SmallNetBuilder

Setup

Since I have an Ethernet drop in my entertainment center, I first hooked the box up with a wired connection. I also have a TV with HDMI input, so I plugged in a (not-included) HDMI cable and hooked it up. When the 510 came on, I wasn't too surprised to get a black-screen on my TV. Normally these devices default to output to the analog ports and only use the digital ports when told to do so. But I could find no button on the non-backlit remote (Figure 3) to change the setting.

Figure 3: DSM-510 Remote

Referring to the documentation, I found that the 510 was designed to auto-detect a digital-connection, but it was evidently not working with my TV! When I switched to analog connection, I got an initial display (Figure 4) and started exploring.

Figure 4: DSM-510 Option menu

Since I really wanted to use this box via the HDMI connection, I sought out and finally found the digital output option. I was able to turn on the digital output using this menu, but it ended up being a bit of a pain. I had to switch my TV to its digital input first—which killed the picture—then hit the final OK button while looking at a dark screen.

I also found that I had to repeat this dance any time the 510 was power-cycled. It consistently failed to auto-detect my digital TV and reverted to analog output. I haven't had this type of problem with other digital inputs to my TV, and it is especially annoying given that the 510 is supposed to be a "high definition" player.