I switched to HDMI cable from CV. As 57 said the TV does not recognize 480i through the SA4250 STB but it did through CV. Again, 57's clarification, pass-through mode, 480p, 1080i and 720p enabled will convert all inputs to native resolution i.e. 720p (1368X720), right?

Is the audio through HDMI not better than through CV, with STB volume fixed, volume controlled through TV (setting on TV for volume "normal")?

Quick interruption....

Once again, Kudos to 57 for all his tremendous help!

Back to your regularly scheduled programming!

I second that. 57 has a wealth of knowledge/expertise.

Just received this box on Friday ( 12 month free with purchace on HDTV) .I had problem at first with the signal to box.Rogers tech were very patient with me for set-up.;) When I activated box the picture quality was very bad .They ask me if I had a splitter between the line going in .I told them 2 ,one from the basement and one on the 2nd floor bedroom .Also told them the coax coming from the wall is plug into a Home Theater Surge Protector (Belkin Pure/ AV ) .They told me to remove the coax from the surge protector and install in back of the HD box.Voila ,crystal clear picture !Today I did the Wizard on box for the setting (very easy ).:cool:

I was thinking of getting a Belkin Pure AV but now, it appears not to be a good idea?

NoBass and sannathan:

It appears you guys both want to use surge protection unit and one of you have problems.
I was told (by many guides here) that the more outputs/inputs cable goes through, the more there is chance of degrading quality.

For example, if cable goes like this: Wall--->Splitter (for internet)--->Surge Protector--->Rogers Box---->DVD Recorder---->and finally TV, that's already 3 splitters before it actually reaches the TV.

Is the degraded quality big? I mean how do companies that make Surge Protections expect you to use it's INput and OUTPUT when there is a chance of degraded guality?

Hi, I'm new to the site, finding it after having a frustrating time with my 4250 box.
I have two hd tv's set up. My Panasonic px60u running through HDMI from a Rogers 8300 box .... works fantastic.
I just installed a Samsung HPT4254 plasma, running an HDMI cable directly from a new Rogers hd4250 box.
The picture initially looks great, but withing seconds, pixilates and freezes.
I've tried different sets of HDMI cables, but the same results.
I tried a second 4250 box, same results ... I even tried my 8300 box, same results.
The Rogers tech support tell me that HDCP protection is the problem, and that
the 4250 box basically will not "shake hands" with my tv. He also tells me it is a common problem. Just to check all areas,they sent out a tech today, who
said my signal coming in to the house is as strong as it gets.

The box/tv work great with the component cables, but my Samsung allows me more video menu choices using an HDMI setup.
Yes, I run the box on Pass-thru, and have sellected "auto HDMI" on the Rogers menu.
Is there any way to run this box with HDMI cable, or am I stuck using component?
This forum looks great ... its new to me, so I apologize if I'm posting in the wrong section.

See the following thread on HDMI Issues, which are very common and are very inconsistent:

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

Since Rogers doesn't officially support HDMI due to these many issues, you're on your own when trying to fix them. It sounds as though you've already tried the usual ones and you may need to stick with component video.


Please also see the following post, useful for newbies to the forum:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=57741


With a proper setup of the TV, using component video cables you should be happy with the results.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=76161

my Samsung allows me more video menu choices using an HDMI setup.

Strange, I often find when doing setups that the HDMI is more restrictive since it "thinks it's smarter than you are", thereby restricting some of the user settings.

Thanks, 57, for the reply.
I've spent much time using the search function, and I did learn something that helped ... it came from one of your responses, actually.
I figured out that my real problem was audio cutting out, not video.
So I ran RCA out from my 4250 STB, alongside my HDMI output.
I then ran the cables into my Samsung tv, which has an RCA input
beside one of the HDMI inputs.
Voila ... perfect pic and sound on HD stations.

Now, nothing below station #500 works. The tv will only process 720p or 1081i. I can live with this, because I have
the 8300 PVR hooked up to a home theatre system in my other room. With HDMI 1.2 on my older Panasonc tv, every station works fine, including optical output to my receiver.

