Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

[FelipeF]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

My Co-Star was just updated to new firmware, however Vudu still doesn't work
my ESN number is: wwzomyan4400101
Any help getting this fixed will be appreciated.

Check your device now please.

[FelipeF]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

I just recently started following this thread. I got an email from Vudu about three weeks ago saying that the problem had been fixed but I still cannot play any Vudu movies on my Costar. My ESN is WWZOMYAN3001408

Thanks in advance.

Check your device now please.

[super_vudu12]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Hi Chris,

Your device should now be working.

Hey Daniel,

I just PM'd you my ESN. Can you help me out? Both my Co-Stars got the update, but it only fixed one of them. The other one (main, living room) doesn't seem to have helped. Can you check my ESN and see if it can't be fixed? Thanks, brother!

[Chris Gerhard]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Chris...thanks for the follow up. You must have a receiver that decodes DD+. Question for you: when you go to start a program on Netflix over the Co-Star, there is an option for audio to the bottom of the options. I think it's where you can select english (stereo) and close captioning. Does yours say english (dolby digital plus 5.1) or just english (stereo)? Mine never has an option for english (dolby digital plus 5.1). As for straight DD titles, it would be great to find one. Maybe the Punisher one I tried on Vudu would be in straight DD on Netflix as well. I have no idea.

On another note, the Amazon Prime Instant Video app could be the problem. I have seen some forums where people say Amazon Prime movies are in standard DD. But like you, I haven't been able to tell.

I did find something interesting connecting my Dell Inspiron 7520 Windows 8.1 laptop with the native Netflix app. Many movies and shows have options for Dolby Digital Plus. I can play them in that format on my laptop. Here's the weird part. If I connect my Pioneer receiver, it freezes up playback in Dolby Digital Plus immediately after I start a movie or show. However, if I start a movie first, then connect the HDMI cable to my laptop, my Pioneer is seeing Dolby Digital from the Dolby Digital Plus stream. It works like a charm....very smooth and great surround audio. My only guess is that the PC must convert the DD+ to DD. Then when I plug the cable in quickly, the pc continues the decoded stream to the Pioneer. However if I connect the Pioneer first and start a movie, the pc simply sees the Pioneer as the output and passes the stream without decoding...which freezes my audio/video. So...I think the Co-Star probably cannot do much as far as offering a DD stream to older receivers even with HDMI when the source is DD+. As for Vudu over the pc with either Chrome or Internet Explorer, it outputs HDX, but no DD stream as far as I can tell. Let me know what you think.

My Co-Star shows SuperHD, HD, 5.1, or nothing with the movie description and it gives me the option to select stereo when 5.1 is available but default is 5.1. It sounds like the Pioneer VSX-84TXSi isn't communicating the fact it can't decode DD+ to the laptop, not sure which device is at fault, which requires the workaround you found. I use a Windows 7 laptop in my system running Plex and PlayOn servers but don't have it connected to an AVR to be able to check how it handles Netflix or Vudu, it has a Display Port but no HDMI and I don't have a Display Port > HDMI cable. I use a Roku for Amazon Prime and it outputs DD over HDMI for the receiver to decode.

I prefer the Co-Star to the Roku for Netflix and Vudu but prefer the Roku for Amazon Prime Instant Video. I like having a keyboard for searches.

[BarneyFife]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

My Co-Star was just updated to new firmware, however Vudu still doesn't work
my ESN number is: wwzomyan4400101
Any help getting this fixed will be appreciated.

[jdk1962]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

If anyone is currently on version u5.6.0 and is still experiencing this same issue. Please send me your ESN. You can find this information by following this flow: Vizio button --> Settings --> System Settings --> System Info --> ESN

I just recently started following this thread. I got an email from Vudu about three weeks ago saying that the problem had been fixed but I still cannot play any Vudu movies on my Costar. My ESN is WWZOMYAN3001408

Thanks in advance.

[joinmiami]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

I am using the Co-Star for Netflix and it outputs DD+ when the movie is DD+. I think there are a few titles on Netflix in standard DD still, you should try one of those if we can find one and you have a subscription. Yes, Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Prime Instant Video are standard DD but unfortunately I can't get the Co-Star to output DD with Amazon Prime, only stereo recognized as PCM, I am going to guess the app doesn't provide DD or DD 5.1 or I have somehow missed a setting. I have just been using a different box for Amazon Prime as a result.

