Denon AVR-2309ci and digital converter box (antenna)

[jc480]

Hoping someone can give me some tips on the correct settings for my Denon receiver to receive/feed signal to my TV from the digital converter box. I am using an antenna instead of cable. So instead of using a cable box, I am using a digital converter box to pick up the antenna signals and feed the TV, change the channels, etc.

I've tried multiple settings and I'm confused whether I change the TV/CBL or the EXT IN or what exactly I need to do to get the box signal to the TV via the Denon. The preliminary changes I made blocked the BD player signal which, after spending hours getting it to work, I don't want to have to do again.

Also, when how is the signal handled when I have BD player and digital box on at the same time...does one override the other? Does one need to be off for the other to work properly?

Lastly...is there a remote that will operate everything...including the digital converter box? I have like 5 different remotes and my family has no idea how to operate this stuff : ) ... which maybe is a good thing since I can make the viewing decisions!!!

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by jc480

Hoping someone can give me some tips on the correct settings for my Denon receiver to receive/feed signal to my TV from the digital converter box. I am using an antenna instead of cable. So instead of using a cable box, I am using a digital converter box to pick up the antenna signals and feed the TV, change the channels, etc.

I'd attach the converter box directly to the TV. Why get the receiver involved at all? DTV converters output analog video and audio for older sets that can't tune digital signals. You do have an analog set, yes?

I've tried multiple settings and I'm confused whether I change the TV/CBL or the EXT IN or what exactly I need to do to get the box signal to the TV via the Denon. The preliminary changes I made blocked the BD player signal which, after spending hours getting it to work, I don't want to have to do again.

This can be discussed if you decide you really want to run your DTV converter through your receiver instead of straight to the TV.

Also, when how is the signal handled when I have BD player and digital box on at the same time...does one override the other? Does one need to be off for the other to work properly?

No. They'd be different inputs on the AVR. Only one can be seen or heard at a time, of course, because there's only one output to your TV and only one feed to your speakers. But, you can turn on all of your devices and they don't interfere with each other.

Lastly...is there a remote that will operate everything...including the digital converter box? I have like 5 different remotes and my family has no idea how to operate this stuff : ) ... which maybe is a good thing since I can make the viewing decisions!!!

Get a Harmony remote. I often think the Harmony 880 is the best single piece of gear in our system. A single button turns everything on, switches to all the correct inputs, and the remote knows which device controls the volume and which device changes channels or tracks. We have four disc players (two with separate analog and digital audio outputs), a cable box, and an an HDMI switch. The video and audio is routed separately for most of them. And, my wife and kids have no problems running things. There are other universal remotes, of course. But, I highly recommend Harmony. You do all of the setups on a website and download everything to the remote over USB. No need to know any codes.

[jc480]

I don't know that the Harmony remote will work with my digital converter box. But I'll check into that, thanks.

The TV I am using is an expensive monitor...it has no tuner at all. It's only inputs are DVI and a pair of HDMI jacks.

I guess I thought I could coax to the converter than coax from converter to receiver to pass-through the channel signal. But I'm guessing I need to use analog cables from the converter to the receiver unless I buy a converter that uses HDMI...which is pricey alas.

[Blove23]

Originally Posted by jc480

I don't know that the Harmony remote will work with my digital converter box. But I'll check into that, thanks.

The TV I am using is an expensive monitor...it has no tuner at all. It's only inputs are DVI and a pair of HDMI jacks.

I guess I thought I could coax to the converter than coax from converter to receiver to pass-through the channel signal. But I'm guessing I need to use analog cables from the converter to the receiver unless I buy a converter that uses HDMI...which is pricey alas.

For real you should have bought the Pioneer 6020. Maybe you can use your receiver as some sort of converter box.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by jc480

I don't know that the Harmony remote will work with my digital converter box. But I'll check into that, thanks.

The TV I am using is an expensive monitor...it has no tuner at all. It's only inputs are DVI and a pair of HDMI jacks.

I guess I thought I could coax to the converter than coax from converter to receiver to pass-through the channel signal. But I'm guessing I need to use analog cables from the converter to the receiver unless I buy a converter that uses HDMI...which is pricey alas.

