I'm having problems with my customer's yamaha RXV1600 receiver and am about to go back to good old component video. I have her cable box (Cox) going HDMI into the AVR and then another HDMI to the TV but I get no picture.

However when I connect the Cox cable box directly to the tv via HDMI I see a picture just fine.

Anyone had a similar issue to this?

The issue you are facing is how the different equipment manufacturers implemented the HDMI standard. The problem is usually in the cable box not knowing how to respond to the copy protection protocol communication. Unless you are planning on using 1080P with copy protection then component will work just great.

It's an industry issue not a Yamaha issue.

As tgav8rs mentioned it is a handshaking problem, but sometimes can be resolved by powering up certain devices in a specific order(i.e. Samsung TVs like to be turned on last).

The cable box has to 1st establish a connection with the receiver before it can talk to the TV. Try powering on the receiver, then the cable box and then the TV. If it works it's a handshaking sequence issue.

Out of habit I always turn on the TV (regardless of brand) as the last device (when using programable remotes). If you're not using a remote that allows you to turn on the devices in sequence change to the component interface.

You will always have this problem. I have sold Yamaha from the 1st receiver that had HDMI on it. Dont use the HDMI inputs on the Yamaha, trust me, It is a service call waiting to happen. Run the HDMI straight to the TV and use a remote to do the switching. I have another client who loves to listen to the cable music channels with the TV off. Only problem is that on our system at least, you cannot change channels without the HDMI connection active on both ends, meaning the TV has to be on to change channels. If you use component, no problem. HDMI is still a stange bird at times. Stay away until improvements are made. I would like to shoot the idiot that designed the connector, it falls out if you breath too hard on it.

The Actual problem is not the handshake, but rather the software in the cable box. It is a problem for most of the HD cable boxes regardless of operating system (microsoft or other). The problem is that the Yamaha, and any other receiver or HDMI switching device is coded in 'HDMI' speak as a "Repeater" where as the Cable box is a "Source", and you video output device a "Display". The problem occurs in that the cable boxes don't ship with the ability to recognize a repeater, and thus show an error, and will not pass audio of video information to the receiver (on rare occassions you may be able to get a few seconds of feed through as a box turns on and runs through its initialization process).

There are some coding patches out there available through your cable company, but you will need to be very lucky for them to actually help you fix the problem. They will need to flash your Cable boxes Bios, and memory, as well as updating its firmware to recognize "Repeater" devices. In my area Comcast is the primary Cable provider, and they do offer ther service if you find the right people through their call center, but they have no intent of doing a full scale system/subscriber wide update due to the chance of permanently killing all off their subscibers cable boxes...Imagine the headaches, and losses they would have to deal with.

Correct, a repeater, such as a surround sound receiver, is not a transparent device and must be able to establish communications with the source equipment. As you have stated some source boxes, mostly cable boxes, do not recognize a repeater's attempt to establish communications (for what ever reasons, most likely lack of fore sight) and may make it difficult to set up properly.

With up coverting surround sound receivers, such as a Yamaha, Denon ...etc. you can also use the component output of a cable box, if a software patch is not available, and still use HDMI for the DVD player as well as the link between the surround receiver and TV.

Just a thought.

I am look ing at getting the Yamaha rx-v2600 but do have comcast cable as well. The reason I am looking for this receiver is for the upconverison-if you go in via the composite video and out via the HDMI do you know if you get the benefit of the upconversion?

Definitely go with the 2600 and hook it up via component video, and set the cable box to 1080i, and then 480i for standard def channels. The Amp will then pass through the HD content unchanged, but will upconvert...and SCALE (assuming the set is done correctly in the menus) to 1080i as well, and on the systems I have done this with, the SD channels will look better then if they were passed via HDMI direct to the TV...and not nearly the same delay while changing channels as opposed to using HDMI direct into a TV.

As far as going in S or composite, it will at least do a upconvert and conversion to 480p...but I am pretty sure if you make the correct adjustments in the menu system it will fully scale S or composite to 720p or 1080i as well. (just remember that it is still not a true high def image, but an interpolation of what one would look like given the lower quality source material).

Enjoy the amp, it is a great piece of equipment

I was told by Comcast technical that they will not be upgrading their boxes with the available HDMI software patch because there is no need for it.

And after all, doesn't the cable company know whats best for us!

Ben

Hey there, I was told the exact same thing. However I changed out my receiver to a Yamaha 5990 2 HDMI in 1 out. and the 2 Sony DVP cx995v 400 disc changers i have connected via HDMI work beautifuly out to my projector. (now the pic quality is about same as component 5% variance) but none the less it still works flawlessly with video.

And i 100% agree about the crappy connection via hdmi every time i pull my receiver out it pisses me off. lol

take care.

I use the Yamaha RX-V2600, and have a friend who works for Scientific Atlanta. Through Time Warner, I use an SA 8300HD. The problem is absolutely a mixture of the cable box, and a stingy, crappy, stupid cable company...

My buddy told me that SA provided the necessary patch to Time Warner and Comcast months ago. Upon contacting Time Warner five or six times (to get someone on the phone who actually knew what I was talking about) I was informed that they had a firmware update, but had no plans of implementation.

How crappy is that? "Well, Bob... Should we click this button here?" "Nah, we'll do it later."

The Yamahas, Denons, and Pioneers all work well with other HDMI devices, primarily DVD, HD DVD, and BluRay players. Your local cable company is simply too lazy to do anything to fix their cable boxes.

I've had similar problems with Pioneer with both motorola and SA boxes. Either use component or run extra HDMI to the display device if it has 2 digital inputs.

Bob