HDMI cable and WD TV Live device

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › HDMI cable and WD TV Live device - several questions

geekIT

1943 posts

Uber Geek

#58821 20-Mar-2010 00:37

I've just purchased a Western Digital "TV HD Media Player". This is a small box, about 120mm x 100mm x 50mm, that sits somewhere inbetween a TV set and a USB media source. The USB source can be a simple 2gb memory stick or a large external USB hard drive. Actually, it'll handle both, as there's two USB2 ports.

This versatile gadget plays music, outputs several different movie formats in very good quality, and displays photos. Basically, it does much of the stuff that a HTPC does, but simpler and cheaper.

But I digress. My problem is that I've tried to connect the box to my Bravia TV by HDMI cable (1 metre) but nothing shows up on the TV. If I use their alternative left-right audio, composite video leads I get picture and sound. But nothing with the HDMI cable.

Which brings me to my questions:
1) Is there likely to be any difference between an obscure brand HDMI cable with no logo (which is what I've used) and a cable from say, Sony? I mean, all of my various Sony device manuals say, "Only use an HDMI cable that has the official HDMI logo. Better still, make sure it's a Sony!" (even if it's six times the price, lol)

2) The Media Player is described on its box as "Full 1080p" while my two-year-old Bravia KLV-46S200A TV is only 1080i. Would that be enough to cause incompatibility? I mean, I would have thought I'd get SOME kind of picture and not just a black screen. (Obviously I've selected the 'HDMI' channel on the TV's input menu)

3) I understand that the HDMI cable format was brought out mainly to enable Digital Rights Management, ie, control of pirated media content. If I actually manage to get an HDMI connection going between my TV and the Media Player, is this likely to prevent non-kosher media being played? I mean, suppose I'd been given a 2gb USB memory stick containing copyright material and I finally manage to get my Sony TV and my Western Digital Media Player communicating with each other via a HDMI cable. How would that situation affect display of the memory stick's copyright material?

4) Finally, is HDMI picture quality markedly superior to composite video? Unfortunately the Media Player only has these two video options, so if I can't get HDMI working, then it'll have to be comp-vid.

Thanks folks, your comments would be appreciated.

Sit tibi in infernis arderet Putin, Trump and all MAGA Republicans

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80 posts

Master Geek

#309324 20-Mar-2010 08:38

geekIT: Which brings me to my questions:
1) Is there likely to be any difference between an obscure brand HDMI cable with no logo (which is what I've used) and a cable from say, Sony? I mean, all of my various Sony device manuals say, "Only use an HDMI cable that has the official HDMI logo. Better still, make sure it's a Sony!" (even if it's six times the price, lol)

Using a no name brand HDMI cable has nothing to do with the problem. An HDMI cable that costs $300 with a "NAME" will be no better than a non branded cable that costs $20.00. There are many cheap HDMI cables though that have no version printed on the packaging, the correct version though is usually printed on the outside edge of he cable lead.

I beleive your problem is just a bad cable, test the cable on another sourse, if t doesnt work you need a new cable.

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geekIT

1943 posts

Uber Geek

#309334 20-Mar-2010 10:29

Thanks 70mm, I was wondering about that. I guess that these things are turned out in their miilions so I suppose it's inevitable that the odd one or two will be duds.
Cheers :-)

Sit tibi in infernis arderet Putin, Trump and all MAGA Republicans

Loopykiwi

16 posts

Geek

#309342 20-Mar-2010 10:56

Definitely sounds like the cable, check the video output is set for Auto too, it should be thats how they come from the factory, you could try switching it to HDMI to see if that helps and make sure you have the latest firmware.

Best little device ever, I only have a 1080i tv too and it handles it no problems, youtube looks fantastic on it too. only needs wireless keyboard compatiblity and it would be perfect.

Good luck and enjoy!

Loopy

mikerussellnz

283 posts

Ultimate Geek

#309357 20-Mar-2010 12:41

Check the settings in the WDTV, I seem to remember there were some HDMI settings, perhaps it is not enabled.

