AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Technical › recommend me a right HD receiver[noob] - in Canada
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

recommend me a right HD receiver[noob] - in Canada

post #1 of 26
4/27/12 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 
i currently have explorer 4642hd and
the spdif audio output of my current hdtv box is not working
so i need to get a new one but could you recommend me one beacuse
im a noob dont know any models

i need no analog outputs
i only need hdmi and spdif outputs
the cheaper the better as long as it has a hdmi and a spdif output

my budged is under $200 but the cheaper the better

thank you so much guys in advance
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 26
4/28/12 at 11:25am
The Explorer is a cable box, not a receiver.

And we really need more information here. What cable company are you with? Do they allow you to buy your own box?
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 26
4/28/12 at 1:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by goohsm View Post

i currently have explorer 4642hd and
the spdif audio output of my current hdtv box is not working
so i need to get a new one but could you recommend me one beacuse
im a noob dont know any models

i need no analog outputs
i only need hdmi and spdif outputs
the cheaper the better as long as it has a hdmi and a spdif output

my budged is under $200 but the cheaper the better

thank you so much guys in advance

Unless you are in Canada, you can't buy a cable box. All US cablecos require they provide the boxes that work on their systems, with a few exceptions.

If you want to buy a full featured box that receives all the cable channels your provider can offer, the only choice is a TiVo. The TiVo uses a device called a CableCARD that you rent from the cableco for a few dollers a month. It gives you conditional access to all the channels you pay for.

Most cable systems have at least the local HDTV channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, etc.) that you could receive without a cable box or CableCARD. For those you need a QAM tuner, which most current HDTV's have built in.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 26
4/28/12 at 11:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sitlet View Post

The Explorer is a cable box, not a receiver.

And we really need more information here. What cable company are you with? Do they allow you to buy your own box?

im in canada and the rogers is the cable company
spdif output of the first cable box wasnt working
so i switched to another box(same model) and spdif output still not working
so i just decided to get my own box

i asked and they said i can get my own cable box instead of renting their box(explorer)

and this one switches the channel very slow
a device that ables me to surf channels very fast would be very nice
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 26
4/28/12 at 11:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H View Post

Unless you are in Canada, you can't buy a cable box. All US cablecos require they provide the boxes that work on their systems, with a few exceptions.

If you want to buy a full featured box that receives all the cable channels your provider can offer, the only choice is a TiVo. The TiVo uses a device called a CableCARD that you rent from the cableco for a few dollers a month. It gives you conditional access to all the channels you pay for.

Most cable systems have at least the local HDTV channels (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, etc.) that you could receive without a cable box or CableCARD. For those you need a QAM tuner, which most current HDTV's have built in.

im in canada and my cable service provider told me i can get my own box
whats your opinion about hdtv card
will i be able to watch multiple channels on pc?
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 26
4/28/12 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
will this one work for me?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DVBHD-2080U-...item23110f8ea9
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 26
4/29/12 at 12:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by goohsm View Post

will this one work for me?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DVBHD-2080U-...item23110f8ea9

For cable, no.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 26
4/29/12 at 12:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by goohsm View Post

im in canada and my cable service provider told me i can get my own box
whats your opinion about hdtv card
will i be able to watch multiple channels on pc?

The PC cards that work with cable use a CableCARD, which I don't think are offered by Canadian cablecos. Let me ask.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 26
4/29/12 at 12:39am
Update:

Your Explorer 4642HD is an SA/Cisco HD cable box. Due to how digital cable works, you'll be limited to two brands of cable boxes on a Rogers system; SA/Cisco and Pace.

Typically, used boxes will be less expensive then new ones. I believe both Best Buy and Future Shop sell new Rogers boxes, and you may want to check with them, and check with Rogers themselves to see if they have any offers you may qualify for.

If you are going to buy a used cable box for Rogers, and this is key, it must already have been active on a Rogers system for them to be able to activate it for you. In other words, you can't buy a box that's been used in the US or on Videotron. You also have to insure the old Rogers customer selling the box calls them and has them deactivate the box for their account, and also tell them they are selling it to another Rogers customer, and that the old Rogers customer account is not in arrears.

