CableBox DVI

[Splinters]

I received a new Cablebox today by my provider. It's a newer one from my previous. This one is HD compatible.
I use a standard TV in my bedroom so I use that for the cablebox.

I also have a LCD Monitor an Acer H233H, it has DVI, HDMI (Currently Used) and VGA (PC)
It came with all the cable needed, DVI, HDMI and the VGA.

Down to the issue, I saw my Cablebox has DVI (No HDMI input though. Only DVI) and decided why not connect it to the Monitor.

Everything seems ok, I get the boot loading screen and it boots.
The problem is I get no Picture, I do though get GUI and settings. 720p is used by default.

If I miss around with the settings, the shows do come up but only when I have the Menu GUI up. So when I go back to the programs it goes back to a black screen.

My guess is the DVI cable. The Monitor shipped with a DVI - D (single link) cable. Wondering if getting a DVI - D (Dual Link) cable would resolve this issue, or would is there something else I can do.

[redwudz]

You could look at the DVI socket on your cable box and TV and you should be able to tell what type they are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

And probably a good idea to mention the cable box brand and model as someone here may be familiar with it.

And welcome to our forums.

[Splinters]

It's an Explorer 3250HD.

From what I can tell the Socket is DVI - D (Dual link). I'm guessing the issue is the Cable. But I'm not sure.

Thanks Redwudz.

[usually_quiet]

The cable isn't likely to be the problem, but your monitor is. A DVI-D single-link cable with male ends should still work with a female DVI-D dual link port. If HDMI is electrically compatible for video with DVI-D single-link, a DVI-D single-link cable should be sufficient for HD video output from your cable box. However, unlike TVs, PC monitors don't understand interlaced video, unless they are made to double as TVs.

I can't tell from what you wrote whether you have configured the cable box to output over DVI-D, but you have to do that. Also 720p would be the only output resolution for the cable box that you could use, unless 1080p is available. The picture always looks best using a monitor's native resolution, so it is likely the picture will not look quite right if the cablebox output isn't a perfect match for that.

The next problem is that DVI does not carry audio, so you will need to connect the cable-box's audio connections to something to hear the audio portion of CATV programming. Stereo audio might work with a PC microphone jack using an appropriate adapter cable.

[edDV]

First Issue: A typical computer monitor only accepts progressive video so your cable box must be set to output 480p or 720p.

Second issue: The monitor must be HDCP compatible. If the cable box doesn't get an authenticated handshake, it will not send video.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCP

[Splinters]

My monitor is HDCP compatible. My cablebox is able to output at 480p, 720p and 1080p. Can even change the ratio from 4:3 to 16:9
Sound isn't an issue, I have a pair of RCA audio cables that work run from my cablebox to my speakers.

Everything seems to work fine. Sounds works, I can switch channels, see the menus and settings gui.
Only thing that isn't visible is the actual Picture.

Imagine a black screen, with the cablebox gui for the channel information showing. That's pretty much what I see.

My guess is that the DVI - D cable is needed, that the missing pins on my Single link DVI cable are the ones that are need to feed the picture to my screen.

[usually_quiet]

My guess is that the DVI - D cable is needed, that the missing pins on my Single link DVI cable are the ones that are need to feed the picture to my screen.

The extra pins on a dual link cable won't be used except by monitors with an extremely high resolution and refresh rate. If your monitor is a normal consumer PC monitor, it won't use the extra pins.

This sounds more and more like an HDCP issue of some kind. The cable box is old and may not be handling it correctly.

[edDV]

I've got a similar generation Motorola cable box. When there is an HDCP issue, the box displays "HDCP" on the front and sends no video.

[Splinters]

Monitor is pretty decent, Max res is 1920 x 1080. I use my PS3 on it and that works great.

But if the Box and Monitor aren't syncing correctly, It wouldn't show anything. Would it?

[usually_quiet]

Monitor is pretty decent, Max res is 1920 x 1080.

But if if the Box and Monitor aren't syncing correctly, It wouldn't show anything. Would it?

Single link DVI works fine for 1920 x 1080 monitors. I have a 1920x 1080 monitor connected to my PC with a single-link DVI cable.

The DVR menu probably isn't HDCP copy protected, but the programming is.

[Splinters]

Monitor is pretty decent, Max res is 1920 x 1080.

But if if the Box and Monitor aren't syncing correctly, It wouldn't show anything. Would it?

Single link DVI works fine for 1920 x 1080 monitors. I have a 1920x 1080 monitor connected to my PC with a single-link DVI cable.

The DVR menu probably isn't HDCP copy protected, but the programming is.

I guess I surrender. The Box has won this match.