Newbie problem watching DVD

[Craig234]

I have the 42" Sceptre LCD w/media box, and a cheapo RCA DVD player (and recorder, which I haven't figured out how to record on, different topic).

I have the two connected with an HDMI cable. (Unfortunately, I have the old one-HDMI media box, so have to switch between cable and DVD...)

The problem is, I have a hard time getting it to work.

The Sceptre has one button for cycling through the sources like DTV/HDMI/HDCP and a little more, and another button cycles through choices like 'AV1', 'AV2', 'YPBrM1' (or something close) and some computer choices. I try combination after combination, and nothing works, until randomly on occassion the DVD image pops on the screen, and I can watch DVD's all I like - until I switch back to the TV, then it's start over.

I'd think the first button should be set to HDMI, and the second button probably to the YPBRM1 (or similar), but all that gets as of tonight is actually a blue screen for 10 to 15 seconds before going to full-out static. I know the connection is basically made because if I unplug the HDMI cable while it's just static, the screen returns to solid blue.

This is probably a basic question, but how can I reliably and easily get the DVD to play?

 

[MDS]

YPbPr is component video. That would only be a valid choice if you connect the DVD player to the TV using component video cables and connect to the input on the TV marked YPbPr.

If you have the DVD player connected via HDMI then the HDMI input is the correct choice. It doesn't make sense that the input choice would be DTV/HDMI/HDCP because HDCP is the copy protection algorithm that goes with HDMI and is not an input type.

As far as switching back to 'cable' it depends on how the cable or cable box is connected to the TV. If it is directly connected from the wall the choice should be something like 'TV' or 'antenna'. If there is a cable box it would have to be connected to the appropriate input depending on what kind of cable/video format you are using from the cable box.

 

[Craig234]

YPbPr is component video. That would only be a valid choice if you connect the DVD player to the TV using component video cables and connect to the input on the TV marked YPbPr.

Makes sense - the only other choice is when I cycle through the first button that brings up 'HDMI' without pressing the second button at all.

But that doesn't get the DVD picture, it gets the static after a 10-15 second delay of blue.

If you have the DVD player connected via HDMI then the HDMI input is the correct choice. It doesn't make sense that the input choice would be DTV/HDMI/HDCP because HDCP is the copy protection algorithm that goes with HDMI and is not an input type.

Makes sense, but it's not working.

As far as switching back to 'cable' it depends on how the cable or cable box is connected to the TV. If it is directly connected from the wall the choice should be something like 'TV' or 'antenna'. If there is a cable box it would have to be connected to the appropriate input depending on what kind of cable/video format you are using from the cable box.

Switching back to cable is easy, the second button has a 'Cable 3' setting that has the cable signal that easily works. The DVD is the problem.

 

[jcPanny]

DVD connection

If the old DVD recorder is not giving you upscaling or other features then connect it to the display with a component video connection so you don't have to worry about the HDCP issues. Same goes for the video from the cable box.

 

[westcott]

If the old DVD recorder is not giving you upscaling or other features then connect it to the display with a component video connection so you don't have to worry about the HDCP issues. Same goes for the video from the cable box.

Good suggestion. HDMI still presents problems for some equipment combinations. It is sometimes easier to do what jcPanny has suggested.

Or, get a different HDMI switch. The one I got from Impact Acoustics works great and I can switch inputs on the fly for three differnent devices without a hitch. You can get a discount through Audioholics if you do a search for the switch link.

 

[Craig234]

Well, the thing is, this has worked sometimes, so it's not just 'broken' to where it can't be used, it would seem.

My component video connection has a bad red connector on the media box so that doesn't work; I did hook it up with cables, I think it was AV2, for the time being and was able to watch DVD's now. But I would like to get the HDMI working...

 

[Midcow2]

Have you thought about upgrading DVD ?

... a cheapo RCA DVD player (and recorder, which I haven't figured out how to record on, different topic). ...

Have you thought about upgrading the DVD player ?

What are the outputs from the DVD player ?
Composite
Component
Fiber Optic
HDMI

Have you tried connceting dircectly to the TV ?

I would guess if it is to use your word "cheapo RCA DVD" that the best output would be composite (normally yellow color coded) with left audio (normally white color coded) and right audio(normally red color coded).

