Has anyone had any sucess hooking up a Receiver/DVD through a Pace 551 box using strickley HDMI connections. If so which Receiver?

Since the Pace uses SA firmware, it's doubtful. It's not a receiver issue, it's the firmware in the STB. That is if you're talking about connecting the Pace through an A/V Receiver to the TV.

Your question could however also mean a DVD player or AVR "through" the Pace? Does the pace have an HDMI input, if not, the answer is obviously not.

Yes - the pace has HDMI - Can I avoid conponent cables all together

While the Pace 551 has component video inputs for "loop through". It doesn't have HDMI INPUTS.

http://www.pacemicro.com/americas/products/productDetails.asp?nav=products&fullid=products_HD&productID=DCABLE-DC551%20Laguna Download the spec sheet or operating manual from that page.

I do not believe it upconverts CV to HDMI, the way that some of the newer advanced AV Receivers do.

As mentioned earlier, even with those HDMI receivers, the HDMI connection still needs to go directly from the STB to the HDTV due to firmware issues with most SA firmware.

Current set up is STB to TV via HDMI and upconverting DVD to TV via HDMI.

I would like to incorporate a AVR into system without going the component cable route. Is is possible to keep the same set up but just add 2 audio connections: DVD to AVR and from STB to AVR via optical. Obviously, the TV speakers would have to be muted/disabled. Would i be getting the best possible picture/sound with this configuration.

thanks in advance

Yes, that is the correct way to go currently.

The only minor issue with that setup is that you need to change inputs on the TV and the AVR. One way around that is to get a Harmony remote, which would do that for you.

Change inputs? Is that a one time change? How would the Harmony remote help?

Each time you want to watch/listen to a DVD instead of the STB, you need to change inputs on the TV (from say HDMI1 to HDMI2) and AVR (from say STB to DVD). A Harmony can be programmed to do this with one button press like "Watch DVD", " Watch TV", etc.

If you don't make this change often, then using two remotes is just fine.

Just wanted to let you guys know about some problems with the Pace box. We had two Pace boxes in our house, but had to call a tech in because of signal issues with one of them. Main problem is when switching channels, some would come up just black (they do not say Service Not Available). If you switched channel down, then back up, sometimes the channel would come back up. Sometimes you'd have to turn the unit on or off just to get this one channel up. Anyway the tech said this is a common problem with the Pace boxes and switched it for the SA 3250. He said although it has much less features, all the techs prefer the 3250 because it has zero problems. No component pass-through, no optical audio, no HDMI. But for my particular setup, that wasn't a problem (have an upconverting DVD player hooked up on HDMI).

The other Pace box in the house had a less severe problem. Only two specific HD channels are unviewable (black screen only), and they are 525 and 530 (PBS HD). The tech checked the signals and said it was fine, that they were black only because the Pace box has problems with certain channels, and these are two of them. Unforunately, we like the component pass-through on this unit (helps my parents figure out how to play a DVD) so I don't think I'll swap this Pace box -- they don't watch PBS HD anyway.

If you ever want to check the signals on those channels yourself, or do other stuff with the STBs, please see the Digital Home FAQ (Under Help) "Tips for SA STBs (and Pace)"

Hi, does anyone know where I can get this unit. I don't mind paying for it, if it's available anywhere.

I've contacted a bunch of Rogers stores to see if they have any units but they don't.

I live in the Toronto/GTA area.

Has this unit been discontinued by rogers at all?

I couldn't find it in any Toronto stores, but what I did was call "customer service", which I think is just 1-888-rogers1 but they gave me the number 416-935-5555. I then asked for customer service, cable tv, sales.

Once I got to the sales guy, I asked him about the Pace box and he is shipping it to me as we speak. Should be here in 3 days or so, or so they claim. I wanted to try out the HDMI since I don't want to spend the money on the PVR box seeing as how I PVR using MythTV anyway.

Be warned that they'll then try to sell you more stuff :)

Ok so I got my "Pace" box today. It's cleverly disguised as a Scientifc Atlana 3250.. oh wait, that's not a disguise, it's the exact same FRIGGEN BOX THAT I ALREADY HAD.

