GearBits

I have the manual but it does not help much...no real good information in it for connecting the DVI

I'm having a similar problem. Component out from the cable box gives me 720P and 1081. But when I hookup the expensive DVI cable, I only get 480p. My TV is a true HDTV, the Hitachi 57S700.

I have a problem with the Pioneer 3510 also. The DVI connector only outputs at a fixed 480P, you can't change it. Unfortunatley my Sony HDTV doesn't like this. It outputs the SD channels so tiny they're unwatchable. And the HiDef channels flicker and take about 4 seconds to come on or don't come on at all. The component output works fine but I need my component inputs for other devices. I live in Cincinnati area also, has anybody out there had any luck with these boxes?

Yeah, the box stinks!! It is a very poor design. The only advice I can give is to use to TAKE IT BACK. About the only thing that's worse than the box are the people at Time Warner NYC. They are clueless! After they charged me $30 I had to show the person how to hook up my system when they initially installed it. Plus, after I discovered the same problem you mention, I tried to take it back to their walk in center to exchange the box to verify that it wasn't a bad. They then told me that only "Qualified" techs could deploy the box and that I had to make an appointment. Yeah...like I am going to sit there for half a day so some clueless person show up and essentially plug it in!! Oh yeah, my Replay TV doesn't work with it either due to the fact that it will only output one source when the components are hooked up. So unless you have your TV on and the right input selected it wont record when your away. If you can, go with a dish. The dish works and they don't use low end components.

I have the same problem. DVI only works in 480 I. Looked at the manuel at lunch and am wondering if I chane the format would that help it display 1080 I. Mitsubishi says it will only display in 480i if it is in expanded formay need expanded Hi Def mode. I will trt this when I get home this evening.

Just sharing some good info.

When I initially hooked up a DVI cable from the Pionneer STB to my HDTV, it would only output in 480p. The Pioneer STB senses the DVI connection and takes away the menu where you can choose high definition (720/1080). Now, this makes no sense, what's the point of DVI in 480p?

Finally, after a month and a half of working with Time Warner, a manager there found a secret menu for me. To get HD out of the DVI output you have to follow these steps, in order!

1. Hookup a component cable to the TV and STB.
2. Do NOT hookup the DVI cable yet.
3. On the front of the Pioneer STB, hold in the button with the diamond shape icon, tap the (-)volume button once.
4. A menu will pop up on the bottom of the screen, with 720 and 1080. Pick one.
5. Now, attach the DVI cable.
6. Unattach the component cable.
7. You will not be able to get back into the hidden menu, unless you go through the steps again.
8. The signal will now pass directly through to the TV in the resolution it was sent in.

Regards,
Toby

I have a Pioneer 3500HD box and a sony wega hdtv monitor. When I hook the box up through DVI inputs I get no picture at all.

Jabari, are you hooking up the DVI by itself, or at the same time as component? If component is hooked up, DVI is disabled IIRC.

Craig, I am hooking up the DVI by itself, and I still get no picture. I have called TWC and have recieved a renge of answer from "we dont support the DVI output", which their site says they do, to technical help that does nothing.

Jabari, then you got me. TWC is clueless, as usual, about anything remotely technical. Hell, 6 months ago, I had to educate a Tier 2 tech support manager on what DVI is (he thought I meant DVD). yeesh.

I have the exact same problem. No picture at all with the DVI. I have no component cords plugged into anything.

I have finally spoken to someone at TWC that knows something. He told me that they don't currently support the DVI because they need to create and upload drivers for the different TVs. Thats why some TVs work and other dont. He also said that support should be available in 2 - 3 months, for those of us in NYC at least.

FYI
Toby's hidden menu works, but I'm still unable to get past the "please connect the stb to a HDTV" announcement.

An additional hidden menue is available by depressing the diamond and source buttons together,till "diag6" appears in the stb display,release then depress the diamond button once. A menu should appear on your tv screen listing 25 additional submenu. Use the down arrow button on the stb or your wireless remote to step down to "Hardware". Here you should see "VideoOutput 1080i" and "DVI connected".
I'm not sure what the line, "HDCP Idle" means yet!

