[Long Duk Dong]

Good evenining, everyone.

I have recently purchased a Philips DVDR3400 recorder to go with my Vizio HDTV and Comcast Cable/DVR, and for the life of me I can't get the connections to work. I bought the Philips 3400 specifically because it had an HDMI output connection (assuming this would give me the best picture quality when running my cable through the recorder), but all I'm getting is a scrambled picture.

My current attempt at connecting all the pieces consists of:

*Component video connection from Comcast Cable/DVR to recorder

*HDMI connection from recorder to TV

While the sound seems to be working fine, I get a scrambled picture when trying to play my cable channels through the recorder.

What obvious step am I missing here? :confused:

Thanks in advance for the assistance.

[HVAC888]

Your connections are correct. Try connecting recorder to TV using standard cables (RCAs, s-video). Still a scrambled picture?

Try playing a DVD instead of Comcast. Scrambled picture?

If you can get a higher quality HDMI cable, try that.

If a DVD still gives a scrambled picture, HDCP is probably broken somewhere. You should also check if the recorder's and tv's HDMI are HDCP compatible.

[Long Duk Dong]

Your connections are correct. Try connecting recorder to TV using standard cables (RCAs, s-video). Still a scrambled picture?

Try playing a DVD instead of Comcast. Scrambled picture?

If you can get a higher quality HDMI cable, try that.

If a DVD still gives a scrambled picture, HDCP is probably broken somewhere. You should also check if the recorder's and tv's HDMI are HDCP compatible.

Thanks so much for the response, HVAC.

Here are the results of my fiddling around last night:

1) DVDs played absolutely fine with my original set-up (as outlined in my original post).

2) When I changed from my component cables to an S-video cable from the cable to the recorder, I did actually get a picture... but with a few issues. All of my HD channels were letterbox, rather than filling the entire screen. No amount of fiddling around with the ratio settings on the recorder seemed to change this. More importantly, I couldn't access my Comcast DVR at all, which is troublesome because my main reason for purchasing the recorder was to move recordings from my DVR to discs.

I'm unsure of why the component cables from the cable box to the recorder produced such a scrambled image while the S-video hook up seemed to work better, but I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.

I hope this long winded explanation makes some amount of sense. Any additional input would be greatly appreciated.

[HVAC888]

S-video connections only support 480i maximum, that's why HD is letterboxed.

Try setting the cable box to output 480i or 480p only, and check HD channels and non-HD channels.

Connect the cable box directly to the TV using components. If a HD picture and sound comes in fine, then it could be the recorder inputs that are limited to probably 480i or 480p.

The HDMI output on the Philips is probably 480p max. So that could be problem, again handshaking protocols are not agreeing with each other.

Check your TV's HDMI accepts at least 720p/1080i. Check your TV's component video input accepts 720p/1080i.

[HVAC888]

Also, check the Philips site if there is a firmware upgrade available.

[Long Duk Dong]

S-video connections only support 480i maximum, thats why HD is letterboxed.

Try setting the cable box to output 480i or 480p only, and check HD channels and non-HD channels.

Connect the cable box directly to the tv using components. If a HD picture and sound comes in fine, then it could be the recorder inputs that are limited to probably 480i or 480p.

The HDMI output on the Philips is probably 480p max. So that could be problem, again handshaking protocols are not agreeing with each other.

Check your TV's HDMI accepts at least 720p/1080i. Check your TV's component video input accepts 720p/1080i.

Can't thank you enough for your help, HVAC. After trying a few of your suggestions and quite a bit of fiddling around I managed to get an acceptable set up. I'm splitting my cable feed so I can still run a direct HDMI line into my TV and watch that for the majority of my viewing. Then I'm running the S-video connection through the recorder and another HDMI to my TV.

Bottom line - it seems to be working! THANK YOU!