TV HDMI Ports

[kirbylux77]

Hey Vacuumlanders. Has anyone ever had an issue with the HDMI port on their flat-screen TV acting funny? I have a 2008 Toshiba LCD flat-screen that has a HDMI port that is acting strange. When hooked up to a Philips DVD player with HDMI output, using the HDMI cable it works fine. But when I hook up my Western Digital TV Live box, one of those digital streaming boxes, hooking it up via HDMI the TV refuses to work, you have to use the standard composite - yellow, red, white - connections. Now, I know FOR A FACT it's the TV causing the issue....I first tried a Rocketfish brand HDMI cable with the speed listed on the box, thinking the HDMI cable was too old....worked perfectly fine with the DVD player, but not with the Western Digital. And just to confirm it was the TV, I took the Western Digital box up to Future Shop, & had them try it out on a brand new Samsung LCD TV....no issues at all, worked perfectly fine connected to the HDMI port. Also, I called Toshiba & explained the situation to them, & asked if there were any recall notices or software updates for the TV, & there were no issues on their end.

So, what could be causing this issue with my TV? Works with one thing, but not the other?? Has the HDMI standards used changed recently or something?? Don't want to have to buy a new TV, since this one was boxed & only used about 5-6 months, but it's looking that way right now....

Rob

 

[bagintheback]

1080i to 1080p or vice-versa?

I wonder if since your HDTV is a bit on the older side, maybe the Western Digital is putting out a signal the TV can't deinterlace or upconvert.   What's the model number on your TV? Maybe we can dig up some documentation and see how the software works. 

 

[kirbylux77]

Nathaniel

Wow, I never would have thought of that! You're brilliant!! This is a Toshiba 22LV505C, 720P with built in DVD player

Below is a link to the user manual http://web1.toshiba.ca/support/ceg/manuals/LCDTV/19-22LV505C_EN.pdf

Let me know what you dig up & thanks in advance for whatever help you can provide Nathaniel.

Rob

 

[bagintheback]

Thanks!

Some more research:


 


It seems there may be a problem on both ends. The WD has a common and known issue for inconsistently changing resolutions, so some TVs can't lock on to the signal. http://community.wd.com/t5/WD-TV-Li...cking-the-wrong-resolution-in-AUTO/td-p/99460


 


You can also check out another thread on the Western Digital forum with a solution that has worked for some.  Other people have tried cutting HDMI cables, which honestly I can't understand how that would work, and some just upgrade to a newer model. That seems silly; things should just work as advertised. 


 


I hope I've helped in some way. I've had issues with WD products in the past. When they work, they're fantastic, when not, it can be a real pain to find a solution.  If I find anything else I'll let you know.


 


-Nathaniel



http://community.wd.com/t5/WD-TV-Li...e-plus-via-HDMI-no-signal-problem/td-p/370033

 

[super-sweeper]

Blargh, flatscreens! All I need is a cable and VHF connection on the '86 KTV set! 

 

[kirbylux77]

Alex

You can use the Western Digital on your 1986 KTV set if you bought yourself a RF Modulator box. The Western Digital does have a standard composite - yellow, white, red - connections as well. You would just need the RF Modulator so it would go over your coax cables to the TV.

Besides, you had better realize sooner or later those tube TV's won't be able to get a signal to work....after all, 4K LCD TV's were just introduced. Every time a new resolution standard comes along, the cable & satellite companies have to play catch-up & improve the quality of their signals & resolution they output. You just watch Alex, one of these days, you'll turn on your TV & find a snowy picture.

Nathaniel - I looked at both links you suggested. Sure, I will try them, but at this point I think the Western Digital box is going back & I am getting a refund & buying another brand. Especially when you say their products are known for having problems, which I would have never suspected, as I have always had good luck with their laptop hard drives. I agree with you a product should work properly out of the box, with no fussing around. Any particular brand you suggest? I was thinking of trying one of the Roku boxes this time around.

Rob

 

[poconovacman]

Rob,

I personally recommend an AppleTV. They're $100 from Apple and I've not had a single issue with mine in the year I've had it. It's really nifty and worked flawlessly right out of the box!

 

[bagintheback]

I've had experience with both Roku and Apple TV. Since I already have an Apple computer, the ability to connect to my iTunes Library has been really useful. Now we can watch years worth of family videos on our TV without a DVD or VHS player. Airplay also allows you stream your entire computer screen onto the TV as well. But again, you need a Mac to take full advantage of it.  


 


We bought a Roku when they first came out, and we've upgraded once. They're cheap, very reliable, but a bit on the slow side; it can take awhile for certain channel to load. The channel store is huge and most useful ones are free. PBS is one of my favorites. If you are trying to "cut the cord", I'd go with the Roku. 

 

[super-sweeper]

Well, until then, I've never had a television with a better picture! I'm sure they'll have some kind of converter box for older sets, look at what they did when Analog had it's last transmission,I watched the final moments of that beloved format. The local news station flipped the switch on their tried-and-true Analog transmitter, forever. It was a huge beast, one that may never have the pleasure of broadcasting as it once did. When television sets could no longer accept Analog, they made converter boxes for those sets to accept the new HDTV format. So why would there not be a converter for whatever this new super-format you go on about? I'll learn programming if they don't invent one for me!