Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

LN46A850 getting "Mode not Supported"

Feb 16, 2009 11:34PM PST

I have a new LN46A850 series TV and it is sweet. I also have a PS3 (latest firmware) connected to it via HDMI cable in HDMI 1 port on TV. I have had problems with the TV getting the "Mode not Supported" screen.

I have got this during the following times:
1. while playing a game on the PS3
2. while downloading on the PS3
3. and when I first start up the PS3.
Note: It has not done this during Blu-Ray movies

I have went into the PS3 display setup screen and have only selected 480P, 720P, and 1080P. As far as the HDMI cable I have it is one from BestBuy that they recomended I use. I am at a loss here and can use some help. Please share your thoughts and helpfull tips to resolve this problem.

Thank You!!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Quite Weird
Feb 17, 2009 1:17AM PST

I also have a PS3 and an Xbox 360 both connected via HDMI. Maybe try changing the HDMI ports they are connected to. Also for some reason i remember i was getting the same issue but i wasn't choosing the correct HDMI port. My settings are HDMI1=PVR / HDMI2=360 / HDMI3=PS3 with no issues. It HAS to work out...there shouldn't be any issues.

- Collapse -
A mainborad change is required
Feb 18, 2009 2:48AM PST

I had this problem. Does it work for other HDMI ports? Filed a ticket and the main board was replaced. After that I didn't have the problem.

- Collapse -
Mainboard?
Feb 18, 2009 1:18PM PST

Tacomaman,

I don't think it would be the mainboard (though, I could be entirely wrong). If other inputs work, and it's only the PS3 gaming inputs (where Blu-Ray works), then it's probably an issue with the signal that the PS3 is sending out.

Try unchecking the 1080p input and see if that does the trick.

What kind of cable did your retailer recommend?

--HDTech

- Collapse -
Cable type
Feb 18, 2009 9:28PM PST

FYI:TV, PS3, and cable are 30 days old.

BestBuy sold me a 4ft Rocketfish HDMI cable when I purchased everything. It seemed to work fine at first but then the problems started. The more I seemed to use the PS3 for gaming or watching movies the more I noticed this problem. Here is a little more detail of what I have been experiencing.

1. I recently bought (2) inexpensive HDMI 1.3a cables. They look nice and I am using them.

2. I used one of these cables to connect my HD DVR cable box to input HDMI1 and it works perfectly even with the box switching from 480i to 720p tp 1080i. I have not seen the cable box switch to 1080p though. The TV has worked flawlessly with the cable box connected.

3. I removed the Rocketfish cable from the PS3 and connected the inexpensive one to it and then to HDMI3. I chose this since HDMI2 said DVI on it. I also tryed to connect it there and just got Mode not Supported. HDMI3 worked with the PS3 and then inexpensive cable.

4. This new inexpensive cable has been working for the last two days now with the PS3. I played a 1080p movie from the PS3 HDD and played two 1080p PS3 games on it with out any problems.

5. I did read that I should uncheck all resolutions on the PS3 except 1080p so I did that. So under display settings I have 480p highlighted(you can't change this) and only 1080p checked. This has worked do far. I do not have Game Mode selected on the TV for this HDMI input. I am not sure this would do anything for the Mode not Supported problem I have been having.

My thoughts so far about what I did and your recommendations:

At this point I kind of think I had a possibly bad or intermittant HDMI cable. I also feel that the PS3 has a touchy HDMI port and is very sensitive to how it is setup. I also think, correct me if I am wrong, that the PS3 and the TV have to do the hand shake thing in order for 1080p to work otherwise there might be the possibility you might get the Mode not Supported screen. I will continue to use my current setup that I described in #4 and #5. If I have anymore problems with the PS3 going to Mode not Supported I will uncheck 1080p in the PS3 diplay settings screen and check 1080i.

I will like others advice still and will write back with what happens.