HD DVD & TV with HDMI connection

[InsideOut]

I have a HD TV & HD DVD Home Theater System. My question is: Do I need both a HDMI cable and an Audio Cable to connect the DVD Home Theater System or can I just use the HDMI cable. With just the HDMI cable, nothing happens; no picture or sound. With the Audio cable (red/white) I get sound, but still no picture. I have the HD TV set to HDMI 1 as the connection.

What am I doing wrong??

[Krispy Kritter]

HDMI carries video and audio. You should only need the one cable.

As you didn't list the brand and model information for your hardware, there isn't anything else I can tell you.

[InsideOut]

Both are Philips - DVD = HTS3544/37 TV = 42PFL7422D/37

Please note I have the setting on the TV --> Connections --> HDMI 1

Is that correct??

[wabjxo]

Did you press the HDMI button on the remote to "activate" it for 1st use? Then you can select the various rez options your machine has.

Unless you turned "HDMI Audio" off in the settings, you should get both video and audio thru the HDMI cable by itself.

[InsideOut]

I'll have to try it again, however when I put the DVD/Home Theater System on DVD like the Instructions suggest it sits in DVD status: “NO DISC”. I can go through the settings on the TV screen but nothing happens; NO Audio and NO Video, I can’t see the picture for the DVD. I’ll check to make sure the HDMI Audio is “OFF”.

This new technology is way over my head. I just want to watch a DVD. I’ve had my new 42” LCD HDTV and new Home Theater System for 1 month; the only thing I can do is watch TV. I went to Wal-Mart and bought the Audio Cable (red/white) to make the speakers work.

Thanks

[wabjxo]

I’ll check to make sure the HDMI Audio is “OFF”.

No, I think you want the HDMI audio ON. The Off option is only if you're running your audio thru an external AV Receiver for better audio, Dolby 5.1, etc... you don't have a separate receiver for that.

Is the DVD you're trying to play one of your home-made DVDs or a commercial movie? If home-made, make sure it's Finalized. The Finalize function is usually in a "Disc Edit" or "Disc Setup" menu.

[InsideOut]

OK so HDMI "ON". The Home Theater System is Dolby 5.1. The DVDs that I have are Authorized, bought from Best Buy and rentals from Blockbuster or Red Box. When I put a DVD in with the Audio Cable, I hear the start up sound from the DVD, but of course NO Video. If I use only the HDMI cable = NOTHING.

** My TV has 3 HDMI connections:
HDMI 1 = DVD Home Theater System
HDMI 2 = DirecTV Cable Box (no problems)
HDMI 3 = empty

Also, I got the Home Theater System on Ebay, so it is Used, however all other functions work fine, FM, TV, iPod Dock, etc. The previous owners assured me all should work and I have all of the paper work.

Thanks.

[wabjxo]

Well, there might be something I'm missing in your setup, etc., but I think you need to get the HDMI video working as it sits now. I can't see any reason why it doesn't work based on the descriptions so far (except a defective HDMI circuit).

If you Play the purchased DVD or any other DVD, try activating HDMI with the HDMI button. The HDMI video should be seen on the TV even if the HDMI audio is Off. You need that first press of the button to get it to output 480p thru the HDMI connection. Once it does that, subsequent presses of the HDMI button should ratchet thru all the other rez settings your machine can produce.

If you can get Video working, then you can work on HDMI audio as needed.

[InsideOut]

OK, I will try this when I get home.

TV is 1080p.

Thanks for all of your help.

[InsideOut]

It's working!! My TV has so many HDMI connections, the correct one is HDMI --> HDrec. Now my DVD player works with video and sound.

Thanks again!