Quick static noise then no sound (AC3 through digital coax)

[dmuk]

I have a Creative DDTS-1000, basically an external decoder for DTS/Dolby Digital.

It normally works fine, but sometimes, I get a static noise, then nothing, just won;t play through the decoder, I have to restart the PC in order for it to work, what's going on there? Most of the time it plays fine, but every now and again, it does this.

Any ideas? thanks

[Nelson37]

Not familiar with that device, I assume it is connecting thru USB or Firewire, most likely USB?

What is basically happening is that the device is losing connection to the PC, that the reboot fixes it shows that the device is essentially working.

Generally, this could be the fault of bad drivers, an update may help. Update for the USB drivers may help. Using an add-on USB 2.0 adapter may help.

Best guess is that there is another USB device that is interfering with the communication sporadically, the Creative and/or its drivers does not tolerate this and disconnects. This is a common situation, if updated drivers doesn't help then you are left with either eliminating all other USB devices one-by-one until the problem is found, or finding out exactly what situation causes the offending device to start communicating and interfering with the Creative.

Try to nail down EVERYTHING that is going on when the device disconnects. After several events, you should be able to isolate something that is happening when it fails that is not happening when it is working. Then, like the old vaudeville joke, "don't go like that".