HDMI to Component

BenSki · 03-12-2010, 14:40

Hello Folks,

Posting in here because I'm not getting much help from Virgin themselves. I've done a bit of searching but cannot find a similar post so please excuse me if has been mentioned before.

I'm trying to hook up my Plasma TV to the Cisco Virgin HD box but seeing as my Plasma is rather old it does not have an HDMI input, it does have a DVI input which I've tried connecting too with an HDMI to DVI adaptor but this input is not HDCP compliant and the manufacturer of the Plasma (DreamVision) says that it'll only accept a component (YPbPr) signal from a digital TV box.

So with that in mind I bought myself an HDMI to Component converter and now when I connect it up I can see all the Virgin menu boxes absolutely fine but I cannot get a picture at all.

Could this be because of the lack of HDCP compliance or could it be something completely different?

Thanks for any replies.

Ben

spiderplant · 03-12-2010, 15:00

Hi Ben,

If you get menus but no video, it's definitely HDCP that has caught you out again. I think it may be time to invest in a new TV, unless you are willing to stick with SCART. Hopefully you can get a refund on the converter.

ps. Welcome to the forum!

ShadowTD · 03-12-2010, 15:21

Hi Ben,

Which converter have you got? Unless it's a HD Fury (which is HDCP certified) then as Spiderplant says, HDCP is your problem.

BenSki · 03-12-2010, 15:40

Thanks guys, I've contacted the company who I bought the converter off and they are going to speak with the manufacturer.

I'm not really au fait with this technology so please excuse my naivety.

Thinking about it logically I'm suppose the HDCP needs to be taken out of the signal before it gets plugged into the converter if the converter box itself doesn't remove it? I guess I'll just wait and see what the manufacturer says.

I'm loathed to buy a new TV because I paid mega bucks for this when I first got it and shortly after the purchase I moved house and had nowhere to put it. Even though I've had it for a few years I still feel like a big kid with a new toy :-)

ShadowTD · 03-12-2010, 15:47

HDCP is like a 'handshake'. Every device in the chain has to support it, supposedly so you won't do 'bad' things with the content. It's all massive Hollywood paranoia. The HDFury is the only HDMI->Component converter I know that supports HDCP, and this is represented in its cost (about Â£150!)

BenSki · 07-12-2010, 14:28

Bit the bullet and bought and HDFury 2 converter thingy. Â£130.00. That's nearly Â£250 spent altogether just to get some cricket on my Plasma.....I could have bought a new TV after all but I'm just determined to get this one working as I want it too.

Jameseh · 07-12-2010, 18:57

They have a big audience so if you ever need to sell it you should be able to easily. Any reason you didn't go for the HDfury3 or just limit your spending?

BenSki · 08-12-2010, 09:08

Hi James,

I was initially just looking at the standard HD Fury gizmo and it wasn't until I read up more that the HD Fury 2 would be much better for my purposes. Didn't even realise that there was an HD Fury 3 until you mentioned it!

It's certainly something I'll be looking into if I'm not satisfied with the "2" model.

Twilight Zone · 08-12-2010, 11:05

Hi, Did you know that the SA (V+) box has component out? Plus you get all the recording capabilities

BenSki · 08-12-2010, 11:17

Hey Twilight,

Just googled that and I see you are correct with the component out which probably would have saved me a whole lot of bother however I have the Cisco HD box which only has HDMI and Scart out.

Would I have been able to request an SA (V+) box from Virgin instead of the Cisco?

Twilight Zone · 08-12-2010, 11:21

There is an additional cost for owning a V+ box as you pay for the PVR capabilities. But, once you've had a taste of using it, there is no going back.

The only issue that you would have is that the newer Samsung boxes don't have component out so you would have to make sure that you got a SA box if you went down that route. I have used one for the past 5 years or so with no problems to a Panasonic plasma (PW7) with only a component connection. The picture is superb.

scgf · 08-12-2010, 17:17

I have the HDFury 2 and am most happy with it. I have it sitting behind my plasma panel, connected to the plasma component inputs by the short (supplied) connectors. I bought an hdmi switchbox, the output from which I connected to the HDFury. All my devices (Samsung V+, Satellite receiver, Blu-Ray player and Apple TV) are connected to the switchbox using their respective HDMI outputs. I route the optical digital audio via the switchbox to an Arcam receiver. I am very pleased I didn't have to get rid of my very nice plasma panel which gives an excellent 1080i picture. It has a much more analogue look than any more recent hdmi ready TV I have seen.

BenSki · 09-12-2010, 13:55

OK so I got my HD Fury 2 and plugged it all in and fantastic I can now see the picture on the Plasma screen. Not sure quite how I'm going to get the audio just yet but that can be a work in progress.

Getting really horrid colour though with dark bands crossing the screen on certain scenes, looks like it's having trouble converting the colour from the signal coming from the virgin box. I'm guessing that because the images from the Wii, Playstation and DVD player are perfect.

Is this common with old Plasma TV's, does it need to warm up ?!?! Who knows huh?

scgf · 09-12-2010, 14:01

Have you connected the mains adapter to the HDFury?

I found I needed the mains adapter connected for some devices - just connect and leave powered on all the time. It won't make a difference to the signal if the device doesn't need it.

If you didn't buy the HD Fury mains adapter, any adapter which has a USB socket will do. Very cheap on eBay.

BenSki · 09-12-2010, 14:17

Yep all plugged in including the mains adaptor. I didn't really have too much of a fiddle around with the settings as I just popped home on my lunch break. Perhaps the NTSC or PAL settings could be the issue ?!?!