RPI4b 4gb, HDMI-CEC

Mj1857 · August 2, 2019 at 2:46 PM

Hello everyone,

This is my first post in RPI forums, even though been using them since rpi2.

Just bought an rpi4 4gb and I must say the performance is amazing. everything is working as expected (havent tried any addons yet) but it doesnt connect to my Samsung ue55es8000's hdmi-cec. hdmi-cec's been working for my other rpi but this one, i couldt get it to work. so i connected this to another samsung tv and its working for that one (wierd). but no matter what i do, couldnt get hdmi-cec to work on it.

Is there something I can do to troubleshoot this?

cheers

Mj

ajne · August 6, 2019 at 12:43 PM

Hello,

i have similar problem with LG TV (Simplink). Before this i have RPi3 B and worked it with this TV without problem. Now i bought RPi4 4GB version, and nothing. I tried both HDMI ports, wait to new version LibreELEC beta - and still nothing.

And i have question, for CEC functionality, can i use both of RPi ports, or CEC work only on specific HDMI (i tryed Google for answer, but no luck)?

Calimero Oeuf · August 6, 2019 at 3:39 PM

There is a menu to setup plenty of parameters for CEC in Kodi, I don't remember where it is.

Did you check them ?

Mj1857 · August 6, 2019 at 6:24 PM

Hi and yes the menu is in services for hdmi-cec parameters. Checked everything's fine, it actually works on another samsung tv but for my main TV, it doesnt work.

jimbo34 · August 6, 2019 at 6:48 PM

I had similar problems with the 2GB version on an lg tv. I solved it by using the HDMI port closest to the power socket then going into the CEC settings, I think under peripherals and setting HDMI port to 1.

ajne · August 7, 2019 at 6:30 AM

Calimero Oeuf - Yeah, i checked this parameters right on the beginning.

jimbo34 - I tried all HDMI ports, but nothing change (and in this moment it is connected into HDMI like RPi3 before - and with RPi3 CEC works without problem)

jimbo34 · August 9, 2019 at 9:57 AM

one last thing to try if you haven't already, unplug all other HDMI devices from your tv, then switch off the TV and the pi, then switch them back on again. I had to do this once before with a Pi2 to get CEC working.

Mj1857 · August 12, 2019 at 4:39 PM

Tried all, nothing works - i even tried developer builds to see if it makes a difference but nope

Pi 4 speed for playing videos is amazing but i can only use it with an external mouse which really doesnt make any sense to me - I mean hdmi-cec is working on all pi's but 4 - such a shame i have to return this pi now and wait for a proper build to come out first.

**Da Flex** · August 13, 2019 at 12:35 AM Official Post

Quote from Mj1857

...such a shame i have to return this pi now and wait for a proper build to come out first.

Not so fast! RPi4B is a brand new device, which takes time at the software part. Don't forget it's made by hobby programmers.

Mj1857 · August 13, 2019 at 1:02 PM

Quote from Da Flex

Not so fast! RPi4B is a brand new device, which takes time at the software part. Don't forget it's made by hobby programmers.

I know what you mean but m not even sure if these programmers are aware of this issue

**Da Flex** · August 13, 2019 at 2:25 PM Official Post

HDMI is a standard, and the only parameter that could really change between devices is data transmission speed.

My advice is to take the HDMI cable from the working TV, and plug it into the not working one. Just to be sure it's not the cable. As you know, some HDMI cables are ready for high speed, and others are not, so CEC data could get lost.

Mj1857 · August 15, 2019 at 11:02 AM

Quote from Da Flex

HDMI is a standard, and the only parameter that could really change between devices is data transmission speed.

My advice is to take the HDMI cable from the working TV, and plug it into the not working one. Just to be sure it's not the cable. As you know, some HDMI cables are ready for high speed, and others are not, so CEC data could get lost.

Thank you - I've tried that already but it doesnt work - changed 5 different cables but no luck

**Da Flex** · August 16, 2019 at 8:42 AM Official Post

Quote from Mj1857

Thank you - I've tried that already but it doesnt work - changed 5 different cables but no luck

OK, then it's probably not the HDMI cable.

My final idea is that your TV uses special CEC codes, which are not yet implemented for RPi4B.

You could write a bug report, and become a part of the solution.

Write the full TV model name, and give a link to this thread, so devs can know about what you already did.

Mj1857 · August 16, 2019 at 4:47 PM

Quote from Da Flex

OK, then it's probably not the HDMI cable.

My final idea is that your TV uses special CEC codes, which are not yet implemented for RPi4B.

You could write a bug report, and become a part of the solution.

Write the full TV model name, and give a link to this thread, so devs can know about what you already did.

Thank you but I am not sure if that can be the case either as libreelec is perfectly working fine on the same tv with rpi2 andd 3's.

TV: Samsung ue55es8000

**Da Flex** · August 16, 2019 at 5:28 PM Official Post

Quote from Mj1857

Thank you but I am not sure if that can be the case either as libreelec is perfectly working fine on the same tv with rpi2 andd 3's.

I think it's possible, because CEC data is merged into A/V data. RPi4B uses a different graphics driver to deal with higher resolutions and two HDMI outs. CEC signals have to be filtered out of the HDMI stream, before CEC adapter can handle it.

Mj1857 · August 17, 2019 at 12:03 PM

Quote from Da Flex

I think it's possible, because CEC data is merged into A/V data. RPi4B uses a different graphics driver to deal with higher resolutions and two HDMI outs. CEC signals have to be filtered out of the HDMI stream, before CEC adapter can handle it.

In that case, its definitely needs to be looked at the developers

**S80_UK** · August 17, 2019 at 4:57 PM

Quote from Da Flex

I think it's possible, because CEC data is merged into A/V data. RPi4B uses a different graphics driver to deal with higher resolutions and two HDMI outs. CEC signals have to be filtered out of the HDMI stream, before CEC adapter can handle it.

This is almost 100% incorrect... (sorry...)

CEC data is never part of the AV stream. In fact, CEC is a separate LOW speed interface (actually a bit like a slow I2C bus). It uses a separate line in the cable from the AV data. Most cables will include CEC support, but there are some that do not.

Info here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/consumer_electronics_control

**Da Flex** · August 17, 2019 at 5:17 PM Official Post

Quote from S80_UK

This is almost 100% incorrect... (sorry...)

CEC data is never part of the AV stream. In fact, CEC is a separate LOW speed interface (actually a bit like a slow I2C bus). It uses a separate line in the cable from the AV data. Most cables will include CEC support, but there are some that do not.

Info here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/consumer_electronics_control

Thanks for the info, I was just guessing to find the problem.

Am I correct when I'm saying, the CEC part has a different implementation for RPi4B, compared to RPi3x?

Because that's the point to find a solution.