1) If you are going to use HDMI (which you aren't) then you should turn on the TV first to eliminate any handshake issues. As you said though, this is moot, it won't matter with Component.

2) No. It's dependent on the TVG info being used for the onscreen guide. To learn how to pad recordings, please refer to your Rogers SA8300HD manual as it is clearly explained therein.

Happy to report I'm using HDMI between my 8300HD and my 50 panny no problem. I like HDIM because it reduces the number of cables behind the TV, so it makes for a cleaner install.

I do notice that the HDMI port seems very loose, which seems to unfortunately be a side effect of using the relatively heavy adapter, which tends to put downward pressure. <sigh> Wiggling the connection generally fixes the problem.

Well...after about 3 months of using the HDMI connection from the 8300HD PVR to my Sony S3000 TV without a problem, now all of a sudden for the last couple of weeks, it has turned bad...I need to go to the back of the PVR and fiddle and twist and bend and push hard the HDMI cable into the input and the picture will flicker on...and off...and on...and off...sometimes I can get it to stay on for hours and then it will turn blank again...I have tried 3 different HDMI cables thinking they were the culprits, but somehow I don't believe so...could the input be going bad?

Could be:

- wiring faulty inside the STB to the output (not input)
- poor mechanical connection between the output port and the HDMI cable (I notice you've tried several cables)
- Can you use component video cables instead?

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

For discussion on the HDMI connection. Note also the "things to check" at the bottom.

57...yes...I read through the wonderful thread you have referenced...wow...seems like so many things could be wrong...I have now switched to component cables...looks good...but just wanted to find out if I should get the hdmi port looked at/fixed (out of warranty) or if it is just a flaky item and don't worry about it...I want to use the hdmi because now my TV's component inputs are all used up and I had to remove my Pioneer DVD Players component cables to do this...I will definitely go through the "things to check" list and see if that does anything...

The HDMI port on my PVR is definitely very loose-fitting, and I have no doubt that is why the pictures comes and goes from time to time.

My MacGyver thinking lead me to place a cork under the cable which adds support and stabilizes the issue. It rarely blanks out on me now. I just can't move the PVR.........:cool:

And with regards to component as an alternative, the picture quality is pretty close, however, I like how HDMI auto-switches between 16:9 and 4:3 depending on whether I am watching HD or SD. When using component, I have to switch the TV manually. Not sure if this is a feature of the TV or DVD, but I like it. :)

...so, do you think that this is a defective port...or because the wiggling eventually does produce a picture, it is just a loose fitting port and that's that...do you think getting a replacement unit would solve the issue or is it a crap-shoot...just seems so wierd that it would turn flakey like this after such a long time of perfect performance...with nothing at all touched or moved...

I like how HDMI auto-switches between 16:9 and 4:3 depending on whether I am watching HD or SD. When using component, I have to switch the TV manually.A proper setup of the TV and STB should work for component as well. The important thing is to have 480i sent for the SD channels and have the "set picture format" set to "passthrough" on component video. The TV should then stretch SD (if desired) and properly show HD. If you don't want SD stretched, then you can set your TV to "normal" (no stretch) or whatever it's called, or simply set the STB to fixed and 1080i, which leaves the SD as 4:3. It was unclear to me what you wanted, so I explained both.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719

Thanks for the clarification, 57. It is indeed the latter that I like - pillar boxed - I don't like distorted images. ;)

I will keep note of your advice should I decide to go back to component in the future as a result of further HDMI flakiness...

Thanks.

I just swapped my rental 4250HD for the 8300HDPVR and was using composite on the 4250HD. When I got the 8300HDPVR I switched to an HDMI cable I got online and I see very little difference. I didn't change my settings and so far it looks pretty good. I don't much of a difference in quality right now, but I'm still new to this so we'll see once I throw in AVR in the loop to see how it goes.

PakMan, did you mean component instead of composite, or SD on composite versus SD on HDMI? The PQ difference of an HD program on composite versus HDMI should be like day and night. If not, then you need to set your SA8300HD properly: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17719 Tips For SA STBs.

Yes, I mean component (Green, Blue, Red). I think I was looking at monoprice for cables and typed the wrong term. Sorry about that.
If it wasn't for this site, I'd be lost! :)

Tried connecting my 8300 through a Monoprice 1x4 splitter to two TV's using HDMI connections and I'm not getting any audio on either TV.