FYI
Toby's hidden menu works, but I'm still unable to get past the "please connect the stb to a HDTV" announcement.

An additional hidden menue is available by depressing the diamond and source buttons together untill "diag6" appears in the stb display. Release buttons then depress and release the diamond button once. A menu should appear on your tv screen listing 25 additional submenu. Use the down arrow button on the stb or your wireless remote to step down to "Hardware". Here you should see "VideoOutput 1080i" and "DVI connected".
I'm not sure what the line, "HDCP Idle" means yet!

Power of the stb with your remote or the off button to escape the menu.

Be carefull in this mode. I suspect one might muck things up rather easily.

Lots of great information. However, if you are still looking for the manual, it can be found at the Pioneer Electronics website. You have to go to the business tab and look on the menu for cable boxes. You should find the a link to the Pioneer 3510HD page and there a link to the manual.

Of course, after reading about all these secret menus and remote control button combinations, I wonder if it has anything useful in it at all!

Many consumers and cable customers misunderstand DVI. Yes, I know the cables costs you $100 and it is marketed to make you believe that it will give you a better picture, but quite simply, it does not. I go to thousands of homes to hook these things up and I've seen many HDTVs hooked up with DVI cables and component cables and in most cases, the component cables look better. There is an obvious difference in the way the picture looks, but it's in the contrast. The DVI cable allows two-way communication between the set top box and the TV and the whole purpose of it is to prevent copying of movies and copyrighted video, NOT to make your picture ten times greater!

-The Cable Guy

Cable Guy:
Thanks for joining the conversation, but I think you're overlooking the primary benefit of DVI connections -- that is, they're *digital*. What benefit does this create over a component connection? A lot, actually.

The set-top box is processing a digital signal. In order to cram that digital signal into the analog component cables, the STB has to do a D/A conversion. This creates errors and/or results in picture degradation -- the amount depends a lot on the quality of the D/A converter in the STB.

If the customer is then running a digital television, such as a DLP or LCD display, the signal then has to be reconverted back from analog (because of the component signal) to digital, where the TV can then turn the signal into an image. The quality of this conversion relies a lot on the quality of the A/D converter in the TV (which are usually pretty good in better sets).

When a DVI connection is used, you get to avoid TWO conversions -- D/A and A/D -- that you'd otherwise have to do with component signals. This allows as much of the original digital signal to arrive on the display as possible, which is a good thing. This improvement is well-documented by many, many users -- go check the forums at AVSForum.com if you want examples.

My hunch is that if your cable customers aren't seeing a significant improvement with DVI over component, then it is likely (A) the signal you are providing is already fairly compressed and not too great (so it will look equally bad on either DVI or component) and/or (B) the set-top box and TV are equipped with pretty good A/D circuitry (so it will look equally good on either DVI or component). Case A is likely the situation with SDTV or EDTV broadcasts and Case B is more likely if you're dealing with a high-quality HDTV broadcast.

While DVI does indeed allow functionality other than picture quality enhancement, it's fairly well established that an all-digital connection is the best possible way to get content to a digital display.

Does anyone know the remote code for the Pioneer Voyager box so I can use my universal remote to control it?

Does anyone know the remote code for the Pioneer Voyager box so I can use my universal remote to control it?

I have Time Warner Cable in Cincinnati with the Pioneer 3510 HD box. The hidden resolution menu Toby refers to worked for me on a DVI connection. The only thing is when changing to or from a true HDTV channel, the screen goes black for about two seconds. Then the picture comes up fine. The same thing happens when I hit INFO or GUIDE while on an HDTV channel. This didn't happen with a compnent connection. The reason I am using DVI is so I can use my two component connections for DVD and Gamecube. And to tell you the truth, I don't see much difference in quality between the DVI and component. And by the way, when I called Time Warner support, they told me the DVI isn't enabled on the boxes, so they lied in my particular case.

