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Rant

BBC iPlayer on BD-H6500 - Screensaver active

Dec 26, 2014 5:36AM PST

We own four Samsung BD-H6500 Blu-ray players in my extended family. Each of them are running the latest firmware 1107. Three of these players are connected to non-Samsung TVs, one is connected to a F series Samsung TV. After 10 minutes of video play using BBC iPlayer the Samsung Screensaver becomes active on the Blu-ray player. This only occurs on the Blu-ray player attached to a Samsung TV. Blu-ray players attached to TVs of other brands do not have this problem. This issue started on Firmware 1106. I expect that the Blu-Ray player is communicating to the Samsung TV that it is no longer active during iPlayer video play. Samsung, you make very products, but please make an effort to fix this issue. It is obviously affecting many people in the UK who have both the BD-H6500 and an F series Samsung Smart TV.

Discussion is locked

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Just an idea.
Dec 26, 2014 5:49AM PST

Try the BD player on another HDMI port.

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That did it!
Dec 28, 2014 1:40AM PST

Thanks for that idea. It worked, no more screensaver!

I should have tried it myself, first!

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Glad it worked.
Dec 28, 2014 1:46AM PST

Sorry but I have to let Samsung answer why it worked. But it's one of those moves that sometimes pays off.
Bob

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I spoke too soon
Dec 29, 2014 3:18AM PST

It only worked properly for two videos, so I spoke too soon. I do recall in the past that occasionally a video would play without the screensaver becoming active.

I have now tested all the HDMI slots and even tried using a different HDMI cable, all with no success. I went back and played the exact same videos that had initially worked without the screensaver popping up, but they now no longer play without interruption by the screensaver. Prior to firmware 1106 this screensaver issue was not a problem. The screensaver interrupts video play on both the BBC iPlayer app and the BBC News app. The screensaver becomes active exactly after 5 minutes of video play (I timed it). I wish Samsung had included an open to disable the screensaver in the BD-H6500 menus.

The other three BD-H6500 players that are attached to non-Samsung TVs do not have this issue, so it must be some communication between the Samsung TV and the Blu-Ray player that initiates the screensaver. The other TVs are a Sony and two Panasonics, and the iPlayer plays just fine on them from the BD-H6500.

Do you know of any remote control key stroke commands that will enable a higher level of control, that might include setting the timer for the screensaver, or even disabling the screensaver?

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Now that sounds like it's in DEMO/SHOP mode.
Dec 29, 2014 3:24AM PST

Are you aware of that feature?

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I don't think it is in shop mode
Dec 29, 2014 7:00AM PST

I don't think it is in shop mode. How can you tell what mode it is in? How do you change the mode?

I set up all 4 of these BD-H6500 units, and it all went exactly the same. The only one playing up is the one connected to a Samsung TV.

I've done a bit of searching on the web and there seem to be quite a few people complaining about the Samsung screensaver becoming active during play on the BBC iPlayer on the BD-H6500 and other Samsung Blu-Ray models. Would be interesting to know if these people only have the issue when connecting this Blu-Ray player to a Samsung TV. There is also some talk from app developers who have difficulty making the screensaver stay inactive during video play, so I do not think this is a configuration issue, it is more likely a bug in the Samsung operating system or a coding error that BBC can't fix or don't wish to fix.

The fact that this error did not occur until I upgraded the firmware to Version 1106, suggests it is caused by a change in the how the new firmware is interacting with the BBC apps. So either the BBC apps need to be edited to function correctly on firmware post version 1105, or Samsung need to edit the firmware to disable the screensaver during video play, no matter what app is being used. A good solution would be to just include an option in the Picture Menu so a user can disable the screensaver.

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Time to call it in.
Dec 29, 2014 7:04AM PST

Sorry but as the web page was for the USA the manual may differ so I can't look into it further.
Bob

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found a fix
Jan 1, 2015 12:47AM PST

Turning off the hdmi smart link seems to fix the issue. (I had the same problem)

found in settings->system->Anynet+

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I think you have cracked the code!
Jan 1, 2015 9:46AM PST

I can't thank you enough! It seems to work. What a relief!

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Oh no! I was wrong
Jan 1, 2015 4:59PM PST

It seems that the BD-H6500 is sensitive to any change in the HDMI configuration. I changed the Anynet+ setting and to start with no screensaver, but after the unit was restarted a couple of times, back comes the screensaver. It is the same when I try a different HDMI slot; initially, it works, but not for long.

I am beginning to wish I had bought a Sony. There often seems to be bugs in Samsung gear. They just don't seem to check their products carefully enough before releasing them.

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same here - worked once
Jan 2, 2015 1:44AM PST

same here, worked once then went back to 5min screen saver

will be contacting samsung, see what they say.

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When you call.
Jan 2, 2015 1:49AM PST

Ask about shop/demo modes. That has been a recurring issue with Sam's products. The feature to me is a complete miss. That is, created much more trouble than it was worth.
Bob

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fix on its way?
Jan 3, 2015 4:48PM PST

had already emailed them so didn't ask about shop mode - sorry bob

here is the reply:

Kindly note that Samsung is aware of the screen saver issue that appears, while playing IPlayer application. I would like to confirm that this issue should be resolved soon, a new firmware will be released that will fix this issue.

Mark

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Thanks for the info
Jan 4, 2015 1:12AM PST

Well, we have some hope. That is good to here! I hope "soon" means a few weeks rather than a few months.

Thanks for posting the news.

Tim

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still issues with BBC iPlayer app and Samsung BD-H6500
Feb 1, 2015 4:25PM PST

Hello there,

I opened support tickets with both Samsung and BBC ... both seem to complain it is the other vendor's fault. The reality is they both need to work together to resolve it. I have seen other people suggest workarounds (https://www.avforums.com/threads/samsung-bd-h6500-screensaver.1915699/page-2) but none seem to work for me.

I am using a Sony TV for a start and have disabled AnyNet+ but the Samsung screensaver continues to appear. I realise that this did not happen prior to 1106, although I did not have the Blu-Ray before then, but since it also only affects BBC apps then surely it must be some sort of API functionality that is amiss.

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A partial work around
Feb 2, 2015 6:24AM PST

I have found that if you load the BBC iPlayer from the unit's start screen, it works. If I load the iPlayer from the 'Samsung Apps' window, then I get the screensaver issue.

Others say that Samsung says there is a fix on the way with new firmware, but I have been hearing this for over a month. We just have to wait and see.

I recently set up a friend's Sony Bravia TV, and the iPlayer works perfectly on that!

Tim

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workaround in place
Feb 5, 2015 6:07PM PST

Hi Tim,

We got ours to work via the start screen which is better than dealing with the issue every time but frustrating that if started from 'Samsung Apps' it has the problem. I do hope Samsung does fix this in the next firmware release.

I raised a case with BBC iPlayer tech people and they told me they raised this issue with Samsung. I guess will see.

Regards,
Bill

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New Firmware 1108.2
Feb 15, 2015 1:48PM PST

Has anybody tried the new firmware 1108.2?

Does it fix the screensaver issue with BBC iPlayer (launched from the Samsung Apps menu)?