TW to Update Pioneer DVI Driver

[mhz40]

The Milwaukee division of Time Warner has scheduled firmware upgrades on it's digital set top converters, including the Pioneer HD unit during the early morning hours of 3/10/04.
Included in the new release for the Pioneer HD converter are updated DVI drivers, which will eliminate known DVI incompatibilities with some manufacturers TV sets, including Samsung's HLN series HDTV's (at least the problems discovered before the driver was rewritten a month or so ago).
(Read: If you've had problems in the past, try your Pioneer DVI cable connection again after work on Wednesday...)

MHz40

[Joseph S]

Doesn't work with Sanyo Projectors as well.

[mhz40]

The Pioneer HD flash was delayed and is rescheduled for 3/11/04.

MHz40

[Jacob Marley]

I don't know if anyone else tried their DVI cable with a Samsung DLP, but I had no luck with mine.  I tried Saturday morning and I still get the "Please Connect your Set top box to a HDTV" error.  I did not unplug my receiver for a good hard reboot, but I don't know if that would help or not.  Has anyone else seen different?

[Engineer]

You mean the DVI actually works.  I was told when I recieved by box that it was disabled.

[mhz40]

Originally posted by Jacob Marley
I don't know if anyone else tried their DVI cable with a Samsung DLP, but I had no luck with mine.  I tried Saturday morning and I still get the "Please Connect your Set top box to a HDTV" error.  I did not unplug my receiver for a good hard reboot, but I don't know if that would help or not.  Has anyone else seen different?

The update fixes the Sammy DVI problem.  It's likely your set top did not receive the update.

Try these out:

1- Leave the set top off overnight & try the DVI connection again the following morning.

2- If #1 fails...
...unplug the AC input to the set top.
...while holding the volume down button, plug the unit back in.  Hold the volume down button in for an additional 10 seconds or so while the unit boots up.  This should force the unit to update it's code, which should take ~15 minutes and should not be interupted in any way.

MHz40

[Joseph S]

Did the hold down the volume trick. Thanks.

-Box is now appropriately recognizing Sanyo HDCP enabled DVI Projector.

-DVI HD Channels are slow to switch as mentioned, but are working.

-Where is the resolution settings preference? Is it no longer available in the prefs? I can't find it anymore.

-No sparkles with 30m Better Cables DVI-D cable. Lots of sparkles with RAM electronics 50ft DVI-D cable. Guess which one I'm keeping.

-For some reason PBS' HD looks much nicer OTA versus TWC's version, probably twice as good. The others appear about the same.

[mhz40]

Glad it worked for you... usually you don't have to mess with them, but for some reason, this time some boxes didn't get the 'time to upgrade your code' message.
From what I understand, DVI is pass-through only (by DVI's own spec).  The native signal is sent right to the DVI port without any conversion or stretch/zoom tricks.
The PBS feed is a straight digital pipe from their studio to your set top.  Can't understand why you see any quality difference... let alone 'twice as good'.

MHz40

[Paul S.]

Originally posted by Joseph S

-No sparkles with 30m Better Cables DVI-D cable. Lots of sparkles with RAM electronics 50ft DVI-D cable. Guess which one I'm keeping.

Sparkles?

[summerfun]

Originally posted by Joseph S

-Where is the resolution settings preference? Is it no longer available in the prefs? I can't find it anymore.

As Mhz40 said, the DVI cable is a pass through, so you don't have any settings available. This does create the flicker between channel changes because the TV is adjusting to the different signals sent by different stations. If you use component cables, you can set the box to only send one signal (i.e. 1080i) and you won't get the flicker between channels changes.

-For some reason PBS' HD looks much nicer OTA versus TWC's version, probably twice as good. The others appear about the same.

I have no problem with PBS HD. The picture is fantastic on TWC. Don't know what your issue may be.

[Joseph S]

Sparkles?

Yup, sparkles due to interruptions in the DVI stream which has no correction factor. Long DVI runs can be tricky because the spec was not intended for this.

[cglaser]

Can anyone tell me what the pro's/con's on using DVI cables as opposed to component video cables are?

I'm a brand new subscriber to TWC HD service and though I got a box with a DVI connector, since I had a psare set of component vid cables I've been using those.  If there are any good reasons to go to DVI I'd like to know...since I'd rather not spend money on a good DVI cable if it won't do anything for me.

[Paul S.]

Pro's-

Aspect ratio is automatically adjusted
Free's up a component input

Con

Some people whine and complain how the is a 'lag' when switching between HD channels. It's only 2-4 seconds. Big deal.

Thats all I can think of, although I'm sure there's more.

[Joseph S]

Pro:
Works with my Macs too without needing SwitchRes for custom res.

[summerfun]

Originally posted by Paul S.
Pro's-
Aspect ratio is automatically adjusted
 

I think this is not a pro. This is the main reason AGAINST the DVI cable. You have no choice as to the output of your cable box. The DVI cable will send the native signal to the TV whether you want it to or not. With the component cables, you get to choose what you want sent to the TV. I personally send everything at 1080i. You could send native if you want or some combination. You loose that option with DVI.