Digital Cable Box and PiP

[hukarez]

Not sure if many of you folks use the 'picture in picture' mode on television sets, but I'm curious about a few things. In my household, there's a digital cable box that's attached to a television in the living room. Throughout the bedrooms of my house, the rest of the televisions connected via the splitter essentially share basic cable and the like.

A friend of mine recently bought a television set, capable of PiP, yet seems to have problems getting it to work properly when his television alone is connected to the digital cable box. I've never attempted PiP with a digital cable box, since it seems your television set has to be set to a certain channel (in this case, channel 3). When he activates PiP, it seems he gets nothing but static on the mini-window.

Has anyone ever got PiP to work with digital cable?

[Samdari]

Not sure if many of you folks use the 'picture in picture' mode on television sets, but I'm curious about a few things. In my household, there's a digital cable box that's attached to a television in the living room. Throughout the bedrooms of my house, the rest of the televisions connected via the splitter essentially share basic cable and the like.

A friend of mine recently bought a television set, capable of PiP, yet seems to have problems getting it to work properly when his television alone is connected to the digital cable box. I've never attempted PiP with a digital cable box, since it seems your television set has to be set to a certain channel (in this case, channel 3). When he activates PiP, it seems he gets nothing but static on the mini-window.

Has anyone ever got PiP to work with digital cable?

This should not ever work, without an extra digital cable box, since the built in tuners tvs have don't decode digital cable. The box converts the digital signal to NTSC (the standard signal for analog display). A converter box such as this only outputs one NTSC signal - the channel decoded by the box.

The way PiP works is that it takes a signal containing ALL channels (normal cable or that from an antenna) splits it, and feeds it to two separate internal tuners. That, or it has two separate inputs, one to each tuner. Since the only signal making it to the television is whichever channel the box has converted to NTSC channel 3, everything else will be static.

[hukarez]

Thanks for the heads up!

I'll go right ahead and notify my buddy.

[BigDPW]

If you split the cable before the cable box then send one to the cable box and the other to the second tuner then you will be able to get basic cable in your PIP at least... Then you will have access to your digital cable with one tuner (via the box) as well as access to basic cable via your second tuner... Worked for me...

[yabanci]

If you split the cable before the cable box then send one to the cable box and the other to the second tuner then you will be able to get basic cable in your PIP at least... Then you will have access to your digital cable with one tuner (via the box) as well as access to basic cable via your second tuner... Worked for me...

This is the way I have mine set up too.

[hukarez]

If you split the cable before the cable box then send one to the cable box and the other to the second tuner then you will be able to get basic cable in your PIP at least... Then you will have access to your digital cable with one tuner (via the box) as well as access to basic cable via your second tuner... Worked for me...Really, now? Essentially, my buddy would have 2 coaxial cables. The main cable line, connected to a splitter, with one of the splitter's cables going to the digital cable box, and the other cable going to the television. Now how about the cable coming from the digital cable box? How would one manage to connect it to the television, if it's already been occupied by the regular cable line? :confused:

I apologize if I'm overthinking this. I'm sure there's probably another coaxial input and all, but thought I'd clarify first hand.

[Craptacular]

Yes, if the TV has two coax inputs, you can use one for each. If the TV only has one coax input, hook up the cable box to the TV with RCA jacks, or S-video or component video cable along with the proper audio cables. The cable box should at least have your standard RCA jacks.

[hukarez]

His television set has 3 presently:

1 - "VHF/UHF"
2 - "AUX"
3 - "To Converter"

As it stands, the cable coming out of his digital cable box, is going into the VHF/UHF one. He isn't sure where the other coax would be...any suggestions?

[Samdari]

First of all, he should look in his owner's manual as to how to hook up two signals.

Sorry for the misinformation, I did not realize that the regular analog signal was carried on the cable along with the digital signal.

[Craptacular]

Try running the cable from the box to the VHF/UHF. Run the other cable from the splitter to the AUX input. Honestly, I'm not sure if the PIP can get a signal from the AUX input, but it's worth a try. You might have a button on the remote labeled ANT (antenna) that gets you to the AUX input.

[yabanci]

Really, now? Essentially, my buddy would have 2 coaxial cables. The main cable line, connected to a splitter, with one of the splitter's cables going to the digital cable box, and the other cable going to the television. Now how about the cable coming from the digital cable box? How would one manage to connect it to the television, if it's already been occupied by the regular cable line? :confused:

I apologize if I'm overthinking this. I'm sure there's probably another coaxial input and all, but thought I'd clarify first hand.

the tv has to have dual tuner PIP support, which some but not all TV's have. The way it works on my Mitsubishi is the cable goes into the splitter and from the splitter one line goes into the digital cabel box then out of the cable box and into the TV's antenna A input while the other line goes straight into the TV's antenna B input.

