Pace CableCARD HD Boxes (TDC779X, TDC778X and DC757X) - Page 2

BillKen,

If you are using an A/V receiver inbetween via HDMI, are you getting DD audio?


Thanks.

I am not using an HDMI AVR - sorry. My 778x goes directly into my Pio Elite via Component cables and red/white RCA - and Coax audio out of the Harman/Kardon AVR for when I want surround sound. I'd like to eventually get an HDMI AVR (mainly for extra hdmi jacks) - but we'll see.

The automatic detection of supported resolutions only applys to an HDMI connection. That is why you're not having the issue.

I would switch to component, but the picture is noticeably better with an HDMI connection on the 778.

DD.

Really? I had done a comparison with my 775 and couldn't tell a difference - which is why I just stuck with component on my 778. Very interesting - I may have to try it tonight and see (which means I'll have to get a new receiver or hdmi switch). I'll let you know if the same deal happens to me with my Pio Elite.

DD (and Linden) - I did just try HDMI with my 778x and I honestly can't see much (if any) pq difference between it and Component. "Maybe" just a tiny bit better with HDMI in my brief comparison certainly nothing startling with my Pioneer 940 Elite plasma.

Anyway - my settings on the 778x also reverted to 720p only (from having been 1080i, 720p and 480i enabled) once I plugged in the HDMI cable and took the Pace out of standby.

So I'll keep an eye on this thread for a possible fix until I move to HDMI (I just ordered a Monoprice splitter today).

Hopefully Linden will see this and they can get a fix out soon for you DD - I suspect my test has helped to rule out your AVR being the culprit as my 778x was plugged directly into one of the hdmi ports on my Pioneer.

Let me know if you need me to check for anything else Linden.

p.s. - Haven't lost any of my subscription HD channels or the digital 400+ channels for over a week now. *fingers crossed* I think Armstrong just had something boogered up on their end that was causing that.

I think I started this thread when I reported that the 779 boxes were indicating a 4:3 aspect ratio in the HDMI stream.

I have 2 779 boxes. I have had to have Service Electric Cable TV (allentown, pa) reboot the boxes 3 times in the last 3 weeks. When a box loses its program I get a message saying "Illegal cable card connection. Service will be restored when a legal cable card is installed" message on the screen. The boxes don't fail simultaneously.

SECTV first sends a "booster signal" (their words) which doesn't work. They then reboot the box which powers it down and 10-15 minutes later all is well. SECTV tells me that other customers have similar problems and they recommend plugging the box into a wall outlet and not using a power strip or surge suppressor.

Dick OKeefe

You are correct, thats what the message said.
Please give me some hints on how to get into the diagnostics mode and I'll collect the info for you.

Dick OKeefe

Hey Linden,

It's obvious that you are proficient with the tdc779x tahoe, Mcard technology, or so Im assuming that. I was wondering, this could be for anyone for that matter, have you heard of any errors with VOD with the error code of "TM Cable Card Pairing"? This is where the cable system has VOD on the guide as for example channel 500 goes directly to Starz/Encore VOD and or 600 for HBO VOD, etc.... The problem occurs only when the channel is selected. Granted, I can go to menu, VOD, and it works just fine. Cable company has sent numerous signals, but still to no avail. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


Jhale

1. What Cable box you have.
tdc779x tahoe

2. Does this only happen on VOD channels? Going through the guide, there is a section for example:

500 Starz Encore VOD
501 Starz East
502 Starz West
503........

600 HBO VOD
601 HBO East
602 HBO West


3. Do you have premium non-VOD channels? If so, what happens?
By pressing Menu, (ON)-Ok, then going into the "Main" VOD menu's it works fine. I can get Starz/Encore Vod, Hbo VOD, etc...

But when I go into the individual channel numbers allocated to VOD, it gives me this error.


4. Your cable provider. Is there anything that I could tell them to do specifically to authorize this card for those individual channels to possibly work?



Is it a gray dialog that comes up and tells you to call your cable company?