Here is the best place to get the info you need: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64632
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 26
4/29/12 at 9:53am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H View Post

Update:

Your Explorer 4642HD is an SA/Cisco HD cable box. Due to how digital cable works, you'll be limited to two brands of cable boxes on a Rogers system; SA/Cisco and Pace.

im ok with my current Explorer 4642HD box but i need spdif output
the Explorer has spdif outputs at the back of the unit
but its not working
the spdif output of my frist 4642HD did not work and i switched to another 4642HD and still not working
should i try another one or a different model?
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 26
4/29/12 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H View Post

Update:

Your Explorer 4642HD is an SA/Cisco HD cable box. Due to how digital cable works, you'll be limited to two brands of cable boxes on a Rogers system; SA/Cisco and Pace.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...X:eRTM:US:1123
so in my case, this will not work either right?
bomber i thought it would be interesting to be able to watch hdtv on my desktop
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 26
4/29/12 at 12:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by goohsm View Post

im ok with my current Explorer 4642HD box but i need spdif output
the Explorer has spdif outputs at the back of the unit
but its not working
the spdif output of my frist 4642HD did not work and i switched to another 4642HD and still not working
should i try another one or a different model?

Please elaborate on how you determined that the SPDIF was not working. I find it odd that two consecutive STBs had defective SPDIF circuits.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 26
4/29/12 at 1:18pm
Just a thought...
Is it possible that if you use HDMI on this particular model cable box, the S/PDIF gets disabled?
In other words, you can't run both digital audio outputs simultaneously.

Remove the HDMI cable from the cable box and see if the S/PDIF interface engages.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 26
4/29/12 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post

Just a thought...
Is it possible that if you use HDMI on this particular model cable box, the S/PDIF gets disabled?
In other words, you can't run both digital audio outputs simultaneously.

Remove the HDMI cable from the cable box and see if the S/PDIF interface engages.

i pulled hdmi and turned it off and turned it on
and still not working
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 26
4/29/12 at 3:59pm
What are you connecting the S/PDIF output from the cable box into?
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 26
4/29/12 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by domino92024 View Post

Please elaborate on how you determined that the SPDIF was not working. I find it odd that two consecutive STBs had defective SPDIF circuits.

i see the red light on on the optical out
but there is no signal on my dac
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 26
4/29/12 at 5:57pm
Are you sure you checked the settings of the box? Are you not getting any audio? Or just not 5.1?

Quote:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...X:eRTM:US:1123
so in my case, this will not work either right?
bomber i thought it would be interesting to be able to watch hdtv on my desktop

First, don't even think of buying those cheap-o devices off ebay, they won't work. Second, there are devices like that, Hauppauge is a very popular company that many people here use.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc...a_hvr950q.html

That one will allow you to watch any analog channels (if your cableco still broadcasts analog), ATSC (i.e. with an antenna, if you are close enough), and QAM (which you would get the local channels in HD, again if your cableco supports this.

The only other option for getting full HD channels is to get a cablecard tuner like this one:

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc...a_dcr2650.html

However, those can only be used in the US.

And on the last note, is there a reason you can't just keep renting a box from them? If you rent from them, they will swap out the box if there ever is a problem.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 26
4/29/12 at 6:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sitlet View Post

Are you sure you checked the settings of the box? Are you not getting any audio? Or just not 5.1?

my dacs are stereo dacs not 5.1 (benchmark dac1 and moon 300d)
RCA audio output works
but digital output and hdmi audio output dont work

i have no problem to keep renting this box its just that i swapped the first box because digital out didnt work and this one has the same problem
so i am trying to figure out if i should just buy a box on my own or get it swapped once more
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 26
4/29/12 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by sitlet View Post


First, don't even think of buying those cheap-o devices off ebay, they won't work. Second, there are devices like that, Hauppauge is a very popular company that many people here use.

http://www.hauppauge.com/site/produc...a_hvr950q.html

That one will allow you to watch any analog channels (if your cableco still broadcasts analog), ATSC (i.e. with an antenna, if you are close enough), and QAM (which you would get the local channels in HD, again if your cableco supports this.

