Update now available for the Western Digital TV HD Media Player:

WD TV Product Update

1080p24...yummy.

Will this device playback AC3 5.1 surround?

I just bought the HD TV and was wondering can I use a HDMI to AV component cable if my TV set only support component? Please see this ebay posting, will this cable works?

HDMI Male to 5 RCA RGB Audio Video AV Component Cable - eBay (item 350139975605 end time Jan-11-09 20:04:03 PST)

I don't think HDMI supports analogue signals at all? That cable looks totally passive to me? More likely you'll need an active converter box. What model HD TV is it to not have HDMI?

Since DVI-I supports analog video, it stands to reason that HDMI could as well.

Oh, and my five year old Toshiba 56" HDTV only has component. ;-)

DVI-I supports analogue, DVI-D doesn't, HDMI is digital only based on everything I've read.

edit: Just rummaging around the net turned this unit up. http://www.hdfury.com/ Adds HDMI 1080p in to any RGB screen.

Yep, just looked up the pinout:

HDMI Connector Pinout
Pin Number Signal Name
1 TMDS Data 2+
2 TMDS Data 2 Shield
3 TMDS Data 2-
4 TMDS Data 1+
5 TMDS Data 1 Shield
6 TMDS Data 1-
7 TMDS Data 0+
8 TMDS Data 0 Shield
9 TMDS Data 0-
10 TMDS Clock+
11 TMDS Clock Shield
12 TMDS Clock-
13 CEC
14 No Connect
15 DDC Clock
16 DDC Data
17 Ground
18 +5V Power
19 Hot Plug Detect
20 SHELL

So, definitely no, a passive cable cannot convert HDMI to component. An active converter box of some sort would be required. That hdfury device looks interesting for several reasons ...

HDFury is a great device, BUT it does not convert signal's refresh rate or resolution.

So your TV will have to support exactly the frame size and frequency of the digital signal being converted.

I've run into this limitation of HDFury while trying to feed HDMI signal via HDFury to a particular monitor with Component input - but that monitor did not support 1920x1080 natively on Component input, and that was the end of it.

(On a side note, HDFury seller Monoprice.com was most helpful in making me understand what was going on, and has resolved the issue to my complete satisfaction.)

Please Help!
 

Could anyone please tell me how I can get this thing to work????? I've spent days trying to figure this out. WD has been completely useless.

My footage is all in FCP, everything shot at 1080i60.

By exporting to Compressor and choosing "H.264 for DVD Studio Pro" I get a really good picture but no audio. I have "Include PCM Audio" checked.


How do I get the very best picture I can get WITH AUDIO from my EX-1 files in Final Cut and onto my home theater screen via this magic box????

Please help and PLEASE be specific!

Eternally grateful for the help,

Arthur the techno dumbass

I struggled with this too.

I finally figured out you have to export as 44kHz as it won't work with 48kHz.

I don't know if that's your problem, hopefully that will fix it for you.

It's nothing to do with it being 48 Khz, the WD TV doesn't support PCM audio, even at 44 Khz. Export as H.264 with the sound set to AAC at 48 Khz and the audio will play back just fine.

I wrote a small review about my findings with the WD TV on my blog at http://www.pauljoy.com/?page_id=1046.

Paul.

What monitor are you using to view from this box?
 

I am wanting to get myself one of these beauties but I don't have any HDTV monitors at home apart from an HD Ready 42" Plasma. I have been looking at a Samsung LCD Computer monitor with a res of 1920x1200, but would I be better served by buying a full HD LCD TV monitor at 1920x1080p?

James, Paul,

Thanks very much, I'll try your tips tomorrow. I was amazed at the picture this thing delivered on a 52" plasma at the Asheville Visitor's Center. They ordinarily display our SD nature DVDs on it and the difference in PQ was huge. We're definitely going to be investing in some more of these these boxes for point of purchase display.

Paul, very nice review on your site, thanks.

I have hooked it up to my 42" Panasonic PX70 HD ready plasma at home and it really looks wonderfull. The TV upscales to 1080P, but I´m not sure it does from the WD. I´ll have to check.
I will bring it over to my brother to hook it up to his Sony full HD 40" to compare one of these days.
I´m biased though, I prefer the picture of my plasma in general, even when we both use PS3 to watch Blu-ray video