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July 16, 2003

Time Warner Cable Box -- 'No DVI Out' Mystery Solved

nodvi.gifIn two previous posts (1st and 2nd), I described the problem I was having trying to get my new Pioneer Voyager 3510HD set-top box working with my TV. Specifically, I was getting a weird error message when hooking up the two using the DVI ports.

Well, it turns out that the DVI ports on this set-top box aren't enabled. Why not? Nobody seems to know. The hardware, in terms of the physical connector, is there, but the firmware in the box seems to be such that it doesn't permit the DVI hardware to actually function.

This seems kinda dumb to me. Why would you purposefully hamstring the functionality of a piece of hardware that you're giving to your customers when they aren't paying you anything extra in the first place? Makes no sense. At least the mystery is solved.

Posted by Craig in Home A/V and Industry

Comments

That is outrageous! I wonder there is a conspiracy somewhere . . .

Posted by: Ken at July 16, 2003 11:42 AM

I have the same problem with TWC in Los Angeles (Orange County). I got the Pioneer box and got the same results: A 3 language error message in a white box in the center of the screen. I've been following many threads on the subject at AVS forums. This one in particular.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=279674&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

My local clueless TWC customer service agent made it seem like he had the DVI connection working on his Mitsubishi, but could answer why my Samsung HLN507 doesn't work.

Posted by: David at October 3, 2003 4:26 PM

It's a problem specific to the combination of the Pioneer STB and the Samsung DLP sets. We're not sure that anyone at either company is working on it, since neither company will admit to a problem even existing. Check out http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?threadid=279674 for more info.
- Craig

Posted by: Craig at October 3, 2003 11:00 PM

According to mhz40:

"Pioneer has found and fixed the problem with their driver on the set top (at least that's the latest report from the lab). I have no idea what the migration path will ultimately be to your individual set tops... Lab trials, field trials, beta test yada yada yada...

IMHO, kudos to Pioneer for plunking down a few grand on a Sammy to find and fix the problem."

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=289334&perpage=20&pagenumber=3

Posted by: David at October 14, 2003 11:55 AM

I'm having a similar problem. Component out from the Pioneer set-top-box gives me 720P and 1080i. But when I hookup the expensive DVI cable, I only get 480p. My TV is a true HDTV, the Hitachi 57S700.

As soon as you connect the DVI cable to the set-top-box, the menu option on the set-top-box for the HD display settings goes away!! Time Warner customer service is clueless.

very frustrated.

Posted by: Toby at November 20, 2003 9:25 AM

As of 1/9/04, the pioneer hd box should work with the Samsung DLP. On this date, San Diego TWC d/l'd a firmware update that allowed me to use DVI to my Samsung HLN567. Sweet!

Posted by: Anthony at January 15, 2004 1:12 PM

I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE PIONEER 3510 SET TOP BOX. HOWEVER, TIMER WARNER (I LIVE IN NYC) SAID THEY WOULD SEND A TECHNICIAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM! I HAVE MY DOUBTS IF THIS PROBLEM IS FIXABLE BY A TECHNICIANS'S INTERVENTION... BUT I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS?

Posted by: BARRY at January 21, 2004 11:36 AM

I HAD EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION WITH THE PIONEER 3510 SET TOP BOX. HOWEVER, TIMER WARNER (I LIVE IN NYC) SAID THEY WOULD SEND A TECHNICIAN TO FIX THE PROBLEM! I HAVE MY DOUBTS IF THIS PROBLEM IS FIXABLE BY A TECHNICIANS'S INTERVENTION... BUT I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT A TRY. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS?

Posted by: BARRY at January 21, 2004 11:37 AM

dude...your caps lock is on and you're repeating yourself

Posted by: bobo at January 21, 2004 11:50 AM

i live in NYC and recently TW tried to install a pioneer with the DVI output into my fujitsu plasma display but no luck, they promised that the output is active and it has worked before, does anyone know what the issue might be?

Posted by: seus at March 29, 2004 5:04 PM

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.

Posted by: Kevin at April 5, 2004 2:26 PM

live in nyc and have the pioneer box - stopped by stereo exchange and they recommended component cables over DVI - so that's what i have - contacted TWCNYC a few times about the lack of HD programming and got the same worded response every time = that they are negotiating with ESPN HD (hopefully this will be up by the June 7, 2004 launch) and no additional info on FOX SPORTS, MSG HD and INHD....

Posted by: steve at April 21, 2004 2:46 PM

I connected a Sony DG810 (Home Theater) receiver's HDMI output to the Sony TV's HDMI input. I then connected the Samsung STB via a HDMI cable to the the Sony TV's HDMI 1 input. The TV keeps flashing a blue picture and displays an error message that the STB is unable to connect to the TV's HDMI inpt. It asks me to use the component connection which is the green, blue and red cable. When I do this it connnects the TV but not the audio unless I connect a red and white audio cable from the TV to the receiver. But this produces muffled and echoing sound quality and defeats the purpose of the HD and Home Theater connection.

I believe that the Samsung STB does not support the 'pass thru' function from the receiver to the TV. Is there a solution to this problem? Does Time Warner have a more sophisticated STB that supports the pass thru fuction?

Posted by: Terence at January 15, 2008 1:43 PM

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