HD-SDI input not working - Help!

So I thought I posted this last night, but apparently not, since I can't find it.

Short version:

I'm not really familiar with SDI in general, and I've only used it once before. That time, once I picked the correct input type it just worked.

This time, not so much. This venue has a Sony Anycast switcher with HD-SDI out. I've looped it's output back to an input and verified that it is working. Catalyst never sees it though. I've tried every combination of settings on both the Anycast and within Catalyst. Everything simply results in video input screen saying SYNC LOSS.

FWIW, I'm using the Phoenix single input PCI-e x1 card.

Any ideas? I've run out of buttons to try, and the client is obviously a little annoyed that it isn't working... :)

Hi,
I just copied this from another post; PE1 only works in SLOT3, be sure that is correct in your machine.
Hope this helps,

David.

"in order to have the best performance of phoenix working on
OS 10.6.x snow leopard mac pro's 5.1 insert Phoenix card
on SLOT 3 only.

Phoenix PE4 working fine on any slot of the mother board.
Phoenix PE1 working fine only slot 3 of the mother board.

Put your Phoenix on SLOT 3.

Check info mac/more information/PCIe/slot read if driver is installed,
you need reinstall driver if you move phoenix in different slot
(only one time).


if serial number your Phoenix starting by 5xxx please contact
Active Silicon Support,probably your phoenix need reflash at
last firmware version to working at the best.

for sure at moment you must work at 32 bit


Let we know.....


ROBERTO NOVELLI __________________
----------------------------------------
dotations for Catalyst test in my Black Room
(Richard seen)

mac pro 8 cpu's 12 Gb Ram
Cata-lynx Artnet 2 univ.
Luminex node 2 wifi Artnet+dmx at 5 Ghtz
Pepeoni Rodin 2
Mtron 64 Gb
1 Terabyte Raid
LFG4
Decklink Extreme HD
TH2go Dig.+TH2go Anal.
Datapath VQS01
3 x monitor DVI/vga
3 x DL1 (lx 55 inside)
Whole hog 3
Hog pc wifi connected
Audio 5.1 surround

It is in slot 3, or it was the last time I actually looked inside the case... so I'm pretty sure it is still there.

I also know the kernel is booting in 32 bit mode, and the drivers are installed.

From everything I can find / see in catalyst, the card is working, it just doesn't seem to like the signal coming in. Are there different HD-SDI standards, or is HD-SDI always just HD-SDI?

HD-SDI is used as a bit of a generic term...

There are a number of different formats that may fall in to this category, correctly and possible incorrectly...

Do check your card installation as suggested above.

Essentially you need to check what the exact resolution and refresh rate is to determine whether the PE1 card will accept it.

The PE1 & PE4 card will accept the following:


Standard --- Name --- Video Formats
SMPTE 259M - SD-SDI - 480i, 576i
SMPTE 344M - ED-SDI - 480p, 576p
SMPTE 292M - HD-SDI - 720p, 1080i

All at either 50Hz or 60Hz
Also 1080p but only at 25Hz and 30Hz

If someone says "HD-SDI" - it could either mean: 1080i / 1080p / 720p at either 50 or 60 Hz

Also see link for more details about HD-SDI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_digital_interface

Do let us know if you need more help

S

After days of troubleshooting and swapping components, we managed to get something in the input screen once. Apparently Jon went to lunch and came back to find garbage in the input window. He was unable to repeat it. See the attached photo to see it.

We think that our card is dead, which is strange because it is only 3 months old and has only been used on one show. We ended up taking our server back over to the venue we were in before and hooked it back up to their system and it didn't work this time around.

So, we're trying to contact Active Silicon about sending it back to them to have it tested.

Anybody seen garbage like that before? If so, what was the cause?

Not seen that before - doesn't look good...

But interesting that you are getting anything at all - so it does point to something input related - either card or source.

Can you create a system profile before you change anything - both catalyst profile and system profile:
(System Profiler / File / Save AS... / XML)
Active silicon will want this for support.

Have you removed re card and swapped to another pci slot - and re-I stalled drivers?

Best to contact active silicon support directly for further help

TIP:
to protect you investment and input cards - it is wise to use video isolators on video inputs that connect to other systems, especially if not sharing the same power, or where there is a danger of cables coming in to contact with other high voltage equipment.
There are a number of isolators available in the market for both SD/HD-SDI and Composite ranging from £100-£300 for single or multiple input devices.

S