Chris...thanks for the follow up. You must have a receiver that decodes DD+. Question for you: when you go to start a program on Netflix over the Co-Star, there is an option for audio to the bottom of the options. I think it's where you can select english (stereo) and close captioning. Does yours say english (dolby digital plus 5.1) or just english (stereo)? Mine never has an option for english (dolby digital plus 5.1). As for straight DD titles, it would be great to find one. Maybe the Punisher one I tried on Vudu would be in straight DD on Netflix as well. I have no idea.

On another note, the Amazon Prime Instant Video app could be the problem. I have seen some forums where people say Amazon Prime movies are in standard DD. But like you, I haven't been able to tell.

I did find something interesting connecting my Dell Inspiron 7520 Windows 8.1 laptop with the native Netflix app. Many movies and shows have options for Dolby Digital Plus. I can play them in that format on my laptop. Here's the weird part. If I connect my Pioneer receiver, it freezes up playback in Dolby Digital Plus immediately after I start a movie or show. However, if I start a movie first, then connect the HDMI cable to my laptop, my Pioneer is seeing Dolby Digital from the Dolby Digital Plus stream. It works like a charm....very smooth and great surround audio. My only guess is that the PC must convert the DD+ to DD. Then when I plug the cable in quickly, the pc continues the decoded stream to the Pioneer. However if I connect the Pioneer first and start a movie, the pc simply sees the Pioneer as the output and passes the stream without decoding...which freezes my audio/video. So...I think the Co-Star probably cannot do much as far as offering a DD stream to older receivers even with HDMI when the source is DD+. As for Vudu over the pc with either Chrome or Internet Explorer, it outputs HDX, but no DD stream as far as I can tell. Let me know what you think.

[Chris Gerhard]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

I am using the Co-Star for Netflix and it outputs DD+ when the movie is DD+. I think there are a few titles on Netflix in standard DD still, you should try one of those if we can find one and you have a subscription. Yes, Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Prime Instant Video are standard DD but unfortunately I can't get the Co-Star to output DD with Amazon Prime, only stereo recognized as PCM, I am going to guess the app doesn't provide DD or DD 5.1 or I have somehow missed a setting. I have just been using a different box for Amazon Prime as a result.

[joinmiami]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Joinmiami, have you used Netflix with your Co-Star and Pioneer VSX-84TXSi receiver? Netflix also uses Dolby Digital Plus often and if the Co-Star can send standard DD with that service, there could be a fix for Vudu. Dolby ProLogic is an imperfect workaround but life is too short to worry about things like this and replacing a receiver for that single purpose might not be a good use of funds so definitely try it and see what you think.

Chris...I have tried Netflix with my Co-Star and my Pioneer VSX-84TXSi. The Co-Star will not take the DD+ service and send it as traditional DD to my Pioneer receiver. As I understand, the Co-Star simply passes through whatever signal it receives. Hence why I was able to get DD from a Vudu movie in straight DD. Also why I can get the DD signal from DirecTV through the Co-Star and out to my Pioneer receiver. But Dolby Digital Plus is a different animal. Netflix on my Co-Star only offers a Stereo option. I don't know if the app is smart enough to recognize a DD+ receiver and thereby show a DD+ option. Or if a DD+ receiver would simply play DD+ regardless of the app saying stereo. I have gotten my Dell Inspiron 7520 laptop with Windows 8.1 and the native Netflix app to play the movie Black Hawk Down in what is standard DD to my Pioneer receiver. That same movie on the Co-Star Netflix is only in stereo output to my receiver. I will play around with some other titles on the Dell with Netflix to see how the laptop is processing things. I suspect that movie title was in straight DD on the Win 8.1 running Netflix native app. But the Netflix app via Co-Star is only either DD+ or stereo. Hence I just see Stereo from any Vudu or Netflix DD+ program on my receiver. Btw...I don't think the Dell was decoding DD+ to DD. I think that Black Hawk Down movie was standard DD on the Winows 8.1 native Netflix app. I have heard that Amazon Istant Prime movies are in the traditional Dolby Digital...not DD+. If so, my Pioneer should see that in DD. I tried a recommended trailer suggested on another forum, but the trailer didn't Feel free to submit any other thoughts on this.

[Chris Gerhard]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Joinmiami, have you used Netflix with your Co-Star and Pioneer VSX-84TXSi receiver? Netflix also uses Dolby Digital Plus often and if the Co-Star can send standard DD with that service, there could be a fix for Vudu. Dolby ProLogic is an imperfect workaround but life is too short to worry about things like this and replacing a receiver for that single purpose might not be a good use of funds so definitely try it and see what you think.

