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OG Xbox Forums => Hardware Forums => Xbox Audio/Video Technical => Topic started by: mesnee on April 12, 2005, 07:28:00 PM

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: mesnee on April 12, 2005, 07:28:00 PM

Hey everybody, well i have a HDTV capable rear projection tv. It does 1080i. I also have bought 2 HDTV packs. The first one was a cheap one with very bad quality for about $5. When i couldnt get it working on this cable, i thought it may be due to bad quality cable so i bought a genuine MS advanced AV pack.

So my xbox is connected through component. I have a pal xbox, so i have used the enigmah video mode switcher to set it to NTSC. The region is set to Default in Evox when i tried also.

The problem is this: When i enable 1080i in the xbox dash (yes the proper dash with options for 480p, 720p and 1080i) and then i enable it in a HD capable program (i am using XBMC to test) my tv goes blue and displays "out of range". So 1080i doesnt work. 480p and widescreen work fine, and look great but no 1080i.

After reading forums i have seen that some bios's may have a problem with it so i have upgraded to the xecuter2 4983.67 bios. Also to exclude Evox from being the problem i have also tried with Avalaunch and unleashX to no avail.

I know my tv accepts a 1080i signal (yes i know you are thinking it doesnt) but i have a TEAC high definition set top box running on it right now through the same component inputs i use for the xbox and it is displaying a 1080i picture too, so unfortunately its not even that simple.

Anyone got any ideas!? Im ripping my hair out here!
Save me from balding ;) thanks

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: Mr Ed on April 13, 2005, 12:01:00 AM

Does it work when you disable the modchip?

Also, few games support 1080i, make sure you are trying with a 1080i compatible game.  Also, 720p is turned off right?

Check the link in my sig to find 1080i games.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: mesnee on April 13, 2005, 12:15:00 AM

I havent bought any of those games which support 1080i to try it, and i dont really want to have to buy one because they arent the best games anyway. I want 1080i for linux and movie upscaling.

You think its worth hiring one of the 1080i games to test it?

yeah im using XBMC or avalaunch which both support 1080i so no problems with that support, except i cant launch them without mod.

720P is definetly disabled. Doesnt come up as an option in XBMC.

If it was a problem with the chip i didnt think 480P would work, but it does. Hmm weird.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: fahrenheit on April 13, 2005, 01:31:00 AM

You're not going to like this, but its likely that your display only supports 1080i at 50Hz. Of course 1080i NTSC is at 60Hz. Its a trap for us PAL-landers. I hope for your sake I am wrong.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: mesnee on April 13, 2005, 01:55:00 AM

i see, i thought there was no difference in 1080 formats. Any way i can change the output or does the box not do it?

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: fahrenheit on April 13, 2005, 04:13:00 AM

If you want to get 1080i out of the Xbox, then it has to be in NTSC mode. If its NTSC, then its going to be 60Hz. If the TV only supports 1080i/50Hz, then you're stuffed.

Does your set have more than one component input? Is there a chance that the component input you are using only supports 480/576i?

This post has been edited by fahrenheit: Apr 13 2005, 11:16 AM

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: mesnee on April 13, 2005, 05:38:00 AM

nah im stuffed.

its obviously the hertz thing. Death to MS for not giving me a pal xbox which can do it. useless.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: Mr Ed on April 13, 2005, 11:29:00 AM

QUOTE(mesnee @ Apr 13 2005, 04:38 AM)

nah im stuffed.

its obviously the hertz thing. Death to MS for not giving me a pal xbox which can do it. useless.

How about death to those developing conflicting HDTV standards.  This is digital, there is no reason to base the refresh rate on the frequency of your A/C power anymore.   :evil:

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: mesnee on April 13, 2005, 10:41:00 PM

yeah i agree. Its only there to screw us over. Otherwise everyone over here would buy ntsc stuff at a cheaper price and watch ntsc dvds...not like we dont do that anyway.

Even the computer card i want to output to 1080i does it only at 60hz. And this is a card available retail in australia. ridicolous standards.

IF MS released the xbox with proper HD though in pal there would be less of a problem.

No one has a mod or anything that can fix this, or would the only option be an (expensive) scaler?

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: fahrenheit on April 14, 2005, 01:16:00 AM

There is also the software to consider. Most games start life as 60Hz and then get ported to 50Hz for PAL release. Its fortunate that the 60Hz mode remains in the software (in most cases), so those with the right equipment can take advantage of it. However, with new resolutions, the problems for developers mount up. If developers had to implement different HD resolutions and refresh rates for both PAL and NTSC, then you can imagine the work involved.

If software had to support all of 480i/60Hz, 480p/60 Hz, 576i/50Hz, 576p/50Hz, 720p/50&60Hz, 1080i/60Hz and 1125i/50Hz, it would be a huge waste of disc space and development time.

Things are perfectly fine the way they are, with one exception. They need to migrate the video settings from the hardware (as is currently the case within the dash) and move the settings to software. That way you load a game and you set what resolution you wish to play it in. Sony and Nintendo already do this and it saves a lot of headaches. If you accidentally set the wrong video mode, then you eject the disc or power off. Simple.

Hopefully MS has learn from its mistake, otherwise I will be waiting for a new version of Enigmah before I will even consider buying an Xbox 2.

PS. mesnee, yip I think you'll be looking for a scaler.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: Freddo14 on April 14, 2005, 07:57:00 AM

Dont take this the wrong way if I'm wrong, but have you got anything to display 1080i on your tv? I've seen sets in the UK which claim 1080i compatability but when you read the details they only upscale to this resolution, they dont accept it nativly.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: Nosf3ratu on April 14, 2005, 12:13:00 PM

You realize you said you bought the Advanced AV Pack right? Also, you said you want 1080i for dvd upscaling? Well, dvd's on the Xbox are only displayed in 480i, along with the dashboard. I think you should test out a game with it.

Title: 1080i No Work - Tried Lots Of Ways
Post by: mesnee on April 14, 2005, 09:12:00 PM

yeh my tv displays 1080i properly and natively.

i have a high definition set top box, and i wouldnt have wasted my money if my tv didnt display it! BTW it looks awesome!

nosf3 XBMC can use the hardware to upscale dvds and video's divs, mpeg etc.

The real reason i want it is because i currently record using my digital tv card to my computer, then transfer to the box. id rather upscale and enjoy a better picture on these recordings. Not that it will ever happen.