I guess I don't understand what box you have and what your TV needs. Are you talking about one of the DTV boxes that tunes digital signals and converts them to analog? And, is your monitor analog or digital? I was assuming you had an analog TV and were using the DTV box to convert the digital signals to analog. But, your monitor only has digital inputs. So, maybe it's not analog after all.

If you go to the Harmony (Logitech) website, you can enter the model number of any device you want to control and see whether it's supported. There are tens of thousands of devices in the database. You can also use the Harmony learning function to download controls from the original remote.

EDIT: From what I see in your Denon 2309 thread, I am guessing your monitor is a lovely new Kuro, not an analog set. So, what kind of converter box are you using for OTA signals? You don't want a converter box, which takes beautiful HD signals and turns them into 480i SD for older TVs. You want an external digital tuner with an HDMI output. You'll run that to the receiver which will process the audio for DD 5.1, when available, and feed the HD video to your display.

If you really do plan to use a DTV converter box, you will need to run composite video (a standard video cable - the yellow one) from the converter to the AVR. The receiver should be able to upconvert that over HDMI to your display. But, the video will be 4:3 and look pretty bad. You'll also need to run stereo audio (red/white) cables to the receiver for sound.

In the end, that approach would be such a waste of a beautiful new HD display and a 7.1 audio system. Get the right kind of tuner so that you can watch HDTV with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

[jc480]

Thanks for the feedback, BIslander.

Yes, I've come to the same conclusion. I was under the assumption that I could use a coax OUT from my converter to the receiver for audio / video signals. Wrong. I had to use component cables and the video quality is horrid.

So, as you said, I need to find a box that takes my over the air signals and I can pipe them to my receiver via an HDMI port. Damn things are $150 plus.

Oh well : ) On the plus side, the video quality of an antenna HD signal surpasses what I was getting from Comcast.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by jc480

Thanks for the feedback, BIslander.

Yes, I've come to the same conclusion. I was under the assumption that I could use a coax OUT from my converter to the receiver for audio / video signals. Wrong. I had to use component cables and the video quality is horrid.

So, as you said, I need to find a box that takes my over the air signals and I can pipe them to my receiver via an HDMI port. Damn things are $150 plus.

Oh well : ) On the plus side, the video quality of an antenna HD signal surpasses what I was getting from Comcast.

You have an HDTV right?

I have this on top of my entertainment center cabinet and have it going through the coax jack on the back of my HDTV, then have optical out from the HDTV to the receiver. This little antenna with its included signal booster picks up all the digital and HD signals in my area quite nicely.

But my HDTV has a built-in HD tuner. If you don't have that in your HDTV, then you need a separate HD tuner, not the one that the gov't coupons are good for.

[browndk26]

Return the monitor and get a TV with a built in tuner.

Why not get basic cable and a HD DVR? 30-40 dollars a month depending on where you live. All locals should be in HD.

[jc480]

Originally Posted by browndk26

Return the monitor and get a TV with a built in tuner.

Why not get basic cable and a HD DVR? 30-40 dollars a month depending on where you live. All locals should be in HD.

60" Pioneer elite with a tuner is nearly $5K. I paid under $3K for my monitor.

12 months of basic cable would be $400-$500. Antenna, booster and the new digital ATSC tuner I just ordered come to about $160 in cost. I get more channels and the quality of the signal is much better than cable.



I don't use DVR. If I did I would buy that one that Dish makes for $250.00.

[Blove23]

Originally Posted by jc480

60" Pioneer elite with a tuner is nearly $5K. I paid under $3K for my monitor.

12 months of basic cable would be $400-$500. Antenna, booster and the new digital ATSC tuner I just ordered come to about $160 in cost. I get more channels and the quality of the signal is much better than cable.



I don't use DVR. If I did I would buy that one that Dish makes for $250.00.

With all do respect you bought a monitor, not a tv and you want all the television functions. Spend that extra cash for that quality picture. In your prior post you stated that you would spend more money on the picture than you would audio.
So in reality, what did you really accomplish with purchasing this monitor? I believe before it all said and done you will be spending the same amount of money if you just bought the Pioneer 6020 and losing 2 extra hdmi inputs.
Hey enjoy your monitor, because I don't believe in buyers remorse: Just User Error!