[joinmiami]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Well....more research indicates that something needs to decode the DD+ stream to standard DD. My Pioneer VSX-84TXSi receiver doesn't do this. It simply accepts the audio codecs. I also know the Co-star doesn't decode the DD+ stream for output as standard DD. Therefore, I would be stuck using something like Dolby Pro Logic II in the stereo stream to get some form of surround sound from many Vudu movies and shows that are in DD+. Some people like that solution. Others hate it. I'll have to try it, but on the surface I'm not a fan. Anyone have thoughts other than upgrading my AVR? I doubt that I will go that route. I like this particular Pioneer. Thanks again for any input on all this.

[joinmiami]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Quick update on my points above. I was able to get standard Dolby Digital 5.1 on Vudu by watching the 2 minute preview of "Punisher War Zone" as suggested on another forum. So, I'm starting to think my Pioneer receiver simply can't make the Dolby Digital Plus backward compatible despite the Dolby website saying legacy Dolby systems should play Dolby Digital Plus as regular Dolby Digital. Very frustrating.

[joinmiami]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Ok...so I guess I should have learned never to assume. Yes...I had assumed that Dolby Digital would be working once Vudu was running on my Vizio Co-Star. But I had not tried the Dolby Digital audio part. The direct connection via HDMI from the Co-Star to my Panasonic plasma was fine for the initial testing which validated the picture. However, today I connected the output from the Vizio Co-Star into my Pioneer VSX-84TXSi Dolby Digital receiver. Lo and behold, I did not receive Dolby Digital when running Vudu. It was running in two channel stereo. The Vudu app said the picture was 1080P running in Dolby Digital Plus. According to Dolby, Dolby Digital Plus protocol is such that it can still operate in traditional Dolby Digital on older receivers. I have been able to get Dolby Digital 5.1 from the Co-Star when imputing my DirecTV receiver HR-44. The Co-Star can take the DirecTV signal and send it to the receiver where it comes out in Dolby Digital. But not the Vudu App. I also tried to test Vudu from a new Windows 8.1 laptop using a web interface connected to my receiver, but it seemed like there wasn't a Dolby Digital option from the web interface....just HDX, i.e. 1080P. I wanted to see if it was a receiver issue or a Co-Star issue. But I could not even see a Dolby Digital option over the web interface. So....anyone have any thoughts on decoding Dolby Digital from Vudu on a Co-Star outputting to the Pioneer VSX-84TXSi receiver? Thanks!

By the way...I have seen some of the other threads on a few other sites about ARC and HDMI 1.4 cables. ARC is clearly not an option for me because of the age of my Panny plasma and my Pioneer receiver. I've done some other online research, but I have not found any clear answers. I'll do some more testing with my set-up to see if I discover any solutions while I wait to see if anyone offers some additional insights. I think my receiver should be fine based on what I heave read from Dolby. Thanks for your time in reading this.

[joinmiami]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Ok...so I guess I should have learned never to assume. Yes...I had assumed that Dolby Digital would be working once Vudu was running on my Vizio Co-Star. But I had not tried the Dolby Digital audio part. The direct connection via HDMI from the Co-Star to my Panasonic plasma was fine for the initial testing which validated the picture. However, today I connected the output from the Vizio Co-Star into my Pioneer VSX-84TXSi Dolby Digital receiver. Lo and behold, I did not receive Dolby Digital when running Vudu. It was running in two channel stereo. The Vudu app said the picture was 1080P running in Dolby Digital Plus. According to Dolby, Dolby Digital Plus protocol is such that it can still operate in traditional Dolby Digital on older receivers. I have been able to get Dolby Digital 5.1 from the Co-Star when imputing my DirecTV receiver HR-44. The Co-Star can take the DirecTV signal and send it to the receiver where it comes out in Dolby Digital. But not the Vudu App. I also tried to test Vudu from a new Windows 8.1 laptop using a web interface connected to my receiver, but it seemed like there wasn't a Dolby Digital option from the web interface....just HDX, i.e. 1080P. I wanted to see if it was a receiver issue or a Co-Star issue. But I could not even see a Dolby Digital option over the web interface. So....anyone have any thoughts on decoding Dolby Digital from Vudu on a Co-Star outputting to the Pioneer VSX-84TXSi receiver? Thanks!

[Chris Gerhard]

Re: Vudu on Vizio Co-Star

Hi Chris,

Your device should now be working.

Yes it is.

Thanks