TV doesn't see Apple TV first time (HDMI)

As you have no other HDMI devices I assume you are connecting AppleTv direct to the TV rather than via an AV amp or HDMI switch (these can all cause issues).

In essence the problem is likely to be HDMI - this evolving standard is not without it's inconsistencies. Basically the AppleTV and Tv negotiate across HDMI and determine if they can talk to each other or not. For some reason TVs and HDMI devices don't always manage to communicate unless things are turned on in a particular order, sometimes there rae software bugs with certain TVs (there was a common problem with certain Samsung TVs some time ago).

I think it's unlikely that your HDMI lead is at fault as the issue is reproducible. It's difficult to exclude an HDMI software/hardware issue with either your TV or AppleTV but more likely than not it's just one of those things.

I have a 32" LG LCD which is about 2 1/2 years old with a single HDMI input and can freely switch between HDMI and other sources without needing to turn the TV on/off, but unfortunately even from the same manufacturer some models show HDMI inconsistencies others don't.

Out of interest do you have the screensaver enabled on AppleTV, as if not when AppleTv goes ino sleep mode it might lose the HDMI connection with no video, though there are some suggestions that AppleTv just outputs a blank screen rather than no video at all. No harm enabling the screensaver if it's currently off to see if it helps.


AC

I have a very similar problem with my 37" Olevia TV. I have to pull the power and reboot my Apple TV every time I want to use it. If I switch input back to Tuner or something else and come back my Apple TV will repeatedly flash up for about a second and then display the "No Signal!" screen.

It's important to note that, during those brief flashes, I can see that the screen-saver (photos) are still chugging along and I can still select menu items. It's just that the flash to the Apple TV menu is brief and a still image of what was displayed at that very second.

I've tried 3 different HDMI cables and other HDMI devices with no problems. Am I right in reasoning that something going hinky with the HDMI handshake between the Apple TV and the TV when I switch to the tuner for a bit? It's almost as though the Apple TV is still functioning fine, but the TV has lost the ability to read/display the signal. Restarting fixes it every time, but it's a slow process and an annoyance.

Any insight to be had?

PJ

I can confirm that this problem is completely avoided by using a component cable. I have two apple TV's in the house and the one connected to my home theater projector works without fail (component). It's the one in the bedroom that, without fail, loses the HDMI connection when I turn the TV off or switch to the tuner to watch cable TV and then switch back.

More than that, it's hit and miss that the signal will be re-acquired when I restart the apple tv.

Extraordinarily frustrated and would love a solution.

Sladdi,
So after a year or so of on again off again performance, this week I'm having the same issue. I've gone months at a time when everything works great with HDMI then it will go on the blink.
This time I tried swapping the component cable on my DVR with the HDMI on the Apple TV. Right away I lost the 1080p option on Apple TV. Now the best is 1080i. Nevertheless, a 1080i is better than losing the picture altogether.
Honestly I have never tried messing with the boot sequence. Does that work for you consistently? By the way, my TV is a Samsung.