HDMI (...or DMHI - Doing My Head In?)

On Sat, 26 Mar 2011 12:24:48 +0000, Adrian wrote:

Scott wrote:
On Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:25:28 +0000, Bigguy2010 wrote:

On 25/03/2011 12:14, Lobster wrote:
I've had a Western Digital Live Media Player for about a couple of
years; have been using it hooked up to the TV with an HDMI lead, and
love it.

I upgraded a few weeks ago, with a new A/V amp, but unfortunately my
efforts to get the WD player to work through it via HDMI failed. I then
reverted to connecting it direct to the TV to test my nerve - however
that now didn't work either - just "No connection" displayed on the
screen. Aargh.

Since then I've messed about swapping HDMI cables around, and at one
point it did burst into life. Whoopdedoo. That lasted a couple of days,
but now it's gone off again.

I can get a signal out of the player using A/V output but that doesn't
really cut the mustard, does it?.

So, what's wrong? My HDMI cables were very cheap ones, but they plug in
to the media player nice and firmly, no hint of any loose connections.
The cables work OK from my V+ box as well. Notwithstanding that, is
there any likelihood at all that the HDMI cables could be suss? I can't
see it myself but don't understand this stuff well. And don't want to
spend £500 on solid platinum replacement ones without reason...

It rather looks like a faulty media player? But I can't really see that
either - it's in perfect condition, undamaged etc, and worked fine until
the A/V receiver arrived (and still does, other than the HDMI aspect).
And anyway I don't want to spend £100 on another one without being sure
it's definitely at fault.

Any thoughts on how I can diagnose this?

Many thanks
David
It could be a cable / cables.

Really cheapo ones are often not too strong mechanically and they do
break due to flexing.

Only way is to try various HDMI cables with the V+Box; if they work 100%
solidly even when the cables are gently flexed, label them as AOK.
Bin any that come and go with flexing.

Try same AOK cables with WD player; still 100% solid or coming and going?
As we now assume (!!) it's not the cables it's either the WD player, a
bad connection or an HDCP issue...

HDMI cables are a lot cheaper than a new WD box so buy a couple more
'budget' ones...

The NEETS ones on Amazon have been very reliable for me.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revi...DateDescending

What about trying one of the other connection methods - composite or
component? That might show whether the problem lies with the cable or
the box. Also, I take it you have looked at all the settings options
on the box and the TV to see if there are any rogue settings?

I believe that's what David meant when he said "I can get a signal out
of the player using A/V output but that doesn't really cut the mustard,
does it?."

David seemed to appreciate the attempt to assist.

On 26/03/2011 08:27, Dave Wade wrote:


"Lobster" wrote in message
...
On 25/03/2011 12:25, Bigguy2010 wrote:
On 25/03/2011 12:14, Lobster wrote:

Any thoughts on how I can diagnose this?

It could be a cable / cables.

Really cheapo ones are often not too strong mechanically and they do
break due to flexing.

Only way is to try various HDMI cables with the V+Box; if they work 100%
solidly even when the cables are gently flexed, label them as AOK.
Bin any that come and go with flexing.

Try same AOK cables with WD player; still 100% solid or coming and
going?
As we now assume (!!) it's not the cables it's either the WD player, a
bad connection or an HDCP issue...

Yes sorry if I wasn't clear but have done this; cables which are AOK
with the V+ box won't work with the WD player.

To my layman's mind, that should rule out cables as a potential source
of problem, but I wasn't sure whether just because an HDMI cable is OK
with one source, it must definitely be OK with another - eg being
digital / all-or-nothing?

HDMI can be a real pain. Its actually a bi-directional two way interface
and if the negotiation fails then you get the type of problem you see
here. Which model of Av box are you placing between the player and the TV?

You might also want to do a google search on

"hdmi connection negotiation"


Me again...

Having followed Dave Wade's advice above I have to say I became deeply
depressed and decided I was unlikely ever to find out what was wrong.

However, I've recently discovered inadvertently a workround to the
problem - if I yank the media player's power cable for a cold reboot, it
works OK again for a bit (a few days?) and then stops again (ie 'No
signal detected' from the HDMI cable is displayed on screen.

I can probably live with that although it's a PITA - but what would
cause this? Dodgy firmware? I have reinstalled the latest version (the
only one available to me) without any effect.

Thanks
David