Configuring Receiver

[MrHood22]

I just picked up my first receiver in a box set up. Onkyo HT-S3400
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O0TRDI/ref=oh_o06_s00_i00_details

I'm trying to configure it and I got everything set up except my HTPC.

Devices (w/ relevant ports):
HTPC - HDMI and S/PDIF
Xbox 360 - HDMI
FIOS TV Box - HDMI and S/PDIF
46" TV - HDMI and S/PDIF
19" TV - HDMI and S/PDIF


How it's connected:
HTPC - Connected to 46" TV via HDMI
Xbox - Connected to 46" TV via HDMI
FIOS TV Box - Connected to 46" TV via HDMI, Connected to receiver via S/PDIF
46" TV - Connected to receiver via S/PDIF


What I get audio from:
FIOS TV
Xbox 360


----------------------------------------------------

I don't get any audio from my HTPC. I thought i'd get audio out of the built-in TV speakers at the very least because it's connected via HDMI.

Occasionally I will play Xbox on my 46" and then have a movie or TV going on the 19". Currently I just switch the FIOS HDMI cable from my 46" to my 19". Both of these ports are very accessible so this isn't a problem at all.


Does anyone have any suggestions to better hook up my system and/or play sound from my HTPC?

 

[AQ_OC]

Why don't you connect the Fios box, Xbox and HTPC to your receiver via HDMI and then go from the HDMI out of the receiver to the HDMI input on the big TV? That way, sound from all of those devices come through the receiver to the speakers, video goes to the TV, and you just use the remote to switch inputs. You can feed another signal to the other TV if you want.

 

[MrHood22]

Why don't you connect the Fios box, Xbox and HTPC to your receiver via HDMI and then go from the HDMI out of the receiver to the HDMI input on the big TV? That way, sound from all of those devices come through the receiver to the speakers, video goes to the TV, and you just use the remote to switch inputs. You can feed another signal to the other TV if you want.

I originally hooked it up that way but then realized If I ever wanted to have a device display on the 19" (ie. Xbox 360 on the 46" while HTPC displays on the 19") i'd have to unplug one of the HDMI's from the receiver and plug it into the 19". I do this pretty frequently so i'm trying to avoid this because it can be a pain due to the high concentration of cables.

What do you mean "feed another signal to the 19" TV"? I believe my receiver only has 1 HDMI port to go to the output device.

 

[AQ_OC]

You bought a HTIB and by feeding all your signals into the TV you defeat the purpose of the receiver altogether (switching video & audio from various sources and using your multi-channel speaker setup), unless I'm mis-understanding your setup.

I was just suggesting that you split your TV signal so you can feed the 19" TV separately, so you can watch it when you're using the XBOX on the main system. Do you really need to use both TV's for everything?

 

[MrHood22]

You bought a HTIB and by feeding all your signals into the TV you defeat the purpose of the receiver altogether (switching video & audio from various sources and using your multi-channel speaker setup), unless I'm mis-understanding your setup.

I was just suggesting that you split your TV signal so you can feed the 19" TV separately, so you can watch it when you're using the XBOX on the main system. Do you really need to use both TV's for everything?

I do understand that by continuing to plug my HDMI devices into my TV it defeats the purpose of the HTIB. This is just my temporary "glad it works" set up.

How would I split my signal to get 2 independent signals?

What i'd like to accomplish:

46" TV: Xbox 360, HTPC, FIOS TV

19" TV: HTPC, FIOS TV

 

[AQ_OC]

I don't have FIOS TV, so I'm not exactly sure how the splitting would be done. But on cable (as in coaxial cable), one can simply buy a single splitter that takes one coax input and divides it into two. One could then go to the cable box (which has HDMI out) and the other to something else. You may need to check with the FIOS TV provider for similar. I'm sure the support setups in homes that have more than one TV, though your two TVs are in the same location.

As for the HTPC, depending on the mobo, you may be able to get both HDMI and DVI outputs (or even RGB). So one would go to one TV and the other to the other TV (though, you may need a DVI to HDMI adapter).

 

[Mabu]

For that, you would need an HDMI matrix. A 2x2 matrix is all that you need if you would like for only 2 of your HDMI devices to be routed to the receiver/TV, but it wouldn't hurt going with a 4x2 one for maximum flexibility. That way you can choose to route any of your 3 devices to either your receiver/secondary TV, and still have an extra input in case you pick up a 4th HDMI device.

 

[AQ_OC]

For that, you would need an HDMI matrix. A 2x2 matrix is all that you need if you would like for only 2 of your HDMI devices to be routed to the receiver/TV, but it wouldn't hurt going with a 4x2 one for maximum flexibility. That way you can choose to route any of your 3 devices to either your receiver/secondary TV, and still have an extra input in case you pick up a 4th HDMI device.

ah...I wasn't even aware of these....

 

[MrHood22]

I don't have FIOS TV, so I'm not exactly sure how the splitting would be done. But on cable (as in coaxial cable), one can simply buy a single splitter that takes one coax input and divides it into two. One could then go to the cable box (which has HDMI out) and the other to something else. You may need to check with the FIOS TV provider for similar. I'm sure the support setups in homes that have more than one TV, though your two TVs are in the same location.

As for the HTPC, depending on the mobo, you may be able to get both HDMI and DVI outputs (or even RGB). So one would go to one TV and the other to the other TV (though, you may need a DVI to HDMI adapter).

With FIOS TV, the coaxial runs to the box and then from there you can connect it to your TV a number of ways (HDMI, RGB, Svideo, etc).

 

[AQ_OC]

With FIOS TV, the coaxial runs to the box and then from there you can connect it to your TV a number of ways (HDMI, RGB, Svideo, etc).

That's the way regular cable works and you can split the signal before the box and run it to anything else that has a digital tuner. You might lose premium channels if you bypass the cable box, though.

 

[MrHood22]

That's the way regular cable works and you can split the signal before the box and run it to anything else that has a digital tuner. You might lose premium channels if you bypass the cable box, though.

You are correct. I would like to avoid this method.

I think I will end up plugging my Xbox 360 and HTPC into the receiver via HDMI. The receiver will be plugged into the 46". I will also plug the HTPC into the 19" via VGA and set the HTPC to clone displays. I think I will just manually switch the HDMI cable from the 46" to the 19" when necessary. Logically I think this will work but I will need to get another HDMI cable to confirm it. Where do I plug the two Optical Audio cables?

 

[AQ_OC]

If both the 360 and HTPC go to the receiver via HDMI, you're good for sound from the receiver. Then the FIOS TV HDMI goes to the either TV, I think you will get sound from the TVs, but I'm not sure (I just avoid all non-HDMI connections these days (spoiled, I guess). Do you think you really need the two optical cables? One huge advantage of going HDMI is a reduction in cables. I kind of like the matrix HDMI solution the other poster gave, assuming it routes both video & audio as needed (I can't imagine it doesn't).

 

[MrHood22]

I think I figured it out. I'm not even sure if I can explain it in a way that is easily understandable. I will try though.


HTPC:
Video -
VGA 1 to 19" OR HDMI 1 to 46"

Audio-
Set receiver to "TV/CD" mode aka S/PDIF 1.


Xbox 360:
Video -
HDMI 2 to 46" (HDMI2)

Audio-
Receiver must be set to "Game" aka S/PDIF 2


FIOS TV:
Video -
HDMI 3 on 46" TV OR HDMI 1 on 19".
Note: HDMI 3 is 'FIOS TV Box to TV'

Audio-
Set Receiver to "BD/DVD" (1 of the 4 HDMI ports on receiver)