Connect the yellow composite video directly to the TV and connect the right and left audio to the receiver DVD input.

If you have component connect the trhee color outputs: Y, Pr, Pb directly to the TV and the right and left audi to the receiver.


You can upgrade to an HDMI DVD for less than $100 now. The Blu Ray is still pretty expensive, but if you wait a year or so the prices should drop dramatically.

Cheers (Mic Ultra),

 

[Craig234]

Have you thought about upgrading the DVD player ?

What are the outputs from the DVD player ?
Composite
Component
Fiber Optic
HDMI

Have you tried connceting dircectly to the TV ?

I would guess if it is to use your word "cheapo RCA DVD" that the best output would be composite (normally yellow color coded) with left audio (normally white color coded) and right audio(normally red color coded).

Connect the yellow composite video directly to the TV and connect the right and left audio to the receiver DVD input.

If you have component connect the trhee color outputs: Y, Pr, Pb directly to the TV and the right and left audi to the receiver.


You can upgrade to an HDMI DVD for less than $100 now. The Blu Ray is still pretty expensive, but if you wait a year or so the prices should drop dramatically.

Cheers (Mic Ultra),

The DVD player does have HDMI out - that's the connection that I'm discussing that has worked after some twiddling, and isn't working now.

It also has a variety of connections, such as component video, and 'AV1' (though it oddly says AV1 input) and others. It's actually a recorder, too.

I'd got the DVD thinking I might record shows off my Comcast HD DVR to DVD's, but have not learned how to record anything on it yet.

Update: last night I had hooked up the component video, and to my surprise it was working ok, since the component video connections on the TV's media box are not working for two color, only green. Today I went to see how it was hooked up for this post, and now it was only a green picture - with no sound.

I tried hooking up the 'output' connectors on the dvd to the av1 and av2 inputs on the media box, and on av1 or av2 the sound worked but no picture, while on the component video it was green picture, no sound, and HDMI continued to go blue screen for 15 seconds then static.

After a few hours and dozens of cycling through the remote settings, one time the HDMI setting finally sort of flickered a bit and then worked.

So now HDMI is working, but when I go back to cable to TV, I expect it'll stop working for hours and dozens of fiddling again.

 

[Craig234]

No other ideas, huh? Seems like an odd one.

 

[the grunt]

When you switch the TV from cable back to the dvd and it just goes to static after a few seconds have you tried turning the dvd player off and back on again. My dvd player often has HDMI handshake issues when I switch the TV from PC back to DVD. Turning the dvd play off and back on again corrects it. Also if your DVD player is capable of firmware updates do you have the most recent one?

 

[Craig234]

When you switch the TV from cable back to the dvd and it just goes to static after a few seconds have you tried turning the dvd player off and back on again. My dvd player often has HDMI handshake issues when I switch the TV from PC back to DVD. Turning the dvd play off and back on again corrects it. Also if your DVD player is capable of firmware updates do you have the most recent one?

Yes, I tried turning the dvd and tv off and on a lot when testing, didn't help.

I have no idea if the dvd can do firmware updates.

It does look like a handshake issue though, but what a bad one when it doesn't work dozens of times in a row until it does. Not sure what to do with that.

 

[the grunt]

Sounds like you’ve already done good troubleshooting on this yourself but here‘s a couple more things. First, you might want to check out this thread.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=653098

I’m not sure if this is the same model as you have, if not try searching that forum for a thread on your model. Looks like some people have had HDMI issues with the TV itself and apparently the media box can have it’s firmware upgraded though I have no idea if that has any effect on what you are experiencing.

I agree with you that it sounds like an HDMI handshake issue and as said in an earlier post by westcott it’s not uncommon. As long as your hardware, HDMI cables and connectors are good then the only way I see of resolving this with your present equipment is with firmware upgrades if available. So if you haven’t already I would contact the manufactures of both the TV and the DVD player with your problem and see if they have firmware upgrades available or any other suggestions to try first.

If you know someone who has an HDMI capable DVD player they can bring over to test you might be able to tell if the handshake issue is more likely coming from the TV or DVD player. No guaranties this will really tell you anything useful though since it might just be the combination of equipment you have that doesn’t want to play nice together right now.