No, the digital audio output plug from the STB (or satellite receiver) should be connected to your AV Receiver for digital 5.1 sound. Which begs the question, how are you getting 5.1 sound without using this in the first place?

The stereo miniplug (and the RCA audio outputs) are analogue.

All you'll need is a stereo miniplug adaptor. They should cost no more than $5 at The Source or other stores of the kind.

You'll just have to run your normal stereo RCA cables from the STB to the adaptor, and then plug the adaptor to the HDTV.

No, the digital audio output plug from the STB (or satellite receiver) should be connected to your AV Receiver for digital 5.1 sound. Which begs the question, how are you getting 5.1 sound without using this in the first place?

Now this is a great question...i'm assuming that i'm not getting the true 5.1 surround sound capabilities in HD or otherwise. i have a Curtis system. let's just say i was surprised to find out yesterday that it actually has a component out on it... Where would the digital audio out on the STB plug into exactly on the AV receiver? hey you brought it up...haha

Okay i'm grabbing on of those adapters tonight and i'll let you know how it goes!!

DJ

should i spend the extra $6 and just get this? i do have about 5 RCA cables lying around though. maybe i should just use them up.

Oy! Give me strength! (Hah, just kidding!)

Can you please provide me with more info: the model of the Curtis system?

Not knowing that, then this is all hypothetical:

Get a digital audio optical cable and plug it into the STB's digital audio output on one end and into the digital audio input of the AV Receiver.

it's the Curtis DVD5036. I'm just trying to find out the specs.

BTW, for all of your help, i'm about to enlight your gastronomic pleasures..Burrito Boyz. If you haven't tried them out, do so ASAP.

-DJ

i wonder if my tv has a digital audio in. that may be my solution.

Okay, I just finished downloading and reading the manual of the 5036 and it looks like it does NOT have a Digital Audio Input. It DOES have a coaxial digital output for connecting it to an external AV Receiver but it doesn't have a digital audio input.

Which means you can't connect your 6100 to the 5036 and get true digital 5.1 sound from the STB. It looks like the 5.1 for this unit is exclusively for the built-in DVD Player.

Your TV has digital audio in via HDMI, but we already discussed why that is limited because you are using DVI to HDMI. And inmost cases, most HDTVs with this feature can't pass 5.1 sound through it using HDMI.

I dont know if i should have started a new thread or not, but i have the same issue. I have an DVI to HDMI cable for my 6100 to go to my Envision 32" LCD.
However, since DVI is video only, i get no audio. I try'd using RCA plugs to get sound on the tv, but it didnt work. If i plug'd the RCA cable to the "video 1" input.. i get VERY VERY VERY week sound. even when i crank up the volume all the way.. its still almost silent. i try'd to plug it into the headphone like jack with one of those adaptors i use for PC to surround sound audio, how ever i still get no sound. I read manual ( more like panflet!) but it gives no info. So i've pretty much lost hope on this..:(

Boavista:

Have you turned up the volume on your 6100 to maximum, or set it to pass fixed (instead of variable) audio volume?

The RCA plugs must be plugged into the same input as the DVI - this is sometimes not possible, check your "pamphlet".

Also, some of these smaller displays have a "mini-plug" associated with the digital input, so you'll need an RCA-Analogue to mini-plug adaptor if that's the case.

Thanks for reading that manual, Cyclism. i know know what i must try tonight.


This is interesting...things i should do as well?

"Have you turned up the volume on your 6100 to maximum, or set it to pass fixed (instead of variable) audio volume?" -Cyclism

You should have your STB do as little work as possible other than receive the broadcasts and pass them through to your components since most times the components do a better job. Therefore, yes, turn up the volume or have it fixed at maximum on your STB and control the volume through your AV Receiver and your TV.

To the best of my knowlege.. i had no clue that the 6100 has variable audio out!
I dont see anything in the menu for it. Also.. the "flyer" type manual that came with my tv only tells you the name of the input. It in no way tells you any info about them. Just tells you safety stuff, and what each plug is called.

I'm Golden, Cyclism. All is well. i'm now getting the full 20 watts out of my TV speakers. ;-) Thanks so much for your help. It's so good to have forums available to the masses. if you had to call the vendors, chances are you wou'dn't get a good answer.

hey, help me out again...my TV is coming in at 480p instead of 1080i...why would that be? new thread?? haha

take care,

DJ

Glad I could be of help with your sound issue. Now let's move on to the second issue.

What do you mean your TV is coming in at 480p? Do you mean your STB is only outputting at 480p to your TV? You will have to go to the setup instructions of your STB (read the manual) in order to do this.

Check the official 6120 thread for Tips & Tricks posted by others:
http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=14057

when i turn on the TV whether it's the DVD player (component) or the Bell (DVI to HDMI) the TV initially displays that it's 480p. I'm not 100% sure whether it's the actually a setting for the TV (of which there aren't many aside from your colouring and audio settings) or the actual receiver not sending the proper ouput signals.

I'll have to find the manual tonight and check it out.

The DVD Player will only output 480p since you are using component. The TV can only accept the signal that it is receiving and scales it to it's native resolution. Therefore you will have to setup your Bell STB to output other than 480p so, yes, please read the manual for the STB or read the thread for 6X00 receivers for tips and tricks.

okay, will do. the guy who initially set it up did so with component...so who knows, maybe he configured it that way. So DVI to HDMI will infact go to 1080i?

I had no idea that component's native was 480p. look at me learn. look at me learn.

-DJ

As I posted yesterday regarding the Cables & Connections FAQ, Component can output HD resolution (720p, 1080i) but the limitation is with your DVD Player not being able to output anything higher than 480p via component. And if you had read the FAQ on DVI/HDMI Information then you will know that it can "go" to 1080i with your setup.

Again, please read the Digital Home FAQs. They are perhaps the best pieces of knowledge and can answer many of your questions prior to posting.

Please limit discussion on this thread to the Bell receiver for future posting.

I'm on page 10 in that T&T thread. very interesting thanks.

It just infuriates me to think that Bell sends over some outsourced guy and does a sh*tty job installing it. why would he not set it up in the first place to output 1080i? purely half-assed work imo. seeing that i'm paying for HD, why not give me the best HD i can get. at least the installation fee is "free" i use the quotes because of the beautiful 3-year contract i'm in now.

anyway thanks to all here. keep up the good work.