Emile Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Completely puzzled; hoping you "experts" can shed some light on my problem OK; have my cable box connected to TV via "input 1," and my AVR via HDMI to TV "input 2." (Did this as we watch TV 95% of the time without using the AVR, plus the wife gets "confused" by the AVR ) Also, TV optical is attached to AVR, in case we want "better" sound. Was playing around and found an optical out on my cable box. So; took "off" the TV toslink and connected it to the cable box. Works fine, BUT - very strangely - TV and box remotes NO LONGER WORK; cannot change inputs and even power off does NOT work NO CLUE And ... assume this optical only gives me PCM 2.0 and NOT 5.1 surround. Therefore, second question is can I use a HDMI splitter and feed both my TV and AVR with this - giving me full 5.1 sound. Or would I have the same (communication/handshake ?) problems? Yes, can try it, but would like advise first as any "cabling" changes are a nightmare. Any splitters you guys/gals recommend? Thanks and Cheers, Emile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homatose Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Like this? I have this one, it works OK https://www.amazon.com/OREI-UltraHD-HDMI-Splitter-Port/dp/B07J2Q9NPH 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted October 24, 2022 Author Share Posted October 24, 2022 5 minutes ago, homatose said: Like this? Thanks ... first one I have seen with all connectors in the back Add-on ... Oops; NO audio on channel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted October 29, 2022 Author Share Posted October 29, 2022 OK; got a StarTech ST122HD4KU splitter. One HDMI cable direct to TV, and one to my AVR (Onkyo TX-RZ810). But AVR still says "input PCM 2.0 48kHz, output Direct 2.0." When I try to change listening modes the AVR responds with "not available." Any suggestions? Thanks, Emile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1291 Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Emile just punch it using 2-channel. You're over-thinking this again! 😂 😂 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winglet Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) I’m not understanding why you need a hdmi splitter. Does your tv and avr support arc (audio return channel)? If so, you can connect the avr to the hdmi arc input on the tv. Your cable box to any other tv input. The hdmi between the tv and avr will carry any audio input to the tv (your cable box or over the air broadcasts for example) back to the avr. Or.. If it was working fine before any changes, just return to that setup and use the tv digital optical out connected to the avr. It is more than capable of transmitting 5.1 dolby digital format. Only the highest data rate formats require hdmi (atmos and dts hd for example I think). Edited October 30, 2022 by winglet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 15 hours ago, winglet said: I’m not understanding why you need a hdmi splitter. Hardly ever use the AVR with the TV (and the wife gets confused by all the AVR inputs) ... that's why I connected it directly to the cable box (with TV optical to AVR in case I wanted "better" sound. Worked fine but never thought I was getting 5.1 surround from the TV. Therefore; to get 5.1 sound I used a splitter to also connect the cable box via hdmi to the AVR. Works great, but can "only find" PCM 2.0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winglet Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Emile said: Hardly ever use the AVR with the TV (and the wife gets confused by all the AVR inputs) ... that's why I connected it directly to the cable box (with TV optical to AVR in case I wanted "better" sound. Worked fine but never thought I was getting 5.1 surround from the TV. Therefore; to get 5.1 sound I used a splitter to also connect the cable box via hdmi to the AVR. Works great, but can "only find" PCM 2.0. Is the content you’re watching on the cable box being broadcast in more than 2 channels? Avr can’t input 5.1 if the cable box is only sending it 2.0 data. It can however use it’s processing to ‘create’ the additional channels. Also, I remember reading some cable boxes required using optical to transmit 5.1. Not sure this is still the case with newer boxes. I get connecting the cable box directly to the tv and not the avr for simplicity. I have one of my parents tvs set up this way because the cable box has hdmi handshake issues when connected thru the avr. If your avr and tv support hdmi arc tho, you do not need a splitter. Edited October 30, 2022 by winglet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 55 minutes ago, winglet said: Is the content you’re watching on the cable box being broadcast in more than 2 channels? Haha; unknown. Provider is Spectrum and on Google it says HD content (on movies) WITH surround sound. But never found any 5.1 sound yet, even with their "on demand movies" - still searching Or it could be my cable box as I have an older (Cisco 8742HDC) box - bought it since it has PIP and using a cable card with it. To recap; cable box is connected to TV via HDMI and TV to AVR via optical - pretty sure it only gives me 2.0. So; used a splitter to feed HDMI to AVR assuming THAT would give me 5.1 - and sofar only 2.0. Yes; I know it is (?) a "redundant" setup. Just did that so my wife can just turn on the cable + TV, without having to bother with "setting" the AVR. Haha; she is a doctor; NOT a technician Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winglet Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 (edited) I think your issue is the cable box. Quick google search says it can output dd 5.1 on the hdmi and/or optical. Dig around the cisco setup menus and see if you can configure the audio out to allow this. https://www.avsforum.com/threads/cisco-8742-and-dd-5-1.1405001/ Edited October 30, 2022 by winglet 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Have known very few cable boxes (stb) that could independently do more than one thing at a time, and do it well. Good troubleshooting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 46 minutes ago, winglet said: Dig around the cisco setup menus and see if you can configure the audio out to allow this. Yeah, AWESOME, and thanks for the link ... will try "next week" when the wife is out of town Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1291 Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 Quite the read guys but did you notice this??? 48 minutes ago, Emile said: will try "next week" when the wife is out of town Me thinks @Emilecould quite possibly be trying to hide those "other" channels from his wife. Or is it me just thinking outside the box again??? 😂😂😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emile Posted October 30, 2022 Author Share Posted October 30, 2022 11 minutes ago, Dave1291 said: trying to hide those "other" channels from his wife Nah ... she just always "forgets" how to work the AVR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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