Contour 2 resolution and audio settings

Stephanie,

Not sure how to tell what version HDMI I'm using? To be honest I didn't realize there is a choice?

Never had a problem with this TV and audio receiver when they were connected to FIOS (I've recently switched back to Cox after almost 10 years with Verizon).

The audio receiver is set to receive/detect various Dolby capabilities depending on how a program is broadcasted. The output of the receiver is based on signal received and the receiver displays what format it is currently receiving.

The TV is set for 1080p.

I'm tempted to disconnect the TV and audio inputs going into the Contour cable box before going to bed at night and see what happens to the preferences I selected. If I loose my preferences with the TV and audio receiver disconnected I could probably rule those items out as the cause of my problem.

Only two manufacturers actually call it HDMI-CEC:  Hitachi and Vizio.  Samsung calls it Anynet+ and Sony calls it BRAVIA Sync.  Your STR-DE595 doesn't support BRAVIA Sync.  If it's enabled on your Samsung, you could troubleshoot by disabling it.

I can understand Samsung changing audio from 5.1 to stereo, but I don't understand the video change.

Audio.  Most TV sets only have 2-channel stereo speakers.  Let's assume you didn't have the Sony connected to your Contour.  If you were watching the Adventures of Narnia encoded with Dolby Digital 5.1, your Samsung would only play it in stereo because it only has two speakers.  Therefore, it instructs Contour, via HDMI-CEC, to only send 2-channel audio.

In your case, the Samsung can't detect the optical connection between Contour and Sony, so it negotiates 2-channel audio with Contour.  Even if you didn't have Anynet+ enabled, the Samsung still negotiates.  Do you turn off the Samsung speakers while listening through Sony?

I have to research the video changing to 720p.

Can you set Contour 2 to output 1080i?  Does that setting change overnight?

There are 13 versions of HDMI:

1.0.....9 Dec 2002
1.1... 20 May 2004
1.2.....8 Aug 2005
1.2a...14 Dec 2005
1.3....22 Jun 2006
1.3a...10 Nov 2006
1.4....28 May 2009
1.4a....4 Mar 2010
1.4b...11 Oct 2011
2.0.....4 Sep 2013
2.0a....8 Apr 2015
2.0b....1 Mar 2016
2.1.....4 Jan 2017

There is no choice of HDMI.  It's hardware.  Depending when in 2011 your Samsung was released, it either has version 1.4a or b.  It's only missing support for certain 3D formats, UHD and has lesser bandwidth.  No big whoop.  If Stephanie is concerned which version of HDCP, it's probably 2.0 or 2.1.

Bruce,

Thanks for the information yesterday, I learned some things about HDMI and also found menus on my TV I didn't know existed.

I did turn off the Samsung Anynet+ function (it was on). I always have had the Samsung internal speakers turned off. Got up this morning and the system still reverts to 720p and 2 channel (stereo) audio.

1080i is one of the options I can select from the contour box. Will try that.

I think I'm also going to try disconnecting the optical and HDMI inputs going to the contour box and see what happens over night.

You would think contour would just remember my preferences and the TV/audio would pump out whatever format the programing is broadcasted in, that's how things worked prior to switching from Verizon.

I mentioned earlier that I found instances of other people having a similar issue as mine (with the new contour 2 box) and replacing the box was the fix, but I certainly don't mind going through some troubleshooting steps.

As always, greatly appreciate the assistance.

I read your same problem on a Comcast X1 Forum (1080p setting keeps reverting to 780 [sic] when box is turned back on).  In case you didn't know, the Comcast X1 DVR is the same platform as the Cox Contour.

11/11/2015  "Pleased with its customer and employee trials of Comcast's IP-capable X1 platform, Cox Communications said it has signed a national licensing deal for X1 and has sparked a commercial rollout of a new version of Cox's multiscreen Contour..."

It's safe to assume what happens on X1 will eventually happen on Contour.

