Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

[Hallatauer]

Moved into a newly built house and ever since then we've had a connection problem.

The tv is a Samsung 51" plasma, PN51F5300. We connect to the tv from a Panasonic DVD player and a Tivo DVR via HDMI extenders from a utility/storage room.

The picture and resolution itself is phenomenal. However the continual problems. About every 30-45 minutes, the tv screen will blank out with loss of sound for about 10 seconds and then come back. TV is on but suffering a loss of signal. If you flip a light switch, open the refrigerator, A/C unit turns on, it will intermittently knock it off also, from a flicker to up to 2 secs.

I've had both the low voltage installer and the original electrician who've wired the house here numerous times. Line tests and filters, nothing has been able to solve the problem. Low voltage installer even called me the other day saying he has another home with the same problem.. okay.. that makes two of us.

My brother, an electrical engineer, suggested checking all the outlets and switches and make sure all of the wires are connected on the screw terminals and not the stab in's as they make bad contacts. About a third were stb in's which I rewired to the screw terminals. No joy there either.

Anyone have a similar experience? Any suggestions on what else to try? I wonder about the HDMI extenders but they are used on other devices and a different tv without a problem. I switch the devices but the problem persists on the same tv.

Many thanks for just reading this.

[catalin004]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

Check the capacitors on tv-source....maibe they have a bad problem when the tv was coupled to power AC

[CapLeaker]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

what kind of extenders are you talking about? HDMI over wireless, network, or just plain cable extension cord?

[selldoor]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

Tried it with the just the dvd in the same room?
Are you saying you have an aerial or cable that is plugged in the DVD or DVR if so what if you connect the aerial/cable direct to the tv.

Are the electricians saying the TV is at fault?

[drussell]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

I assume he is using HDMI extenders that convert to CAT 5/6 cable and back to HDMI. Is this the type that uses one CAT 5/6 cable or two?

Do the extenders have ports for AC adapters at both the sender and receiver?

Are you using the AC adapter at the receiving end (on some it's optional and can just be powered by the TV's HDMI port) ?

Have you tried swapping out those AC adapters and made sure the power coming out of them is absolutely, totally clean? Maybe try adding a multi-thousand uF capacitor (can just wire it into the output cord of the AC adapter) to stiffen that 5v supply if you don't have access to a scope to watch the power on it directly.

Are you using HDMI multiplier/splitters to send the same source to multiple HDMI extenders?

Also, as suggested by selldoor, does a DVD/Blu-Ray player/Game console or other source put in the same room and run directly into the TV with a regular, short, HDMI cable show the same symptoms? (If it works fine it's probably the extenders, if it still doesn't work it must be the TV, etc.)

[tom66]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

I've had lots of issues with long HDMI cables and electrical interference. I still get occasional blank outs with my set up using a 5M HDMI cable due to shower turning on or light switch arcing. It's rare though.

[Hallatauer]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

Wow.. thanks for the many responses!

The HDMI extenders use (2) CAT 5 cables. No AC adapters on them. When testing a different unit, it used the same HDMI extenders and cables.

Later today I will take a DVD player and connect directly to the tv using just a short HDMI cable with no extenders involved and see what happens. I guess this should determine whether it is the tv itself or the HDMI/cat 5 cable setup.

I'll post the results later.

[drussell]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

The HDMI extenders use (2) CAT 5 cables. No AC adapters on them. When testing a different unit, it used the same HDMI extenders and cables.

If there are jacks on them for an AC adapter, add them and see if it helps. I've had to do that one ones that were running off the TV's HDMI power to fix intermittent drop out issues.

You can also try re-terminating the CAT-5/6 cables even if they have been tested ok. Put new crimp RJ-45 connectors on them and re-do any connections where it is connected to a jack.

I do not own, but have access to, an HP / Agilent WireScope 350 for certifying cable runs or troubleshooting things like this and you'd be amazed how little it takes at the connections or minor issues with the cable along the run to cause noticeable issues with signal transmission at high frequencies.

You can also try forcing a lower resolution output at the source than 1080 and see if it clears up with a less demanding signal on the extended HDMI. If it does, you know you still have issues with the cabling.

[Hallatauer]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

Results: connected DVD player to tv with 5 ft HDMI cable only. Worked fine so tv is ok. Connected the DVD player via the Tivo cabling.. minor drops but 95% better.
Dropped output resolution from Tivo box to 480i. No change.

The HDMI adapters do not have AC jacks... I'll look into replacing them. And then make a project out of re-terminating all the RJ-45's if that doesn't clear up the issue.
Also wondering if the output from the Tivo is too weak to start with. Going to see how old it is... it may be from 2008 or so.

[drussell]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

Also wondering if the output from the Tivo is too weak to start with.

In theory it shouldn't matter. The extender should be receiving the signal and repeating it on the output side. I do keep a single-port repeater around just for testing that kind of thing, though.

Hopefully changing the extenders to a different type/brand clears up the flakiness for you and you don't have a problem like the unshielded Cat-5 doing a long run right beside an AC power line coupling in nasty noise.

Please report back if/when you finally get it sorted out.

[selldoor]

Re: Samsung PN51F5300 losing connection

What happens if you connect the Tivo box direct to the tv - short cable if possible.