Basic HDMI troubleshooting needed

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Rikkitic

Awrrr
18657 posts

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#306890 31-Aug-2023 18:52

I use some old gear for digitising tapes and other projects. The other day I started having problems with the HDMI connection between the Panasonic DVR and Samsung TV. I have never had any issues with any HDMI connections until this and this one has also always worked perfectly until now.

The problem is that the TV frequently fails to recognise the DVR as a signal source. So far I can always get it to work by unplugging and replugging several times but I don’t know why this has started happening.

This is just a standard basic HDMI connection, I think 1.3. I’m not sure but any HDMI cable can handle it. I have several and I tried different ones but the problem remains the same. The TV is several years old and has two HDMI inputs. I have tried both several times but this doesn’t seem to make any difference. I get the same issue.

Apart from the DVR I also have an Android box and that seems to work perfectly with both inputs. As a test I also connected a different TV to the DVR and that also works flawlessly. The problem only seems to occur with the Panasonic DVR in combination with the Samsung TV. This makes me wonder if there can be some kind of handshaking issue going on. It doesn’t seem to behave like a simple bad connection but I am not familiar with the finer details of HDMI technology.

Can anyone tell me more about this? I would like to find a solution if I can. I realise I can upgrade the gear but I would like to know why this arrangement has suddenly started having problems after working well for so long. I call upon the genius of Geekzone.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

fe31nz

1228 posts

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#3122428 1-Sep-2023 00:07

The first thing to try, if you haven't already, is to power cycle both devices. Make sure they are both switched off at the wall for long enough for all the capacitors to be drained, so at least a couple of minutes. While you have them off, make use of the time to take a close look at the connectors on the cables and devices - clean off any dirt! When plugging the cables on again, check how well they fit - is there sloppiness, so things can move around? It is better to have a tight fit, so there is more of the surface of each connector in contact, and wind, vacuuming, earthquakes, kids, cats, dogs, ... will not move them around. Sadly, HDMI cables do not have screws to hold them on, so the weight of the cable pulls on them more than with a screwed in connector, and eventually that could cause problems as the cables are relatively heavy.

Beyond that, you may just be getting to the painful point where old equipment gets unreliable and dies. If the problem is reproducible, there are still places that fix electronics, but they are hard to find and often not very local. And the cost may be prohibitive.

DeepBlueSky

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3122735 1-Sep-2023 17:21

I agree with fe31nz re power cycling / hard reset the devices. My 7 year Samsung requires me to hold the power button down for a few seconds this forces a reboot I can see it’s doing this Samsung Quantum dot splash screen being displayed.

Do you have an equivalent for the Panasonic?

If you don’t leave unplugged as fe31nz suggested. I also try starting the e devices while unplugged to help dram residual power.

Along with fe31nz Cleaning suggestions I would get another new good quality HDMI cable to remove the simple things..

No firmware updates recently? And you have not mentioned the model numbers of the equipment that can sometimes help the team work out potential issues

Brunzy

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#3122894 2-Sep-2023 10:50

I have had similar things happen before ,when one of the devices has gone through an update.
If that’s the case, it’s unlikely a reboot would fix this, but something else to try is switching on devices one at a time , DVR / Tv then the reverse if that doesn’t work

Rikkitic

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#3122897 2-Sep-2023 11:10

Thanks for the responses. Sorry for the delay in getting back to this.

The TV is a Samsung Plasma PS43E400. The DVR is a Panasonic DMR EH50. Both have been repeatedly power cycled. I also turn them off at the wall when not in use. There has not been any update. The only Internet connection is to the Android box.

I will try the above suggestion about turning them on in different order. They have been coming on together as power is switched on. Although the problem of the DVR not being seen as a source has been occurring frequently, it doesn't happen every time so is intermittent.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

sqishy

470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3122971 2-Sep-2023 14:06

OK looks like TV is OK and it does not like lDVD- On the TV under HDMI I think you can change the Source name from VCR, DVD, PC, VCR / DVD / Cable STB / Satellite STB / PVR STB etc. often this makes a difference to how the TV operates and I suggest try changeing that.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3122978 2-Sep-2023 14:35

That sounds creative. I will give it a go later when I have time to play with it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

sqishy

470 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3123006 2-Sep-2023 15:48

Usually its PC Mode option, which removes the extra image processing and ensures the lowest possible input lag. I.e. when a PC looks fuzzy on the TV thismode fixed it but could be worth a try as well.