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User profile for user: mindedc
mindedc Author
User level: Level 1
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AppleTV and Monoprice HDMI switch

I recently added a additional HDMI devices and this caused me to need a switch. I also have a remote TV in the bedroom that I usually just watch sat TV in the bedroom. My TV only has a single HDCP DVI connector and I decided to kill multiple birds with one stone and use a monoprice HDMI 2x4 matrix switch.

I can get the AppleTV to work by booting it with while it is selected for either or both of the TVs. If I change the input to a different one and change it back it will work a time or two and then go to a grey screen. Sometimes I can get it back by hitting a key on the ATV remote. Most of the time I have to boot it. I can't even get it to come back from the grey screen by plugging the TV directly into it. I have noticed that if I leave it alone like this for several minutes it will quite often reboot itself.

My sat reciever and bluray don't exhibit this problem. I can flip them around between ports and the two attached TVs and they all work properly. I had specifically gotten this switch because I saw posts where people were having success with ATV and this product. It seems to me that there is something broken in the AppleTV HDMI implementation where its not re-initializing the HDMI after a few shots.
I have several Macs I could probably put on the switch and verify that they will work with the switcher if that would help.

I would really appreciate help with this a lot as the ATV is my media center device in the room with the set with the single input. The set in the other room has multiple HDMI inputs and if I really wanted one there I could just buy another ATV. The set with a single input has some specific physical properties that make it pretty uniquely suitable for the installation and I really don't want to change the TV out. Besides that it's paid for 🙂.

Oh, and ATV is a 40gig version, on the latest code, connected via ethernet to the network (no wireless).

2009 Mac Pro, MBP 17", MBP 15", Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 8, 2010 12:39 PM

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16 replies
User profile for user: sebo
sebo
User level: Level 1
1 points

Jan 8, 2010 5:50 PM in response to mindedc

That is exactly what happens to my ATV. I have a 4 port switch with PS3, DVD player etc connected as I only have one HDMI on the TV. I have tried putting the ATV into standby before switching to another channel on the HDMI switch, makes no difference, I even have to reboot the ATV by turning off the power to the ATV as it will not come back from standby. Drives me nuts.

From other threads I have read I think that there are some short comings with the ATV, it seems a weak product in comparison with the other products Apple make, it is a shame as as a unit I use it a lot. Every time my son uses his PS3, or switch the DVD on etc that's it, reset the ATV so it is quiet frequent that the thing has to be reset.

Apple come on, whats the story?
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User profile for user: JesseSchulte
JesseSchulte
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 9, 2010 11:39 AM in response to Givmeabrek

I have been pulling my hair out with the exact same issue. Thanks for the tip about changing the resolution to 720, I will go home and try it.

Has anyone seen any official replies from Apple about this issue? It seems like the ATV community has been ignored by everyone at Apple. I would hope that since this is a common issue they would be working hard at resolving it or at least make a few posts about some work arounds to help us out.

Message was edited by: JesseSchulte
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User profile for user: Chenks
Chenks
User level: Level 5
7,435 points

Feb 9, 2010 11:38 AM in response to JesseSchulte

JesseSchulte wrote:
Has anyone seen any official replies from Apple about this issue? It seems like the ATV community has been ignored by everyone at Apple. I would hope that since this is a common issue they would be working hard at resolving it or at least make a few posts about some work arounds to help us out.


you won't get responses form apple here as this is just a user-to-user support forum.
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User profile for user: Maurizio54
Maurizio54
User level: Level 1
0 points

Feb 9, 2010 12:17 PM in response to mindedc

Hi, I have a similar problem. I had one ATV and it was working just fine, I then decided to add a second one, but all 3 HDMI ports are now used on the TV (PS3, SKY HD receiver, ATV) so I bought a Belkin HDMI switch with two ports, when I switch from one to another when I go back the screen is black and I cannot see a thing, sometime but random I can hear the sound of the clicking of the remote control, but no video, only way is to reboot, but then I reboot both units or I have to cover one ATV with metal sheet before rebooting. Not a nice situation. I have tried to lower resolution from 1080 to 720 but it did not work. I guess the only way for now is to have the two ATV "live" and switch between PS3 and SKY receiver, till this problem is solved by Apple. Unless someone has some other idea.
Cheers
Maurizio
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User profile for user: FangSuede
FangSuede
User level: Level 4
2,195 points

