OTL HDMI cables

[Brian K. White]

On 12/21/2011 5:36 PM, Richard Kreiss wrote:
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com
> [mailto:filepro-list-bounces+rkreiss=verizon.net at lists.celestial.com] On
> Behalf Of Brian K. White
> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 3:33 PM
> To: filepro-list at lists.celestial.com
> Subject: Re: OTL HDMI cables
>
> On 12/21/2011 11:28 AM, Richard Kreiss wrote:
>> Had a problem with my home AV system.  On Sunday the picture and sound
>> signal using an HDMI cable failed.
>>
>> After testing almost everything and finally connecting the cable box
>> and DVD player back to the set itself, everything worked.  This
>> indicated to me that the HDMI connections on the set were working.
>>
>> This A.M. I reconnected the Sound bar and found that it still did not
> work.
>> Finally I replaced the Output HDMI from the sound bar cable to the set
>> and everything worked.
>>
>> Has anyone of you experienced an HDMI cable failing?  This one failed
>> after
>> 13 months of use.  I checked the outside of the cable and it was not
>> damaged.
>>
>> Richard Kreiss
>
> No but it's not uncommon for various devices to have flaky hdmi circuits
> that fail after a while or are flaky from day one or are flaky but only
> between particular other boxes or are flaky only at high resolutions or are
> flaky when everything is set to automatic but are ok when one or more
> devices are locked to one resolution / one audio setting.
>
> I was going to recount all the little glitches I've had and my brothers had
> and the stuff I googled up about my model of cable box and it's known
> issues, and my surround amp, and my brothers different cable box and
> different surround amp, and tv, both our ps3's etc... But basically it just
> turns out that almost every device can have some quirk and some thing you
> just have to live with or work around (by not using hdmi or by locking the
> settings instead of auto, or by not sending the hdmi through the surround
> amp for switching, etc..) or get your device warranty replaced or repaired.
>
> Google your particular devices for hdmi problems. Some will have known
> issues and workarounds, some will have firmware updates, some will have
> known issues that are warranty replaceable without much contest.
> Sometimes the issues take years to become certain because either the issue
> is infrequent or the issue is because a piece of hardware starts out ok but
> then fails after a while.
>
> It's a drag. The magic single cable that makes everything simple isn't and
> doesn't.
>
> The one answer may be to use a Logitech Harmony One Programmable Remote
> which will allow me to turn on the Sony Sound bar and control the volume
> there plus access many of the settings available on its own remote.  I
> already have two of these and they are easy to program.  Load the software
> on a computer, if not already installed.  Plug in the remote, enter the
> model numbers of equipment to be controlled and the program will find and
> download the c remote settings.  For the special keys on the remote, you can
> "teach" the harmony function and label it.  You then simply tell the remote
> the sequence to use in turning on the equipment and what controls what.
> i.e. Volume, TV or Receiver/surround sound system.  To do the job right may
> take about 30 minutes but it is worth it to have only one remote to use.
>
> This is not an inexpensive solution but they work well and are easy to
> reprogram.
>
> Richard

Preaching to the choir. I have one and it's programmed to the gills and 
controls everything and I hand tweaked various buttons over time as I 
discovered things I wished for during usage. I had to get a ir-bluetooth 
adapter to allow the harmony to control my ps3 fully for netflix, 
controls the ancient laserdisc that didn't come with any remote from 
ebay, the fan, the air conditioner. There is an IR controlled light 
switch/dimmer and when I install that it'll dim the lights too.

The whole concept of programming an "activity" is such a convenience 
once you have them programmed in.

And all topped off with a rechargeable remote with recharger base so you 
never have dead batteries.

And further topped off with a pretty small candy bar form that's easy to 
hold and and operate all with one hand one thumb. Has good enough button 
distinction-by-feel that you usually don't have to try to look at the 
buttons in the dark. My 720 does have more than half it's buttons and 
labels neither illuminated nor glow in the dark which usually drives me 
crazy but it's been ok in practice somehow with this one. Maybe just 
because all the weird functions that you would need to see the label to 
find, are in the on-screen programmable buttons and only the really 
common ones are unlit, and all of these are pretty distinct by feel.

After some time of discovering programming tweaks and missing or 
too-out-of-the-way buttons, I haven't had to touch any of the ... 8! 
other remotes in many months.

I hate to gush but it's one of the few products I own that doesn't piss 
me off. ;)

-- 
bkw