Loud Cracking/Snapping Noise

I'm assuming with this that:

1) You have HD service,

2) You're watching an HD channel, and

3) You've got surround sound enabled on your TV Receiver.

Sometimes when switching between programs and/or commercials, the data stream isn't say "perfect."  It can be caused by a change in the video stream (from one aspect ratio to another, for instance).  Anyway, if the digital audio stream gets interupted, that may get passed on and cause some equipment to "chirp."  

You could try switching your TV receiver's audio format setting from surround to stereo and see if the issue goes away.

No, no, and no.  Great suggestions though JefferMC.  I did a little digging around and found an article that might explain it.  It seems like you know what you're talking about, so let me run this one by you.  This loud crack occurs only during one commercial ending and another one beginning.  Not all the time, not all stations.

The article talked about there being a difference between how local commercials and mass industry commercials are handled with tv providers.  One is manually switched on, and the other is automatically switched on.  

Could AT&T have an issue with switching the local St. Louis commercials on that is causing this crack?

I wanted to post an update on this issue after speaking with an AT&T technician last night.  Apparently there was a fix, which the tech had done on his end.  He would never explain what had caused this cracking sound in between some commercials but assured me that he had fixed it, and also would be crediting my account $7.00.  Since last night and this morning, the cracking sound has been eliminated.

See?  I wasn't crazy after all!!!  LOL  

:>)

I was curious as to how your "fix" was implemented. Was it done over the phone or in person? Kindly reply, as I have been having the same issue for quite some time, and the response I was given was a new box being sent. Thank you!

@SheriSTL  Any insight on the fix performed by the tech?

I have the same issue.  It occurs when AT&T inserts their stupid commercials over the station's commercials.  It's on many of the SD channels (with the receiver in HD mode); FXX is the worst I've found.  AT&T broadcasts "their" commercials in full 16:9 format while the SD channel is letterboxed or barn-doored, so I'm assuming the two video sizes don't sync properly during the switch.

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@tjperez wrote:

I have the same issue.  It occurs when AT&T inserts their stupid commercials over the station's commercials.  It's on many of the SD channels (with the receiver in HD mode); FXX is the worst I've found.  AT&T broadcasts "their" commercials in full 16:9 format while the SD channel is letterboxed or barn-doored, so I'm assuming the two video sizes don't sync properly during the switch.

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Click the ATT Uverse Care link in my signature, send the PM, explain your noise situation.

Include your account #, email address and a good phone # (land or cell) and time to contact you on.

Check the blue PM envelope, upper right on every page, for their reply. Good luck 😉

Chris
__________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
Need Help? PM ATT Uverse Care (all service problems)
ATT Customer Care(all other problems)
Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
I Call It Like I See It, Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

Hello Burt,

I'm sorry for the delay in my response.  I hope that since your post, you were able to have your issue fixed.  Unfortunately the problem is now back and I will need to contact AT&T again.  The fix lasted for approx. 1 month, then started getting the loud cracking noise again inbetween commercials.

To answer your original questions, the tech did the fix remotely.  No one had to come to my house, but I wonder if they will end up having to do that since it truly hasn't been fixed.

Sorry I couldn't have been more help.

//Sheri

Sorry for the delayed response.  The fix was done remotely, but unfortunately after 1 month, the same problem is back.  Apparently it was only a temporary fix.  I will be contacting AT&T again and post the results.

I'm sorry that I could not have been of more assistance.

//Sheri

Hello David,

I will need to use your instructions to see if I can get a more permanent fix.  When the AT&T tech did a fix remotely, it only seemed to have lasted a month.  I'm now having the same loud cracking noise in between commercials just as much as the last time.  Do you think this is a widespread problem or just random?  

//Sheri

@SheriSTL , not crazy at all , I just wished I had seen your post ( or one pertaining to this problem ) sooner.

Last year I changed from Comcast to AT&T. The installation was a disaster. A completely inexperienced older technician but new on the job,took all day ( without exaggeration )  trying to install the service . He himself must have been embarrassed , so he turned surly and also left wires entangeled everywhere when he left and never explained anything. I ended up having to call for another technician the next day to clean up the mess and fix everything.

I prefaced my post with this , to explain my reluctance to call for a technician, even though the second Tech was knowledgeable, I kind of lost my trust.

