Avatar + HT-C5500 = Fail

Using the "Stop" + "Menu" method, I was able to get the movie to start playing. The playback was heavily pixelated (I have DirecTV, and it gets pixelated when heavy clouds block the signal. It looked like that). It was basically unwatchable.

I used the online as well as USB modes to update the BIOS to 1010.4.
Despite showing up in the "settings", I was still getting the Red background message.

Called support, they stated that the Red background implied the update hadn't worked. For the update to apply a 15 sec hold on the stop button was required. That procedure caused a reboot. After that the "stop" followed by "menu" (on remote) allowed the movie to play.

The issue now is the pixelated image quality which renders the DVD unwatchable. My Receiver is set to allow "pass-through" of the signal quality. Next step is to call support again, but wondering if anyone has found a fix to this.

Any updates?

Edwin320,

I can't determine if the new firmware was applied or not. Are you able to tell which version you have?

Do other titles play, or are they all the same as the Avatar disc?

--HDTech

The firmware did not apply. The original version remains (though I forgot the exact version number - I can check it this evening).

Every other title I've tried so far plays fine on it. I watched Sherlock Holmes a couple of days ago and had no problems. My Wife tried to make me watch Twilight on it. From what she tells me, that movie also played with no problems.

Also, as mentioned earlier, Avatar played fine on the PS3 so it's not the Avatar disc.

Edwin320,

Can you try a different method, such as a network update? I'm not sure why the update isn't taking. And the disc tray is empty when you attempt this, and you keep it empty after the restart, correct? Keep me posted.

--HDTech

Avatar only disc tried so far. Red screen of death result.
Brand new (week old player from John Lewis). Software version was 1005.5
Connected network no problem for update, but update failed due to version conflict!
Called support, got thru after 30 mins. Support totally unaware of any issue with C5500. They suggested USB update.
Installed the USB update which successfully upgraded to 1012.6 on reboot

The result was not the red screen of death but a black or blue screen of death (saying effectively the same)

I called support and they suggested that it was the disc that was at issue. I advised them that the disc played fine in my laptop.....

I am wondering about returning this for another make.

lincolnat,

The black screen is due to the copy protections on the disc. To get past them, press the FF>> button on the remote. You can also try to press the Disc Title button and treat it like a warning page.

Once the warning has a black background, you should be good to go by passing it with the remote buttons.

--HDTech

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Although I have taken the disc back so I can't test, I'm pretty sure the 'black screen' was a compatibility warning/message and not just an intro or loading screen.

The plan is to try a few other blu-ray discs and see how it goes.

Cheers,
Antony

lincolnat,

Keep me posted. The Red screen does note incompatibility, the black screen is a warning/reminder screen. That particular title is not user friendly in this regard, but it should work.

--HDTech