All the symptoms were as yours:  resetting to 720p, resetting to Stereo, daisy-chained AV components and, most importantly, no answers.  The only thing the Comcast subscribers could do was manually correct their settings each morning.

Disabling HDMI-CEC only provided a temporary fix because the problem reoccurred within a few days.  One of their moderators, ComcastChad, eventually noted, "We are aware of this issue, unfortunately this is fix is taking a lot longer than anyone anticipated.  It's been communicated to our support teams."

It appears to have been corrected with a firmware update.  However, the Comcast thread is 2 years old so it begs two questions.  Where is the update from Cox?  Where are the other complaints from Cox subscribers?

Perhaps Cox already pushed the update, but you didn't receive it.  Why did a technician install a new line to your house?  Perhaps your box is trying to update every night...hence its rebooting...but the update won't take.  I wonder if Cox can verify if your Contour has the latest firmware.

Perhaps this problem is more common on Cox.  I have Rovi so I can't experiment.  However, I think most people can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080i, so they're just unaware of it.  Meh, high-def is high-def.

My advice is to leave everything connected as is.  Contact Cox to either verify the version of your firmware...walk you through verifying your version...or reboot to see if the version splashes on your screen.  If you have the latest firmware, then this is isolated to your setup.  You could then exchange the box as you suggested.  If the problem reoccurs with a new box, you could then disable Anynet+...or just disable it if you don't want it...select 1080i and singly disconnect cables every night.

As far as the optical connection, I was just a stabbing in the dark.  If you have an optical connection, perhaps Contour disables audio over HDMI.  I don't know.  You could test by leaving optical connected, enabling your TV speakers and listening for two sets of audio.

Keep updating us because others may soon realize this problem.

Bruce

The Comcast thread is the one I was referring to and to be honest, I didn't realize it was 2 years old. I did notice that the Contour 2 box is made by Cisco.

I guess one could argue the difference in quality between 720p and 1080p (when receiving a signal in that format). For the size of our TV (46) and the size of the room (fairly small) there is a noticeable difference. I admit, it could be subjective when discussing in a forum. 

We previously had Cox service that was turned off almost 10 year ago and the line has been sitting dormant since. The installation tech that installed our gear a few weeks ago was great and accomplished a line quality test that showed some degradation, possibly due to moisture. A line tech came out after Christmas and ran a new line from the nearest junction box to the house, since conduit was already there, it was a quick and easy replacement.  

I have turned Anynet+ off on the TV. This had no effect on the preferences changing overnight. 

I did disconnect the optical and HDMI cables going to the Contour box coming from the TV and audio before going to bed last night. This morning I plugged them back in and my audio and resolutions settings still reverted overnight. That seems to tell me the TV and audio receiver are not the culprits. 

I can turn all three devices (Contour/TV/Audio) off and on multiple times during the day/evening and the preferences remain as I selected. 

I did take note of the following info from our Contour box:

Release Version - xappl-XRE.81P5

XRE Server Version - 1.81.05 11/28/2017

XRE Protocol Version - 2.8.0

Receiver - Native Version: 2.14.0

STB Version - CS011AN_2.14p3s1_PROD_sey

Not sure if one of those is referring to a firmware version or not. I did quick search online but was unsuccessful in trying to see what the latest versions of software/firmware are for Cox Contour 2. Guess I will be making a call as you suggest to ensure I'm running the latest version(s).

I am having the same issue > I called Cox Cable in Las Vegas and they agreed to send a technician tomorrow to trouble shoot the issue.By the way, I recently switched from Directv and really regret the decision the switch 

If your Contour also resets overnight, what could a tech do?  Bjensen can turn the box off and on all day long and it won't lose its settings.  A tech can't troubleshoot that because he wouldn't be able to duplicate and verify.

If Cox will charge you for a tech, they're scamming you.

ALC583

Overall, I'm please with the new contour setup after being a FIOS customer for the last 9 years. I like the guide interface as well as the voice command capability. I'm pretty sure a fix is available for this problem.