Customer Reviews

Gefen Dvi Detective Plus

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After working extensively with the manufacturer of both my video card and LCD TV, I could not find an explanation, nor a solution to the problem I was facing: I have an HTPC with a nVidia 9000 series video card, outputting via DVI to HDMI input on my full Hi-Def LCD TV and whenever I turned off the TV, the signal would stop form the video card's DVI port, reverting back to VGA output. I would then have to re-enable DVI output and increase the resolution to get Hi-Def output again. Seeing as the HTPC stays on all the time (to record TV) and is the primary use of that TV (monitor), I couldn't keep making this switch or leave the TV on all the time.

I called Gefen and their pre-sales folks answered ALL of my questions. Again, neither the video card manufacturer, nor the TV maker, had ANY clue as to what the problem was and kept telling me "it should just work". I took the plunge and bought this device, got it very quickly and followed the SIMPLE instructions to get it to work EXACTLY AS PROMISED. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is the price. For a tiny little box with an EEPROM in it, it's too expensive!

Not only does my DVI output continue to work, even when the TV is powered off or unplugged, this device programmed on the first try AND passes though Blu-Ray movies in Full HD. I believe the reason the one negative review was unable to get this device to work is that Apple employs a proprietary copy-protection methodology that requires special cabling and signaling to playback material, above and beyond HDCP. This device DOES pass HDCP information when set as directed by the manual, as proved by the fact that my Blu-Ray movies actually play back!

I cannot tell Gefen how amazingly useful this product is and how much I will sing its praises. The HTPC market is just completely being ignored as content providers want us to use their DVRs and allow them to control what content we receive and as console gaming whips PC-gaming's rear end. I'm not going to even get into Net Neutrality, but given the special interests involved in locking us all into contracts for equipment rental, it's good to know that at least some companies are listening to our requests and providing us with the tools we need to consume what we pay for on our terms.

I'm not certain it's doing anything (because I don't want to unplug it to find out), but after reading how Mac Mini's had problems when used in a Home Theater setup, which causes the display to get disconnected from the Mac (when another input is selected for viewing on the display), I figured I'd be proactive and got the DVI detective at the same time as the Mac Mini.

Hooked it up; programming it was simple.

Have not had any problems with the Mac Mini; it always "sees" the display, and wakes up fine.

Mac Mini -> MiniDVI to DVI cable that comes with the Mini -> DVI M/M adapter -> DVI detective -> DVI + Audio & Toslink to HDMI Converter Adapter (to get the audio from the Mini) -> HDMI input on Yamaha receiver.

I have my 2009 Mac Mini connected to a receiver via a DVI to HDMI adapter cable. Unfortunately, when switching to a different input, the Mac would either see no display or the receiver would give its own EDID (instead of the TV's EDID). This causes the Mac to do strange and undesirable things if it is powered up while the tv or receiver is on another input. Enter the DVI detective. Once placed between the Mac and the DVI-HDMI adapter cable, it holds on to the TV's EDID info so that the Mac always thinks the TV is attached. No more losing or switching the EDID info. Once programmed, the little box does not need a power source (until you have a need to reprogram it - ie: you get a new TV). Perfect.

I'm extremely sorry to say this device is completely worthless. (I really needed the functionality it claimed to have, and I'm not aware of any good alternatives, except other models from the same company.)

Basically, it doesn't reliably pass 1080p video, despite claiming to do so. In fact, this is the special model that does the HDCP handshake specifically to support HD content. But I tried using it in both of its modes -- learning and built-in EDID profiles -- and it failed in both modes. I never got *any* video to display using its learning mode. And using one of its built-in EDID profiles (by setting the appropriate dip switches), I got a video signal for a while, but it would first degrade, showing "sparklies", and then lose the HDMI handshake entirely, thus causing the display device to drop the video signal entirely. I think the unit learned the correct EDID info in its learning mode, and I think it had a valid EDID specification in its built-in mode, but either way it would not pass video reliably (or at all). Like I said, worthless.

(EDID is the "Extended Display Identification Data" that computers, graphics cards, displays, and other audio/video gear use to describe their display capabilities. For example, it's how your computer knows what resolutions your monitor supports.)

Thank you Amazon for good customer service in general and a reasonable return policy in particular.