Cable provider: Time Warner Cable, Northeast Ohio
TV: LG 70LS7D (20" LCD HDTV)
HDMI cable: "HDMI (2 meter) 6 foot cable HQ 1080P 1.3b" from Amazon

I just flat out can't HDMI to go on a Time Warner Cable SA 8300HDC and LG 20" HDTV. I went into the HD Setup Wizard on this box and disabled all but the 720p and 1080i modes... still no worky. The HDMI/DVI input is not "lit up" on the TV's input selection menu, as though the HDMI cable isn't even plugged in. Right now I have the TV hooked up through the component jacks and they work fine (getting HD on channels 400-499 OK). I haven't been able to get the HDMI to go, either with or without the component cables hooked up.

Is there something I need to do to turn on the HDMI port on the 8300HDC? Maybe I got a bum cable (it was only $4 and change shipped)? Will the video quality be noticably better through HDMI than through the component hookup?

I had to swipe some composite cables from around the house for the component connection and would like to get the HDMI going so I can get my composite cables back for other uses. Or should I just forget about it and leave the component hookup be?

Thanks in advance for any help!

It sound like a bad cable.
You might not even notice any differnce between component and HDMI since there will be no diffrerence in resolution detail and there may only be a minor differnce in color quality.

Update: I borrowed my sister's Sony upconverting (720p/1080i) DVD player that has an HDMI output. I hooked that up to the LG TV... worked fine, no problems. So the cable is good.

I guess it's time to call Time Warner and see if they can help me get the HDMI going on the 8300HDC or exchange it for another 8300HDC.

Update: I borrowed my sister's Sony upconverting (720p/1080i) DVD player that has an HDMI output. I hooked that up to the LG TV... worked fine, no problems. So the cable is good.

I guess it's time to call Time Warner and see if they can help me get the HDMI going on the 8300HDC or exchange it for another 8300HDC.

did you get this fixed yet? you said you went into the wizard and changed output resolution but you also have to go to settings (settings button on remote) then go to "devices". In there you will see that it can be set up for either "HDMI", "Dolby Digital" or "other". This setting needs to be set on "HDMI".

The May issue of Home Theater magazine reviews the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-141FD Plasma Monitor which the reveiwer, Thomas J. Norton, calls the last and best of Pioneer's video products. He couldn't get the $7000 monitor to "maintain an HDMI link to my cable box (Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC.) It had no problem with any other HDMI source. The problem may be limited to this particular cable box design, although I was unable to try others. The same box has worked with other Pioneer sets but not with the PRO-141FD. I had to use component for my cable connection--which still produced a superb image."

On a similiar note I, fallingwater, haven't yet been able to get a new Moxi DVR to work with an older Westinghouse monitor with a DVI input. No matter what Moxi's resolution is set at, when connected through an HDMI/DVI adapter the Westinghouse displays 'Invalid Mode'. I've had to use a Component connection, which works fine.

What is the make/model of the Westinghouse monitor?
Are you sure that is not designed to be only a PC monitor which could mean that it would only accept PC resolutions and not HDTV resolutions over it's DVI interface.

It's LVM-37w1 and works fine with other DVRs. Other than Moxi the only time 'Invalid Mode' is routinely displayed is if 480i is mistakenly selected for input. Component works fine with Moxi and the HDMI/DVI issue is the only operational flaw I've encounted (so far) in the Moxi 'experience'.

I spoke with Moxi Customer Support yesterday and got the following email in reply:

Unable to View Picture Using HDMI to DVI Video Cable (Trouble Ticket Number 1668)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 6:04 PM
From: "CustomerCare" <CustomerCare@moxi.com>
To: (fallingwater) Cc: "CustomerCare" <CustomerCare@moxi.com>

Hello (fallingwater),

In regards to our discussion we had earlier today regarding your Moxi box being unable to display channels via a HDMI to DVI video cable, the problem is due to the TV itself. The best thing we suggest is just to continue using the component video cable you’re currently using. I sincerely wish I could tell you that we have a fix, but that would only make me a liar. J

We’re currently in the works of implementing within Moxi.com a much more functional and user friendly “Moxi Support Request” webpage. Please look forward to this change happening very soon.

I escalated your feedback regarding the User Guide to my manager. She let me know that there have been on-going discussions regarding whether or not to include copies of the User Guide in the packaging, and will be providing your feedback to the product team for consideration. She will also be passing on your suggestion of having a black and white copy available for printing off the website as well.

Thank you for your feedback, and we hope you are enjoying your Moxi experience.

Regards,

Moxi Customer Support

Many early model DVI TVs had problems with different sources since the DVI specifications are not very rigid. The HDMI specifcations are far more rigid and there is a HDMI testing lab where HDMI source and destinations units can be tested to insure interoperability.

It's LVM-37w1 and works fine with other DVRs. Other than Moxi the only time 'Invalid Mode' is routinely displayed is if 480i is mistakenly selected for input. Component works fine with Moxi and the HDMI/DVI issue is the only operational flaw I've encounted (so far) in the Moxi 'experience'.

I spoke with Moxi Customer Support yesterday and got the following email in reply:

Unable to View Picture Using HDMI to DVI Video Cable (Trouble Ticket Number 1668)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 6:04 PM
From: "CustomerCare" <CustomerCare@moxi.com>
To: (fallingwater) Cc: "CustomerCare" <CustomerCare@moxi.com>

Hello (fallingwater),

In regards to our discussion we had earlier today regarding your Moxi box being unable to display channels via a HDMI to DVI video cable, the problem is due to the TV itself. The best thing we suggest is just to continue using the component video cable you’re currently using. I sincerely wish I could tell you that we have a fix, but that would only make me a liar. J

We’re currently in the works of implementing within Moxi.com a much more functional and user friendly “Moxi Support Request” webpage. Please look forward to this change happening very soon.

I escalated your feedback regarding the User Guide to my manager. She let me know that there have been on-going discussions regarding whether or not to include copies of the User Guide in the packaging, and will be providing your feedback to the product team for consideration. She will also be passing on your suggestion of having a black and white copy available for printing off the website as well.

Thank you for your feedback, and we hope you are enjoying your Moxi experience.

Regards,

Moxi Customer Support

Moxi is OT here, but before posting more about how it works in the Moxi thread here's an update on Moxi's HDMI/DVI compatibility.

Despite what Moxi's CSR stated I got Moxi to connect sucessfully with the Westinghouse LVM-37w1 via HDMI/DVI. Moxi must be configured for 1080i or 720p (possibly 480p as well--I didn't try) and its standard-def output must be disabled. When LVM-37w1 displayed 'Invalid Mode' Moxi's standard-def ouput was not deselected. Even though the signal was hi-def, having standard-def enabled caused 'Invalid Mode' to be displayed, blocking the connection.

Now that I know Moxi's settings for displaying hi-def through HDMI/DVI I've gone back to using the Component connection. I have Moxi connected to a DVD recorder as well as the monitor and the DVD recorder requires a standard def signal. While it's possible to provide one through S-Video without enabling standard-def in Moxi's ouput menu, doing so requires setting Moxi's output ratio to 4 x 3 instead of 16 x 9. It's an all too complicated balancing act and the best practical solution is to use Component as the connection with 1080i and standard-def both enabled.

With my Motorola Non Moxi the DVI or Component output resoluiton is dependent on the input aspect ratio and on the setting for the display aspect ratio.
I have all 16:9 aspect ratio content being displayed at 720p for my 720p 16:9 HDTV and all 4;3 aspect ratio content being displayed at 480p which displayes it with side pillers on my 16:9 HDTV .