HDMI to SDI Issue w/ Tricaster 850

I'm using a HDMI to SDI mini converter to use a laptop as a source input in the Tricaster 850. The laptop input is flashing to black from time to time in the Tricaster without any warning. Our power source is good and the internet connection with the laptop is good. The presenter is not seeing any issue with the laptop during the production. So far it seems to flash to black while showing websites, currently have the latest (2/25/14) edition of Google Chrome loaded, and nothing else. The converter is not being touched during the live production or any wires connected.

Does anyone have idea on how I can troubleshoot this issue. Has anyone experienced this problem. Any help would be greatly welcomed, thanks!

KM

I had a similar issue with the HDMI output of an iPad 3 through the HDMI-to-SDI mini-converter into a TriCaster 860. I could find no fault with the source, or the SDI input on the TriCaster. I would only get black through the mini-converter. I tried the HDMI out from a camera, and everything looked great. I also tried the iPad HDMI out directly to an HD monitor - again, that worked as well.
My only solution was to take the iPad HDMI out through a composite decoder and into the composite in on the TriCaster. The result worked - but the quality was poor with it being SD composite with associated dot crawl.

I attended a local video show yesterday and described my situation to the Blackmagic rep, who worked diligently with his own iPad to try and get a signal through the SDI mini-converter - but to no avail.

We concluded that the iPad must be putting out a non-standard HD signal, and/or there is some kind of HDCP (digital content protection) flag within the output stream that is blocking conversion, but still will display directly on an HD HDMI monitor. It there is not HDCP present, then it may be necessary to have a converter that will re-clock and possibly re-scale the HDMI output from the iPad in order for it to conform to a standard HD profile prior to converting it to SDI. Does Blackmagic make such a box?

As far as I know Blackmagic doesn't make an HDMI scaler or UpDownCross converter that works with anything but SMPTE video formats (which your iPad isn't outputing which is the problem).

The cheapest / best scaler that should work is the Datavideo DAC-70 which will both scale your input as well as output it via SDI for you all in one box.

I believe the issues is that the BM HDMI to SDI converter with a computer attached defaults 60hz, not 59.94hz needed for the TriCaster and other production video gear. I use Panasonic Switchers all the time and see this issue. I will be trying this with a tricaster for the first time on Tuesday.

In PC's with a NVidia card you can go in and set this on Mac's it is an issue. I have to use the Gefen HDNI Detective between the mac and BM box to force a 59.94 res.

Hope this helps.
JMW