Rich,
What is likely happening is that the cable box is performing a handshake issues to ensure that the signal is going to a display (television) rather than an unsupported or unauthorized device. It's an HDCP (copy protection) measure that we are required to have. The delay may just be part of this process.
The short burst of picture is the initial indication that the television is receiving the signal, and that's likely followed by the authentication.
The channel stamp that appears at the top is designed that way. There is no way to turn that feature off.
Hope that helps!
--HDTech
i finished setting my my new 46a650 over the weekend. connected the HD cable box with an HDMI cable and the HD signal from time warner in nyc. picture looks great, as i hoped and as it did in the stores i looked at it in person. sound is fine as are the black levels. the only issue i have is that when i change the channel, either with the up arrow or typing in the channel number, the channel will appear for a split second, then the screen goes black for 2-3 seconds, than the channel comes back for good. i know that waiting a few seconds for the channel to show up is not the end of the world, but after a few channels of this, it can get pretty annoying. i'm not sure if this is a tv problem or a cable provider problem. it seems that when the channel first clicks in then goes off, the tv is looking for a satellite signal and the channel returns when it finds one? i figured i would check around to see if anyone else has this issue? if not, time warner is getting a call.
and does the channel number / time stamp / input box always appear when you change the channel or is there an option to turn that off somewhere? couldn't find it in the settings menus.
thanks.
-rich

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