{"id":1615,"date":"2009-11-13T21:04:46","date_gmt":"2009-11-14T02:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.soundadviceblog.com\/?p=1615"},"modified":"2009-11-22T20:10:09","modified_gmt":"2009-11-23T01:10:09","slug":"sound-advice-column-signal-disruption-and-hdmi-handshake-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.soundadviceblog.com\/?p=1615","title":{"rendered":"Sound Advice Column: Signal Disruption and HDMI Handshake"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Question:<\/strong> I am experiencing a frustrating situation with my audio\/video system, described by my cable provider as a “handshake” issue.<\/p>\n

I have an Onkyo TX-SR606 A\/V receiver, a Sony Blu-ray player and a Sony Bravia HDTV. While watching HDTV from my cable box I occasionally lose the audio\/video signal for four to five seconds. There is no issue on non-HD signals, and some stations seem to be more affected than others. Blu-ray is not affected.<\/p>\n

I use HDMI cables to connect my cable box and Blu-ray player to the Onkyo receiver, and another HDMI cable to connect the receiver to the TV.<\/p>\n

The cable provider downplays the importance of the HDMI connection, and at their suggestion I have connected a second set of cables (component video red\/blue\/green, plus an audio cable.) I don’t believe the component video picture quality looks as good as HDMI.<\/p>\n

Do you have any suggestions to eliminate the signal loss? How can I avoid these problems?<\/p>\n

– RICH M.,<\/span> Moon, PA<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong> What you are experiencing is a problem with the “HDMI handshake” that occurs when using HDMI connections. HDMI connections incorporate HDCP, short for “High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection.” HDCP is an anti-piracy measure implemented by software and hardware manufacturers. Unfortunately HDCP often affects innocent consumers by causing viewing disruption and operational headaches.<\/p>\n

Each of your components (receiver, cable box, Blu-ray player, and HDTV) is HDCP-compliant. When a signal is sent over HDMI, the components communicate with each other to ensure all the devices are legal and compatible before allowing the audio\/video signal to pass through. This protocol is referred to as the “HDMI handshake.”<\/p>\n

If a successful handshake is not established, you will (usually) get a warning message saying you need HDCP compliant equipment, and the picture and sound will be disrupted. Because the red\/blue\/green component connections are not digital they are unaffected, but as you have seen, HDMI offers superior picture quality.<\/p>\n

Using the proper turn-on sequence can help establish a solid HDMI handshake. First turn on the TV, let it run for a few seconds, then turn on the receiver, give it a few seconds to boot up, then turn on the cable box and Blu-ray player. If the signal is cutting out while viewing, switching back and forth between TV or receiver inputs will often re-establish the handshake.<\/p>\n

Given the problem is with only the cable box I suspect your provider is doing a poorer job with its signals and equipment, especially if its agents told you to go component connection instead. I would ask them for an updated cable box.<\/p>\n

I know of no components that are 100 percent free of handshake issues. It is unpredictable, and components seem to have varying degrees of handshake issues when used together.<\/p>\n

For example, in my home, one satellite box has occasional issues with my Anthem AVM 50 processor and a Sony projector, but an identical satellite box in another room works flawlessly with an Onkyo TX-SR606 receiver and a Samsung plasma TV. To give you an idea of how unpredictable it can be, in the latter system, when I turn off the TV, it stops the Samsung Blu-ray player because the HDCP signal path has been changed. However, turning off the TV does not stop the Panasonic Blu-ray connected to the same receiver!<\/p>\n

Questions? Email Don<\/a><\/p>\n


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