Also, you can set the HDMI resolution in the settings menu to 720p or 1080i to suit your tv.

geekIT

1943 posts

Uber Geek

#309363 20-Mar-2010 13:28

Thanks again guys, good calls all. I'll check the WD output settings (after connecting by composite lol).

Actually, the cable has never been used, tho I bought it two years back. I seem to recall that I tested it then, when I was trying to get my Sony receiver set up, but finally gave up and settled for a component connection.

The box amazes me. I've been wrestling with an HTPC that I built especially for playing MKV and AVI movies, and when I finally got it under control, along comes the WD player! Sheesh :-)

Guys, what can you comment about the DRM aspect of HDMI? Been reading up since I first posted and it occurs to me that, because the HDMI cable is literally brainless (ie, no embedded chips in the wiring or plugs - well, that's what I'm assuming, anyway), any DRM control would have to be exerted at one or both ends of the transmission. In other words, the control software would have to be in the WD Media Player or the TV or both. Comments?

Sit tibi in infernis arderet Putin, Trump and all MAGA Republicans

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#309365 20-Mar-2010 13:43

geekIT:
Actually, the cable has never been used, tho I bought it two years back. I seem to recall that I tested it then, when I was trying to get my Sony receiver set up, but finally gave up and settled for a component connection.

?

I think you have answered your own question, better buy a new HDMI cable I think

geekIT

1943 posts

Uber Geek

#309367 20-Mar-2010 13:48

LOL, 70mm, just grabbed one on Rapallo. I'd have one of your Oppo players if I wasn't broke

Cheers.

Sit tibi in infernis arderet Putin, Trump and all MAGA Republicans

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#309370 20-Mar-2010 14:12

geekIT: LOL, 70mm, just grabbed one on Rapallo. I'd have one of your Oppo players if I wasn't broke

Cheers.

Ha! sell everything else, then you will only need one great player that does it all! :)

geekIT

1943 posts

Uber Geek

#309373 20-Mar-2010 14:30

You're right, and I may even do that. However, I don't own any BluRay discs, and probably won't buy any either, unless the price comes way,way down.

But your players are tempting for a dedicated toy buyer like me :-) And I love Region-Free. Got an an old Hi-Teker Reg.Free DVD player that I bought about 10 years back, and it still comes in very handy at times.

Sit tibi in infernis arderet Putin, Trump and all MAGA Republicans

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#309380 20-Mar-2010 15:17

geekIT: You're right, and I may even do that. However, I don't own any BluRay discs, and probably won't buy any either, unless the price comes way,way down.

But your players are tempting for a dedicated toy buyer like me :-) And I love Region-Free. Got an an old Hi-Teker Reg.Free DVD player that I bought about 10 years back, and it still comes in very handy at times.

BD discs are much cheaper if you buy them online on special from Amazon USA and Amazon UK. There are 200 titles at $10.00 presently, they always run specials. I buy all my tites from overseas and today its almost impossible to even look at DVD afterBlu-ray, especially when you have larger displys 50"+ or any projector.

No problem buying wrong zone discs when you have the right player

richms

26384 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#309427 20-Mar-2010 20:11

Looked at the WD box for my sister but ended up getting an asus o!play instead. Had networking in it at a lower price than the WD box. Works great but some "scene" dvd rip divx's dont play till it has been loaded in virtualdub and exported again - direct copy for the streams so no reencoding needed, just something with the avi container that it doesnt like.

And an aside, to the oppos override the disc author requests to lockout user actions?

Richard rich.ms

old3eyes

8995 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#309507 21-Mar-2010 13:31

70mm:
geekIT: You're right, and I may even do that. However, I don't own any BluRay discs, and probably won't buy any either, unless the price comes way,way down.

