If you have an Onkyo 805/875, please read...

[Lord Vader]

I really don't know where to put this, so if a mod wishes to move it, please feel free to do so. I posted this in the AVS forum under the Onkyo 805 thread, but I don't know how many people also have HR20-700s and HR10-250s like I do. So this is kind of a long shot.

I'm stumped here. I've tried many things but can't get this additional component connected. Here's my current setup and what I'm trying to do...

* BD30 DVD player connected to HDMI-1
* HR10-250 HD TIVO connected to HDMI-2
* HR20-700 connected to HDMI-3
(These three pass video/audio through HDMI out, and the 805 HDMI-OUT goes to my Samsung 6189's HDMI-IN.)
* HDVR2 DVR connected to "Game/TV" composite inputs, with its audio connected via digital optical to "GAME/TV" OPTICAL IN-1.
* CD player connected via digital optical to OPTICAL IN-2.

No more OPTICAL INs are available.

I'm looking to add an additional HR20-700 DVR and use component cables, so I connected these from the HR20-700's COMPONENT OUT to COMPONENT-IN1 on the 805 (a.k.a. DVD, which shouldn't matter because these INs are assignable). Then the 805's COMPONENT MONITOR OUT would go to my Sammy 6189's COMPONENT IN-1.

However, when I switch to my Sammy's COMPONENT-1, there's no video signal.

Now, for the audio portion of this. I'm trying to connect the digital audio to a coax in. I've got all three DIGITAL COAXIAL INs available. I'd try to connect the additional HR20-700 to the "DVD" DIGITAL COAXIAL IN-1, but when I try to assign this via the 805's Input/Output assignment menu, I'm unable to do this. There seems to be a conflict. What if I switch the additional HR20-700's component cables to COMPONENT VIDEO IN-2 instead of IN-1 (DVD)? I can't see how that would matter if they're all assignable anyway.

It might be less confusing if I assume nothing's been connected or assigned; thereby asking for suggestions on how I can connect this additional DVR from scratch and properly assign its inputs/outputs. I'm sure this is easier than I'm making it, but I have to admit I'm stuck.

If I'm confusing you guys, I apologize. I'm usually pretty good at figuring these things out, but this one's baffling my aged mind. :p

My HDMI Inputs are as follows:

DVD: HDMI IN-1
VCR/DVR (HR10-250 HD TIVO): HDMI IN-2
CBL/SAT (HR20-700 HD DVR): HDMI IN-3

Component Video Input Shows:

DVD: ---
VCD/DVR (HR10-250): ---
CBL/SAT (HR20-700): ---
GAME/TV (HDVR2): ---
AUX 1: ---
AUX 2: ---

Digital (Audio) Input Shows:

DVD: HDMI-1
VCR/DVR (HR10-250): HDMI-2
CBL/SAT (HR20-700): HDMI-3
GAME/TV (HDVR2): OPT-1
AUX 1: ---
AUX 2: FRONT
TAPE: ---
TUNER: ---
CD: OPT-2
PHONO: ---

[ibroussard]

I bought an 875 a couple of months ago. I have two D* HD DVRs and a DVD hooked up to it, all using HDMI inputs. I use the 875's HDMI out to get the video to my Sony TV.

Why are you switching your Sammy input to component-1? Although I don't have any sources hooked up via component inputs, from what I can see in the Onkyo manual, if HDMI is set to YES, all video input sources are upconverted and pushed out via the HDMI out to the TV. With that said, according to the diagram on page 28 of the 805/875 manual, what you are doing (switching to component-1 on the TV) looks like it would also work but it is unnecessary to do so. I guess you may want to do that if you have a better upconverter downstream from the 805?

Since all my sources use HDMI, I don't use any audio connections so I can't offer any specific ideas on that.

If it were me, I would probably disconnect all input sources completely. Then I would try to figure out how to get just the new HR20-700 working using the component input(s) and audio inputs before hooking up any of the other stuff.

Good luck.

Ira

[Lord Vader]

Well, as of right now--with thanks to Scarecrow on AVS--I've got it working. I assigned this HR20-700 to AUX 1 and assigned the digital audio coax 1 to AUX 1 as well. The component video connection is currently being passed through HDMI; however, the 805 converts everything to 720p, which means 1080i output will be DOWNconverted to 720p; 480 will be upconverted to 720p. The latter I can live with, but the former isn't preferable--or does it really matter?

IF I do decide to eventually go through the COMPONENT MONITOR OUT instead, thereby keeping 1080i, I'd have to figure out how to switch my TV's inputs, which would make programming my Harmony 880 for this more problematic.

[ibroussard]

I'm far from an expert and don't have "the expert eye" that some people have, but most of what I hear is that most people can't see a difference between 720p and 1080i. I have also heard that some "experts" say that 720p is preferable to 1080i for video with a lot of action in it. I'm sure a lot depends on the converter, screen size, and viewing distance.

With the 875, everything is upconverted to 1080p using the supposed state of the art Reon video chip in the 875. I'm not convinced that the picture is any better than if I went straight to my Sony 60" 1080p LCD RPTV and the upconversion was done there. However, all the experts say it should be, so it must be.

I must admit that it is nice to only turn the TV on/off and control all the switching thru the AV receiver.

Glad to hear you got your original problem resolved.

Regards,
Ira

[joed32]

Why not have the component cable go straight to the TV so it won't be converted to 720p? I'm using the 705 with 5 HD DVRs and 1 DVD player.

[Lord Vader]

I wonder how difficult that would be, then, to include in my Harmony 880's activity setup for this device. To what input would my Onkyo 805 then be switched?

[vipersl]

I know that this maybe an old message, but I have very close to the same setup as you do. I do not have the Onkyo 805 sending the component signal from my HR10-250 through the HDMI output since I want the picture to be outputted in 1080i and that is only available using the component output on the Onkyo 805.

I have a Mitsubishi LCD and I believe the method of changing inputs is relatively the same. The Harmony 880 allows for you to change the inputs when you set up an activity to watch the HR-10. You just have to let the remote know how many inputs have to be cycled through to allow you to be on the correct input for the HR-10. You can also have the remote remember the input it is on last so that it will cycle through again to the correct input the next time you change devices within another activity even if you turn the TV off in between changing activities / devices.

There has been times that I needed to go back through the on-screen menus on the Onkyo when I install a new item and when I am assigning the input for the device I have to select the device input, change it, and then put it back for the Onkyo to accept the input. From then on I never have a problem with the Onkyo accepting and using the correct input for any devices.

I imagine you may have already fixed these issues, and may have changed out the HR-10 for an HR20/21. But if you have any questions, I do have the setup you originally wanted to have, working for me at this moment.