So far, I've tried the following:

1. Changing audio out on the 8300 from HDMI to Dolby Digital. Didn't work.
2. Hooking up a DVD player using the same HDMI cables to the splitter. When I did this, I got audio on both TV's, which leads me to believe that it's not the splitter or the cables.
3. Hooking up the 8300 directly to one TV using the HDMI cables. When I did this, I got audio, which leads me to believe that it's not the 8300.

So, if it's not the audio settings on the 8300, it's not the splitter, it's not the cables, and it's not the 8300 itself, what could be the problem??

I think it might be some software setting to prevent using one PVR on two TV's, but then I though that I wouldn't get any video. However, it's just the audio that's not working. Am I wrong on this?

Thanks for any advice!

It is possible that the signal, once split, is too weak, just for audio (speculation). What are the lengths of the cables used (each of them)? Also, what is the gauge of the cables?

There have been some issues with these Monoprice HDMI switches. Try a search for those terms.

Hi, hopefully someone here can help. I've searched Digital Home, Google, etc, with no luck.

I've been successfully running the 8300HD using composite for a year or two. Tonight, I tried switching over to HDMI, using an HDMI to DVI cable - my RCA D52W20 doesn't support HDMI, but does support DVI.

The picture looks beautiful, but is shifted over to the left about 2 or 3 inches. This applies for everything - the program guide, etc. I think the low def is also shifted, but it is a little harder to tell.

I've tried running through the setup wizard again, playing with different TV settings, but to no avail. I don't really want to actually mess with the TV horizontal image (in the TV setup menu), because my xbox 360 still looks great as it is now (also over composite).

I wanted to use HDMI/DVI only to free up a composite slot on my TV to hook up a new component.

Has anyone seen this before? Any chance there is a solution? I've also tried rebooting the box, with no luck.

Thanks for any advice.

If you've done a cold reboot (unplug/replug), I have no additional suggestions. HDMI has had a huge number of issues and DVI is even worse, as indicated in the following thread. It is likely that the issue is somehow related to the DVI input/circuitry/service menu on the TV, since many people have been able to use DVI, but also many have not (unfortunately).

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

You may wish to consider an external component video switch - not very expensive.

I have had an 8300HD connected to a Toshiba LCD that had only a DVI input with an HDMI to DVI cable with no issues.

Now I have a Samsung 42" LCD connected via an HDMI cable. Now the PVR does not control the sound and the PVR remote controls the TV sound and TV mute. I have to keep pressing the
remote VOLUME to control the sound, each press is one sound level. And when the TV is set to MUTE I cannot get the subtitles to automatically appear as when the control was thru the PVR.

Rogers says that this is a known HDMI issue and if I want the PVR to control the sound and mute than I have to revert back to a component connection.

Can anyone please confrm that this is indeed an HDMI issue as Rogers says?

Thanks for the advice, 57. I actually watched TV on it all last night, and it really didn't bug me. It seems it is only really dramatically noticeable on CNN HD, when the sidebar on the left is cut off. Oddly enough, the picture on the right is not shifted over to the left...its more like the image is too big, off to the left of the screen. (But it is not zoomed).

I will try to live with it. If not, a component switcher sounds like a great idea.

andrew.r, this is not an HDMI issue, it's a hardware limitation wherein the STB will not control the volume when using a digital audio connection like HDMI.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=60107 Post 2.

You could set the STB audio settings back to "other" instead of HDMI and "variable" and use the analogue audio cables for sound. This should allow you to control the volume with the STB and still have the "CC with mute" function, just as before. The problem with this is that the TV and the STB are "fighting" for control of the volume and if you don't set the volume on the STB high enough, the S/N ratio is low going to the TV and you'll hear hum on the TV.

Thanks for the advice, 57. I actually watched TV on it all last night, and it really didn't bug me. It seems it is only really dramatically noticeable on CNN HD, when the sidebar on the left is cut off. Oddly enough, the picture on the right is not shifted over to the left...its more like the image is too big, off to the left of the screen. (But it is not zoomed).
dmbfan, have you tried using a different HDMI cable and/or adapter? Sometimes a faulty cable can have strange results. I use an HDMI cable and DVI adapter for my 8300HD & TV and it works great; though a little while ago I did come across a defective HDMI cable that simply gave me a monochrome green screen. (!)

I have also heard that some TV/setups do not like adapters so much, so you may want to try an HDMI<>DVI cable instead. If you can't exchange the one you have, you can always try picking one up from Future Shop or Best Buy and return it if necessary.;)

Good luck...