I am going to cry

[tase2]

Sony KDF-E42A10 HDTV
Pioneer Elite VSX-82TSX Receiver
HD Tivo Series 3
Oppo 970HD-DVD
Velodyne CHT Front Row Speakers (5.1 only)
AV123 X-Series Sub

I have posted here before mostly asking questions about how I can simultaneously hook up my system to the TV speakers and AVR.

Last weekend I hooked it all up perfectly.

Basically going with components & RCA plugs to the TV and HDMI for Tivo & Oppo through AVR. No problems.

I had an x-series sub on order from AV123. I received that yesterday.
In the meantime I ordered a set of 5-RCA Component A/V Cables. I also ordered another new heavy duty HDMI cable (I already had 2 and ordered the 3rd for DVD to AVR).

Anyway after adding the new cables and sub, I lost the ability to use the HDMI from my Tivo.

I have tried everything, including going directly from Tivo to TV. Nothing.
I tried using the old cables, nothing.

The DVD works through HDMI, but these new cables seem too stiff.

Add the fact that the sub is making the speakers Hum like a mo fo, and I want to cry.

I am ready to pack the whole thing in a sell everything.

My wife brought up the old "remember how happy we were with out old 24" TV and no stereo" thing.

I have been in contact with Tivo-no help

 

[Davemcc]

I'm with you. I've been right where you are. First off, hook the system up in an alternate way so that it works when your wife wants to use it. That will eliminate excessive noise from that component.

For now, connect Tivo with component cables and digital audio if you can, then you'll have time to think, test and work out the HDMI issues without your wife knowing anything is wrong.

Once the Tivo is at least working, the only immediate issue is the humming. Go through the ground loop procedure and make sure it's not that. If the sub is not plugged into the same circuit as the rest of the system, try running it from the same circuit. If that doesn't help, diagnose it one step at a time. Disconnect each component and see if the hum goes away. Try a different cable on the sub too, just to check and see. If you have no hum when the sub or Tivo is disconnected, that's the source of the hum.

I won't pretend to be an expert on this stuff, but this site seems pretty slow on weekends and I know how frustrating it is to have a problem and nobody to turn to, so I'm just saying what I would do in this situation so you don't feel abandoned.

 

[tase2]

Thanks a ton, Dave.

i appreciate the feedback.

I do at least have the Tivo working through component and rca.

I thought the dvd was fine-no volume-scream.

We just did an exercise tape, luckily my wife was patient and I used the HDMI with the avr with the hum, but she was cool.

I will try and take things very slow.

Again I can not tell you how much I appreciate your feedback, especially for the reasons you mentioned, slow on weekends, and the frustration

 

[tase2]

As of this minute-The Tivo is working with the AVR through toslink. Still no HDMI access.

The Oppo HDMI directly out to TV is working fine.

I need to check the Oppo HDMI out through AVR.

The ground loop is from the Cable TV cable-If I unhook it from the splitter, the hum completely goes away.

I'm still waiting for Tivo customer service level 2 to call me back.

 

[mtrycrafts]

The ground loop is from the Cable TV cable-If I unhook it from the splitter, the hum completely goes away.
.

Here you go. This will solve your ground loop issues:

http://www.cencom94.com/gpage.html8.html

 

[tase2]

Here you go. This will solve your ground loop issues:

http://www.cencom94.com/gpage.html8.html

Thanks

not to sound stupid-too late-but wgich item am I looking for the "Isolation" or "High-Pass Filter"?

And can either of these be purchased at a Home Depot or Radio shack?

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks

not to sound stupid-too late-but wgich item am I looking for the "Isolation" or "High-Pass Filter"?

And can either of these be purchased at a Home Depot or Radio shack?

Use the Isolation device. Print that page and ask them, start at Radio Shack as they used to carry their own brand or another but may no longer.

 

[tase2]

Any theories on how I could have lost my HDMI capabilities from my Tivo to TV?

