I tried to hook up my HD cable box (SA 8000HD) from the DVI port to the DVI port on my projector. The projector did NOT pick up any signal from the HD box.
Does the DVI port on my projector only recieve input from a computer? (DVI video card) I have a cheapo $500 Microtek CX7 which has only DVI or VGA for video.
I would like to view HD channels on my beautiful 106" screen so I can watch
football on Sunday. Are some DVI ports (projector) "dual input?"


I'm under the impression the DVI on a projector is only for computer input.......
I may have to get a projector with HDMI or component inputs.

What you're trying to do should work. A couple of things to look into:

1) Your cable box may not be set up to send video through the DVI port. Call your cable provider to find out if there's something you need to do to enable the DVI port.

2) DVI can carry an analog signal or a digital signal. You need to be sure that the DVI cable you are using is the correct one for the equipment you are trying to connect. See this link for a diagram of the different DVI ports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DVI_Connector_Types.svg)

FYI: DVI-D = digital, DVI-A = analog, DVI-I = integrated (analog and digital).

If your cable company is sending copy protected content (HDCP, high-bandwidth digital-content protection) via the DVI output (and most are) and your display device is not HDCP-capable on the DVI input, you won't be able to see the content. If you can connect via component from the cable box to the projector you will get very very good hi-def quality.

I've had the same issue with my Panasonic PT-L300U which has a DVI input but is not HDCP compliant (as was typical 4-5 years ago when this was a new projector), so we go from the cable box to the projector via component.

If your cable company is sending copy protected content (HDCP, high-bandwidth digital-content protection) via the DVI output (and most are) and your display device is not HDCP-capable on the DVI input, you won't be able to see the content. If you can connect via component from the cable box to the projector you will get very very good hi-def quality.

I've had the same issue with my Panasonic PT-L300U which has a DVI input but is not HDCP compliant (as was typical 4-5 years ago when this was a new projector), so we go from the cable box to the projector via component.
i also use component to go from sa8000hd to pan ptl500 pj. dvi input is used for pan s77 (hdmi-dvi cable). i bought a 6' $60 dvi cable w pj 3 yrs ago but have never used it. when i first set up this combo, sa8000hd had inactive dvi out. someday i'll try it out but no hurry, image via component looks great!

Thanks for the reply. Another question...
Will a component-to-DVI cable work here?
or is this cable only for a DVI-to-component direction?

i've seen component adapters & component to DVI cables for sale on amazon.com...with mixed reviews.

my cable box does not have the HDCP copy protection.
The cable box has a DVI-d while the projector has DVI-I.

Thanks for the reply. Another question...
Will a component-to-DVI cable work here?
or is this cable only for a DVI-to-component direction?

i've seen component adapters & component to DVI cables for sale on amazon.com...with mixed reviews.

my cable box does not have the HDCP copy protection.
The cable box has a DVI-d while the projector has DVI-I.

The SA-8000HD did not come originally with the dvi port active. You may need to update it with a firmware update or trade it up for an SA-8300HD.

Thanks for the reply. Another question...
Will a component-to-DVI cable work here?
or is this cable only for a DVI-to-component direction?

i've seen component adapters & component to DVI cables for sale on amazon.com...with mixed reviews.

my cable box does not have the HDCP copy protection.
The cable box has a DVI-d while the projector has DVI-I.

You can't convert an analog signal to digital with a simple cable. Maybe the one you saw on amazon converts the signal to DVI-A.

Thanks for the reply. Another question...
Will a component-to-DVI cable work here?
or is this cable only for a DVI-to-component direction?

i've seen component adapters & component to DVI cables for sale on amazon.com...with mixed reviews.

my cable box does not have the HDCP copy protection.
The cable box has a DVI-d while the projector has DVI-I.

You would want a component to vga cable. that would be analog to analog.

Thank you all for your replies. As it turned out my projector did not have HDCP capabilities so the signal from the SA8000 cable box was not being transmitted to the PJ. I just replace my PJ with a Optoma EP719 which has DVI-HDCP enabled. Also much better contrast at 2500:1 Now the cable box & the DVD player both work from HDMI to DVI port. XGA projected to an Elitescreens 106" grey is very nice!

Question: Circuit city offers an extended warranty which includes replacing the bulb.
Since a new bulb is $300+, I am considering the warranty ($125)
Has anyone used their ext. warranty for a bulb replacement?
Should I buy the warranty?