickering occurs, I do not see a green light on the splitter flicker. 2) Yes the splitter is powered. 3) Yes I've tried swapping HDMI cables. I tried 4 different cables, all of different brands. 2 were branded, the other 2 were unbranded. 4) I confirm the resolution is 1080p.
Most of these questions were answered in my initial post. I tried all other possible resolutions as well, and they do not prevent flickering.
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Post by jlienard on Aug 3, 2016 2:38:20 GMT
Right well, after a couple more days of testing around, it seems I cried victory a bit too early. Flickering has returned even when running my PC output at 24Hz... Although granted it happens less frequently at this setting.
At this point, sometimes restarting the PC, or switching the refresh back and forth between settings seems to fix the problem for a while, maybe even for most of the evening. But it eventually comes back... *cry*
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Post by lab714 on Aug 4, 2016 2:08:27 GMT
We wanted to follow up on the flicker issue you are having and see if it is an issue with non 24Hz sources as well. We are wondering if the flickering Green LED on the splitter means that splitter is either having an issue or it is not receiving enough power on the USB causing it to reboot. We look forward to hearing from you. Regards DS Team
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Post by jlienard on Aug 4, 2016 3:10:37 GMT
?? Ok I'm going to sound a bit like a dick for saying this but: May I suggest reading this thread from the beginning? 1) Initially my PC's output was at 60Hz. Yes I've tried various other refresh rates. In fact, I've tried just about every refresh rate my TV would support. 2) I've already mentioned I do NOT get a flickering green light on the splitter. I've tried several power sources. TV usb power, and using the supplied power adapter which I've plugged into 2 different power sockets.
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Post by Lloydtown on Aug 5, 2016 20:06:27 GMT
Backer# 2324
Hi Rakesh, Love you product just shame I am having the same issue as described in this thread. Happy to contribute to help solving this issue.
Thank you Lloyd
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Post by jlienard on Aug 11, 2016 17:01:12 GMT
Hey so could we get some help here? I've yet to receive any kind of help from the admin other than checking for the obvious. Last post dates back a week now. Would it be better if I communicated via email or something? Waiting several days between responses is honestly kind of silly...
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Post by lab714 on Aug 14, 2016 19:54:07 GMT
Hello jlienard, We are sorry that we did not get back to you sooner. I did not follow up on this thread as much as I needed to. Will you please leave your backer number here or will you send a Direct Message to us using Kickstarter?
Lloyd, I shall followup with you directly on KS so we can have a quick exchange. Will then post our resoltion here.
Regards Rakesh
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