10 Messages
Gemini Air Dolby surround support?
I just got a Gemini Air device and a new Direct TV account a few days ago. The settings are driving me nuts, specifically the audio output. I am connecting it through a Sony home theater receiver, and although the only audio setting I see is set to "surround", the receiver does not detect a Dolby signal via the HDMI connection. Many other devices I've used send Dolby Digital to my receiver, but no matter what I do I can't get this one to work.
The setup info on the website is terrible. Even when I log in, the "troubleshooting" page shows my equipment but the info is all wrong. Am I an (Edited per community guidelines) or what?
Thanks
Tom in NC
Accepted Solution
TomIn_NC
10 Messages
11 months ago
Okay - I have to let you know that I finally figured out why I couldn't get Dolby Digital passed out of my Gemini Air device into my Sony AV receiver. It wasn't the fault of the Direct TV/AT&T/Gemini hardware. It was an arcane setting in my 12 year old Sony system: an HDMI passthrough or "control for HDMI" setting. While the documentation for Direct TV-ATT-Gemini etc is terrible and confusing, Sony's might even be worse.
Until I switched from Uverse last fall, I'd used a separate digital audio connection (coax or optical) to bring surround from the cable box into the receiver. With the Gemini gadget there isn't an optical output (even though many places in Direct TV support it's implied that it's available, so I was counting on DD via HDMI, which I've used on other connections with no problem. I just never got it to work for months. Anyway, after a LOT of experimentation this afternoon, my Gemini device seems to be passing Dolby Digital + in 5.1 format.
I'm not going to change any settings and hope this really is my solution. Good luck, y'all!
Tom
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.2K Messages
1 year ago
What channel(s)? Not all channels provide DD5.1 audio.
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detuch254
ACE - New Member
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5.2K Messages
1 year ago
Moving this to streaming forum since you mentioned the Gemini Air, which is exclusive to DIRECTV via Internet
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TomIn_NC
10 Messages
1 year ago
MAX, Netflix, local over the air channels
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TomIn_NC
10 Messages
1 year ago
The "streaming forum" says it's only for devices not provided by Direct TV, so I guess I was confused about the correct forum. Sorry.
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cccc1822
New Member
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12 Messages
1 year ago
I just switched from a Gemini to a Gemini air device and when I did my Bose 900 soundbar does not produce any Dolby type audio regardless of the channel. It only produces LPCM 5.1. I switched back to the Gemini box and Dolby audio works fine. Will be returning my Gemini air.
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Chief_2013
5 Messages
1 year ago
I just got of a horrible chat session (as usual) and they informed me I cannot order the Gemini box. Are there any other solutions for audio sync issues and utilize Dolby??
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seedster
Visitor
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4 Messages
11 months ago
My Gemini Air is also not outputting Dolby Digital (only Multi PCM). Validated that the program itself (Elvis movie on HBO) is outputting DD when I put my old Gemini back in using the same HDMI connection. This thing (Edited per community guidelines), returning my Air as well.
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cccc1822
New Member
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12 Messages
11 months ago
False advertising on behalf of at&t. Not sure how they can ship that product to its paying customers, big miss in their QA dept.
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TomIn_NC
10 Messages
11 months ago
This is why I've kept my Apple TV box for the home theater, just using the Direct TV gadgets for the smaller TVs (kitchen, porch etc). The Apple box outputs Dolby Digital 5.1 on all the supported channels. Except when I run the Direct TV app on Apple - if I switch from Max via Apple to Max via Direct TV via Apple(!) I lose my 5.1 signal. AT&T - it's truly not rocket science!
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Chief_2013
5 Messages
11 months ago
Terrible customer service but have no issues taking our money. I will do as soon as I can. To not offer the latest technology at these prices is completely ridiculous!
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seedster
Visitor
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4 Messages
11 months ago
TomIn_NC, what channels are you getting DD on? I’ve only exclusively used HDMI to pass audio to my receiver and still not getting the desired output. Let me say it simply…HDMI cable plugged into old Gemini and DD received just fine…I plug that same cable into the new Gemini Air dongle, on the same TV channel outputting the same content and no DD. Audio settings on Air are set to “surround” as well.
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TomIn_NC
10 Messages
11 months ago
I'll have to confirm but it seems like all of them.
The actual tricky part of this is deciphering the instructions for several devices: TV, soundbar, receiver, Gemini device etc.
BUT: what if the unit is simply encoding the audio as Dolby Digital when it's actually LPCM? Or am I crazy? (that's an idle paranoid thought)
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RBDanC
Contributor
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10 Messages
10 months ago
I noticed the same thing when I switched from the Gemini to the Gemini Air. Is there an official way of submitting a bug report?
FYI - The "Accepted Solution" is not a solution. It doesn't work.
(edited)
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seedster
Visitor
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4 Messages
10 months ago
I agree RBDandC. I think that was DTV’s way of closing out this incident without an actual solution 🤨
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