No, it is a standard dialog box that says "ERROR - TM Cable Card Pairing" And thats it....I do understand about the not authorized portion

Provisioning a CableCARD box requires some additional steps for your Cable company beyond the steps of the old-fashion embedded security boxes.

The company says it's been provisioned and everything else is working....

BTW, Thank you for all of your help

OK, Tell me I'm not going crazy. I knew about Power-Menu and I did it once before to get the firmware version the boxes were using (9.0).

However when I press Power-Menu now (on both boxes) I get only the following menu items (the PACE POWER MENU line is a header)

PACE POWER MENU
TV Aspect Capability
TV Display Capability
Auto Pillarbox
Closed Caption
Front Panel Settings
Restore Defaults

That's all I get. What happened?

Dick OKeefe

[quote=oldengineer;11836838]OK, Tell me I'm not going crazy. I knew about Power-Menu and I did it once before to get the firmware version the boxes were using (9.0).

Pardon me for being such a dofus. I'm thinking of changing my screen name.

When I hit Menu-Select I was able to get the info you wanted. Both boxes are the same.

Brick Mode No
ER Bit Errors 0
Transport Errors 0
IPC Stalls 0

From the CableCard page Software version 02.01

Thanks for your patience,

Dick OKeefe

Hi,

I'm fairly new to this HD DVR. It's also new to my provider Mediacom.

Mediacom says that they have not enabled 1394 (for capture to a pc) or SATA (for more dvr storage). However, they didn't sound real sure since these DVR's are new to Mediacom.

Are these functions enabled automatically, or can I enable them, or is Mediacom truly in control here?

Thanks, Tim

Thanks for the info! Both ports are enabled.

Tim

Linden
This has probably been asked and answered but here goes.. How do I enable the Inputs on the TDC779x i.e. for my dvd player etc... I have every thing connected but the input button does nothing....
Thanks in advance

When you turn off the cablebox, it should pass the signal along to your TV.

Nope tried it

This is for JHale. Your box requires what the billing folks call a CCV or CCR hit. This is entirely do to improperly staging a CableCARD settop box.

I was wondering if anyone has had this problem. I Have a new Insignia 50" Plasma TV (NS-PDP50). I just received the TDC779X PACE Tahoe box from Mediacom. I tried to connect the PACE set-top to the HDMI/DVI port in the Insignia TV, but the Televesion indicates there is not a signal.

I used the diagnostic menu on the tahoe and looked at the HDMI port and it doesn't think there is a device connected to the HDMI port.

I went out and purchased a cheap (Memorex) DVD player that had the HD upcovert and HDMI output, I hooked it up directly to the TV via the HDMI/DVI port and it works, which leads me to believe either the TV and the PACE are somehow not compatible or something is wrong with the PACES HDMI port. Has anyone experienced this or are there any other diagnostics I can run to give me more information on the HDMI port on the PACE?

Any help would be appreciated.

Rich

I did use the Diagnostic menu and went to the HDMI status page and all I received was a single message that says NO HDMI DEVICE FOUND (or something to that affect).

Mediacom is comming tomorrow. I unplugged the box and plugged everything back in .. now when I go to the HDMI status page I see the following:

Device Info
Device Connected 1e 6d 1 0 1 1 1 1
Repeater NO
HDCP Supported NO (dont understand this, tv specifically says supports HDCP)
PREF Resolution 720p
Supp Resolution 480p 720p 1080i
Audio Capable YES ( PCM )
Sampling Rates 32K 44K 48K

A/V Status Video Audio
Enabled YES YES
Mute NO YES

In Video Format 480I
OUT Video FORMAT 1080I
VIDEO CONSTRAINED NONE
AUDIO SAMPLE RATE 32 KHz
AUDIO FORMAT PCM

HDCP STATUS DISABLED
HDCP SCOPE CONTENT ACTIVATED
HDMI CONSTRAIN YES
HDCP COUNTER 0

Rich