Re: How do I fully connect an older DVR/HD-cable box to a modern HDTV?

On Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:27:18 -0800 (PST), Daryle Walker
<darylew@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have a combined DVR and HD-receiver from my cable provider. It's
from 2005, so it has a DVI jack instead of HDMI. I'm currently using
it with a SDTV, through regular composite A/V cables. (There's also
component video jacks in the back of the cable box.) I want to get a
HDTV this Christmas. I already got a (free) DVI/HDMI converter cable
from my cable company.


Some years ago I had Motorola HD-DVRs provided by Adelphia Cable -
which is now TWC in this neck of the woods. At the time I still had
analog TVs, with component inputs, and used that input from the Moto
boxes. About 4 years ago the first Westinghouse HD monitor arrived
(it has HDMI and DVI connections) but the DVI output from the Moto box
would never synch and the monitor reported its input as erroneous.
Adelphia techs urged me to continue using the component connectors. I
did and all worked fine. Newer Moto HD-DVRs, provided by TWC, did not
exhibit this problem and worked properly via either component or HDMI.
Since TWC was not charging anything to replace the old Moto units, it
was an easy decision to do so (plus the meager 160 GB HDD doubled the
capacity of the older units).

You might check with your cable provider as to replacing the older
HD-DVR to support your new HDTV.

I heard that the DVI/HDMI conversion is a straight wire reassignment,
with no conversion circuitry necessary. But I also heard that DVI,
unlike HDMI, supposedly doesn't carry sound. Is that accurate? If
so, how do I get audio from my cable box to a HDTV? If I use a HDMI
jack on a current HDTV, what other jack(s) should I make sure the HDTV
has so I can pipe in audio? My cable box has three audio outputs: a
left/right pair of RCA plugs (for composite or component A/V), a RCA-
style SPDIF plug, and an optical SPDIF plug.

I've seen HDTVs with PC input that have a nearby plug for audio (since
VGA is video-only). Can I use that audio-in with a soundless HDMI
signal? I just saw a box of a RCA HDTV where a HDMI, audio, and VGA
plug were next to each other and the HDMI and audio plugs had an extra
"DVI" label; I guess that TV deliberately takes DVI sources into
account. Can I do that with any HDTV with those three ports, or do I
have to make sure the TV supports that feature? And what kind of
cable do I use for the audio (and which jack on my cable box)?

If I get a home theater box, should I route the audio from the HDTV's
optical output to the theater, or should I send all the signals
(cable, PS2, PS3) to the theater first then channel it to the HDTV?
(The latter obviously requires a theater with video throughput.) If
the latter, do any theater support a separate HDMI and audio paired
input (from a DVI source)?

To each his own. I don't use an HT "box." Instead the BD equipped PC
and a Dune BD player connect to one Westy monitor. Its sound system
stands alone and is connected via 7.1 to the PC and optically to the
Dune. Thus, HDMI is employed by the Dune - though unnecessary - and
DVI is used by the PC.

The monitor also connects via stereo to the PC, Dune, and one wireless
headset transmitter, the other wireless transmitter - a 5.1 system -
uses Dune's coax output. When the Dune is in use it's possible to
utilize both headrest transmitters and the stand-alone sound system -
ideal for our hard-of-hearing visitors.

Although a Logitech 800 remote is capable of selecting and
manipulating all the components, it can not control the PC - our
primary source of playback. We use a wireless DSI KB/TP that. The
800 has been in a drawer for the past year or two. And the wicker
basket full of remotes is decorative;-)

OnAir HDTV tuners are connected to another PC where their captures are
edited and written to eSATA drives for playback on whichever PC,
laptop, or Dune will be used for playback at the time.

Two TWC provided HD-DVRs are connected - one to another PC/Westy where
Hauppauge HD analog capture is employed, and one to an old analog TV
in the guest bedroom. The contemporary Motorola HD-DVR we had
connected to the BD player system was returned to TWC as not suited to
our entertainment pleasure.
.

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