SA 8300 HD box using HDMI

[budz]

I'm a newbie to the HD world. I got my first HD box from Time Warner. I have it hooked up via HDMI to my new sony 40w3000 lcd. Is there any work around to get rid of the HDCP thingy? I don't wanna use component cables. I've read countless threads re: SA 8300 HD problems but no real answer on how to get rid of that HDCP message. A few minutes after I get that msg. I'm able to get any cable station. But as soon as I turn off the lcd tv then turn it back on that msg appears again. I know HDCP stands for high bandwidth content protection but hell what I'm recording on vcr isn't hd. I'm not able to record off the hd box to my vcr as well if the lcd tv is shut off. I'm assuming because of the HDMI on the tv is turned off there would be no signal going through. I've racked my brains trying to figure this out. My cousin has the same HD box but he doesn't get that HDCP message saying to use component cables so I'm assuming the hd box I have is defective. I've also powered off the hd box and let it reboot as well but I still get the HDCP thingy. I've asked for a new hd box which will be picked up tomorrow.

I hooked up the hd box via component cables and it's freaking fugly. HDMI looks much better than that.
I would appreciate any advice/comments with this matter. Thanks in advance!

[Krispy Kritter]

I've seen a few posts recently concerning similar issues between various TV's and HD receivers. For the most part, it seems to be related to specific HD boxes. I have a Motorola box through Charter, and the HDMI or component outputs are both HD with similar quality. This will vary slightly from TV to TV, but the result should be close.

Some boxes allow you to set the output type and/or resolution.

[edDV]

I've got the 8500HD box hooked up to a Samsung 4665F at my current location and don't see this happening when the HDTV is shut off. The HDCP connection is established when the TV is first turned on. Most HDTV sets keep the HDMI port powered even when the TV is turned "off" to keep the connection active. HDCP monitors the port for connection periodically. Are you unplugging the TV?

This may be a firmware or box hardware variation. Does Time Warner offer an explanation? Demand a 2nd or 3rd tier support expert until you get an answer. Sony support may also have an explanation re: HDCP.

[budz]

Thanks for the replies Krispy Kritter and edDV!

To edDv: I'm not unplugging my LCD TV.

To Krispy Kritter: Unfortunately my local cable company, Oceanic Time Warner Cable doesn't use the Motorola HD boxes. They only use the SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA 8300 HDC boxes.

I got the replacement 8300 hd box which supposedly is brand new since Oceanic Time Warner got 6000 HD boxes in time for the Sugar Bowl game on New Year's Day. The University of Hawaii is in it's first BCS bowl game which the entire island chain is excited to watch the game on TV in HD.

EDIT: Second HD box is fine so far at least when powering off my Sony LCD TV the HDMI signal is not lost. DVR is fine as well. Okay now so far everything is working w/HDMI and vhs recorder. Yes, my folks like having me tape their Korean and Japanese dramas for them on vhs tapes.