PS3 and Lumagen HDQ - is this right?

[Bryce Curdy]

My setup is PS3 via Onkyo 905 (AV receiver) to Lumagen HDQ outputting to Pioneer KRP600M, all via HDMI/DVI.

My dealer has set everything up. I was initially annoyed to discover that on the PS3 video output settings he had not enabled 1080p. Worse still, if I enabled 1080p the picture quality was awful with judder, horizontal white lines and intermittent blank screens.

Browsing this site and others lots of people recommend setting the output on the PS3 to 1080i60 rather than 1080p24. Is this correct and if so why? Does this not mean extra and unnecessary processing? The output on the Lumagen for the PS3 input has been set at 59.94. Should I change it to 24 and if so exactly 24 (rather than 23.94 or whatever). Even if these are the best settings, are the problems with the picture I'm describing above 'normal'?

I have the latest PS3 firmware but have not updated the firmware on the Lumagen since purchase (June 2006). How do I check which firmware version I have and how do I update it?

Sorry for lots of questions and thanks for any help.

PS Unable to change VRATE to 24 - 'out of range'.

[bferbrache]

I have a PS3 and HDP and I had the same issues as you describe so I output 1080i to the HDp then 1080p 60 from the HDP to my Panasonic PF10. From what I have read this is the best settings to use, there is some usefull info here: BluRay player won't go to 24P with HDQ
and also on the Convergent AV forum

Cheers

Brian

[Avi]

Originally Posted by Bryce Curdy

Browsing this site and others lots of people recommend setting the output on the PS3 to 1080i60 rather than 1080p24. Is this correct and if so why? Does this not mean extra and unnecessary processing? The output on the Lumagen for the PS3 input has been set at 59.94. Should I change it to 24 and if so exactly 24 (rather than 23.94 or whatever). Even if these are the best settings, are the problems with the picture I'm describing above 'normal'?

Some appear to have experienced some issues with players that output 1080p/24. Don't know the detail but it may have been timing issues or the fact that they thought the player was achieving 1080p/24 via 1080i/60 or simply down to EDID.

With Blu-ray film material 1080i/60 from the PS3 with the HPQ set to output 1080p/24 should achieve the same result but is an extra processing step. If you don't have any issues with 1080p/24 from the PS3 with the HPQ set to also output 1080p/24 that's the setting I would use and I don't recall any issue with the PS3.

Th Lumagen needs to output different frequencies depending on what you're doing with the PS3 i.e. 24hz for Blu-ray film or 50hz for SD DVD (assuming it's a Euro PS3) etc. The Lumagen will not accept a 1080p/60-50 level signal.

What is the setting on the PS3 re 24hz output i.e. auto, off, forced ? Also is the EDID set on the Lumagen to advertise 24p support ?

Another thing is check with native 1920x1080 material is that the Lumagen is set to "passthrough" mode to avoid the scale engine filtering as that may soften the image.

Originally Posted by Bryce Curdy

I have the latest PS3 firmware but have not updated the firmware on the Lumagen since purchase (June 2006). How do I check which firmware version I have and how do I update it?

June 2006 You need to update.

Menu "0903" will report the version in your unit. Latest is 090108 and a lot has happend since June 06.

The Lumagen website provides download facility for the firmware/software.

Lumagen

You need a PC, Lumagen's software and a null modem cable (should have been supplied). Attach the PC to the Lumagen and follow the instructions. You can also use Lumagen's untility to take a backup of your config as a safety net in case things get messed up.

Avi

[ExSlacker]

I think that some of the judder may come from the range of different refresh rates that the PS3 can output. Games tend to be 60 Hz, PAL DVDs will be 50 and blurays should be recorded at 24 fps (output at 48 Hz). You can set the Lumagen up to do a certain amount of switching between memories (auto indep) which will let you use the correct 50 / 60 Hz output for games. You can also specify the output for each input resolution within these memories so if you can be sure that you won't get any overlap between the different type (ie set no upscaling for DVD on PS3 will give 576, bluray gives 1080 and most games are 720) then you can set it up correctly but it does take time (I'm still only part way through the process myself).

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

OK first off...

HDQ Cannot accept 1080P60 input. It is outwith it's input bandwidth on DVI so that's why when you set the PS3 to the incorrect output res you loose image and it flashes.

