Apple TV 4K Random HDMI Signal Loss

**SOLUTION FOUND**

Hopefully this will work for everyone. I bought this HDMI 2.1 cable off Amazon ( Amazon.com: ECHOGEAR 4 ft Braided HDMI 2.1 Cable - 4k Compatible With Gold Plated Connections For the Best Picture - Sup… )

ECHOGEAR 4 ft Braided HDMI 2.1 Cable - 4k Compatible With Gold Plated Connections For the Best Picture - Supports HD, 4k, and Ethernet Signals With 120fps Refresh & 48gbps Bandwidth.

It has worked with no issues and I'm no longer experience any signal loss. Doing my research I found that HDMI 2.0b can't handle 4k TV's with 120hz native refresh along with Dolby Vision; too much bandwidth. Any HDMI 2.1 cable should work but if you are buying off Amazon, PLEASE read the reviews and descriptions first. There are some companies claiming their cable is HDMI 2.1 compatible and it isn't. The Echogear has worked for me with no problems for over a week. I'm running an LG 65" 8500 series TV with Dolby Vision.

http://www.techradar.com/news/new-faster-hdmi-21-cables-are-on-the-way-heres-wha t-you-need-to-know

I can confirm that using the Echogear HDMI cable fixed the issue for me. I have the ATV4K set to Dolby Vision, LG OLED OLED65B7P with the latest update 4.70.36 WebOS. It hasn't dropped a single time for me since I started using the cable. The only thing I wonder now is, was it the cable or maybe cable length that could be causing the issue.

Originally I was using AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable, 10 Feet, 18gbps.

Currently Unavailable, but I got the Echogear HDMI cable from Amazon

Amazon.com: ECHOGEAR 4 ft Braided HDMI 2.1 Cable - 4k Compatible With Gold Plated Connections For the Best Picture - Sup…

After replacing my ATV4K twice, I found this thread. Based on what I read, I just replaced my Audioquest Cinnamon HDMI cable (HDMI 2.0) with the Echogear HDMI 2.1 cables recommended above. So far, no signal loss. Seems to be much better.

I also noticed other small improvements like the ability in Netflix to see video thumbnails when "scrubbing" (using FF/REW). With previous cable, the thumbnail image box was empty. I suspect there just wasn't enough bandwidth to get all the image information through quickly.

My setup:

• ATV4K connected directly to HDMI 1 on a 55" Sony A1E (using Echogear for this connection).
• My video settings on ATV4K are 4K HDR 60Hz/Chroma 4:2:2/Match Content Range & Frame Rate.

Even with the Echogear cable, I still experience a brief black screen when switching between streaming and the title screen (episode list) for a Netflix show. The cable upgrade solved the issue-- mostly. I think Apple still has some work to do here.

I'm a little frustrated that BestBuy/Magnolia folks (got TV there) were confident that the pricey Audioquest cables supported the latest HDMI standards. Should have done my homework sooner, as I would have learned that they are not HDMI 2.1. Hoping I can return them.

I turned the Dolby Vision off. You're really only missing out on some of the auto screen brightening and more cosmetic things. Since I've done that, the Apple TV has worked fine.

That being said, this TV still has the same issue with my PS4 Pro and Xbox. LG did something to their adaptable signal codec and when these systems change ANYTHING about the signal, the TV freaks out.

I bought the Echogear HDMI cable from Amazon 3 weeks ago. Problem solved. Apple TV 4K requires HDCP 2.2 support. This means your HDMI input on your 4K TV, your HDMI cable, and anything else in between needs to support HDCP 2.2. Most HDMI cables do not support HDCP 2.2. Some 4K TV inputs do not support HDCP 2.2. The Echogear HDMI cable worked for me. Price is $16.99 today at Amazon:

ECHOGEAR 8 ft Braided HDMI 2.1 Cable - 4k & HDR Compatible With Gold Plated Connections For the Best Picture - Supports HD, 4k, 3D, & Ethernet Signals With 120fps Refresh & 48gbps Bandwidth. Supports HDCP2.2 when using HDCP2.2 video source.

🙂

Hey there, I was having this issue a LOT when I first hooked up my system which includes an Apple TV 4k and a LG OLED C7 using the most recent HDMI cables. Every day, it seemed that I would be watching tv and the ATV signal would drop and the tv would then read "No Signal". The only way to fix it was to either turn the tv off then on again, or unplugging the HDMI cable and plugging it back in...UNTIL NOW!

SOLUTION:

Turn off Dolby Vision on the Apple TV. There is something weird that happened with the tv communicating with it's deep color feature and DV on the ATV.

I haven't had any signal drops ever since I turned off Dolby Vision.

P.S. The picture profiles once you turn off DV on the ATV are WAY better anyway, I personally love the expert (dark room) preset.

Hope this helps everyone!

How many people with this problem have “Match Frame Rate” turned on? My Apple TV 4K was fine until a month ago or so when I started having the random drop outs due to loss of HDMI handshake. I have been using HDMI 2.0 cables from Costco but decided to get the suggested Echogear cable which mostly solved the problems but I still was having some weird issues where some video streams wouldn’t load, especially in the Vudu app where it would say my cable isn’t HDCP compliant. I finally turned off match Dynamic Range which didn’t do much but since I turned off Match Frame Rate everything has been working perfectly. I actually want to go back to my original cable next to see if it works as well.

