OT: HDMI Splitter Home Theater

[Im Lon 2]

Not sure if anyone can help or not, but here goes.

I'm Having issues with my HDMI splitter, with Cable Box.

For a few years I have had 3 TV's in my basement a 19" (25' HDMI Cable), 32" (25' HDMI Cable), and a 1080 Projector (3' HDMI Cable), all connected with a 1x4 Powered HDMI splitter (3' HDMI Cable) that was connected to my HDMI/DVR cable box (Charter). Never had an issue.

In January of this year I decided to replace the projector with a 60" Vizio 1080 (New 25' HDMI Cable). At the same time I updated all my cable boxes in the house to the new HDMI/DVR boxes offered by Charter. At first I had issues with the TV's getting an HDMI signal, and I would have to unplug the HDMI cable from the back of the cable box, and hook up one of the TV's and it would start working again. I had not noticed the rest button on the HDMI splitter. After I realized the rest button, all I would have to do is hit the rest button, and everything would work fine.

Last week I went to turn the TV's on and could not get any of the TV's to grab the HDMI signal. I hit the reset button, tried each TV one at a time connected directly to the cable box. I then took the cable box to one of the TV's I had hooked up upstairs to a different HDMI box, and the only way I could get the box to work is using the components.. I then called Charter, because I assumed the box is what was giving me so much trouble, and it just finally went out. Well for a week after replacing the box, everything seemed to be work correctly"¦.. Till last night, I started getting the same issue, I can only get the box to work connect via components. I did notice when I hit the reset button on my splitter while everything is hooked up the cable box, it does recognized I'm hitting the button, and for a split second the Cable box says dui across the front display, then it goes back to displaying the time. My two HDMI boxes up stairs when turning the TV on display "œConn".

I do have a new 25' HDMI cable I'm going to run to the new TV, and I was going to replace the Splitting before I hook it back up to the new cable box I'm getting tonight.

So where do I start looking for the issue?
Could it be the splitter going bad or maybe its just out of date. Its at least 2.5-3 years old?
Do all the TV's have to match? I think one of the TV's is a 720 VS the other two being 1080.
When I called Charter, they seamed to think it could be a setting on the Cable box.

Sorry to ramble on so much, I just want to give as much info as possible.

TIA

 

[ebius]

While I am in no way an expert on this stuff, I can tell you I have done enough research and messing to tell you what you are trying to do sucks.:headwally: I'm not sure how much you have looked, but there is a whole DRM thing that goes on with HDMI since it is a digital connection. Basically, there is a whole HDMI security handshake thing that has to happen. Pair this with 4+ HDMI versions that very enough to cause problems when interconnecting and you will see why I say this sucks. It can honestly be something as simple as your cable box will work right out of the box, but as soon as it gets a software update, done. This could account for your limited uptime with the new box.

My best suggestion (again, I am no A/V expert) would be to take the switch box out of the equation. Plug in each device to the cable box and see if that works. Use the cable going from the switch to the display device to plug into the cable receiver. This will also test each cable run. If everything works without the switch, you have found your problem.

Not much help I know, but hopefully it is something. DRM and anti-piracy has a special place in my heart as it only causes aggravation for those looking to do the right thing.

 

[Im Lon 2]

Yes I have read a lot over the last 24 hours.. It's crazy how this setup worked for years till I got the new TV.

One thing I'm thinking is that maybe it has something to do with the extra feet in HDMI Cable I added with the TV verses the projector.

Even though the HDMI port is not working on any TV in my house, I’m not a 100% sure my HDMI port on the cable box is bad. Like what you said about the update in software. Charter was thinking I some how locked out that port when the Handshake did not take place. I’m getting a DU1 error when I fire up the HDMI Splitter, so the boxes seems to be trying.

I'm trying to research the DU1 Error now

 

[ryanmell]

on the new cablebox when you hit that input on the hdmi splitter does the front display show conn for a sec. it it the new motorola small black box, also what model splitter do you have

 

[Im Lon 2]

The other two cable Boxes I have do say "CONN" when i turn on the TV. The cable box I have I'm having issues with displays up "Du1" for a second, and all 3 TV's say "No Signal".

Here is the Splitter I'm currently using.

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/4-port-...b-up-to-1080p-for-ps3-xbox-blu/223272722.html

 

[MperRluvR]

Look carefully at the new charter box as it seems to be where you started having problems. The projector i just bought has the female hdmi too far back due to a thich plastic bezel. This caused me some headaches as i could not get a signal at all for awhile unless using components (same as you). My cables are what i consider 'premium' and were too bulky for the female hdmi in of the projector. I had to really press it in securely to get the projector to connect the signal.

Obviously this is a guess but similar thing happened to me so just try and see

 

[Damon.Webb22]

Honestly, and I used to install AV equipment for a living, it might be the box. Try a new one to see if that helps. If not, or you don't want to throw money at the problem right away, check the connections and make sure they are all seated properly. The other thing would be to check compatibility of the equipment. Compatibility should not be an issue but one never knows with Charter. If I read it correctly you said even with the cable box hooked directly to the TV it only works with components? In that case it's a whole other problem and might be some weird setting on the cable box. Without seeing the problem first hand that is the info I would give you as a tech.

I'll reread this later tonight when I have more time for a more thought out answer.

 

[Koddie Doo]

use this and it works very well for switching my dTv / wii / apple TV /
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7228610&csid=_61

 

[ryanmell]

if you have your remote you can turn the box off and hit the menu key and it will bring up the hdmi menu and you can try some other settings

 

[Badams75]

I'm an in home TV Tech and even though I don't install or trouble shoot probs like this I have used all the boxes from all providers over the years. People have way more probs with Charter boxes. They all can take out HDMI inputs or worse on TVs, but its almost always a Charter box.
If there is no HDMI out of the Charter box it has to be bad. Don't think I've seen any one you could turn off an output. You might be able to go into the TVs menus and turn off any of the HDMI control for ARC or HDCP.
The one TV that is 720 won't cause your prob. If the Charter box is sending out 1080 just that TV would not be able to display anything from the box. It won't lock anything up or take anything out.
I think it may just be your splitter is not HDCP compatible and can't pass the info to the TV or back to the box. You may need that splitter Koddie Doo uses or one like it that is compatible. You can google "dui" if you haven't. If after turning ARC or other HDMI control features in the TV menu off, turning one or the other on first everytime, or leaving the box on always I get to tell them call Charter or an installer.