The 990's on-screen menu works with every input except DVI. The OSD "pop-up" (one or two lines of text reporting volume level or input) is overlayed on the source video only for composite and s-video. Component inputs do not get that OSD "pop-up," but they do get the setup menu (it is shown on a blue background, completely replacing the source video). Since the OSD is overlayed onto the composite or s-video sources before they are transcoded to component, the OSD still shows up for those inputs even if the output from the 990 is component.

The weekend is over and I fiddled with the set up. The only way I got to display the composite/S-video sources as well as the OSD was connecting a S-video cable from the 'monitor out' and audio feed from the 'video recording out 1' to the TV. However, this is still somewhat unsatisfying as the HD component HD signal from the XBox gets demoted to S-video. If there are no further suggestions on how to fix my problem my question is if I should contact the Outlaws directly?

Benson,

It sounds like it is working the way the unit is intended to. You shouldn't get the onscreen display through the component or DVI outputs. You can still access the setup menu overlay via component.

That does not sound right, Benson, although I may be misunderstanding your problem. If you connect a composite or s-video source to the 990 and set that input to use the format connected, then the component video output should get the input signal and that output will include access to both the 990's menu and to the "pop-up" OSD information. Likewise, if you connect a component video source to the 990 and set the input to use that source, you will get that video through the component output and that output will included access to the 990's menu.

Are you trying to get both video and audio connected to the TV? I ask because you mention an audio feed to the TV, and there are some wholly separate considerations there.

Gonk,

As I stated above, my setup menu does not appear over component from the 990. It appears the setup menu displays as a 480i signal over component feed which, in my case, is not compatible with HD only component inputs on my TV. I assume it is 480i because it won't display on 480p and up inputs. Am I wrong about this? I would really like not having to switch to another input to see the menu.

The setup menu and the transcoding from s-video and composite will be 480i, which would explain why all of those are giving you trouble. Do you have another component input on your TV that you can try?

EDIT: Sorry, Capt - I got a bit turned around this morning, got your question confused with Benson's question from yesterday. I found your previous post regarding your HDTV's input configuration. Sorry about that - I don't see a way around having to switch inputs on the TV to get the menu.

Bummer. Thats what I thought. Well, sounds like Benson is having a bigger issue than that anyway. I just thought I might be able to help him out by starting from ground zero and taking it step by step. If he has the setup menu now through s vid, at least he knows that works. Next step would be to confirm the input configuration as component for the X box, hook up the component feeds (both monitor out to TV and X box in on 990) and let her rip.

Seems like I have to accept the fact that the set up menue has to be operated through the S-video (480i) signal. As Capt says 'Bummer' as I need to switch inputs. However, I won't be watching the menue for hours at a time several days a week. Now for the XBox hook up details:

XBox to 990: Monster HD cable with RCA video signal (into COMP1) and optical fiber audio (into OPTICAL2).
990 to TV: HD-TV cable (audio and video [RCA]) from 990 HD out to HD-only component input (audio and video [RCA]).
XBox settings: widescreen (16:9), HD-signal [80p or 1080i])

Am I so mistaken to expect correct HD signal display on the TV? Let me know if you guys need more information. Thanks to everyone so far for their help!

These might be a dumb & basic questions but:

1. Does your X box display over the S video connection properly (but not HD)?

2. Have you configured the video input (Video1, Video2 etc) that your X box is using in the setup menu of the 990 to be COMP1 ? If you have not, I can walk you through this.

3. Are your 990 monitor out cables to the TV really component cables? RCA and component video cables are NOT the same thing, just the jacks. Make sure you have 3 lead component video cables and not just a three lead RCA cable where one is COMPOSITE video and the others are stereo RCA.

I am not quite sure why you are running an audio feed to the TV. Maybe you want the option of having X box sound from the TV speakers, but this is another issue and sound not affect the video.

I'm curious about the 990 to TV connection. The 990's component monitor output (the green-blue-red RCA jacks labeled "MON OUT" and located next to the RS-232 port) should be connected to the TV's component input. The component output and input are video only - they carry no audio. If you want audio to also go to the TV, you would probably want to either use one of the digital audio outputs (assuming your TV has a digital input) or use an audio output such as the AUX or TAPE record outputs (located beneath the OPR/SVC switch, which is directly below the MON OUT).

I'm also curious why you are sending audio to your TV - with the digital audio from the XBox, I'd think it would be preferable to let the 990 (and whatever amp and speakers are fed from it) handle the audio.