Trouble with coaxial connection / coaxial - optical adapter

[speculare]

Hello,

I mentioned this before as a problem but now I have the symptons more clear.

I bought a coaxial to optical converter from monoprice.com.

Works fine with amp and PH with one single problem: I have to start playing a file, and they unplug the adapter and replug it to get sound.

As the adapter is on before starting the PH or starting to play a file, I ALWAYS have to do this manual operation which is annoying as hell.

Tried the adapter with a TV cable box and also get the same symptons. Worse still because sounds goes off after switching channels which means unplugging and replugging the adapter.

My questions are:
- Anyone else using the same or similar adapter?
- Do you have similar problems or work flawlessly?
- If you had good results can I get a brand or website where you got your adapter from?

- Or is this all to be expected (techincally) from such an adapter?

I'm ready to buy a better or more expensive adapter if need be. Just want to be sure someone is connecting the PCH to an amp through an adapter without problems.

Searched online for any clues to how these adapters work without success

Any help appreciated

rgds
Luís

[linuxworks]

it sounds like its losing sync and then stopping the output when it doesn't get a 'data valid' signal?

in spdif, there are 2 states for the wire: data is being sent with the valid flag on (even if its just silence) or NO signal (or one with the flag set to false) in which case many home stereos 'turn off' their spdif lights when this happens.

the other audio player I have, the slimserver box, also does this ;( they realize this is a problem and so they have a 'turn on delay' of sorts that turns ON the spdif signal (to get the spdif receiver 'ready') and then waits a fraction of a second before sending audio data out. that allows the home stereo to auto-turn on for spdif and not drop the first second or so of audio.

perhaps this is what you are seeing? some kind of loss of sync?

I have that converter box on order, myself, and I'll see if it does what you describe. and if there's a fix for it..

[speculare]

hi
thanks for the help but the problem is now solved

check this topic please:

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/viewto...sc&start=0

this adapter solved everything. only bad thing about it is no remote.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Modu...h&doy=11m2

cheers
L.

[linuxworks]

I just bought 2 of the monoprice units. they both work fine and I don't see the problem you describe.

here are some photos of my config:





it is a very simple board and I can tell that its using the right design and parts.

one thing I did notice is that when the power cord was plugged in part-way, I'd get a weak red led output (if you look at it). when I pushed on the dc connector the toslink output light up MUCH brighter. I bet you had that happen. if there was a power supply issue, it could be just what you described.

the good news is that this uses 5v and guess what - there is already 5v inside the PCH (for the drive).

I just might reconsider mounting this board (since I have 2) inside the pch and see if I can use the internal power supply and avoid any external boxes AND wallwarts (for the opto conversion feature).

[lchiu7]

From the pics it seems I am using the exact same box. Works just fine for me and I am not even using high quality cables to go to the box.

[Nikkele]

I'm having problems with this same optical convertor as well. My problem is that I don't get any audio from the pch on the S/PDIF output. I've tried rebooting the pch, the convertor and pugging in the cable when audio schould be playing.
In the menu of the pch I've switch all the audio to Digital RAW but even MP3's don't play on the S/PDIF

Is there a wat to test if the Coaxial output is giving any signal?
Should the light of the optical link from the convertor vary in light intensity when audio is played?

[linuxworks]

(10-14-2008 07:21 PM)Nikkele Wrote:  I'm having problems with this same optical convertor as well. My problem is that I don't get any audio from the pch on the S/PDIF output. I've tried rebooting the pch, the convertor and pugging in the cable when audio schould be playing.
In the menu of the pch I've switch all the audio to Digital RAW but even MP3's don't play on the S/PDIF

Is there a wat to test if the Coaxial output is giving any signal?
Should the light of the optical link from the convertor vary in light intensity when audio is played?

I didn't see your post until just now.

the light should not vary to the human eye. it would be a constant red dot but it should be pretty bright. almost too bright to look at for too long.

if its not 'very bright' the system (converter) is oscillating, I think. and you say that resetting the power on the converter does not cause any 'step up' in led brightness as you look at it?

perhaps your converter is just not working well.

if you have a scope (long shot, I know) you should see a half of a volt peak to peak and it should be in the low mhz range. that's what spdif should look like on a scope. on a meter it would be less than a half volt, average.