An odd problem - maybe it is common place

TV - Insignia NSLTDVD26-09
Cable - comcast
Cable box - Motorola DCH3416

component connections work fine
HDMI works fine for channels 210 and higher, but below that the hdmi doesn't carry any sound (or the tv doesn't play any sound).

One explanation I found is:
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1) the (TV) has an HDMI, therefore it is expecting audio along with the video when it senses the HDMI is hot
2) with the above in mind, the (TV) ignores every other input when the HDMI is on
3) the STB is DVI therefore it's audio out connectors are live, along with the SPDIF.

Solution:
1) downgrade the HD to 480i/p and use component video
2) use the DVI-HDMI along with an aux sound system that feeds from the SPDIF (better solution even though it does cost me more $$).
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I am not sure this is the issue - as I get sound on some channels. Any clues out there? The obvious solution is to hook the sound up to my receiver and axioms - which I will do. But why doesn't the sound work to the tv? I have tried two different TVs, 2 different moto stb boxes and 2 different hdmi cables. HDMI shows up somewhat better on my set - as is expected.

Hope this all makes sense.

Sound to me like your cable company is not really giving you "digital" cable on those channels. I am not familiar with that cable box but if it does work with the channels above 210 then its not an issue with the Tv. If there are not sending out your digital signal on those channels and your box is not converting the analog to digital then of course, No sound with HDMI. Which also means theres a chance you wouldnt get sound with any other digital connection but that just doesnt make any sense.

Since you are only sending the audio to the tv you can just use the analog audio outputs from the cable box into the tv. Most tv's have a thing where you can select if the audio comes from the HDMI or another source. If you are eventually going to hook it to the reciever then you can try whatever digital connections the box has so that you'll get the surround sound on the HD channels but if that doesnt work sounds like its stereo for you!

Also, You can use the component video connection for HD as well. Component is fully capable of carrying full 1080p signal. Although you wont find anything that will output that type of signal over component you can still get HD.

That's pretty much what I was thinking, but I'm surprised he gets video over HDMI on those channels.

Craptastic does only offer digital cable on a few channels, otherwise you're still getting analog. It makes no sense to me; analog takes up huge amounts of bandwidth that Craptastic could instead be filling with VOD, internet access, or more digital channels. One would think it would be cheaper to use digital than analog, as well.

Thanks for the info

So component RCA plugs will work as well as HDMI? Just no 5.1 sound?

There was a recent article in the washington post that rated comcast as worst tv provider of them all in the DC area. Direct TV was the best.

Oh, also that means that as 2009 approaches Comcast will probably make more audio into digital?

The switch that will happen in 2009 does not affect cable companies. Only over the air broadcasts from full power stations will be required to switch to digital.

Like I said, if you are only using the tv speakers for audio the stereo analog outputs will be just fine. When you eventually hook it to the reciever then you'll probably want to use either the toslink or digital coax output. I cant imagine that you wont get audio with those connections because they are very widely used. Although the same can be said for the HDMI.

I lived in DC just 6 months ago. Comcast in DC is "simulcasting" every channel in digital and analog from 1 - 100. Everything above 100 is a digital channel. the 3416 is a digital only box - no analog receiver. Every channel you're getting is digital.

The problem may be selecting "digital out" on the motorola box. Since the audio on HD channels (210 and up) is default to digital, the problem may be that the audio defaults to downconvert to analog? Just make sure that the digital audio settings are proper on your cable box.

Also, you state that the box has DVI out - but my recollection is that the box has an HDMI (which includes sound) out - not DVI (which carries no audio). If you have a box with DVI and not HDMI, swap it for a newer box.

My last suggestion would be to swap out your cable box.
Go to the Comcast office (located in sketchy SE - you can actually take metro and it'll drop you off right there) and make sure that the box isn't the problem.

Hope you get this worked out.

I would have voted DirecTV the best, also. I've been happy with them for years.

I'll second DirecTV, so far the best of all the services I've used.

I agree with the posts on this thread. Its not the HDMI cable. Sometimes the cable companies play tricks and that just might be what you are seeing.

call the cable company and make them come out. Don't go to their office and stand in a line.

I have never actually stood in line at the DC Comcast office - the place is usually a ghost town. Just don't go on Saturday morning at 11:00 am is all.

They're pretty friendly, fairly knowledgeable and, in the end, it can be more convenient to just hop in your car and drive a couple of miles and get your business done rather than waiting in the 3 hour window they give you, only to have the guy either not show up or show up late.

Wow, totally different experience then the local cox cable building here.

HUGE line the one time I went... I just make the cable guy come out now.