Newbie needs help with TWC HDTV

[JPackerFan]

Hello:

I am having difficulties getting an HDTV picture with the TWC Scientific Atlanta 3100HD box, hooking up the component cables to my Hitachi 53SDX89BA projection TV.

It appears that I have everything hooked up correctly, however, when I try to view anything on Video 2 (where the component jacks feed), I only get the TWC Digital Cable guide and program info for each channel...no picture, just black screen with gray bars on the left and right.

When I called TWC support, they told me to exchange the converter box, which I did, but the results are the same.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do to make this work?

Thanks.

[kjnorman]

As far as I understand your TV is a HD capable 4:3 model.  The fact that you are getting grey bars are on the side is very odd.

If you were feeding the component signal from the SA3100HD to the the TV I would expect bars top and bottom, as the SA3100HD will only output a 16:9 ratio picture on the Component output.

The digibox does not output grey bars, only black and that is for upconverted standard definition programming.  If you are seeing the program guide, but no other channel I would assume the digibox is broken.  

Sorry, can not help any more.

[JPackerFan]

Thanks for the info.  I'll probably need to take another trip to TWC to pick up yet another converter box...maybe third time will be the charm!

[JPackerFan]

I figured it out!  With my Hitachi 52SDX89BA TV, the input cable was feeding into the TV before reaching th 3100HD box  (for PIP on the TV).

Once I fed the input cable directly into the converter box, it worked.

Now I just need to figure out the best way to split my DVD component input and the HDTV component input into my single component jack on the TV...any low cost suggestions???

[Gregg Lengling]

I've got the JVC manual switch  box.  It allows you to switch between 5 sources and I think 3 or 4 of them have component video inputs...plus audio.  It was around 99 bucks at Crutchfield.com.

[Todd Wiedemann]

OT: Like the new avatar, Gregg !

[JPackerFan]

Thanks for the Crutchfield recommendation.  I managed to get a switcher from them for $89.96 from their "outlet store."  Should have the box by the middle of this week.