[hukarez]

the tv has to have dual tuner PIP support, which some but not all TV's have. The way it works on my Mitsubishi is the cable goes into the splitter and from the splitter one line goes into the digital cabel box then out of the cable box and into the TV's antenna A input while the other line goes straight into the TV's antenna B input.
Ah, I see. The model that my friend has, is a Sony. The only coaxial inputs that he has, are those three that I listed above. I'm assuming he doesn't have to tinker around with that 'To Converter' coaxial input at all whatsoever? (Probably an HDTV thing, I'm guessing?)

[BigDPW]

When doing PIP can he view the AUX input at all??? IF so he should run the cable box to the AUX since the cable box only puts out one channel at a time... He should then hook the precable box signal (you have to split the cable before inputing it into the cable box) into the VHF/UHF input...

With this setup you will be able to change regular cable channels with your TV remote and your digtal cable channels with the digital box remote...

Cable from the wall
_____________l--->Splitter
____________________l------------------------------>VHF/UHF input(TV)
____________________l------>Digtal Cable box
___________________________________l------------->AUX input(TV)

[BigDPW]

If there is a AV input or S-Video Input you may can substitute it for the AUX input mentioned above (AKA send the signal from the Digtal Cable box to the AV/S-video input)

[BigDPW]

On my Sony TV I have "Video 1", Video 2", "Video 3", and "Video 4" each of these has separate inputs some being coax, some being AV, some being S-video, and some being Component - or a combination of 2-3 of those... Check to see if he has AV inputs, S-Video inputs, or Component inputs to send the signal too rather than through the coax...

[hukarez]

When doing PIP can he view the AUX input at all??? IF so he should run the cable box to the AUX since the cable box only puts out one channel at a time... He should then hook the precable box signal (you have to split the cable before inputing it into the cable box) into the VHF/UHF input...

With this setup you will be able to change regular cable channels with your TV remote and your digtal cable channels with the digital box remote...

Cable from the wall
_____________l--->Splitter
____________________l------------------------------>VHF/UHF input(TV)
____________________l------>Digtal Cable box
___________________________________l------------->AUX input(TV)
He had some difficulty last night, getting things configured. It's a pretty hefty sized television set, at least, by weight, and I was talking to him on the phone while he was trying to configure it.

In order for him to configure the AUX and all, the main picture needs focus for him to switch to AUX mode. I believe what he managed, was getting the digital cable box attached to the AUX input of his television set, and the main cable line from the ground into his VHF/UHF. I'm sure if he swapped it around, he'd be fine.

Ironically though, while it did work (both basic cable and digital cable), he could only cycle from channels 2-13. I'm assuming that he just needs to 'auto-program' things again, to get it working.

[hukarez]

If there is a AV input or S-Video Input you may can substitute it for the AUX input mentioned above (AKA send the signal from the Digtal Cable box to the AV/S-video input)
You mean for the VHF/UHF input, no? So the main ground line from the wall goes straight to the VHF/UHF, while the digital cable goes for the component inputs?

[hukarez]

On my Sony TV I have "Video 1", Video 2", "Video 3", and "Video 4" each of these has separate inputs some being coax, some being AV, some being S-video, and some being Component - or a combination of 2-3 of those... Check to see if he has AV inputs, S-Video inputs, or Component inputs to send the signal too rather than through the coax...
He has the same identical television as mine - both Sony brands. I believe there's 5 Video inputs, primarily through components, with the base being coaxial. The Video 1 input is the front, which features the S-Video, while the other 4 inputs are in the back. I'll have to ask him about his digital cable box, on the type of components that he has used.

However, if he were to use the component inputs as opposed to the basic coaxial inputs, he'd have to switch the TV/Video in order to watch his digital cable. Would this interfere with his PiP, if he has manages to get the basic cable working on it?

[Chubby]

ack, my head hurts from reading this thread tho there is a lot of useful info in it. my 'rents could never get their PIP working either and they only have basic cable...

[BigDPW]

He has the same identical television as mine - both Sony brands. I believe there's 5 Video inputs, primarily through components, with the base being coaxial. The Video 1 input is the front, which features the S-Video, while the other 4 inputs are in the back. I'll have to ask him about his digital cable box, on the type of components that he has used.

However, if he were to use the component inputs as opposed to the basic coaxial inputs, he'd have to switch the TV/Video in order to watch his digital cable. Would this interfere with his PiP, if he has manages to get the basic cable working on it?
I dont think it should interfere... With my sony wega I am able to view all "Video 1-4" as well as two other inputs... On his remote he probably has a "TV-Video" button for PIP as well as another for regular TV (at least that is how mine is setup)...

[BigDPW]

I have to admit it would be much easier to help someone if I was talking to them rather than though a friend... But I am sure he appreciates your help...

[hukarez]

I dont think it should interfere... With my sony wega I am able to view all "Video 1-4" as well as two other inputs... On his remote he probably has a "TV-Video" button for PIP as well as another for regular TV (at least that is how mine is setup)...
You know, I believe he does. I didn't even think of that. I'll probably let him know and stuff. At least, he'll have his digital cable hooked up via components at the least.