I found something in another thread discussing audio that might be worth trying.

If you're like me you have your Apple TV 4K connected to the HDMI 2 port (my Sat/Cable-box is on HDMI 1).

HDMI 2 is a HDMI ARC port. At least on the B/C/E7 series of LG OLEDS.

Appreantly ARC is a new nifty standard that sends audio and other control signals back through the HDMI-cable, which might be good if you use a soundbar etc. Apparenly it can also screw things up and I think that's what causing my Apple TV 4K to loose hdmi sync every now and then.

I've now switched to HDMI 3 instead and haven't had this issue since.

Might be worth trying!

As a side note: any new HMDI cable should be good enough.

Have you tried changing the refresh rate to Dolby Vision 4K at 30Hz or 24Hz? The default is 60Hz, which your TV may not support, or you may need to engage motion interpolation on the TV to increase the frame rate, which creates the soap opera effect on many TVs. Some of you having no signal drop outs may not be experiencing the drop outs due to your TVs handling of high frame rates or the motion settings or TV picture mode you have chosen.

To get to the lower frame rate options, you will have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the video options menu on the Apple TV; there are many. Setting it to the lower refresh rates means the menu navigation won't be as smooth, but it may fix the signal drop outs. Personally, I turn off the TruMotion settings on my LG B7 OLED and I use the 30Hz option on my Apple TV 4K. Films are mastered at 24Hz, so with the match frame content option engaged on the ATV 4K, it will switch to 24Hz in streaming sources that support it automatically.

Hi all just sharing my experience and solution as this was driving me mad and this discussion helped me find a solution.

Setup: Apple TV 4K and LG OLED B7 TV with an SJ8 sound bar attached.

Using: Netflix, Prime and Disney Life and BoxTV app (Ireland only)

Was using amazon basic and other cables including the apple branded HDMI cable from the apple store with major issues including sparkling and drop outs forcing TV and ATV restarts would happen almost once every show or film also sound sync was off and not correctable properly.

Corrected by

• buying two Philips 4K cables form Argos as per http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5537750
• One cable run from ATV to SJ8(receiver) and one form SJ8 to non ARC HDMI on TV
• Disabled content match on ATV

Tested first for a week in Dolby vision 30HZ OK

Then 50HZ for a week all ok

finally 60HZ for a week all ok.

HDR also enabled on the HDMI port automatically.

Happy to say its all finally fixed without any new firmware for ATV or LG TV.

Seems to work on all Dolby vision settings also standard, cinema etc.

Also ATV now handshakes with TV immediately, doesn't flash in and out as Dolby vision/HDR is enabled by the TV and shows remain where left off on each App which wasn't happening before so makes me think its a handshake issue on other cables and the ATV forces the TV to retest/setup/enable the settings each time which causes issues and initial screen changing/dropout later.

So previously I had high speed certified Qualgear QG-PCBL-HD20 cables, and was having this problem. I gave up and purchased QED performance certified cables. No problems since. This seems really fussy or there are loads of rubbish cables out there. If this is a cable issue I have lost all faith the the HDMI certification programme.

I have an encouraging update for owners of the LG OLED TV's. (B7 & C7). This morning I received the 4.70.36 WebOS update. Since receiving this update I have not had a single lost signal issue. I've been running the TV all day and now into the evening and its been working flawlessly with my Apple TV. Before this update I would have several lost signal events in just a few hours. I am sticking with the Apple recommended and supported Belkin HDMI 2.1 cable that supports 4K and up to 48Gbps.

LG has had this update out for almost a month now but they are pushing it out to smaller groups over time so I guess today was my turn.

Hope this info helps other LG OLED TV owners.

SO, I think I have a solution. And everyone is NOT going to like it. Turn off Dolby Vision 60Hz in your Apple TV menu.

I did this and set it to 4K HDR 60Hz and haven't had a drop out once. You can also set it to 4K SDR.

Also, it doesn't appear to be the "HDMI HD Deep Color" setting on out LG OLED sets, as you still need to have that setting turned on to get 4K HDR at 60Hz OR Dolby Vision. Seems to be the Apple TV 4K "Dolby Vision" setting. (unsurprisingly).

I know this kind of almost negates even have a ATV4K, but at least we can still; get 4K resolution even if its not dolby vision. I'll leave it on HDR in the mean Tim until Apple maybe LG (?) ( I dont think it is an LG issue though) figures this out. Give it a try and report back.

I think it will still give problems. The pass-through still reads and processes the signal. If the signal is Dolby Vision and the sound bar is not compatible, it’s not going to understand how to read or handle the data. Does your TV have ARC for one of the HDMI’s?

Because most things are currently not Dolby Vision compatible the best solution is to plug Apple TV directly into your TV, then connect your sound bar or audio receiver to the ARC HDMI connection in your TV to send the audio out. This is how I have to do my surround system until I decide to buy a DV capable system.