No or intermittent signal from raspberry pi zero w to smart tv

muhdgoi · May 1, 2017 at 2:49 PM

Hey everyone,
I've been trawling through multiple forums and threads trying to find a solution to a really irritating problem with LibreElec on the Raspberry Pi Zero W.
Basically I have managed to set up the Raspberry Pi Zero W with LibreElec and had it successfully running on standard HD screens, but when I try to move it to a smart TV there is nothing most of the time and intermittent signal sometimes.
I have tried 2 separate Pi Zero W boards, 2 seperate power cables, 4 HDMI cables, 2 power supply units, Different memory cards, new installations. 3 standard HD screens (all working), 2 Smart TVs (same problem) and confirmed that LibreElec on the pi 3 works with the smart tv.

Further to this I have tried editing the config.txt file on windows to include the lines:

config_hdmi_boost=9

hdmi_force_hotplug=1

hdmi_drive=2

....but with no effect on the issue.

Any help or pointers on this would be greatly appreciated.

**popcornmix** · May 2, 2017 at 2:19 PM

Is this when in GUI or only when playing video?

muhdgoi · May 2, 2017 at 4:33 PM

It is from the second the Pi Zero is plugged in. I get the colour block flash on screen and then the display flashes on and off throughout the time the pi is switched on, I haven't gotten to play any videos on it while it's connected to any smart tv.

**popcornmix** · May 2, 2017 at 7:15 PM

Are you able to measure the voltage on the Pi0 (between 5V and GND on gpio header)?
That would be one likely reason for this issue.

muhdgoi · May 2, 2017 at 11:10 PM

Thanks popcornmix, I'll try that when i borrow a meter later this week. Further to what has been done previously, I have since tried different OSes and still get the same problem on one of the Pis and the other I have since found is just burning out the memory cards and so am returning this one.