Can not get audio on AMC3 PBS Feeds

sjrr124 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 08:42 PM

Hi Everyone:

I just set up my first dish and I am trying to get PBS feeds off of AMC3. I can see the video but am not getting any audio on any off the PBS feeds. I have a Fortec Star Mercury II receiver and did the power scan and it found all the PBS feeds just without audio. The other channels that it found (such as TiP TV) work fine with the audio but all the PBS Network feeds are video only.

If there is any more information you need let me know. Any help you can provide me would be greatly appreciated because the PBS feeds were the main reason I purchased this system since I just left PBS to work for CBS and I miss the programming off the PBS feeds…

Thanks!!!

rainman · #2 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 08:47 PM

the pbs stations use ac3 sound you will need a optical audio cable and a ac3 decoder I use my Koss surround sound receiver to the decode the sound for pbs.

sjrr124 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-10-2007, 10:21 PM

Thank you! Are there any receivers that can convert the AC-3 into analog audio so I can record off the receiver? Alternately do you know of any converters that I could get?

Thanks again for the help!

boroda1 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 03:07 AM

Just search this forum for "AC3", "Mercury", and "Extigy" - this one is an external sound card, cheap alternative to home theatre receivers with decoder. I remember, though, it was posted here about some trouble making it working with Mercury.

rainman · #5 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 07:02 AM

no FTA receivers that i know of decodes ac3 but does pass it on to a decoder. most surround sound systems will decode ac3 you can find these at wally world for under $200.

wejones · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2007, 08:54 AM

I think that the Integra high def receiver decodes AC3. I'm not sure, but that QualiTV or whatever it's called might also decode AC3. I also think that Fortec said that it's new HD model might do AC3 too, but that model may never become available.

Re the Extigy, I'm the one who couldn't get it to work with the Mercury, and despite Emailing Fortec and the Soundblaster people, and leaving multiple messages at the Soundblaster forum, I have yet to figure out why it won't work. Fortec claims that they don't change the AC3 data at all, and yet the Extigy decodes PBS AC3 from the other Fortec receivers, but it doesn't work with the Mercury, even though other AC3 decoders work with the Mercury. Very Strange.

The cheapest solution for PBS seems to be the Sonic Voom headset module. I use it to feed my stereo which doesn't have digital inputs, and it works great for all satellite AC3 channels I've tried it on. I have seen two accounts of it NOT working for Dolby Digital that comes from DVDs though. Apparently what you get out of the module is only R/L channels or one person said it was the rear channels (I'm not sure how to tell), and apparently on DVDs they often carry the dialog in the center channel, so the sound you get doesn't include people talking. But this has never happened to me on a satellite signal.

sjrr124 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-12-2007, 12:33 AM

Thank you all for the help!

rainman · #8 (**permalink**) 07-12-2007, 07:21 AM

you are welcome.

StevenS · #9 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 01:19 PM

If you are computer savvy or have a child in college this link may assist you with the decoding. There are also other links in bedded that might help. If you are looking for a hard wire device I suggest going to SamAsh and looking in their Home Studio department. They have all kinds of digital conversion devices.

Free-Codecs.com :: Download AC3 Decoder 1.2.6 : AC3 Decoder is a convertor for AC3 files and unprotected VOB format files to Ogg Vorbis, MP3, PCM, WAV, WMA

wejones · #10 (**permalink**) 07-19-2007, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven@Sadoun.com

If you are computer savvy or have a child in college this link may assist you with the decoding. There are also other links in bedded that might help. If you are looking for a hard wire device I suggest going to SamAsh and looking in their Home Studio department. They have all kinds of digital conversion devices.

Free-Codecs.com :: Download AC3 Decoder 1.2.6 : AC3 Decoder is a convertor for AC3 files and unprotected VOB format files to Ogg Vorbis, MP3, PCM, WAV, WMA

How do you propose getting the AC3 signal from the STB into the computer to decode? If you computer has an optical input, then the odds are it already does AC3 decoding anyway, so you wouldn't need the above.

Powrline · #11 (**permalink**) 07-23-2007, 05:02 AM

I also was wondering how to receive the AC3 sound on my Mercury II.

What do I need to plug into the S/PDIF slot on the back of the unit?

Can I get an AC3 converter for less than $20.00?

If I plug a converter into the Mercury II, Does it have RC jacks to plug into the stereo?

Thanks,
Bill

wejones · #12 (**permalink**) 07-23-2007, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powrline

I also was wondering how to receive the AC3 sound on my Mercury II.

What do I need to plug into the S/PDIF slot on the back of the unit?

Can I get an AC3 converter for less than $20.00?

If I plug a converter into the Mercury II, Does it have RC jacks to plug into the stereo?

Thanks,
Bill

Look at message #6 above. I bought 2 of those Sonic Voom things on EBAY {both still in plastic wrapper}, one for $5 and one for about $13 (not including postage). They have a port that you can plug in a 1/8" stereo plug, so all you need is a cable that has a 1/8" plug on one end and RCA on the other end.

Powrline · #13 (**permalink**) 07-24-2007, 08:44 AM

Thank you again for helping me to sort out all of the data that we call FTA.

The AC3 seemed such a mystery to me, but thanks to the forums here, you
all make it sound do-able.

Bill

buckner1673 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-24-2007, 07:46 PM

We found a decoder for the AC3 for under $30.00 and it works perfectly. The PBS stations on AC3 comes in great.

Vitruvius · #15 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 01:25 PM

I broke down and bought a surround sound system to decode the PBS. It works great. Your question about being able to record the AC3 stations is still perplexing me. I have a DVD recorder and it records great from the Mercury. I think I will have to wire the sound out of my surround sound system (since that is where the sound gets decoded) and to the DVD recorder to be able to record the sound. I am currious to see if this is possible.

A few of the PBS stations are amazing. They must be high def or something, because, even with the Mercury, the image quality is great. It comes in at near high def on my tv.....

I got a dental education feed one weekday from California that was amazingly in high def. It was zoom into the mouth gore.... yech... but couldn't turn it off because it came in so clear...

rainman · #16 (**permalink**) 07-25-2007, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vitruvius

I broke down and bought a surround sound system to decode the PBS. It works great. Your question about being able to record the AC3 stations is still perplexing me. I have a DVD recorder and it records great from the Mercury. I think I will have to wire the sound out of my surround sound system (since that is where the sound gets decoded) and to the DVD recorder to be able to record the sound. I am currious to see if this is possible.

A few of the PBS stations are amazing. They must be high def or something, because, even with the Mercury, the image quality is great. It comes in at near high def on my tv.....

I got a dental education feed one weekday from California that was amazingly in high def. It was zoom into the mouth gore.... yech... but couldn't turn it off because it came in so clear...

the mercury won't do high def but the picture quality is amazing.