HDMI Port Blocked!!!!

Okay, so here is the deal:

Hooked up COMCAST cable about 3 weeks ago. I have a Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC DVR. I hooked everything up using the HDMI cable. Worked great...until last night. The HDMI cable was pulled from the STB. When I plugged it back in I got the "Your HDMI Port is Blocked - Copy Protection Error". I exit out and get the "Your HDTV does not support HDCP - please use RGB cables to watch TV". Why would it suddenly NOT support it? I had a Comcast Tech out today who knew nothing. I have tried disconnecting, powering off, powering on - in every imaginable order. I even called Scientific Atlanta and they had no answer. Now I do not have any available RGB ports left on the TV, so that is not an option. How can I get this working?! (I am using a Samsung LN-R328W LCD TV [only 1 HDMI port]).

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Sounds like you have an HDCP handshake issue between the 2 devices. Strange that the compliance signal between the 2 worked before and not now. I know you said you " have tried disconnecting, powering off, powering on - in every imaginable order", so i assume you tried this.

Unplug both devices for about 5 minutes. Connect the HDMI cable. Plug both components in at the same time and then power them on at the same time. Double check the STB video settings for HDMI. If that does not fix it, I would demand a new STB.. Good luck..

HDMI connections are problematic. When the cable got pulled out from the STB it probably damaged the connection port (bent pins) so that is does not make a complete connection. Another STB should fix the problem but it could be the cable itself. You should always have an extra HDMI cable so go over to monoprice.com and get an extra if you don't already have one. If you do, try it first to see if that resolves the problem.

So Comcast just came by. They brought a spare HDMI cable and replacement box. Still no luck. Any other suggestions? He claimed that Comcast sent out new HD signals over the past 3 weeks and have been integrating it slowly. He says that the box got the new signal and now it will not work. Is this true?