5 June 2007

Hello O Sages of electronics

I live in Saudi Arabia and have a Humax IRCI-5400Z satellite decoder
which has been connected to a Sony CRT television using the TV SCART
output to the S Video input of the TV using an IXOS SCART to S-Video
cable. I then upgraded my TV to the latest Sony Bravia LCD model
52X200A. However the pictures are now virtually black and white with
red, green and blue patches of colour in some areas.

Sony technical here have connected other new Bravia LCD TVs to the
cable/Humax, still getting the same colour problem. The new TV
composite and component video inputs, as well as the normal TV aerial
input are all OK (colours display correctly). All picture menu
settings on the new TV have been adjusted to no effect, the Humax menu
settings have all been adjusted, also to no effect. Is there a known
problem with the Humax not being able to display colours correctly on
the Sony Bravia LCD TV range? Sony here have not experienced this
problem before as SCART/S-Video is generally not used outside Europe.
I have emailed Sony technical who have not bothered to respond.

I can see no way to adjust S-Video settings on the Humax other than
just selecting S-Video in AV Settings. Below are technical details
that may assist diagnosis:

Humax IRCI 5400Z info on label :

IRCI-5400Z/ME 913051-11101
11 T050725 00258
Made in Korea

STB Status:

H/W version OAK I & II 2.1
S/W version HIC 1.05.00+
Device Driver version HIC 1.05.00+
S/W last update 4 MAR 2002
Loader version H2.19
System ID 0016.0601
CI slot 1 CI module is not installed
CI slot 2 CI module is not installed

The satellite being used is HOTBIRD

AV Tuning:

AV user set 1
AV default settings
Channel 38
PAL standard PAL G
Offset 0
NTSC mode Auto

AV Output Setting:

Video output S-Video
Audio output stereo
Dolby Digital On
Screen mode Auto
Display format Full
R/Y Gain % -17 (greyed out - not selectable)
G/U Gain % -35 (greyed out - not selectable)
B/V Gain % -35 (greyed out - not selectable)

The IXOS SCART to S-Video + 2 audio cable is wired as follows:

S video end SCART end

Shell not connected
1 17
3 19
2 15
4 13

audio R, L shell 4
audio R 1
audio L 3

The cable is 2 metres long and works on all Sony CRT TVs S-Video
inputs in their showroom, showing the correct colours. Ixos assure me
the connections in the cable are correct. I have emailed Humax but my
experience before with them does not lead me to believe they will
assist. I know the obvious advice is 'go get your money back' but in
Saudi sellers would rather dismember themselves rather than offer a
refund and guarantees of whatever length on paper tend to expire as
you reach the showroom door after paying.

I am trying to borrow another type of satellite decoder with SCART
output to narrow the field of possibilities but they are not easy to
find here and even more difficult to borrow.

I am familiar with electronics and AV terminology and would be very
grateful for any advice you may have.

Thankyou,

Steve Cooke