Good info, Keith -- I haven't had a chance to test that out yet. What kind of TV are you connecting to the 3510?

Craig - I have the Toshiba 46H83. And I am returning the DVI cable and going back to component for now. I was getting tired of the black screen coming up on the HDTV channels, plus, my TV doesn't allow split screen with a DVI connection. Obviously, these problems just may be with my particular TV, and I don't see justifying a $100 DVI cable for these problems, especially since I didn't see much difference in picture quality.

I recently bought a 42” Panasonic HD ready Plasma screen TV and upgraded my Time Warner service from DTV to HDTV. Using component video connectors I find the HD picture remarkable but the regular channels (premium and regular broadcast) look like they have a light coat Vaseline on the screen. I reconnected with a DVI to HDMI cable and there was a marginal improvement in the regular channels but the HD channels don’t look as good as with the component video. The screen that lets me select between 480i, 480p, 720, & 1080i also disappeared so I didn't know what signal I am getting. I went into the hidden menu using the advice above and found that when the input signal is 480i the output is 480i & when the input is 1080i the output is 1080i so I don’t think this is a problem on the STB. Does anyone know what I can to clear up the image or do I need two STB’s (one for HD and one for DTV)?

Can anyone help me? I just got an HDTV box installed by TWC on my 2 year old Sony XBR450 40 inch ("HDTV READY") TV. The HD channels are excellent except for some bars on the side and top, but the regular channels are distorted and blurry. I tried changing the resolution from 1080i to 460i or 460p and even adding in 720....none of these combinations seem to work for the non HD channels. I am going to return this and get back my old box unless anyone has any ideas. The "troubleshooting" staff at TWC are pathetic...
Thanks in advance. My email: KMat16@aol.com
Kevin

Craig
I understand your belief that an all digital connection should bring you better picture. But it is also well documented that the benefit to DVI is copyright protection. The upconversion factor is minimal in the picture that you will receive. But if someone wants to pay $100 for a cable and say they have it, cool. I am with Cable Guy.

David, my "belief" is based on a fairly simple fact: compression degrades picture quality. Also, DVI by itself doesn't actually permit copy protection...DHCP or another "flag" scheme has to be added to the connection protocol in order for there to be any form of content protection. The fact that a digital connection _enables_ additional forms of copy protection is an important feature, but it is not related to picture quality.

FWIW, my DVI cable cost $25 -- significantly less than my component cables.

I have to agree with Craig. Factoring out all the technical aspects of it, common sense tells you that you get better PQ if the signal doesn't have to be compressed. I find it disturbing that "Cable Guy" apparently works for a cable company and is installing (by his own admission) 1000's of system and doesn't understand the at all the this concept that a pure digital signal using DVI is better than the convert component signal.

Wow, I need to take grammer lessons before hitting the post button. Hehe

can anyone please tell me when time warner cincinnati will be adding foxhd and espnhd. i'm kind of pissed that they charge 7 per month for inhd. also, i could never get the pioneer box to work. hd channels were fine but anything else wasn't 16:9 ratio. email me if you have any info @ undergrounddetective@hotmail.com

Why am I so happy? I have a panasonic CT32HL34 hooked up to a Time Warner supplied Pioneer HDTV box (with Monster Cables) and I'm real happy with the results.

Maybe at age 59, my visual acuity is not what it used to ne...but I will NOT be getting a DVI cable anytime soon.

I moving to NYC. Time Warner's offerings are pathetic. No INHD or INHD 2 even though every other Time Warner market in the country seems to have both. Why? No MSG HD or Fox Sports Net HD even though cablevision has both. Why? It sucks because I have no choice - upper east side.

Does anyone know if the DVI works now without having to access the secret menu on the Pioneer box? Thanks.

TWC NYC suck. Constant glitches in the HD channels they do provide. No HD DVR - Explorer 8000HD. Try RCN, you get a few more channels http://www.rcn.com/hdtv/index.php and they have the DVR.

