I'm helping a relative set a a SIR-T451 to a standard television. For the moment, it's connected using a composite video cable and the stb set to 480i output.

The television has component video, but the stb doesn't support 480i over component. So what's the best way to connect them:

a) set STB to 480i output and connect over a S-video cable OR
b) use component video, and change to stb output (and to what?)

Thanks for any advice!

Interesting idea, what should the T451 be set to, PCM or Dolby? I can do either.

Interesting idea, what should the T451 be set to, PCM or Dolby? I can do either.
I just re-read your post. No sound will be passed out the DVI on the T451 - that's a major difference between HDMI and DVI - DVI is video only. So you'll need to connect audio cable between you T451 and your receiver (RCA or Optical).

For RCA, I think the audio setting should be Dolby. I don't have optical on my unit so I can't comment on that.

I was using the SPDIF cable. I know DVI has no audio. I have not yet tried the PCM.

FYI, SPDIF stands for Sony/Phillips/Digital/InterFace.

bubba A few things to check.

1. The STB should be set to bitstream or Dolby digital or similar, not PCM or other.
2. The input on the AVR may need to be "assigned" (sometimes they are not, or are not on the input you think they are - check the operating manual for this procedure) and of course you need to be switched to that input.
3. Make sure that the cable is good by trying another cable.
4. Do you have another device that's working with digital audio? IF so, try that input for the STB?

1. currently it is set to bitsream.
2. All assignments are correct.
3. have tried several cables.
4. switched between the two SPDIFs and tried several of the opticals.

5. Have you performed a cold reboot - unplug/replug the STB (and perhaps the AVR).

6. Here's a longer list of things to check but I'm not sure you'll find anything there.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=19694

7. Does the analogue audio output of the STB work?

8. Sometimes if you use a DVI or HDMI connection out, the STB gets confused. Try component video to the TV.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=71112

It is a Samsung T451, not a STB. Currently I have the T451 hooked directly into a Sony HD CRT's DVI input and the AVR's SPDIF audio input. All works fine this way. I want to use the HDMI of the Elite 92 for the video (with the HDMI output from the AVR to the TV's DVI) and its SPDIF for the audio. But when I connect this way, I only get video. Hence, I cannot do any upconverting through the HDMI out to the TV (although, it works fine if I use the component out to the TV).

(BTW, I already read the 19694).

STB refers to Set-top-box, so I would classify this as an OTA STB, I guess some people don't.

9. Make sure that the HDMI setting on the AVR is not set to Internal, which would ask the AVR to use the HDMI audio input signal, which you're not using - you're using the optical, but if both the optical and the HDMI are "assigned" to "OTA-STB" for example, then the HDMI may override the optical signal?

10. I have found that AVRs are not any better at converting signals than TVs, therefore there is not usually an advantage to upconverting signals via an AVR.

11. I'm not sure if you're talking about upconversion (480i to 1080i for example) or you're talking about transcoding (component video to HDMI) via the AVR - does the AVR have this capability?

9. I cannot find such a setup option. I do know that it gives priority to HDMI. Maybe that is the issue.
10. Normally, I keep the upconvertion off but just want to consider the option.
11. It says it will convert everything upward but not downward. (The Elite 91 upconverts only to 480p, but the 92 goes all the way up to 1080p -- which I do not have, of course, just 1080i.)

9. If the AVR handles HDMI audio, there should be a setting for "internal" or "passthrough" (or something similar). This should be set to passthrough. Of course you could also "assign" the optical input to another device name, switch to that device name and then there should be no conflict?

9. Unlike the 35tx which allowed the audio to be from a different source than the video, the 92txh does not seem to. I have the PDF of the manual and I have done a search for both "internal" and "passthrough" and there is nothing.

I believe you stated earlier that you had the optical working when using a direct connection for video to the TV. Can you confirm that that is still the case?

Try the optical into another input, just as a test. If it works there, then either the assignment is incorrect on the other input, or the HDMI is overriding - you'll need to figure out how to turn HDMI audio off, perhaps using HDMI as the search term in the pdf - I'm sure you'll get a lot of hits, but it may be faster than reading the entire manual. (again, this assumes that your model handles HDMI audio) Good Luck.

9. follow up: the AVR has "through" and "amp". The manual says that it should be set to amp to have audio from the AVR. Mine has been always set to amp.

If you're not using the HDMI audio (which you're not), then this should be set to through. Also see my earlier post. I've split this specific thread from the other thread.

Bubba,
What is the reason you are using the HDMI input on your AVR? Is it merely for switching convenience? I'm not familiar with the pioneer elite series but it appears there are 4 component inputs. Can you send the T451 output to one of those? You will notice no diff in picture quality between the component output and the DVI output. If the internal HDMI audio handling is the reason, you might have to go this route. HDCP is irrelevant in today's OTA broadcasting environment if that is your concern. One thing to note, on the T451, only one of the HD outputs is active at any given time ie: either component output or DVI output. There is a physical switch on the back.

edit: Never mind,... it looks 57 may have solved your problem

I think I will leave this rest for a while. To make changes, I have to pull my heavy CRT out and that is a big pain. So, in a few days I will do this after I have figured out all the different things I need to change or test.

Thanks to you all.

Did you try changing HDMI on the AVR to "through"? If you have tried that, then you can certainly let it rest.

Rested now. As to the Samsung ATSC tuner, thing are very strange. I can get HD video and digital audio only if I connect it with component cables. Interestingly, when I
go to the setup while the ATSC is selected, if the HDMI is set to off, I get
sound. But as soon as I select a HDMI input, the sound immediately goes off --
while in setup!! It still is the case that when HDMI is selected, I get the video but no sound. Strange.

Somehow the 92 expects only HDMI input to carry audio. Does this make sense to
anyone? Alternatively, it may be something wrong with the Samsung but the logic of
that baffles me. It has a switch to determine its DTV output (YPP or DVI) but it
seems to have the expected result (component video works with the former, and HDMI with the latter).

The HDMI connection between the 92 and the TV's DVI does not seem problematic as
various inputs get sent to the HDMI/DVI whenever there is no digital video being
sent (and I think the little HDMI red light is on). And interestingly, when the component and dvi of the samsung is not being sent (i.e. disconnected), it uses the rca video input and squeezes the image to show correctly as a letterboxed 16:9. Strange.