that one doesnt look like it support hdtv
what about this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hauppauge-Wi...item2a1cbd0abb
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 26
4/29/12 at 6:27pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ratman View Post

What are you connecting the S/PDIF output from the cable box into?

dacs
i have benchmark dac1
and simaudio moon 300d
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 26
4/29/12 at 7:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by goohsm View Post

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...X:eRTM:US:1123
so in my case, this will not work either right?
bomber i thought it would be interesting to be able to watch hdtv on my desktop

That will not work with cable either.

If you want just your local broadcast stations, that will work fine with a PC.
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 26
4/29/12 at 7:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sitlet View Post

That one will allow you to watch any analog channels (if your cableco still broadcasts analog), ATSC (i.e. with an antenna, if you are close enough), and QAM (which you would get the local channels in HD, again if your cableco supports this.

Canadian cableco do not support clear QAM.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 26
4/29/12 at 8:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by goohsm View Post

dacs
i have benchmark dac1
and simaudio moon 300d

Now I know why your DACs don't work. They are for PCM digital audio. They are not compatible with Dolby Digital.

The Explorer 4642HD outputs Dolby Digital on both the coax and optical digital outputs in default mode.

Here is info on how to configure the Explorer 4642HD digital audio options. It's not clear if the alternate setting outputs PCM 2 channel stereo, or Dolby Digital 2 channel stereo, but it's worth a try.

You may have to use component video instead of the HDMI to get PCM out of the 4642HD.

Quote:


Important Notes Regarding the HDMI Interface on the Set-Top

The HDMI interface automatically configures the audio output for a format supported by the television. Because not all TVs support the Dolby Digital input, the HDMI interface may automatically select a 2-channel stereo audio configuration instead of Dolby Digital, which it carries over to the other digital audio outputs of the set-top. This prevents your home theater system or Dolby Digital decoder from providing the full Dolby Digital surround-sound effect.

You can override this configuration by completing the following steps.
1. Press SETTINGS twice on the remote control to open the General Settings menu.
2. Press MOVE UP or MOVE DOWN to select the option Audio: Digital Out.
3. Press MOVE RIGHT to select Dolby Digital. This setting will send Dolby Digital audio to the HDMI, DIGITAL AUDIO
OUT, and OPTICAL AUDIO OUT connectors on the set-top.

Notes:
• If the TV is not Dolby Digital capable, it may not produce audio through its speakers when the Audio: Digital Out setting on the set-top is set to Dolby Digital. You can either switch the Audio: Digital Out setting back to HDMI when you are not using the home theater or Dolby Digital decoder, or you can connect the baseband audio outputs (OUT 1 Audio Left and Right) to the TV.
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 26
4/29/12 at 8:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by domino92024 View Post

Please elaborate on how you determined that the SPDIF was not working. I find it odd that two consecutive STBs had defective SPDIF circuits.

Yes indeed. You were on the right track with that.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 26
4/29/12 at 9:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H View Post

Now I know why your DACs don't work. They are for PCM digital audio. They are not compatible with Dolby Digital.

The Explorer 4642HD outputs Dolby Digital on both the coax and optical digital outputs in default mode.

Here is info on how to configure the Explorer 4642HD digital audio options. It's not clear if the alternate setting outputs PCM 2 channel stereo, or Dolby Digital 2 channel stereo, but it's worth a try.

You may have to use component video instead of the HDMI to get PCM out of the 4642HD.


it works
i was able to change the audio setting dolby -> other
it sounds crystal clear with digital output though my hifi dac

thank you so much problem solved

the rent for this box is like $12 a month
so i could consider just buy a better one anyways
but ill be ok for a while

thank you again
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 26
4/29/12 at 9:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken H View Post

Yes indeed. You were on the right track with that.

Indeed. It's the ol' DD/PCM bugaboo again.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: HDTV Technical

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › HDTV › HDTV Technical › recommend me a right HD receiver[noob] - in Canada