Feb 9, 2010 7:37 PM in response to Maurizio54

I just purchased a Kanto 5x1 'powered' HDMI Switch from Costco Online. I was a bit worried about my TV working properly after all the reported problems.
I have my Dish DVR/DVD/TV HDMI cables into the Kanto switch, the output of the Kanto to my H/K Receiver's HDMI and then on to the LCD TV.
It works - but.
I have found some hesitation in the TV if it is not powered on. Now, before using the Kanto's Remote to switch channels I power-on the TV (using the  Remote). It works fine that way and my wife is happily renting movies and switching back and forth from one device to another.
Another thing I noticed was the quality of the old HDMI cables I'd been using. The Kanto came with 3 of their own version V1.3 cables, they were big diameter and gold plated, my old ones were a much smaller diameter. I went out and bought a similar quality cable for the rest of the installation. I now have everything running at 1080p and it all works and looks good, I amazed myself....
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User profile for user: rjeffords
rjeffords
User level: Level 1
30 points

Feb 10, 2010 10:45 AM in response to mindedc

Wow! I am SO GLAD that I am not alone. I recently purchased a Monoprice 4x1 HDMI switcher and couldn't seem to figure out why my AppleTV would go completely response-less.

My ATV would disappear from iTunes (yes it is linked), won't be able to SSH into it, and when I attempt to watch it the screen is black. I thought it was an HDMI switcher/signaling issue. I've been having to completely unplug my ATV to get it to do anything...this just doesn't seem right.

So is everyone saying that this needs to be plugged directly into the TV and not a switcher?
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User profile for user: FangSuede
FangSuede
User level: Level 4
2,195 points

Feb 10, 2010 6:25 PM in response to rjeffords

I don't have a MonoPrice switch but I did notice they sell three (3) different models, which one do you have? Because of the confusion of the various models I bought the Kanto, as described in my post above and the TV works fine. It also updates in iTunes, I use the Ver. 2 firmware in the TV.

I also noted in the MonoPrice Ad for the HDX-401E switch that they have a bold type (in red) that says:
+NOTE: 24AWG or thicker (lower AWG number) cables are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for best performance. Some devices will require thicker gauge, category 2 cables to work with this switch. For runs up to 15ft, use 24AWG. For runs of 20ft or more, use 22AWG (which is thicker than 24AWG.)+
Are your cables the thicker gauge? I use the 22AWG cables now, even though I had no previous problems with the 24AWG. I did it for a little insurance that I got a good signal to/from all the devices.
In the PC magazine article it even mentions that the Tester had to change out one HDMI cable to a device to get proper performance.
I'm just guessing here, as I'm certainly not an expert in this.
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User profile for user: rjeffords
rjeffords
User level: Level 1
30 points

Feb 10, 2010 6:55 PM in response to FangSuede

This is the model I bought:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&pid=5557&seq=1&format=2

I'll give a few other cables a try. The good news is all of the cables I have are pretty thick/good quality cables to begin with, but never-the-less, I'll try switching some out.

Edit: This is the cable I'm using for my ATV:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?cid=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024012&pid=4158&seq=1&format=2

Message was edited by: rjeffords
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User profile for user: FangSuede
FangSuede
User level: Level 4
2,195 points

Feb 10, 2010 7:33 PM in response to rjeffords

That's interesting, I was just reading the reviews on that exact model on MonoPrice. It would seem to be a great answer to those trying to integrate legacy equipment with HDMI devices.
Near the bottom of the Reviews page you see a lot of folks complaining of dropouts, finicky behavior and the necessity of power resets. There are various devices that don't work well with that model either. I didn't notice any TV reports.
Your cable is a Cat 2, CL2 cable but is 24AWG, should be good though.

This is all new to me since I got newer audio/video stuff. Maybe I'm lucky in the particular types of equipment I use with my switch, more compatible with it - don't know.
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User profile for user: Maurizio54
Maurizio54
User level: Level 1
0 points

Feb 12, 2010 12:14 PM in response to Robert Gilbert

I will give it a try but I thought that if you select the composite output then you should use the composite input on the tv not the HDMI.
I will also try the new fw, I have hope on this since I believe the problem is due to some sort of detection of hdmi presence or not. In fact on my little Berkin switch a led comes on only when the hdmi device is connected and powered up. It is as if the ATv switches itself off when there is no hdmi signal present.
Cheers
maurizio
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AppleTV and Monoprice HDMI switch

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