View Full Version : Is there a work around for this?
Corky Clifton
04-16-2008, 03:39 PM
Have a Sony KDL-40V3000 and Time Warner STB SA8300HDC. Hooked up HDMI and everything seems just wonderful. Problem is, when I turn the TV off, that shuts off audio from the cable box so I cannot listen to cable music. TW says that is the way it is with HDMI as both audio and vidio are sent via HDMI, which I know is true. So, went back to using component connections and can turn off TV and still get audio out of the cable box. This just seems to be so odd to me that this is the way things work. Is that the way it really is? Is there a work-around for this goofy stupid problem? I really loooked for an answer here, but hey, I get confused with all the information here, but I do love all the info...
No workaround that I know of. This was to be fixed with a firmware update, but I guess it hasn't. Just another one of those "HDMI things" and I've added it to the list.
http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/showthread.php?t=33977
Corky Clifton
04-16-2008, 04:00 PM
Well, thats what I expected to hear. Still, I want to like break off the audio pins on the cable just to see what happens. Thanks again for all you know.
Ratman
04-16-2008, 04:14 PM
Maybe I'm missing something here but, if you only have HDMI connecting the STB to the TV then if the TV is powered off, you will not not get audio.
Have you tried connecting analog audio cables (red/white) from the STB to an audio receiver for music when the TV is powered off?
Corky Clifton
04-16-2008, 04:23 PM
That is correct. With HDMI connected to STB and TV all audio is fine. The audio out from the STB is with a digital optical cable to my reciever. Turn the TV off, and no audio is sent to the reciever. I have not tried to use just red/white audio cables from STB to reciever because I did not think I would have 5.1 input. When I use component cables with the same digital optical cable, audio is transfered with the TV off. Hope that makes some sort of sense. Thanks, Corky
Using the analogue audio cables (in addition to the optical), may work (but it may not). The audio from the music stations is not DD5.1 anyway, but the AVR would need to automatically detect the analogue audio signal if the optical goes down (most do, some don't) and the AVR would need to "re-detect" the optical cable when it's live again (most do).
Corky Clifton
04-17-2008, 01:27 PM
Well, thought I would give Ratmans suggestion a try. Hooked up regular old audio cables to STB and reciever. Tested the setup and audio was transfered using component connections while the TV was off. Unhooked component cables, plugged in HDMI and again no audio was transfered if the TV was off. Used a different input to the reciever. Thanks for the reminder that 5.1 is not on the music channels--I actually knew that but sometimes just dont change the reciever audio to just use the two channels..
Ratman
04-17-2008, 01:58 PM
It's quite possible that the STB's HDMI connection "overrides" all other audio (and perhaps video) outputs when connected.
Just to clarify and test...
HDMI from STB to TV.
Optical from STB to "input 1" (as an example) to A/V receiver (set to "auto")
Analog audio from STB to "input 2" to A/V receiver (set for stereo audio only).
Corky Clifton
04-17-2008, 02:12 PM
That is correct Ratman. The only thing I did not do was disconnect all other inputs/outputs on the reciever. And yes, the reciever is capable of auto detection of the audio input and has always seemed to work very good even tho it is pretty old... Thanks for your suggestions Ratman. Going to go to SA site today to see if I can figure anything out about this.
I have heard of this elsewhere. I believe it's a firmware flaw, as I mentioned in post 2.
It's associated with the same "switch" that turns off the component video signal if the HDMI cable is "active". For example, you can plug the component video cables into another TV to watch on another TV, however, as soon as the HDMI is active, the CV's turn off. If you have a switch on the HDMI cable, as soon as you hit the switch or unplug the HDMI from the TV, the CVs become active.
Corky Clifton
04-17-2008, 03:22 PM
Just to help me clarify the firmware update so I know who to bug about this..Firmware for STB or TV? Thanks, Corky
Corky Clifton
04-17-2008, 04:28 PM
I do believe you are right again 57U, as I have been checking online for goofyness in the SA8300HDCs and Cable Companies and there is TONS of goofyness out there on all of it. Its like each company is blaming the other for the problem--the only problem is that as a consumer, we all suffer. I started watching TV on a curb in a lawn chair looking thru a glass window into a store when TV first came out. Now days everything is so complicated by what we think we really need that it frustrates me. Sorry to rant, just blame it on geezer talk and you can delete this if ya want...
Corky Clifton
04-17-2008, 05:46 PM
Reported this issue to Sony and did get a reply. The reply was to contact my service provider....SO, the buck is past again. But I do love a challenge, so let me know if any of you all out there have a path I might want to challenge. Thanks, Corky
Ratman
04-17-2008, 06:27 PM
Just to confirm...
HDMI from STB to TV.
Optical from STB to A/V receiver.
Did you try an analog audio connection from the STB to the A/V receiver into a "second" input?
I.E.
optical into "input #1" for DD5.1 (auto for DD or PCM)
analog into "input #2" for audio only (2 channel/stereo)
Just switch the A/V receiver from input1 to input2 accordingly (for music only).
Corky Clifton
04-18-2008, 01:13 PM
You are correct in the setup. With that setup there is no audio to the reciever when the TV is turned off. And Yea, i tried to use analog audio as you mentioned and could get audio from the STB into the A/V reciever using selectable inputs on the A/V reciever ONLY when using component video outputs on STB and input on TV.. With HDMI cable used there is no audio comming out of the STB regardless of outputs/audio cables used when the TV is turned off. I even tried using the HDMI hookup and taking the audio FROM the TV outs into the reciever using optical and analog outputs but there was still no audio to the reciever when TV turned off. But I dont know if I tried that with the component cable hookup. (Tried so many different setups ya know!!) I apologize for making this so complicated and really do appreciate your help and input. Corky
Corky Clifton
04-18-2008, 01:40 PM
Sorry, could not resist not putting this out. Replied to the first Sony help on this--which was no help but contact SA/TW--and this was the reply to that email. Read it close..
Thank you for contacting Sony Support.
We're sorry that our previous response was helpful.
Ratman
04-18-2008, 02:50 PM
Well... it would seem that when using HDMI from the STB, all other audio outputs are "disabled".
Options:
1) leave TV on to listen to cable audio (music) channels.
2) use component video
3) wait for SA/TW to address and provide a firmware upgrade (don't expect a quick resolution with this option).
IMO... unless HDMI provides a remarkable video improvement, use option 2 and keep on complaining to SA/TW for a 'firmware resolution' so you can use HDMI. And I agree.... I don't think this is a Sony "problem".
