I am having an issue with the DVI video switching on my 990.

I have my DVD player connected via DVI/HDMI cable for video and optical for audio. I have my HD Cable box connected the same way to the DVI 2 input.

When I switch between channels the DVD video/audio works perfectly. The cable box's audio works fine but I never get the video. When I pull out the HDMI side of the cable to the cable box and plug it back in I get both video and sound. This tells me I have all the right channels assigned. For some reason it doesn't recognize the signal comming from the cable box. I replaced the cable box with a second dvd player and had the same problem so I don't think it is an issue with the cable box.

Sorry for the long email. Has anyone experienced a similar problem or have any ideas for a solution.

Thanks

What you describe sounds a lot like an HDCP handshake problem, which often gives cable boxes grief (mine will sometimes flash an error message that HDCP handshake can't be made even while it displays the video feed below the error message, even when the box is connected directly to the HDTV). If you turn the projector off and back on, does the cable box's video come back?

Thanks for the reply, I think you are right. I was just reading in the avsforum about handshake problems. I have never heard of this before.

If I turn the cable box of and on the video reappears. Is there any permanant resolution to this or do I have to just deal with turning stuff off and on again?

Some devices are smarter about establishing HDCP handshakes than others - and unfortunately, cable boxes have seen the majority of cases that weren't so smart about it. Short of swapping the box out for a different (newer) model, probably the only solution is to turn the box off and back on.

wrglyvill, I have the H20 HD Directv box and I'm having the same problem only no matter what I do, I never get video.

No matter what I do, I cannot get a successful HDCP handshake between the 990, the projector, HD DTV & the DVD. To get my system back up, I had to revert back to component video and optical audio.

After reading many forums surrounding HDCP handshake problems, I now understand why Outlaw decided to "KISS" (Keep It Simple Stupid) HDMI goodbye.

I'm open for any suggestions/recommendations

If the problem is that the AE900U can't establish an HDCP handshake through the 990's switch, then it's likely that no DVI/HDMI switch you get will work - you may be limited to a single DVI or HDMI source with that projector. I'd lean toward going HDMI for the DV-79 and letting the DirecTV go component.

Exactly what I was thinking. Now the question is, are there better Component cables than others or are they all pretty much the same (i.e. the standard ones supplied with equipment or Monster, Audio Research, Blue Jean, Better Cables, etc)?

I've had excellent results with Blue Jeans' component cables - and they offer them at what seems to be a very reasonable price.

For cables I would also suggest monoprice.com. I was a littly weary of the quality when I saw the prices but I took a chance and ordered. The quality is excellent and the prices are great.

Bluejeans is great too. I have my whole system wired with their 10G speaker wire.

I's ashame that many uninformed consumers are paying hudreds of dollars for cables that they can get at a fraction of the price with a little research.

I learned my lessons reading great forums like this.