I noticed (too late, obviously) that an installer used a weird set-up for HDMI connection. From my Dish receiver I have an HDMI cable with one "normal HDMI-size" connector, but the other end is pretty wide with screws on each side connecting it to another wide connector with the same 2 screws. That cable ends up with the normal size HDMI connector going into my 50" plasma. Skinny connector to wide, wide connector to skinny..2 separate cables..that's how the cable looks. I'm wondering if I had a "normal" continuous HDMI cable instead of 2 cables made to be one if my picture quality would be better and in what ways. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

I noticed (too late, obviously) that an installer used a weird set-up for HDMI connection. From my Dish receiver I have an HDMI cable with one "normal HDMI-size" connector, but the other end is pretty wide with screws on each side connecting it to another wide connector with the same 2 screws. That cable ends up with the normal size HDMI connector going into my 50" plasma. Skinny connector to wide, wide connector to skinny..2 separate cables..that's how the cable looks. I'm wondering if I had a "normal" continuous HDMI cable instead of 2 cables made to be one if my picture quality would be better and in what ways. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Noticed your post in the other thread. Who said complaining never helped ... ;)

Sounds like the installer used two separate HDMI to DVI cables from your description. I'm assuming that one of the cables has a male DVI and the other has the female DVI.

Let me ask you ... are you getting audio through this HDMI>DVI>HDMI set-up? That's interesting.

As for why he would do this, I can think of only two things:

1. He didn't have a single HDMI cable long enough for your hook-up.

2. He didn't have any HDMI-HDMI cables, but had two HDMI-DVI cables (albeit with opposite genders).

Just to be clear, both your Dish reciever and your TV have female HDMI ports, right?

ft

"Let me ask you ... are you getting audio through this HDMI>DVI>HDMI set-up? That's interesting."

Audio will work fine in a set up like this, it's the DVI chipset that doesn't allow audio, the copper wires in the cable could care less if audio is included in the digital signal.

As for PQ, it's a digital feed, as long as you aren't seeing any "sparkles" or dropped video, the PQ will be fine with this set up.

"Let me ask you ... are you getting audio through this HDMI>DVI>HDMI set-up? That's interesting."That's good to know.

As for PQ, it's a digital feed, as long as you aren't seeing any "sparkles" or dropped video, the PQ will be fine with this set up.Doh! I forgot to answer his question. But I'll second your answer.

ft

THANKS for the replies! I just noticed a little ghosting and my picture quality overall just doesn't seem to be as good as it could be. Or maybe I'm expecting $5,000 results out of a $1,500 HDTV. I'm utterly new to most of this stuff so disregard my rookie Q's, but why would my 30.00 CHEEPO OTA antenna give me better picture quality than say HGTV HD or Hist.HD? Is it something to do with compression?

OTA feeds tend to not be overcompressed and usually offer the best PQ of various broadcast methods. Dish may be overcompressing and/or downrezzing channels to save bandwidth.

Oops, yes, I get sound with that hookup. I'm just concerned there is a problem somewhere, somehow, someway. Maybe it's the weather for the past week; cloudy, rainy and all around nasty, maybe it's the HDMI/DVI cable issue (doubt it, now), a cable length (shouldn't be with 70' unsplit, only connected)/connector issue or some interference from my OTA antenna power injector (doubt it). Is there that much variance in different channel picture quality? Some channels look great Discovery, A&E, TLC while others show more blocky images with slight ghosting around logos, on-screen print, etc. I have a Dish 1000.2 with ZERO obstructions, VIP622, Sony 5.1, 50" Philips plasma and yes, I know it's only 720p with 1080i capabilities(?), but lately it seems even the channels that once were beautiful have degraded a bit. Maybe it's my new prescription glasses revealing things I had never seen since my HD "upgrade"..? I hate to sound whiny but when you sink some money into something you expect it to perform to a certain standard, you know?

Yes, they both have 2 female ports. Thanks for your help.

It don't matta' no mo'! Took Philips back, got Panasonic. Mucho better-o! Case closed...

It don't matta' no mo'! Took Philips back, got Panasonic. Mucho better-o! Case closed...

I know your problem is solved, but maybe I can shed some additional light on your original question.

E* shipped the cable you described with some, but not all ViP622 and 722 DVRs (I got one with my 722, but not with my 622). It is a HDMI-to-DVI adaptor cable (6', IIRC) and a DVI-to-HDMI dongle. This gives the installer the correct cable for a TV with either connection. As someone else said, the audio is passed through the DVI connectors, but ignored in a DVI-connected TV.

Getting a HD receiver from E* is always a crapshoot with regards to what HD cables they send with it (if any). Sometimes component, sometimes the above setup, sometimes neither. :confused:

Brad