In case you wonder why didn't I just revert back to component cables on my 4250 box, its because my particular tv allows me to fine tune my black levels only with the HDMI input ... and the difference in HD picture is dramatic.

Thanks again, I've learned a lot and will continue to do so.

Well, I fixed my HDMI connection issue today.

I unplugged the 4250 STB, and did a new quick wizard setup.
This time, instead of advanced, I chose the basic setup for a 16:9 set.
The box set everthing up for 1080i ... even though we know most stations
are standard def. I also continue to run RCA cables for audio.

Now, all stations are received on HDMI.

I hope this helps others with problems on the Samsung set.

You should go back and run the advanced setup wizard and enable 480P STANDARD, 720P and 1080i. Some TVs don't accept 480i via HDMI, as has been discussed many times (in the links already provided) - that was your issue with the Samsung. See:

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

Remember you'll need to enable auto-DVI/HDMI in the Set picture format setting.

The Rogers box automatically enabled auto HDMI for me.

I went back as suggested and enabled 480P std, 720p, and 10801.
I don't know how I missed this line on my earlier attempts to hook up.

"Some HDTVs will NOT allow 480i/p when using DVI/HDMI inputs, use the formats that the TV will accept when using DVI/HDMI, or consider the component video connection."

I love this site ... I have no idea where else I could've found the answers I required ... certainly not from Rogers.

Thanks.

I enabled 720p and 1081i only with wide-fit and all the channels look amazingly well. Perhaps 480p standard is not required.

with wide-fit Do you really want your SD channels stretched, distorted and with less PQ? I'm assuming that widefit fills the screen with SD programming. Since you have an LCD, I'd suggest you watch SD as 4:3. Also, does the widefit show the HD programmes properly? For example, is the logo in the bottom right of the HD channels? (For example Discovery, HDNet, Nat. Geo, etc. Wouldn't want you to be missing 33% of the HD programme.

Thanks 57. We do see the logo at the bottom right of the screen on HD channels though moved to the right a bit on this mode. Are we losing 1/3 the picture?

SD channels look great too but 4:3 is too small compared to the screen size and the grey bars on the side is irritating to the eye. I am not sure PQ is any worse as my wife who has better vision than me does not notice any difference.

All channels indicate 1920X720 though our TV is only 1368X768.

My point was that enabling 480p standard in the set-up of the STB did not seem necessary.

If all channels (including 1080i) indicate 1280 x 720 (not 1920), then you have the STB set to output only 720P, or you're in "upconvert2" (1080i changed to 720P) instead of passthrough, or you're talking about the SD channels, which are usually sent out at the "next available" format. The TV is showing you the input signal, not the native resolution.

See: http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=73528

Also, grey bars can be eliminated in the STB with the "darker" selection of bar colour, or often the TV will insert black bars if the STB and the TV are properly set up.

My point is that although it's not necessary, it often provides the best PQ, but you and your wife are the best judge of that.

If you can see the logo, then you're fine on the HD channels.

My apologies 57. The TV shows the input signal as 1920X1080i but native is only 1368X768.
I have set the STB to pass-through. I don't follow the "darker" bar color that you have mentioned. I will go back to allowing 480p standard as well. There is als a "just scan" mode but wide fit is the best. The Zoom 1 and 2 are no good.
Thanks again.

Please realize that I'm not trying to "tell" you what to do, but simply to offer suggestions as to what's possible. Many people are perfectly happy simply enabling 1080i on the STB and feeding out that signal for all channels.

The "darker" colour of the bars is simply to advise that most TVs can display the side bars on SD programming as black and not grey (which you said bothered you). I honestly can't remember which setting is required to accomplish this - it depends on the TV, setup, STB output, etc.

Appreciate your comments 57. The Rogers 4250 STB has a setting for the background color; perhaps this is the one. The TV does not appear to have adjustments for color bar. I will try.
Thanks again.

Yes the darker color bar is set via the HDMI black level. This is now fine with 4:3 viewing.