Apple TV 4K Random HDMI Signal Loss

Having only bought this a few weeks ago I have been suffering the same issue. I returned it today and got a new one. Out of the box it runs tvOS 11.2.6. I didn’t update the software and the problem still exists. Aaaaarrgggghhhh! Has anyone tried tvOS 12 beta? Does the problem still exist there?

My ATV 4K now refuses to output anything at all. Even my old standby of connecting it to my Sony HD TV has failed me. I finally cracked and called Apple. They methodically went through everything I'd already tried whilst I gritted my teeth. I nearly lost it when he told me to connect the ATV to my Mac via its service port GRRR. Then he tried Ethernet ***. When that didn't work duh I was told I'd need an HDMI to Ethernet cable. Just nip down to your local shop he says. Should only cost you $30. I said No. So now I have to waste an afternoon going to the local Apple store. Hay, the ATV 4K is a pos.

Also have the same problem. Seems to occur daily after I upgraded to the latest tvOS. Running an LG B7 with an audioquest pearl HDMI so there’s plenty of bandwidth. Seems to happen the most often on YouTube.

Yes - the problem is worst again with tvos12. It was manageable with the last iteration of 11 but still there. I have the LG C7 as well. Can't remember the HDMI cable I have but it passed the last test I ran.

Guess I might retort to you, Mr. Churchill, that you are the one affected by the issue, it is very much not an insignificant problem. The investment in a 65in LG OLED TV, high-end sound bar, brackets, in wall wiring, mounting, and ATV 4k is substantial. To then have to get up several times during a program to unplug and replug your HDMI cable into the ATV is pretty infuriating. That's why these threads exist: to help frustrated users hopefully share potential solutions. If you are unaffected, why bother reading this thread, much less taking the time to comment?

Hi Sam,

Essentially you’re sharing that the unsolved HDMI signal loss is expressed by:1. Disturbed video viewing2. Disturbed audio output to HDMI fed speakers

Would you venture a guess that the same disturbed audio would be present when Apple TV 4K is tuned to synchronized wireless (Bluetooth and WiFi) Bose SoundTouch version III speakers that are synchronized with each other; with devices within 5 meters’ line of sight of all devices?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Thanks,Robert Sylianteng

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Im glad I found this thread. Since September of last year when I updated to version 12 of the software, Ive been having signal loss when setting the output to 4k 60hz DV. Had been using the ATV for almost a year prior without seeing the issue a single time. Im on a 2017 vizio m-70 and have tried everything possible to resolve the issue, and nothing has worked. I have a drawer full of cables ranging from $8 to $60 and all of them are the same. Cable passes hdmi test, works fine for 10-20 minutes then signal drops constantly after that. It's so obnoxious. Was curious if its possible to roll the firmware back to the previous version and if anyone else has tried this? I did see some users stating they opened a ticket and looked for replacements. I might consider that route. Otherwise, Im going to unplug this pos and it's going into the trash can.

I have an Onkyo TX-NR686, Samsung 4K television, a non-4K AppleTV as well as DVD and LaserDisk players.

I'm working this issue of video & audio drop out while using AppleTV as well. Used to be a few times a minute when HDMI and audio inputs were not set properly. I thought it was better tonight when it made it through 25 minutes during a movie. I'm going to try enjoying a PBS Christmas special tomorrow night via AppleTV and see how that works.

I thought I had been using the ARC connection but turned out I wasn't, now I am. Using non-ARC allowed me to control AppleTV using the Samsung TV remote. Now that I've gone to ARC, I'm still getting video and audio drop outs AND need to use the AppleTV remote again (3 remotes now -- Onkyo for AV Receiver, Samsung for TV, and AppleTV for AppleTV). Groan..., the saga continues.

Another data point I guess. I had been thinking the failure might be in the compression Apple TV was using for movies rather than the electronics or cable. I tried viewing a PBS Christmas Special for the music and the same thing happened. It worked beautifully for about half an hour (27 minutes vs. 36 minutes) to the first audio drop out. Then drop outs started to rapidly speed up: about 5 minutes to about 1 minute. At this point the picture started to reset too.

I am using SIIG Woven Braided High Speed HDMI cables certified to 18Gbps. The one from the Apple TV to the Onkyo TX-RN686 is 2 meters. I'm thinking the one from the Onkyo to the Samsung is 5 meters long.

Sure hope to work out this issue sometime.

Upgraded my Onkyo TX-NR676 to a TX-NR787 and the signal dropping persists. So does that rule out the receiver as being at fault? It's either the Apple TV or the LG OLEDC7P (and I'm using 2 Belkin cables).

I've been skimming this thread every few days to see if a fix was found. Just bought the Apple TV last week. I've tried a lot of the suggestions and was already using the belkin cable, and this fix of going to the beta firmware has worked for me! I really appreciate you adding this info.

Thanks for that info. Also own a 2018 Vizio but E series and it also seems to have problems with Dolby Vision and switching. Switching to the Apple TV can be really slow at times and all I get is a black screen for several seconds so guess it's experiencing signal loss. tvOS 12.1.2 update, 16K5534a is the newest I"m seeing is that the one you are using?

Yeah works fine at 1080 for me too but what's the point of having a 4K HDR Dolby Vision TV and ATV if you can't take advantage :(

Wish I had another 4K HDR Dolby Vision TV to try since I"m thinking the problem is more on the TV end since Apple TV will actually cause my TV to reboot sometimes which is even worse!

QUESTION: how do I get the TV OS Beta version that several people have mentioned as solving this issue?

CONTEXT

I bought AppleTV 4K in November, 2018, followed by an LG OLED TV (2018 model c8), and then a Samsung N950 soundbar (with a wireless sub-woofer and wireless rear speakers). What I thought would be a great experience has been the exact opposite. I, too, have been experiencing near constant signal loss, effectively rendering AppleTV unwatchable. I’d constantly be losing the picture, and sometimes audio, and often both. Right now, I can’t even get Netflix to start, let alone have it later drop the signal. I would also constantly get the onscreen warning to the effect that the AppleTV was having difficulty maintaining a stable HDMI connection. I’d also get the same answer when I ran the test of the HDMI connection that’s found in the Settings.

I’ve been using new high-speed HDMI cables (18 GB per second, not 48). Up to 48 GB per sec is specified in HDMI 2.1, The HDMI association, or whatever they’re called, said just last week, at CES 2019, that there were no such cables yet on the market. They only had prototypes on display. That said, I just ordered two supposed 48 GBps cables from Amazon (mentioned much earlier in this thread).

I was also convinced - before finding this thread - that it was the Samsung soundbar that was at fault (I had AppleTV connected to an HDMI input on the soundbar, which in turn was connected to the TV via HDMI ARC.). The store where I bought the TV, and soundbar, was also convinced that it was the soundbar that was at fault, so they took it back yesterday, and supplied a SONY HT-ST5000 in its place. I was incredulous to discover last night that the problem with trying to stream content from AppleTV was still present, and still as bad. That’s when I found this thread.

Rather than wait for those new cables, I’d be interested in trying the TV OS Beta that a few people have mentioned earlier, hence my question: how do I get the beta version (in simple language, please!)?

By the way, my new SONY soundbar is eARC capable, but I have that feature turned off, as the TV only has ARC, not eARC. Why do I think that eARC (part of the HDMI 2.1 standard) would solve this issue?

I have my Apple TV 4k running with a standard length hdmi cable you get from cable companies to my TV. I have a Sony STR-DG800 a/v receiver with 3.1 surround sound hooked up to the TV. My a/v receiver is not 4k.