DVI with Pionner TW Cable Box

[greg_brady]

Hey Everyone,

I've read on other forums (hometheatrespot) that some Pioneer cable boxes have a dvi output that does not work.  Does anyone know if Time Warner's pioneer HD boxes have a working DVI connection?  If so, is it worth spending $80 on a cable?

Thanks!

Greg

[shimmer11]

I am currently running my Time Warner Pioneer box with a DVI cable.  The DVI port is active and the picture quality is great.  One problem I do have is when I activate the Program Guide Menu, the picture breaks up and it takes a couple of seconds to view.  (very annoying to the wife!)  
Some may not notice a difference with Component vs. DVI, so you may want to experiment with both.

Andy

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by shimmer11
I am currently running my Time Warner Pioneer box with a DVI cable.  The DVI port is active and the picture quality is great.  One problem I do have is when I activate the Program Guide Menu, the picture breaks up and it takes a couple of seconds to view.  (very annoying to the wife!)  
Some may not notice a difference with Component vs. DVI, so you may want to experiment with both.

Andy

Ditto. The picture break up isn't a detractor, really. It's just a couple seconds of 'WTF?' lol

[aaron31182]

I'm also running the pioneer with the DVI port. You can find DVI cables for less than 80 if you look around and are comfortable purchasing them on the internet.

[oily]

While DVI is still the best way to hookup TWC HD, the Pioneer box
takes anywhere from 2 - 7 seconds to sync up with your
HDTV when going from HD channel to HD channel. Some people
hate that. This only happens with DVI. I noticed such a huge difference in sharpness, I am willing to live with it so far, but my patience is running out!

Come on TWC (or Pioneer) FIX THIS!!!!

[shimmer11]

I am wondering how Pioneer/Time Warner will handle the picture breakup issue with this box and a DVI connection?  Is this a software upgrade that can be done or do I need to switch the box out with a different one?

[summerfun]

This channel break up is not caused by the DVI cable, although the cable is ultimately the reason you are seeing the problem.

On the Pioneer box, you have the opportunity to set up what your TV can display. Check under the setup section for display options.

It asks what your TV can display. You have the choice of selecting 480i 480p 720p and 1080i. By default the setup is only 1080i so if you are using component cables, no matter what format is coming to your box, it will send only a 1080i display to your TV and you will not get the flicker. I don't think this helps the quality of display however.

If you select any of the other options, your TV will flicker between HD channels as the TV re-adjusts itself to the each new display types on that channel, even with the component cables. The benefit is that you can see what is being broadcast which is nice info to know, but the time lag and flicker is annoying.

This brings us back to the DVI cable. When you use the DVI cable, it forces the issue and it looks for what type of signal is being sent every time no matter how you have configured your setup and your TV will re-adjust itself every time there is a new display type. For example, changing from FOX 480i to ABC 720p to CBS 1080i., it will flicker between each.

So you have to decide if the cable is worth the trouble. I took mine back. The picture was just as good with the component cables and no display issue.

I hope this helps.

[TurboAWD]

With the first TV I bought (Toshiba 30HF83), I decided to pick up a DVI cable and give it a try.  It worked fine & this is what we use with that setup.

However, even though I was aware of the DVI issues with the Samsung TV's (DLP's only?), I still bought one for that TV, as well - just in case these issues were cleared up.  As recently as 3-4 weeks ago, the Pioneer box & Sammy were still not working with the DVI.  One reason I keep checking these forums is for news on the "fix" that was supposed to be coming on this.  I haven't heard anything for months, so I'm almost ready to give up.  

Is DVI any better?  Probably barely perceptible most of the time, but like with all A/V stuff, the specific equipment combos are the determining factor.  From what I've read, the DVI is an almost "must" for use with the Sammy DLP's, so I really want this issue cleared up.

Hopefully with the upcoming SA HD DVR boxes there won't be any problems.  This is assuming we will get the fully loaded SA boxes, as there are several versions with different output capabilities.

[summerfun]

Just for the record, I am using the Pioneer TWC box with a 50" Hitachi UltaVision LCD rear projection. I used both the DVI cable and the component cables. The picture was the same with both. Actually some people thought it was slightly better with the component cables. Although that could just be adjustments.

The component cables are the ones that TWC gave me for free. I decided that if the DVI cable did not improve the picture, what would expensive Monster component cables do? The picture I have is fantastic and I am not sure how it could be improved.

I do use the digital coax and fiber Monster cables for audio and the surround sound system. I don't know if it improves anything or not, but I had to buy them anyway and they weren't that much more expensive that the regular, so why not.