Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Can't get HDMI to work

I've got my new plasma TV up and running using component video connections - thanks for input on my earlier post.

But I ran into an unexpected problem: can't get the HDMI connection to work. My cable box is a Scientific Atlantic 8300. The TV is a Panasonic TH-42PX60U. I connected an HDMI cable but get absolutely nothing when I switch to this input source; no audio and no video. In the set-up routine for the TV there is a setting for HDMI which I have properly made. I don't know what else to do or try and am wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

Also, a related question: I thought that I would get both audio and video through the single HDMI cable. What confuses me is that on the back of the TV next to HDMI port there is a pair of red and white RCA-style audio connectors that seem to go with the HDMI. I did not plug in audio cables here. Should I? If so, is it not correct that audio and video are both provided by the HDMI cable itself? Thanks.

The RCA connections are there if you are going from DVI to an HDMI connection. Since DVI only does video you need to run audio also, that is why there is rca connections. If you are running HDMI to HDMI then you don't need to run audio cables also.

As far as no pic on the HDMI input I'm confused also. I've never seen that on a Panasonic and I have set up a ton of them. I would venture to say it might be something in the settings of the cable box about enabling an HDMI output. There really isn't anything to set up on the TV because they come already enabled. See if there is a HDMI enabled setting on the box.

Stuntman

1) Did you get HD service from the cable provider? HDMI is for HD service.
2) Have you tried the HDMI on an HD channel? Don't know if the HDMI will work on non-HDMI channel even if you have HD service.
3) Did you cycle the tv to the HDMI input (does it need to be enabled on the tv?)
4) The cable box setup may not be correct.

Just an update on this. I finally got the HDMI connection to work. The problem may have been that when I first tried it, I left the component video cables and RCA audio cables in place. Someone in another post suggested that perhaps only one input can be functional at a time so I tried unplugging the other cables. When I pulled the component video cables, still no HDMI, but when I then pulled the RCA cables, the HDMI kicked in.

So HDMI is working for me now, but I'm not sure it was worth the trouble. Really can't see much improvement over the CV cables. Also, there's still a couple of minor issues with the HDMI connection that I haven't figured out yet:

1. When I change channels while using HDMI, the screen initially goes black and there is an unusually long time lag before I see the new channel on the screen - a good 5-10 seconds. Is this common with HDMI?
2. With HDMI, I am not able to control volume with the cable box remote control as I can when in the CV/RCA mode. TV is connected to a Sony home theater system and I have to get up and adjust volume from the receiver when using the HDMI input for the TV. Any easy fix for this?

Thanks.

Whether HDMI or component will give a better picture all depends on the equipment being used. HDMI carries a digital signal while component carries an analog signal so the analog to digital conversion happens at different places depending on what cable you use. So the picture quality can vary depending on the quality of that conversion.

Regarding the delay when switching channels. What picture formats do you have the cable box setup to output? The 8300HD has four different output modes: fixed, pass through, upconvert 1, and upconvert 2. It can also output 1080i, 720p, 480p or 480i depending on how it was setup. Go to http://www.scientificatlanta.com/consumers_new/CableBoxes/8300hd.htm to download the user manual and setup guide. If the cable box is setup for pass-through and all resolutions were selected during setup, the delay may be caused by the cable box detecting what type of signal it is receiving, switching to that resolution and syncing with the TV.

Even though your TV accepts 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i signals its native resolution is 1024x768, so all those signals get converted to that resolution. 1024x768 is not a standard HD resolution so no matter what the cable box outputs, the TV has to do some type of conversion. Some TVs will display a better picture if fed a specific resolution so I would do some experimenting with different ouput resolutions on the cable box to see what looks best to you. Test both HD and SD channels.

Lastly when you say you can no longer adjust the volume with the cable box remote, are you talking about the receiver, TV or cable box volume level? If you are talking about the cable box volume level, make sure the "audio output" is set to variable and not fixed.

-Mike
" ..., Dude, let's go bowling."

Thanks for the detailed comments, Ironhead. Looks like I have some checking and experimenting to do. I do recall previously checking the output mode on my 8300HD. It was set on "pass through" and I left it there, not knowing exactly what the other choices were and whether I should try them. I can go back and experiment. Also, I've noticed that when I am watching an SD channel, I see "480i" in the little window on the front of the box, and when I watch an HD channel, it switches to "1080i". Should I mess with this? I can double check but I don't recall seeing an adjustment for resolution when looking at the "settings" options so I am not sure how to change this.