I am no techie but here's some info I gathered, for those who wonder why the regular channels do not look good via your Pioneer HD cable box & DVI...

I have a Sharp Aquos LC-30HV6U connected to Pioneer HD box via DVI, and also connected to a Scientic Atlantic DVR / DTV cable box from Time Warner. A very knowledgeable product specialist from Sharp explained to me that regular channels are never going to look as good on your LCD/HD tv than regular tv, because there are simply not enough lines sent through. Regular / analog tv signals have up to 400 lines (I think) but HD LCD tv displays over 1000. Unfortunately it cannot distinguish between a "good" line or a blank line, so it displays good image lines along with bad (blank?) ones.
I can confirm that my regular channels from the HD box do look like there's a a layer of vaseline on top!

Further, my LCD tv is hooked up to a DVR/DTV box via S Video, but the PQ is not any better than regular channels from the HD box. However the image quality of the Guide/Info menu from the DVR via S Video is definitely clearer than the Guide/Info menu from the HD box via DVI. Sharp said regular channels via DVI on HD box should look better than regular channels via S Video, but I really can't confirm that. The pictures are different, but not better or worse.

As for DVD, Sharp said you must have a progressive scan one b/c a non-prog scan DVD simply does not render enough lines so they would look worse on your LCD than on regular tv. As for the top/bottom black bars on DVD, you will always get them even with widescreen version unless you have a DVD that displays 720p. Most DVD machines only display up to 480p. Currently only Samsung Hypervision HD931 offers 720p (or I was told X Box DVD as well). There is another unknown brand that produces a 720p DVD but I don't know the name.

Question:
I have hooked up the Pioneer box to my Sony HDTV utilizing the DVI inputs. I believe the picture is better than with Component Cables. I have also hooked up the S-video connection as well. My question is this, does the cable box automatically switch from the S-video cable to DVI when I go to High Def channels? I am running the DVI through Video 7 input on TV and S-Video through Video 1. When I am on video 1 and go to high def channels I see no difference between it and switching to Video 7 (the DVI input) It is obviously still coming in high def either way. For those of you who may ask why I am running both, the S-video provides a much better picture on non High-definition channels. Please answer if you know.

Thanks Steve! Didn't know about RCN. I'm going to go with them.

FORMER TIME WARNER TECH.I NOW INSTALL SAT.THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MILWAUKEE DIVISION SUCKS AND IS BEING SUED BY MANY OF IT'S FORMER TECHNICIANS,AND SUPERVISORS.ALSO RATES ARE TO HIGH WHICH IS WHY THEY ARE LOSING SUBSCRIBERS TO DISH NETWORK.

I have a JVC rear projection HD capable television. I just purchased a Samsung HD dvd player. Can someone help me figure out why I can't get the DVI cable to work with the television. I have racked my brain trying to figure this out. I have read both owners manuals and hooked everything up properly according to the directions but when I switch over to the Digital input in my television all I get is a grey screen and no picture. Even after I have activated the DVI function on the dvd player and disable the progressive scan function on the dvd player as the owners manual states. The owners manual to the television also states that when a digital signal is being input to the television a HD menu will come up in the initial setup menu but won't be there if there is no digital signal coming to the television. Well as you probably have figured out I haven't gotten this menu yet even after hooking up the cable. and running a signal to the television. I returned my first dvd player thinking it was the player but this happened on the second player as well. Can someone please help me to figure this problem out.

I can't really help but I can say my Samsung DVD works with my Sharp Aquos LCD HDTV via DVI. I did not need to set up any menu nor touch the DVI setting on the DVD. I did have to set the TV's Input Selection to DVI (other options are Component, or Auto, I think) Do you have a setting similar to this? Sometimes when you set up Auto, it cannot recognize the DVI right away. Also if you have both components/S-video and DVI hooked up, your tv might prioritze comp/s-video over DVI (I think mine's like that).

You should definitely call Samsung and Sony customer support. I called Sharp a few times and their product specialists were very helpful.