iPhone 4S HDMI out not working with a TV in Europe

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Level 1

15 points

iPhone 4S HDMI out not working with a TV in Europe

I am using an iPhone 4S running IOS7. I am on vacation in Europe. When I connect my iPhone to the TV here via HDMI adapter, it displays on TV for 5-10 seconds, disappears(video & audio) for 2-3 seconds, reappears for 5-10 seconds, disappears for 2-3 seconds, and on and on. Note that I'm not using any app when this happens, it's just the iPhone desktop. Even more confusing, if I plug it into the other HDMI port on the same TV, the TV says that the signal is not compatible with the TV(or something to that effect, don't remember the exact wording). I don't think the problem is the HDMI cable because I just used it with the same iPhone with a TV in the states less than week ago and it worked fine. Note that for each 5-10 second period when the iPhone displays on the TV, the display looks perfect, the way it should, etc. It's just that it keeps disappearing and re-appearing at the intervals I described. I am just wondering if it could be an NTSC/PAL issue(the TV is a PAL TV), or if not, what it is. I thought of the obvious, that the cable just might not be connected right, but I made sure a bunch of times, and the fact that plugging it into the other HDMI port results in the TV saying it can't display the signal makes me think it's something else. Any ideas?

Posted on Jun 1, 2014 8:17 AM

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Answer 1

dilbert41

Level 5

6,530 points

Jun 1, 2014 8:35 AM in response to Jon R

Plug the phone into a power source via the HDMI adapter at the same time. See if that makes a difference.

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Answer 2

wegras

Level 6

15,311 points

Jun 1, 2014 8:37 AM in response to Jon R

I am just wondering if it could be an NTSC/PAL issue(the TV is a PAL TV),

That would be my guess ,as you have found Europe works on PAL.

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Answer 3

Jon R Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 2, 2014 8:44 AM in response to wegras

Is there anything I can do about that? Isn't there supposed to be a way to set the iPhone to output for PAL? I've seen screenshots of a TV Out Settings screen, but that option never appears on my iPhone, even when it's plugged into the TV.

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Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:03 AM in response to Jon R

The TV Out option only appears when connecting an analog video cable, such as the Apple Composite or Component AV Adapters; it will not appear when using the Apple Digital AV Adapter or the Apple VGA Adapter, as these cables do not require any additional settings.

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Answer 5

Jon R Author

Level 1

15 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:07 AM in response to wjosten

So, is the Digital AV Adapter with HDMI cable supposed to work with PAL TVs the same as NTSC TVs then?

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Answer 6

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:09 AM in response to Jon R

AFAIK, yes. Sounds like your problem is either the cable or the TV. Have another TV to test?

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Answer 7

raymond73

Level 4

1,843 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:09 AM in response to Jon R

PAL or NTSC is a broadcast standard. HDMI is an interface standard and is the same around the world. The HDMI adapter will work just fine. I did so on my last trip to Europe, connecting to a European (PAL) TV. But again, PAL or NTSC does not factor into HDMI useage.

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Answer 8

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:31 AM in response to Jon R

As far as I know, the last time I purchased an HDMI cable, it referred to NTSC and PAL on the box. I'm not sure if they all support both, but it may be something for you to check into.

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Answer 9

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:36 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

An HDMI cable is an HDMI cable, there is no such thing as a NTSC or PAL version. NTSC & PAL have nothing to do with an HDMI cable.

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Answer 10

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,351 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:38 AM in response to wjosten

The reason that I stated that was a web search indicated both versions and also a conversion HDMI cable. I certainly would not want to argue with you.

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Answer 11

raymond73

Level 4

1,843 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:42 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

The reason that I stated that was a web search indicated both versions

It is stated for both versions because people don't understand that HDMI has nothing to do with PAL or NTSC. It just stops a lot of questions if they think they are getting a cable that supports both.

My lightning to HDMI worked flawlessly in Europe on PAL TVs and it also works flawlessly on NTSC TVs in North America.

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Answer 12

wjosten

Level 10

95,369 points

Jun 2, 2014 9:43 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

NTSC & PAL are analog and have nothing to do with HDMI which is digital.

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