HDMI / V+ Connection problem

[admin_exported]

Hi there,

I'm hoping some of the clever people on this site can help me get my new TV playing HD from my V+ box (because Virgin's helpdesk were less than helpful!).

I've just purchased a Panasonic Th42pz85 (which I'm delighted with for viewing SD sources) and am trying to get a HD picture through my V+ box. I have followed Virgin's instructions of attaching both a scart and HDMI cable between the TV and V+ box (and have also attached a Sony DAV S880 amp via phono's to the V+ box). I then go through the V+ menu to change the settings to HiDef HDMI and press ok. At this point the V+ tells me that it is going to test the settings and the picture may flicker whilst it is doing this. Some 10 seconds later the screen reverts to the settings menu and it has defaulted back to SD (widescreen or 4:3). If I try switching from AV to HDMI on the TV there is no picture. I have also tried changing the settings using the controls on the front of the box (reset/forward and stop/output/HdMI/720 or 1080i). This gives me a very hazy picture (lots of fuzz and pixelation, with the screen ficking between me being able to see the Virgin logo loading up and a black screen).

I am at a loss as what to do next. I have a Virgin engineer coming out on Tuesday (but this means I have to take time off work), but am wondering if I have set something up incorrectly myself or my HDMI cable is faulty (I bought it from: http://www.ukhdmi.com, it is there best cable, although cheap by HDMI standards at £19.99 for 2m, and the site says it can handle a signal up to 1440p).

I would really welcome anybodies help or suggestions, as you can imagine I am desperate to see what my lovely new TV can do!

Thanks

Al.

 

[Anonymous]

Why would you need a scart connected as well? I don't have a V+ box, but i imagine if you just plugged an hdmi cable in, the box would figure it out and ignore the scart output.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Tomcat,

Thanks for the reply. You need the scart connected so that you can see the menu on the V+ box whilst you changing the settings (it tells you to do this in the instructions). The idea being that once the settings are changed you can remove the scart and change to HDMI as the source.

 

[Anonymous]

I had a similar problem setting up my V+ / Pioneer.

The trick is: at the point where the V+ asks you for confirmation to test the settings press OK and then change the input on your tv to the HDMI input. hopefully you should then see another request from the V+ box to press TEXT (bottom right hand of V+ remote) to confirm the new settings. Hey presto.

If you don't see the message about pressing the TEXT button to confirm after a few seconds the box reverts back to the original settings, pressing the TEXT button is the all important step.

HTH

Ian

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="IanS1"]I had a similar problem setting up my V+ / Pioneer.

The trick is: at the point where the V+ asks you for confirmation to test the settings press OK and then change the input on your tv to the HDMI input. hopefully you should then see another request from the V+ box to press TEXT (bottom right hand of V+ remote) to confirm the new settings. Hey presto.
If you don't see the message about pressing the TEXT button to confirm after a few seconds the box reverts back to the original settings, pressing the TEXT button is the all important step.
HTH
Ian[/quote]

Ian is spot on.

If the V+ box is connected to HDMI1 input, the TV should have automatically switched to the HDMI input automatically.

One other point, select "1080i Wide" , not "1080i" on the V+ box, otherwise you'll be watching everything in 4:3 format!

 

[blonde007]

Can I just point out that i think you are wrong 'rewerb' in your statement about the V+ widescreen setting.

If you set the V+ box to '1080' rather than '1080 wide' your TV should detect the picture format and display the image correctly, ie if its a widescreen broadcast it will display in widescreen on the tv, if its a 4:3 broadcast you will see the bars on either side of the image.

If you set the box to display '1080 wide' you are forcing any 4:3 broadcasts to display as a 1080 image which will look a little streched.

The choice is yours of course.

BTW, I had issues with my V+ box displaying static noise and black lines and and a jumpy focus when i first got it and set it to HDMI and display at 1080.

The resolution to the bad picture and static problem was litterally just to press the reset button on the left hand side of the front panel.

The reset button (despite my lack of faith) did actually resolve the issue. So i suggest you give it a go just in case that works for you too.

Oh I forgot to mention that when outputting the '1080 wide' format from the V+ box my V+ menu looks slightly out of focus. The menu looks more solid when set to display '1080'.

Hope that helps.

 

[Anonymous]

Ooops. Yes, your so right, blonde007.

Not sure where I got that bum information from, apologies.

In 1080wide, the V+ menus are stretched too to fill the screen, which might account for slightly out of focus look.