I have a new EX87EB and have just bought an HDMI cable and connected it to my Sony LCD TV.

WITH THE CABLE CONNECTED, when I go into the FUNCTION MENU - TO OTHERS - SETUP menu, the menu shows up for a second and then I am dumped back to the TV picture before I can change any of the HDMI settings.
Until I can turn HDMI on here, the TV will not recognise that there is an HDMI device connected.
Also, when accessing the menus, the picture flicks off & on in an unstable way as the menus change.

WITH THE CABLE DISCONNECTED and using the original SCART cable, the SETUP menu now stays on the screen and I can go to the HDMI section.
BUT the first three options are not accessible to change, presumably because there is no HDMI device detected at the other end.
Only the fourth one, the VIERA link setting can be altered but neither ON nor OFF makes any difference.

I have tried powering down both devices, including turning off the mains power but without success.

Am I missing something, or is there a fault?

Thanks, Roger

Hi Roger

These sorts of setting up problems with HDMI are quite common.... even when connected units are of the same make.

Problems can be even worse with units of different manufacture and in some cases may never work.... although I would expect Sony and Panasonic to work together.

HDMI is an intelligent [ !] interface where each unit goes through an initialisation procedure and learns about the capabilities and settings of the attached unit.

Each has its own requirements in regard to how this initialisation procedure is invoked, so you have to check the manuals for both items. It usually involves connecting the units and then switching them on in a special sequence.

An important point is that every time a setting is changed - especially when you have the added complication of Viera Link involved, you have to follow a routine to reinitialise the interface. See page 40 of the DVDR manual for notes about this - under the heading of 'Preparation'.

HDMI is also a 'hot plug' interface such that connecting when the units are ON, is supposed to force a re-initialisation... but it seems to be unpredictable.

Personally I hate HDMI ... It is slow, pointless and needless. It is only there to serve the restrictive interests of the manufacturers and content producers... To limit what you can do across it ...However - We are stuck with it ... and that is not helping you any ... just sometimes I have to ventilate it.

If you tell me your TV Model I might be able to direct you more specifically.

Good Luck.

Hello Gavtech,

After another hours fiddling about I have managed to get the HDMI connection to work so far, this is the condensed version of what I did:-

1. Disconnect SCART & HDMI leads.
2. Connect the EX87 to the TV using a RF aerial lead ONLY.
3. The Setup menu is now accessible on the EX87, choose resolution as desired. (I used the specific setting 1080p)
4. Reconnect the HDMI lead.
5. If applicable to your TV, carry out a "scan" for HDMI devices.
6. Set the TV's HDMI settings as required.
7. Send a known programme/signal from the EX87 to the TV.
8. Go through all the TV input choices until the known signal is found & note its I/D.
9. Disconnect RF lead.
10. Reconnect the SCART lead (optional).
11. Proceed as normal!

(If there are still problems, I would suggest that both TV & EX87(my m/c) are turned OFF & ON between each stage in case there are any "handshaking" operations at switch-on.)

Hope this helps someone out there.

Thanks for your other posts re. this problem.

Regards, Roger

TV - Sony KDL-32D3000
DVD Recorder - Panasonic DMR-EX87EB
VCR - Panasonic NV-HD675B

Hi Roger

I am pleased to see you are up and running.

However I am very puzzled by the above points ... which do not seem possible.

The EX87 does not have a modulator - so there is no output from it via the RF route. So with everything else disconnected I can't see how it was possible for you to see the EX87 menus.

Can you clarify please?