To check firmwaredo MENU 0 9 0 3 and it'll appear on screen. 1080P24 output rate was put in to the firmware later on so it's probably not in yours. To set 1080p24 out you go to vres and change it to 1080 then it'll give you options of i, p, 24spf, 24p

Sending 1080i60 from PS3 to scaler is a good solution for BD as that res has the original p24 frames in it and the scaler can reconstitute then perfectly. Although there are more steps being done in this rocess there will be absolutely NO difference in image quality from sending 1080p24 direct. If yous set EDID and put latest firmware in you may be able to get 1080p24 in to the HDQ working though and you can try for yourself. Most folk go with the painless and perfect option of 1080i60 though.

Gordon

[Bryce Curdy]

Thanks to all.

Will upgrading the firmware alter my existing calibration settings.

[Bryce Curdy]

Also what's a null-modem cable? If one came in the box I probably kept it but will have chucked it in a box I keep in the loft with other cables, including modem cables. How can I identify it?

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

No updating the firmware will not alter your settings. However there are two ways to super save them if you are worried.

ONE: Press MENU 0 9 1 0 to enable service menu of scaler, then press MENU 0 9 9 7 OK to save all settings to ISF area.

Now if you do something and corrupt your settings you can go to MENU>SAVE>RESTORE>OK and it'll reload the saved ISF setting you just did.


TWO: Go to Lumagen website support area and dowload the VISION CONFIG UTILITY. You can run this to rip your settings out of the scaler and save them as a .lgc file. Then if it all goes wrong you can sue the same utility to upload the config back in to the scaler.


Null modem cable looks like a cream or grey 9pin dtype to 9pin dtype serial cable. One is supplied with every Lumagen scaler. If you don't have it contact your dealer for one or pop over to PC World or Maplins.

[Bryce Curdy]

All connected. Which COM Port, what Baud Rate and Update Metod do I pick (defaults are 1, 28800 and Auto)?

[lovegroova]

Originally Posted by Bryce Curdy

All connected. Which COM Port, what Baud Rate and Update Metod do I pick (defaults are 1, 28800 and Auto)?

That works fine for me, just give it a try.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Com port depends on which port you are connected to on your PC/Laptop.
Choose AUTO and I use 57600 baud to speed things up.
Gordon

[Bryce Curdy]

Thanks again.

Latest firmware installed and 1080p24 selected. I initially stupidly typed 0 9 0 7 instead of 0 9 9 7. Should the 3D COMB be off or on?

[Bryce Curdy]

STILL not right. I'm going to scream.

1. Why is the HDQ changing all inputs to output at 1080p24 rather than just the PS3 input?
2. Why is the aspect ratio on BD now wrong (16:9 rather than 2.35:1. Pressing LBOX corrects this but I did not have to do this before.
3.. The Lumagen menus are 'shaky' on the PS3 input when set at 1080 24p. The PS3 menu and blu-rays appear ok. Is this normal?

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Originally Posted by Bryce Curdy

STILL not right. I'm going to scream.

1. Why is the HDQ changing all inputs to output at 1080p24 rather than just the PS3 input?
2. Why is the aspect ratio on BD now wrong (16:9 rather than 2.35:1. Pressing LBOX corrects this but I did not have to do this before.
3.. The Lumagen menus are 'shaky' on the PS3 input when set at 1080 24p. The PS3 menu and blu-rays appear ok. Is this normal?

Sounds to me like you have changed the OUTSEL to 1080P24 that all the other inputs use....

You tie an OUTSEL to individual memories and sub resolutions on each input.

Go read the basic set up guide here. It explains the set up procedure for the scaler and should help you t your head around how to configure yours to do what you want.
Lumagen Support Forum: VisionDVI/HDP and HDP Pro User Support => BASIC SETUP GUIDE

[Bryce Curdy]

I think I'm getting there now.

I've still got a problem with aspect ratios on certain SD DVDs (I use a Pioneer 868 rather than the PS3). I suspect the problem is with the discs themselves. The aspect ratio is much wider than the stated 2.35:1, with the black bands filling close to half the screen. The words 'anamorphic' and 'enhanced' do not feature on the box and both are quite old releases. Pressing LBOX corrects the aspect ratio but at the expense of resolution. Similarly 1.85:1 films display at 16:9 when I would have expected thin black bands. Pressing 1.85 sorts this, but should everything not display correctly at 16:9?