Trying to control power for a Scientific Atlanta 8300HD cable box using the technical bulletin from RTI on video sensing with the SPS-1 and a RP-1. The 8300HD outputs HDMI to the TV for audio and video. I tested the composite output of the 8300HD with another small LCD TV to make sure I could get video out from the composite when the cable box was on and no picture with the cable box off while feeding the HDMI TV. However, when I connect the SPS-1 to the 8300HD it "activates" and will not change state, regardless of the cable box being on or off. The SPS-1 is several years old and it had four wires in the cable, rather than the three referenced in the tech bulletin--a extra brown wire.

Has anyone seen this before and did you find a solution? Thanks.

Yes, I have seen this. The composite output of the 8300HD is always putting out sync (basically a black screen) even when off. You can't use the SPS-1.

You need to use a VPS-1 and a wall wart plugged into the switched outlet on the back of the 8300HD. Then, in the cable box settings, make sure you set the outlet to be switched with power.

Good luck.

Edit: Just noticed you are using an RP-1. You can just go straight from the wall wart, cut the end off and splice into the RP-1.

Brown wire is not used.

1. SA 8300HD outputs composite video all the time. I have had limited success using the digital coax out instead. Remember that your macro has to be reversed.

2. I deal with these boxes on a daily basis and have found the best way to control them is 0 key for on, and 0 -> Power for off. You must go into setup menu and tell it to power on with numeric. This is best way IMO.

Ugh. I hate cable boxes.

But, thanks for the education and advice. Will go the wall wart route.

No splice necessary, plug it into the sense on the ECB5

The ECB5 and RP-1 have the same connections on the phoenix plugs

I would wire directly to the RP-1

2. I deal with these boxes on a daily basis and have found the best way to control them is 0 key for on, and 0 -> Power for off. You must go into setup menu and tell it to power on with numeric. This is best way IMO.


SAAudio, what do you mean by " 0->" ?

number 0 - small delay - Power. I normally just put the 0 at beginning of power off macro and then put cable power at the end.

With the box setup to power on with numeric, 0 turns on the box. Then 0 delay power always turns it off.

I will second the use of the "power and numeric" on the cable box. It is very reliable once any timing in the macro is set. I have found that it needs about two seconds bestween the 0 and power command for the "off" to work well, but not every box has reacted the same way. For the on I issue a 0, then an exit command to clear the screen. In our area they have notified people that a software upgrade is coming for the boxes, so I hope they don't screw up this one nice usable feature they have. I can see all the calls now.... "my picture has bars on the side, it never had them before, there's something wrong with the TV you sold me...".

I have a Pioneer 42" Plasma that does not send a video sync signal out the monitor out composite connector,
the monitor (composite) connector shows a good imagewhen connected to a composite tv monitor but the SPS-1 does not sense the video
does anyone know how to get around this
is it a know problem with Pioneer Plasma dispalys?

Well, if you see an image on a composite TV monitor, then the plasma must be putting out sync. If it wasn't, you wouldn't see an image.

Maybe a defective SPS-1? Can you try it with another source to check?