Gigabyte GA-8KI1100 SPDIF-In Problem

Hallo,
my GA-8KI1100 has the optional SPDIF-expansion slot (2 inputs optical/coaxial and 2 outputs optical and coaxial). AC'97 is activated in the BIOS. The coaxial input refuses to work. It is not possible to choose between inputs in the Realtek-AC'97-control panel. There is just an autolock-button, and a realtime monitor switch for SPDIF. Two fields show data rate and validity, if available. Both inputs are not connected at the same time, only one is connected to a device. I tried different devices and cables- in vain. Coaxial fails, optical is ok. But I need both inputs. Is the coaxial input just a dummy?
Whether my local dealer nor the manufacturer seem to be able to solve the problem. The manual tells me nothing about SPDIF-inputs. My computer is just 2 weeks old. I use external AD/DA-converters and don't need a soundcard, just the SPDIF-in- and outputs.
I fear mainboard manufacturerers do not care too much about digital multimedia problems.
Best regards
Hajo

Im not familiar with your exact hardware, but just in general.. If it has it it should work, unless the output of the a/d converter (or tape or whatever) is out of the input parameters (like 192k audio is most likely not supported). Usually the outputs should both work together (you can use them both) but inputs as you said are only one at a time. As long as theres no signal in one the other should work fine! It sounds to me like a hardware malfunction (probably not the main board, but the input add-on card). If you just want to make an easy fix for it, go to radio shack (yes, I said radio shack.. dont worry your staying in the digital domain, so I wouldnt expect any signal clarity loss) and get their digital spdif converter. It has a switchable coax or optical input (with a real switch, so you can leave both hooked up at the same time and use a switch to decide what goes thru) and both coax and optical output (should be able to use both together or either one). Connect your optical input to the cpu, and switch the input you want. I think it cost like 25 or 30 bux, and yesterday when i went in to the ratshack near me I think that was the item that was on sale! (I may be mixing up the sale item with their a/v converter which turns a rca into s-video, and also has a stereo a/d converter -- that one I might question the quality, but its probably atleast as good as whats in a computer soundcard!) Hope all that helps -- Audioguy78