Help with RCA MM36100 and Directv HD

Hi,
I am new to this forum. I am trying to find a solution to a problem I am having. I am trying to connect a Directv H21 high def receiver to my OLD RCA TV mentioned in the subject line. The problem I am having is that my TV can only do HD through the SVGA connector on the back of the TV. The satellite receiver only has component video out and HDMI. I tried connecting a cable that is component video on one side and SVGA on the other but it didn't work. The component video inputs on the back of the TV only go to 480. Directv had no solution for the problem, they told me to get a new TV. RCA had no solution as well. I am not sure if I am having an analog/digital compatibilty issue. RCA informed me that the SVGA2 input is a digital input. I am not sure what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated as the TV works great and has a great picture.
BTW, the exisiting Samsung HD receiver works great but will not pick up Directv's new HD programming including NFL Sunday ticket in HD.
Thanks,
Andrew

I think you are out of luck. According to the specs, this not an HD display, it is a "High Resolution" display, capable of a maximum of 800 x 600 resolution using the VGA input.

According to the specs, it can only display a 1080i HD signal using a digital receiver box from RCA (which presumably scales the 1080i HD signal to 800 x 600 over the "Digital TV" SVGA connection).

Either use Component Video and set your cable box to 480p maximum, or get an HD display or one at least capable of accepting HD inputs, even if it doesn't display them in HD.

Hi,
I am actually getting 1080i now with it through the SVGA input (at least that is the only setting that works on the receiver output mode). I did verify with RCA that the TV can do HD with the SVGA input. I just can't do it with the new directv receivers.
Thanks for your input,
Andrew

Well according to the manual:

"(S)VGA Video Inputs –(S)VGA1, (S)VGA2
The (S)VGA (Super Video Graphics Adapter) inputs let you connect your
monitor to a personal computer, and internet devices. These inputs can
provide up to 800 pixel x 600 pixel resolution. How images are displayed,
however, depends on other factors such as the type of device connected
to the monitor, the media being transmitted, graphics cards and
memory allotments.

PICTURE MODE
Scan Rates
The computer scan rates supported are:
• VGA 640x480, 60/72hz progressive
• (S)VGA 800x600, 60hz progressive
Make sure that you appropriately adjust the display properties for your
computer.
You can change the picture mode settings for the (S)VGA inputs by using
the Picture Mode menu. To access the Picture Mode menu, press TV and
then FETCH on the remote.
Computer/Text is the default setting for the (S)VGA 1 input. This
input and setting is recommended for most PC connections when
viewing text and graphics. Text may not appear as crisp in Video
mode.
Video is the default setting for the (S)VGA 2 input. This input and
setting is recommended for high definition television (HDTV)
converter connections. Also, computer games may appear better in
Video mode. "

There is nothing in the manual or specs that say it will accept a 1080i input other than by using an external HD receiver which is compatible with the SVGA port and it says the SVGA ports are limited to 800 x 600. But if it's working, I'm not going to argue with you.

Hi,
The tv has two inputs, one for a monitor VGA1 and one for high def SVGA2.
From the manual:

"The (S)VGA 2 input can be used to connect a HDTV digital receiver so that you can receive HDTV signals.
1. Connect the supplied (S)VGA cable to your HDTV digital receiver and to the monitor.
2. Connect an RCA-type cable to the left and right audio outputs on the digital set top converter and to the corresponding left and right AUDIO INPUTS associated with the (S)VGA2 input on the monitor."

The Directv hd receiver acts as the hdtv digital receiver, the tv as a monitor. What I think is happening is that there is an analog/digital issue at work here. Do you know if the component video out signal from the H21 receiver is a digital or analog signal? RCA is telling me that the SVGA2 input is digital. I think I need to either convert the analog signal(if the component video out is analog) coming from the receiver to a digital signal or I need to find a cable that is digital all the way through and does not convert the signal to analog. I don't know enough about this stuff to know for sure.
Andrew

AFAIK, there is no such thing as a "Digital SVGA" interface--VGA and SVGA are analog signals (basically analog RGB and sync signals), although the modern VESA version of VGA adds a digital data channel for "plug&play" configuration. That would not come into play if you were converting Component Video to SVGA, as there is no equivalent digital channel with Component Video.

The TV manual implies that there is really no difference between the two (S)VGA inputs other than (S)VGA1 defaults to "Computer/Text" mode, while (S)VGA2 defaults to "Video" mode. Either of these can be changed in the menu system.

It also specs the maximum resolution as 800 x 600 on either input, so the whole thing is rather puzzling. I would suspect the RCA receiver (they alternately refer to a "Proscan" receiver that will also work with the TV) converts 1080i (1920 x 1080) to 800 x 600 SVGA analog, but that would mean the TV wouldn't work with any HD receiver that didn't do that (which would likely be almost any other receiver).

I'm a bit confused, what is it that you were able to get to work?

I do see the manual says it supports plug&play on (S)VGA1 (but no mention for (S)VGA2) and also says: "If you have connected a digital set top converter, you must connect to both the (S)VGA2 and INPUT2 inputs in order to view both digital and analog signals."

Hi,
All I know is that it is working in high def now with the samsung receiver as long as the output on the receiver is set to 1080i. The picture is fantastic, that is why I don't really want to bail on this tv yet unless I have no other choice.

I posted in another forum and was told that I need to get a transcoder. I am not sure exactly what this does, but it seems to imply a translation of the signal from one format (digital) to another (analog). What is confusing to me is why the nalog to analog signal with the split out cable is not working.

I wonder if I took an HDMI to DVI cable from the receiver and plugged it into a DVI to SVGA adapter in the tv would work?

Thanks for your thougts and insights into my problem. I appreciate the assisitance.
Andrew

If it's working, then what exactly is the problem and how do you have it connected to the Samsung receiver such that it works?

A transcoder does what I described, i.e. converting 1080i to 800 x 600, for example, but if your display is working with the receiver then you don't need one.

You can't use a DVI-to-VGA adapter, as they are only intended for use with DVI-A connectors (which, in addition to the digital signals, also has analog RGB connections). If you can find one, a DVI (or HDMI) to VGA converter (not adapter) might work, but you would probably run afoul of the HDCP copy protection, as your monitor would not supply the necessary HDCP handshake.

If it's working, then what exactly is the problem and how do you have it connected to the Samsung receiver such that it works?"

A transcoder does what I described, i.e. converting 1080i to 800 x 600, for example, but if your display is working with the receiver then you don't need one.

You can't use a DVI-to-VGA adapter, as they are only intended for use with DVI-A connectors (which, in addition to the digital signals, also has analog RGB connections). If you can find one, a DVI (or HDMI) to VGA converter (not adapter) might work, but you would probably run afoul of the HDCP copy protection, as your monitor would not supply the necessary HDCP handshake.

The problem that I have is that the receiver is not compatible with Directv's new satelites that are broadcasting in HD. I need a receiver upgrade to pick up the new satelites that are transmitting in HD. I currently am using a SVGA to SVGA cable from the Samsung receiver to the SVGA2 input on the TV.

Thanks. I am not sure if it is worth spending the money on a HD transcoder that may/may not work. I can get the local stations in HD now through the HD antena conected to the Samsung receiver. I may have to just live with that until I get a new TV.

Thanks,
Andrew

Ahh! Basically the Samsung receiver is doing the transcoding and conversion to SVGA that is compatible with your TV.

If DirectTV has any receivers that work with the new HD satellites and have an SVGA output, it would probably work with your TV. Other than that, it's probably best to do what you are doing, as anything else is going to be expensive and the money is probably better put toward buying a new display which accepts HD signals directly.