cmulder
12-11-08, 01:09 PM
Okay--here's the deal--I have the Motorola DCT6412 (Cox Cable) displaying over HDMI to my Pioneer PDP-5080 (720p) and it works great--displays the high definition perfectly using the entire screen. The Box is set to output at 1080i. I run it through an Onkyo SR605 with it set to just pass the signal through and let the Pioneer deal with the rendering.
Now--because of how great my system worked, I recommended it to a friend who had no experience with Hi Def. So she bought the same Pio (except she got the 1080p), the same Onkyo basically except by that time, the 605 had been replaced by the 606 (I believe not sure of the model as I sit here) which was actually somewhat of an upgrade--had more functions than mine and an extra HDMI in). She also has the DCT6412 except she has Comcast instead of Cox (and glad I have Cox).
So anyway she's telling me her High Def isn't right so I go over there and I was shocked to find out that the installer and the cable guy had the High Def displaying over the RCA video out from the Cable Box with left right audio. What happened was the box simply would not display over the HDMI--I tried it both through the Onkyo and also direct to the TV with HDMI--simply doesn't work (which I understand is a problem with some of these boxes).
Anyway--that's not the only issue--that can be resolved by getting the cable company out to replace the box or upgrade the firmware or worst case scenario, use the RGB connection from the Cable Box. However, the picture does not display correctly no matter what settings I use on the Pioneer EXCEPT Zoom (I hooked up the RGB to feed through the Onkyo). In other words, if I use "Full" or "Cinema" or whatever, the high Def come very narrow with significant borders on the top and bottom of the picture. I also tried every setting on the Onkyo--pass through, 1080i, 720p everything and same issue. Now I know that's not right because it displays fine on my system.
Now--the other issue is somehow Comcast prevents the subscriber from being able to access any of the Cable Box settings for display. I think they have it set to 1080i although not sure. On my box, I can go into the settings and change to 720p or 480i or other settings. That menu does not exist on the Comcast box.
Now--they also had me hookup a PS3 which I ran through with HDMI throug the Onkyo to the Pioneer and of course that displayed wonderfully. And in fact they were absolutely amazed because it was the first time they actually saw and heard high definition on their system--they were in awe like as if you showed them the fountain of youth or something!!! :D
Any ideas on why the High Def cable does not display properly? I'm thinking it has to be the Cable Box--that's the only variable that I can't change and the PS3 displayed fine--we put in a standard wide screen DVD and it displayed correctly the same as it does on my TV.
As an aside, it is shocking to me that a cable installer would hook up the High Def Cable Box using RCA video and left/right stereo. These poor people just thought that's the way it was--it was better than standard television of course because it was still a high def signal going through RCA video. But they actually were watching the standard definition stations instead of high def because of the aspect problem I described.
Now--because of how great my system worked, I recommended it to a friend who had no experience with Hi Def. So she bought the same Pio (except she got the 1080p), the same Onkyo basically except by that time, the 605 had been replaced by the 606 (I believe not sure of the model as I sit here) which was actually somewhat of an upgrade--had more functions than mine and an extra HDMI in). She also has the DCT6412 except she has Comcast instead of Cox (and glad I have Cox).
So anyway she's telling me her High Def isn't right so I go over there and I was shocked to find out that the installer and the cable guy had the High Def displaying over the RCA video out from the Cable Box with left right audio. What happened was the box simply would not display over the HDMI--I tried it both through the Onkyo and also direct to the TV with HDMI--simply doesn't work (which I understand is a problem with some of these boxes).
Anyway--that's not the only issue--that can be resolved by getting the cable company out to replace the box or upgrade the firmware or worst case scenario, use the RGB connection from the Cable Box. However, the picture does not display correctly no matter what settings I use on the Pioneer EXCEPT Zoom (I hooked up the RGB to feed through the Onkyo). In other words, if I use "Full" or "Cinema" or whatever, the high Def come very narrow with significant borders on the top and bottom of the picture. I also tried every setting on the Onkyo--pass through, 1080i, 720p everything and same issue. Now I know that's not right because it displays fine on my system.
Now--the other issue is somehow Comcast prevents the subscriber from being able to access any of the Cable Box settings for display. I think they have it set to 1080i although not sure. On my box, I can go into the settings and change to 720p or 480i or other settings. That menu does not exist on the Comcast box.
Now--they also had me hookup a PS3 which I ran through with HDMI throug the Onkyo to the Pioneer and of course that displayed wonderfully. And in fact they were absolutely amazed because it was the first time they actually saw and heard high definition on their system--they were in awe like as if you showed them the fountain of youth or something!!! :D
Any ideas on why the High Def cable does not display properly? I'm thinking it has to be the Cable Box--that's the only variable that I can't change and the PS3 displayed fine--we put in a standard wide screen DVD and it displayed correctly the same as it does on my TV.
As an aside, it is shocking to me that a cable installer would hook up the High Def Cable Box using RCA video and left/right stereo. These poor people just thought that's the way it was--it was better than standard television of course because it was still a high def signal going through RCA video. But they actually were watching the standard definition stations instead of high def because of the aspect problem I described.