Pioneer Voyager 3510HD

[gb4fan92]

I'm happy to report that I FINALLY got my Pioneer box. Its seems to be just what I wanted. The ability to control aspect ratio using the cable box Also digital output that works on all channels, not just 100 and up. The ability to use the program guide while watching HD. So far so good! And with my new MX-500 remote control and all the new HD channels coming soon It looks like the only vegetable growing out of my garden this summer is a couch potato. (I did notice that INDEMAND not working - Says to call the cable company to subscribe.)  

[Shirow]

Yeah, I got a Pioneer a couple of days ago.

Indemand currently isn't working and there isn't an ETA on a fix

Not that I'd watch it anyway since it's not in HD.. I'd rather pay to rent a DVD... now when Indemand is in HD.. I can see my bill getting pretty large..

[Mike Sura]

I just checked and my InDemand is working ok. I don't watch InDemand at all but I do use it as an indication of signal strength since the signal goes both ways.

[Shirow]

hehe nice maybe they fixed it =p I didn't check tonight, but it didn't work last night.

[gyoung]

Also digital output that works on all channels, not just 100 and up.

Is this true?

[Mike Sura]

nope, analog sound below channel 100

[gb4fan92]

You're right Mike. With my receiver I used to have to switch my analog/digital input based on what channel I was watching. 1-100 I had to switch to analog and anything over 100 I switched to digital. But now with the new cable box it somehow transmits the sound through the digital input no matter what channel is on. However it it still analog for channels under 100. I would imagine that once TWC converts everyone over to digital (everyone will be required to have a cable box) we will get 100% digital.

[gyoung]

You're right Mike. With my receiver I used to have to switch my analog/digital input based on what channel I was watching. 1-100 I had to switch to analog and anything over 100 I switched to digital. But now with the new cable box it somehow transmits the sound through the digital input no matter what channel is on. However it it still analog for channels under 100. I would imagine that once TWC converts everyone over to digital (everyone will be required to have a cable box) we will get 100% digital.

My receiver does this automatically for me.  I hook up the analog outputs and digital outputs on the cable box to the receiver and the receiver will take digital if available otherwise default to analog.  Honestly I could care less about digital sound.  What I really want is a good quality digital picture for Fox News, CNN, HGTV, FoodTV, TLC, History Channel, etc...

This has tempted me to go to satellite and lose my HD (considering the amount of HD I actually view this would be a good idea).  I watch the above channels probably 90% of the time.

[Mike Sura]

Ken, I have the Pioneer box hooked up to a Harmon Kardon AVR525 receiver. I connected the analog and digital outputs from the Pioneer box to the Receiver. The neat thing about the HK is that I can assign audio input to a video input and on one input (video 2) the HK will auto sense between an analog and digital audio input and select the digital if available. When channels 2-99 are on it always goes to analog input and displays analog 2. If it's channel 100 and up the display changes to coax 2. I was wondering how you have your box and receiver setup. Did you just not hook up the analog output from the Pioneer box?

[gb4fan92]

Funny you should ask that question Mike. I looked at the connections and the digital goes from the cable box to the receiver but the analog goes from the cable box to the tv HDTV input. Looking at the back of the cable box there are 2 video outputs along with audio outputs, the HDTV outputs and the Digital/analog output. Now I'm wondering how this should all be connected. How is yours set up Mike? Is there an online manual?

[Mike Sura]

Ken, I checked the Pioneer manual and it does have 2 analog audio outputs. I went right past that. The manual shows hooking up the analog video or s-video and one analog audio to your vcr and then to the tv. The other analog audio and the componet video is hooked up to your tv. This makes sense if you don't use a receiver at all. On my set up, my reciever allows the Video 2 input to have 2 audio inputs. One analog and one digital. It will always go to digital if it's available. I should point out that I never use the speakers on the TV, none of the audio outputs go to it. But now that you pointed out that there is another analog audio I may have to get a cable. I have only had this receiver a few months and my old one was a Sony. On the Sony I could do the same thing by hooking up the analog and digital output to the DVD connection. The receiver had both inputs for DVD only. Worked the same way only the receiver had to be turned on to DVD to watch cable. I'm curious to know on your setup, do you get sound from the receiver on analog channels or are you listening to the tv?

[gb4fan92]

Mike
     I get sound from the receiver for both analog and digital. Prior to getting the Pioneer box I had to manually switch input mode to either analog or digital. Now it does it automatically! Cool. I still doen't have my vcr set right  Just haven't had time.I called TWC to inquire why my INdemand wasn't working and why channel 512 wasn't working. He reset my box and indamand came on. The bad news was I lost all the free pay stations I was getting. He told me Channel 512 has been out for a few days.

[Joseph S]

My receiver can handle the auto Analog to Digital input switch, but with the SA 3100 you have to radically alter the volume when you go from 100 to 99 or back.

Are you able to get the two realatively equal in level of volume with the new box?

[Mike Sura]

I don't make the huge changes in volume anymore with the Pioneer box. Didn't realize that until you brought it up. I did however, get a new receiver just before getting the Pioneer box but I wouldn't think it was the receiver. I did have a service tech tell me the reason TW wanted stop using the SA box was various Audio issues.

[kermtfrg]

Just got my parents to upgrade to a 57" Mitsubishi HDTV but they can only get the SA TWC box in Kenosha and Racine.  Any ideas if any of the other offices has the Pioneer box?