I have verified that HDMI works from DVD to TV and tried using that verified working HDMI cable with Tivo to TV with no luck.

 

[MDS]

In the meantime I ordered a set of 5-RCA Component A/V Cables. I also ordered another new heavy duty HDMI cable (I already had 2 and ordered the 3rd for DVD to AVR).

Anyway after adding the new cables and sub, I lost the ability to use the HDMI from my Tivo.

I have tried everything, including going directly from Tivo to TV. Nothing.

What were the 5 new RCA cables to be used for and are they related to the Tivo connection or were they to make a 5.1 analog connection from the dvd player to the receiver for sacd/dvd-a playback?

You didn't really describe which cables are connected where. All analog, combo of analog and digital, HDMI only or in combination with all of the others?

The problem is either in the connections or the setup options. To troubleshoot I would disconnect everything but the Tivo and do one connection type at a time. It may be that the menu options are set incorrectly for the combination of connection types being used; eg. maybe with both a digital and HDMI connection from the Tivo it is sending the audio over the digital cable and the video over HDMI and the receiver expects both on HDMI or the inverse where the Tivo sends both audio and video over HDMI but the receiver is looking for the audio at a digital input.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Any theories on how I could have lost my HDMI capabilities from my Tivo to TV?

I have verified that HDMI works from DVD to TV and tried using that verified working HDMI cable with Tivo to TV with no luck.

Does direct HDMI from the cable box to TV work?
If yes, cable box is programmed for it and then the Tivo has what they call a handshake issue, a recognition signal allowing codes to pass the digital video signal through. Keep TV on and recycle on and off the Tivo? or even the cable box?

 

[westcott]

Any theories on how I could have lost my HDMI capabilities from my Tivo to TV?

I have verified that HDMI works from DVD to TV and tried using that verified working HDMI cable with Tivo to TV with no luck.

Not a Tivo expert but make sure there is not a selection in the menu for HDMI connections or some resolution\digital setting that will activate it.

Isolation Transformers like the one suggested are great solutions but you should really try to track down the ground loop problem. Sounds like it is with the sat\cable box but it could be the entire socket. A quality surge protector usually has an inidcator light for indicating a good ground. Or, a home center can sell you a small outlet tester for 10 bucks or less (well worth it to check all the outlets in a house\apartment). Loose connections are not a good thing and it does happen more frequently that one might think.

 

[tase2]

What were the 5 new RCA cables to be used for and are they related to the Tivo connection or were they to make a 5.1 analog connection from the dvd player to the receiver for sacd/dvd-a playback?

You didn't really describe which cables are connected where. All analog, combo of analog and digital, HDMI only or in combination with all of the others?

The problem is either in the connections or the setup options. To troubleshoot I would disconnect everything but the Tivo and do one connection type at a time. It may be that the menu options are set incorrectly for the combination of connection types being used; eg. maybe with both a digital and HDMI connection from the Tivo it is sending the audio over the digital cable and the video over HDMI and the receiver expects both on HDMI or the inverse where the Tivo sends both audio and video over HDMI but the receiver is looking for the audio at a digital input.

The 5 new RCA cables were for audio and video out from the Tivo to TV so my wife could use TV speakers and not have to use AVR. I actually had that setup the entire time, but since only recently did I pick up my AVR, I also had HDMI to TV. -No flaws.

Since we would now be using the rca plugs more often, I though I could improve the pq a tad and ordered a new set and figure what the heck I would order the 2 audio cables and get a nice set of 5-RCA Component A/V Cables.

In my process of troubleshooting, I have tried a simple Tivo to HDMI setup with nothing else connected and still get HDMI-Not conncted on my Tivo status menu.

mtrycrafts-The Tivo is my cable box. It uses 2 cablecards.

westcott-there is no menu selection that I am aware of. I have been through the TV and Tivo menus a bunch of times.


Thanks guys, I will keep troubleshooting and keep you posted.