But your players are tempting for a dedicated toy buyer like me :-) And I love Region-Free. Got an an old Hi-Teker Reg.Free DVD player that I bought about 10 years back, and it still comes in very handy at times.

BD discs are much cheaper if you buy them online on special from Amazon USA and Amazon UK. There are 200 titles at $10.00 presently, they always run specials. I buy all my tites from overseas and today its almost impossible to even look at DVD afterBlu-ray, especially when you have larger displys 50"+ or any projector.

No problem buying wrong zone discs when you have the right player

I'm seriously looking at the BDP 80 because of region free. Looking at the pix on your website I assume it has analog 5.1 or 7.1 out??

Regards,

Old3eyes

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#309508 21-Mar-2010 13:35

old3eyes:
70mm:
geekIT: You're right, and I may even do that. However, I don't own any BluRay discs, and probably won't buy any either, unless the price comes way,way down.

But your players are tempting for a dedicated toy buyer like me :-) And I love Region-Free. Got an an old Hi-Teker Reg.Free DVD player that I bought about 10 years back, and it still comes in very handy at times.

BD discs are much cheaper if you buy them online on special from Amazon USA and Amazon UK. There are 200 titles at $10.00 presently, they always run specials. I buy all my tites from overseas and today its almost impossible to even look at DVD afterBlu-ray, especially when you have larger displys 50"+ or any projector.

No problem buying wrong zone discs when you have the right player

I'm seriously looking at the BDP 80 because of region free. Looking at the pix on your website I assume it has analog 5.1 or 7.1 out??

From the Oppo USA site:

7.1-Channel Analog Output - Individual analog 7.1-channel surround outputs are ideal to connect to a 7.1-channel or 5.1-channel surround sound system. The BDP-80 delivers an immersive surround experience. For users with a stereo sound system, the 7.1-channel analog output can be configured to down-mix the surround audio into stereo

old3eyes

8995 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#309511 21-Mar-2010 13:46

70mm:
old3eyes:
70mm:
geekIT: You're right, and I may even do that. However, I don't own any BluRay discs, and probably won't buy any either, unless the price comes way,way down.

But your players are tempting for a dedicated toy buyer like me :-) And I love Region-Free. Got an an old Hi-Teker Reg.Free DVD player that I bought about 10 years back, and it still comes in very handy at times.

BD discs are much cheaper if you buy them online on special from Amazon USA and Amazon UK. There are 200 titles at $10.00 presently, they always run specials. I buy all my tites from overseas and today its almost impossible to even look at DVD afterBlu-ray, especially when you have larger displys 50"+ or any projector.

No problem buying wrong zone discs when you have the right player

I'm seriously looking at the BDP 80 because of region free. Looking at the pix on your website I assume it has analog 5.1 or 7.1 out??

From the Oppo USA site:

7.1-Channel Analog Output - Individual analog 7.1-channel surround outputs are ideal to connect to a 7.1-channel or 5.1-channel surround sound system. The BDP-80 delivers an immersive surround experience. For users with a stereo sound system, the 7.1-channel analog output can be configured to down-mix the surround audio into stereo

Thanx..

Regards,

Old3eyes

geekIT

1943 posts

Uber Geek

#309758 22-Mar-2010 11:51

richms, re your occasional play problems: Does the Asus have, and are you using, an HDMI connection? If so, it could be that HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is being exerted through the HDMI cable.

I'm only surmising this, because nobody has yet commented on my question (309363 - above) about HDMI cables being a pipeline for DRM control systems.

I'll ask again:

"Guys, what can you comment about the DRM aspect of HDMI? Been reading up since I first posted and it occurs to me that, because the HDMI cable is literally brainless (ie, no embedded chips in the wiring or plugs - well, that's what I'm assuming, anyway), any DRM control would have to be exerted at one or both ends of the transmission. In other words, the control software would have to be in the WD Media Player or the TV or both. Comments?"

I await anyone's reply with interest.

Sit tibi in infernis arderet Putin, Trump and all MAGA Republicans

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