God damn this company is incompetent.

On Sunday a technician is coming with a "Pace" box. If he comes with another SA, I'm going to flip.

Just wanted to let you guys know about some problems with the Pace box. We had two Pace boxes in our house, but had to call a tech in because of signal issues with one of them. Main problem is when switching channels, some would come up just black (they do not say Service Not Available). If you switched channel down, then back up, sometimes the channel would come back up. Sometimes you'd have to turn the unit on or off just to get this one channel up. Anyway the tech said this is a common problem with the Pace boxes and switched it for the SA 3250. He said although it has much less features, all the techs prefer the 3250 because it has zero problems. No component pass-through, no optical audio, no HDMI. But for my particular setup, that wasn't a problem (have an upconverting DVD player hooked up on HDMI).

The other Pace box in the house had a less severe problem. Only two specific HD channels are unviewable (black screen only), and they are 525 and 530 (PBS HD). The tech checked the signals and said it was fine, that they were black only because the Pace box has problems with certain channels, and these are two of them. Unforunately, we like the component pass-through on this unit (helps my parents figure out how to play a DVD) so I don't think I'll swap this Pace box -- they don't watch PBS HD anyway.

Wow, thanks for this post! I have the exact same problems, some channels not showing up at times (having to flip back and forth, such an annoyance), and I can't see ScoreHD or the two PBS HDs.

I guess it wasn't just me. I better give Rogers a call and get the SA. I don't use HDMI on my Pace anyways, and I use coaxial for audio, so I guess I should be fine switching.

Hello,
I just got the Pace 551HD hooked to my Samsung HPS-4273 via HDMI. I got the message that my Samsung Plasma doesn't support HDCP and to use Component to see image. The sound goes through. I'm with Videotron by the way. But my DVD player is hooked via HDMI and I have no problem. Can anyone help? Is this a problem with the Pace551HD or the TV?. Thank you.

Saw the posts in the Videotron forums.

So one month and two days later, I finally got this damn box. Of course work is hell right now so I wont get to hook it up until tonight, but damn, getting this box in Toronto is a friggen mission.

I am very interested in getting a Pace box. I having calling all of the local Rogers stores for months now, but they only have the Scientific Atlanta 3250 HD. Where can I secure the Pace box?

Up in Richdomd Hill the Rogers Video store at Major Mac and Bayview have the Pace 551. I just received my Pace this past Monday. I bough a LG 37" LCD and there was special promo going on. Rogers, together with electronic retailers are throwing in 1 year of free HD progarmming or 10 months free HD programming with the PVR.

I got my Pace 551 all set up with HDMI working. Originally set it up with component cabling but switched it over to HDMI this weekend. Picked up a $24 HDMI to HDMI cable at Tigerdirect and all is ok. Didn't feel like spending monster$$$ for a cable that may have not worked. Have my tv hooked up to the Pace 551 via HDMI. No problems whats so ever getting it to work. The only issue I have is that the SD channels don't look too well. I need to get the settings on Pace 551 set properly. Currently have 1080i enabled. I will enable 480p. I don;t know if this is a result of the $24 HDMI cable.

I've also read a couple of posts with regards to the Pace and channels 507, 525 and 530. I am experiencing whats others have posted. A black screen. I've called Rogers, had a technician come out and look at it but nobody seems to know what the problem is.

I had to point the Rogers support person (phone) to this website and tell him about the problems other users are having with channels 507, 525 and 530.

Does anybody know what is the cause of this. I've checked the signal streangth and its good.

By 507 you mean HD score? And HD PBS etc?

Those work absolutely fine for me. The only thing annoying me right now is that in the morning the message "HDCP Connection Established. HDCP display detected" wont go away!

Where abouts do you live. Are you a Rogers subscriber. What is firmware level of your Pace 551HD.

I've read a couple of places in this thread that others have the same problem with the Pace551HD and channels 525 and 530. I haven't seen anything with regards to channel 507.

I'm a Rogers subscriber living in Richmond Hill. The firmware on the Pace 551HD is 1.1.1.