HDMI TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE (APRIL 2012) SUBJECT:
PRECAUTIONS AND TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS TO HELP WITH HDMI HANDSHAKE PROBLEMS
Precautions: HDMI can be very difficult to troubleshoot and diagnose properly. Many times the AV receiver gets blamed for HDMI handshake issues simply because the AV receiver is the HDMI “middle man”. More often than not the AV receiver is working properly and HDMI handshake problems are not fully analyzed to find the root of the problem-‐ resulting in unnecessary return trips to the jobsite, unnecessary returns of products, and overall wasted time in diagnosing and troubleshooting an HDMI problem. Understand that in the world of HDMI the AV receiver is a “repeater”, so when it is inserted into the HDMI signal path many things change. The source and display device need to recognize that there is now a “repeater” in the HDMI chain and must therefore pass the proper protocol information to support the repeater. This can include something as simple as the source device having the proper number of HDCP keys to support an additional HDMI device. If the source device only has 1 HDCP key available then things will not work properly-‐ the AV receiver takes 1 HDCP key so there is not another one for the display device. By the same token – if the source device only hands out 2 HDCP keys but the AV receiver is connected to 2 display devices (HDMI OUT MAIN and HDMI OUT SUB), the minute that the second display device turns on the source device (cable box for example) will stop outputting video to one or perhaps both display devices because it does not have 3 HDCP keys to hand out. HDMI Risk factor: signal loss… this is most often due to attenuation due to overall cable length. The longer the distance that the HDMI signal has to travel-‐ the more signal loss will occur (all else being equal). When the AV receiver is inserted in the mix there will be additional inherent signal loss due to the extra cabling (from source to AV receiver), connection loss (due to extra connection points), etc. Normally there is enough headroom in the HDMI ecosystem that this is not be a problem… however, if the HDMI signal path is close to the digital cliff… watch out-‐ the extra 1 or 2m cable and connections could be enough to push things right over the edge. -‐In general keep HDMI signal path as short as possible. Especially when using extenders/baluns-‐ try to use .5 meter cable from the transmitter/receiver to AV receiver and display device. -‐Take great care in the initial installation of the HDMI cable (especially long runs) or Cat5/6 cable (if using HDMI extenders). Avoid sharp bends, keep the paths as straight as possible, avoid exerting unnecessary pressure when pulling the cable, pull shielded Cat5/6 cables if possible, and if using 2 Cat5/6 cables make sure the overall length is equal for each one. -‐Check to see how many HDCP keys the source device has (particularly if using 2 HDMI outs, matrix switcher, splitter, etc.) and make sure there are an adequate number of keys available for the number of devices which require a key (AV receiver, Display devices, etc.).
Basic Troubleshooting Steps (in no particular order- some may or may not apply depending on the installation):
-‐Check firmware on all devices (this includes display device(s), source devices and Integra AV receiver/processor) to make sure everything is up to date. -‐Hard power cycle all components (pull the power plug, wait a few seconds, reinsert): Display device, balun/extender, AVR, set-‐top box, etc. This is especially true if there was some type of recent power flicker, storm, etc. at the installation location. -‐Check all components individually. Does the cable box work but the Blu-‐ray player does not? If you can get a particular component to work then use a process or elimination to try to find what might be causing the problem. For example: switch the sources around to see if the problem follows the source itself, the cabling connected to the source or the input on the AV receiver/processor. -‐Are there any HDMI splitters, Matrix switchers, etc. in the signal path? If so, bypass and test each source and display when connected directly to the Integra AV receiver/processor. -‐Check each available resolution from the source device. If 480p, 480i, 1080i work reliably but 1080p does not-‐ there is evidence of too much signal loss (could be due to long HDMI cabling, inadequate cabling, connection loss, etc.). -‐Turn components on in the reverse order of the HDMI signal path. -‐For Example: Turn on the display device first-‐> wait a few seconds-‐> turn on the AV Receiver-‐> wait a few seconds-‐> turn on the set top box or BD player -‐Disable all AUTO settings possible in the source and display devices (force a particular resolution, color depth, etc.). -‐Set an explicit color space in the source device (such as a Blu-‐ray player). For example set to “RGB” or “YCbCr” in the Blu-‐ray player instead of leaving it on “Auto”. This can simplify the handshake process and help with intermittent handshake problems. This is especially true if the display is Green or Pink. -‐Disable all HDMI CEC functions in all devices connected via HDMI (Display Device, BD Player, AV receiver, etc.) These include CEC controls such as RIHD (Integra), Anynet+ (Samsung), Viera Link (Panasonic), BRAVIA Sync (Sony), SimpLink (LG), etc. -‐Set picture mode to “Direct” in the Integra AV receiver/processor (if applicable-‐ this is available in the .3 and newer units). -‐Setup-‐> Source Setup-‐> Picture Adjust-‐>Picture Mode-‐> Direct www.integrahometheater.com
Integra Division of Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation 18 Park Way Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 TEL: 201.785-2600
-‐Disable Deep Color in the source device (typically this is only found in a Blu-‐ray player). You can also try disabling in the Integra AV receiver/processor… however, if disabled in the AV receiver/processor-‐ this will tell all source components which are plugged into the Integra AV receiver/processor not to send Deep Color information so it is probably best to disable in the source component specifically. -‐To disable in the Integra receiver/processor: Turn the unit on-‐> press and hold CBL/SAT-‐> press STANDBY/ON (front panel display will show “Deep Color: Enable”)-‐> press STANDBY/ON again (front panel display will show “Deep Color: Disable”) -‐Are there any HDMI extenders/baluns being used? If so, bypass and test each source or output via straight HDMI cable (good quality relatively short, less than 4 meters for testing purposes). If the unit works fine at shorter lengths or with straight HDMI cables then you may need to consider some type of active re-‐equalization /signal conditioner type of device in the HDMI signal path. If necessary, choose one that has its own power supply (not the type which rely on 5V via HDMI for power). -‐Are multiple HDMI outputs from the receiver/processor being used? If so, check each display device and cabling individually to see if the problem follows the display device itself, it’s connected cabling, or the output from the AV receiver/processor. If using multiple display devices try check to make sure they can accept the same resolution, color depth, etc. Otherwise, be careful in setting up the HDMI OUT MAIN and HDMI OUT SUB settings so that when both outputs are on a common (acceptable) resolution and color depth are being sent. -‐Try forcing a new HDMI handshake by changing the output resolution from the source device. For example use the “Resolution” button on a Blu-‐ray player to switch from 1080p to 1080i and then back to 1080p again. -‐“Skip” video processor in the Integra AV receiver/processor: -‐Turn the unit on-‐> press and hold VCR/DVR-‐> press RETURN (front panel display will show “Video Processor: Use”)-‐> press RETURN again (front panel display will show “Video Processor: Skip”) -‐If this fixes a problem please contact Integra dealer technical support 877-‐454-‐4800 to report more information about the installation details (make/model of the display device, AV receiver, etc.)
www.integrahometheater.com
Integra Division of Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation 18 Park Way Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458 TEL: 201.785-2600