Shortly thereafter I started to have those bangs in between some commercials , only mine were so loud it would startle you. The first time I was in another room and thought something had blown up in my t.v. But no, it was still playing and no more problems that night. This would go on sporadically , but mostly in the evenings. The bangs got so loud , I thought whatever it is ,it can't be good for my tv. Since my Sony was a few years old , I thought I might as well buy a new TV to get rid of the problem. I had the new one installed on the wall and settled in to watch some TV, without getting startled out of my wits every so often. Well , that part is gone , the startling, but not the problem. It now sounds like a toaster popping up toast. Again I worry  if it can damage the TV. I thought maybe I have the wrong cable and went and bought the best cable made for my particular TV but have not yet found anyone who could change out cables for me. I'm a woman in my 70's and will not be able to lift my TV from the wall , nor do I think I can follow the instructions above and the remote fix for SheriSTL did not fix the problem either .

I enjoy At&T's programming and I enjoy having just 1 bill for 3 services, but even there I have problems. I'm on WiFi but my PC ( also new ) is slower than before. I have upgraded , but to no avail. Sometimes it will not load a page at all. Other times it gets a little faster but not where it should be.Even my Voice Service, which I have had for 15 yrs with AT&T before changing to Uverse,same phone,never a problem, is not the same anymore. It takes forever to connect after dialing, dropped calls, sometimes there are phone call conversations on my answering machine, from other phone connections. Besides , the 1.Tech , when asked if he could tighten up my wall phone a bit cause it was hanging kind of loose , pulled out some scotch tape and taped it up some , he was ready to get home ,done or not .

I really do not want to change provider again , but since these cracking sounds seem to be an AT&T problem, should they come out and fix it? And how would I know they are knowledgeable enough to know how ?

Well SiriJ43, I followed the instructions provided in a previous post to attempt to fix the cracking noise.  It actually seems to have gotten louder now.  I nearly jump off the couch and I'm thinking about 2 glasses of wine instead of 1 in the evening, just to calm my nerves from the pops.  You think AT&T will pay for my rehab when I end up in treatment???

Anyway, I'm going to call in a complaint to AT&T now and request a tech to come out.  It either needs to get fixed, or I'm wanting a discount on my bill for putting up with this for so long.  I'm comforted in knowing there are others that are having this problem, but also disturbed in the fact that AT&T isn't taking active steps to fix their system.

By the way, awsome ideas you had.  Never thought about it damaging my TV.  But figured that it wasn't TV specific, since it happens on all 3 of my televisions.

I'll send another post out when AT&T has visited my house and let you know what information I can add.

My problem is - I do not think that there is any concrete explanation of this situation. I have had many TVs on U-verse & only one case of this problem. I have seen only a few posts off the millions of installs. I do not see how one can definitively say it is u-verse or the TV.

Some time ago I decided to add another TV to my few year old u-verse install(see my avatar). After a few days I heard the loud crack. I immedtiately returned the TV & got another one, that was the same model. Sometime later there were a few cracks, not as loud.

I returned that TV at the end of the allowed period & got a different model. Never heard anther crack.

Thank you for your replies @SheriSTLand@aviewer,

So far I have not contacted AT&T, since my schedule is quite hectic at the moment and I will need some down time to be able to deal with this .

I do want to reiterate that I no longer think my TV has anything to do with it.

1. I had years of service with comcast with my old Sony ( no HD ) without ever having the cracking noices. It was a cable connection.

2. The cracking started when I changed providers. Comcast to At&T. Same Sony TV but WiFi connection.

3. Bought a new TV ( HD ) still WiFi connected , still have the same cracking noices, only not as loud as before.

The only other thing I have noticed concerning the TV is , sometimes it seems that the sound is in stereo and sometimes it seems like surround sound. TV is not connected to any sound system. Build in TV speakers only. I was also totally underwhelmed by the HD picture and am now wondering if my new TV was set up correctly for HD. As I said , I have also bought a new HDMI cable which I want to have connected and I'm curious as to what kind of cable my Installer used , since he had to go to the store to buy one, and where he connected it . My bad for not checking what he bought.

If the wrong set up has something to do with the noise , I won't know until I have time for a tech. It may take me awhile but I will post once I get it done.