[RPi3B+] Composite Video Issues

alichino · January 24, 2025 at 4:40 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm a first-time user of LibreELEC and I'm trying to get composite video working with my RPi3b+. I did a fresh installation of the latest version of LibreELEC and I thought I followed the instructions in config.txt correctly, but for some reason I still can't get a composite video signal or the output to work. For reference, I've been testing the composite output on an old CRT TV as I'm trying to create a retro setup for 4:3 SD video content.

I made the following changes in config.txt:

Quote

[all]
################################################################################
# Use distroconfig-composite.txt instead of distroconfig.txt to enable
# composite video output.
# The composite video mode needs to be configured in cmdline.txt:
# For PAL add: video=Composite-1:720x576@50ie
# For NTSC add: video=Composite-1:720x480@60ie
################################################################################
#include distroconfig.txt
include distroconfig-composite.txt

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I also made the following change in cmdline.txt:

Quote

boot=UUID=1808-2032 disk=UUID=0a133ec0-0084-4da2-9ade-096d75fe9be8 quiet video=Composite-1:720x480@60ie console=tty0

I haven't made changes to any other files. I'm attaching copies of both of my .txt files for reference. Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I've been trying different variations in the .txt for a few days now and still can't get it to work.

Thank you!

**Da Flex** · January 26, 2025 at 2:03 AM

Post

RE: Composite Video in LE10 on RPi4

Getting composite video on RPi4 is currenntly a bit messy as composite has to be expicitly enabled in the kms driver, too (on RPi0-3 it's enabled by default in kms and there's an option to disable it).

This means you either have to modify distroconfig.txt (which isn't great as it will be replaced on every upgrade) or copy the contents of distroconfig.txt to config.txt and disable the distroconfig.txt include (which isn't great either as you may miss important changes to distroconfig.txt on…

HiassofT

November 10, 2021 at 4:27 PM

valdan · March 11, 2025 at 9:30 PM

Have you any progress? I just got a 3B+ as well recently and am having the same issues. The screen is wonky/flashing on some devices, then just non-existent on others. I've followed the exact instructions of HiassofT above across multiple fresh installs, but cannot get a solid video screen to output via Raspberry Pi 3B+ and the latest LibreElec.

**Da Flex** · March 11, 2025 at 9:36 PM

valdan Please test LE version 9.2.8 on RPi3B+. If I remember correctly, that version is working.

valdan · March 12, 2025 at 12:12 AM

Da Flex - I tried 9.2.8 version and it is not even showing a screen or any sign of life, other than flashing green on the Pi board. All updates were followed per the HiassofT section again. I'm going to attempt the 10.0.4 version, as thats the iteration linked in that forum thread.

valdan · March 12, 2025 at 12:53 AM

10.0.4 gave me the same messed up screen version as 12, but 9.2.8 will not start on the Pi. Just flashing green, like a boot issue. I'll keep diving in and see if there is something I can get going, but not sure just yet. Thank you for the help!

**HiassofT** · March 12, 2025 at 11:29 AM

The config.txt and cmdline.txt changes from the first post in this thread are correct, I just verified they work both with LE12.0.2 and the latest LE13 nightly (currently 20250311-9c980f7) on my RPi3B+.

Double-check that you are using the correct A/V cable, video is on the sleeve and ground on ring2 of the TRRS connector.

Also see eg https://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2014/07/raspbe…udiovideo-jack/ for more info on the pinout / cables.

so long,

Hias

valdan · March 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM

Quote from HiassofT

The config.txt and cmdline.txt changes from the first post in this thread are correct, I just verified they work both with LE12.0.2 and the latest LE13 nightly (currently 20250311-9c980f7) on my RPi3B+.
Double-check that you are using the correct A/V cable, video is on the sleeve and ground on ring2 of the TRRS connector.
Also see eg https://www.raspberrypi-spy.co.uk/2014/07/raspbe…udiovideo-jack/ for more info on the pinout / cables.
so long,
Hias

Thank you for this! I ordered a new cable out of necessity and have had success with the video! I'm working on getting audio output and standardizing playback (forcing transcode). If you have tips on Audio places to look, I'd appreciate it. I'll be diving in later this evening.

valdan · March 15, 2025 at 6:38 PM

Scratch all this. My tv speakers somehow shorted out (it was playing DVDs the day before) and I bumped it, the sound came back. Thank you so much for your help!