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Question

Roku TV / HDMI splitter help

Oct 26, 2018 8:29AM PDT

Hi all,

I have a cable box for one tv and I am looking to split that via hdmi to a new Roku tcl tv. I have the splitter set up (cable box to splitter ‘in’ and one for each tv on ‘out’, on the right hdmi source and I’m getting an error on the Roku tv that says “HDMI 1 (Arc) No signal - is it connected”. I’ve also tried a different HDMI port, with the same issue. I can’t figure out what I can be doing wrong, and any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Most common?
Oct 26, 2018 8:36AM PDT

Have to try other make/model splitters.

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No
Oct 26, 2018 10:19AM PDT

I haven’t only because it’s brand new but I will and reply back. Didn’t think the splitter would be the issue

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To get into why splitters fail
Oct 26, 2018 10:23AM PDT

Has us looking into how HDMI works and the HDCP handshake. It's a common problem and why I think nothing of changing out the splitter. The job is squarely up to the splitter and yet you dismiss it. Most of the time the client does that because they want it to be anything else.

Sure, it could be cables but around here we carry in new AmazonBasics HDMI cables to rule that out.

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No
Oct 26, 2018 10:20AM PDT

I haven’t only because it’s brand new but I will and reply back. Didn’t think the splitter would be the issue

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Nope
Oct 26, 2018 11:32AM PDT

Tried a new splitter, still nothing. I’m starting from scratch. The cable that’s running to the other tv is fine. As for the splitter, I have 1 input port and 2 output ports. So I know I am not making some stupid, small mistake- what cables go where?

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It's usually simple.
Oct 26, 2018 11:41AM PDT

When it fails it's always the splitter for us. Now there could be some other issue like the TVs don't match such as one is a 4K and the other is the 1080p. That could be a problem. To fix that we split at 1080p settings.

Your post is incomplete. Just one make and not much else. I am not writing the details will change the results but it can point out where the issue is.

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?
Oct 26, 2018 11:47AM PDT

Thanks again - I am not sure I understand what your second paragraph means - my second make? I’m sure it’s a typo, can you clarify?

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It means
Oct 26, 2018 11:54AM PDT

Your post didn't share all the makes and models of the TVs and splitters. Not that it will change the outcome.

I see I forgot a big item. When we switch HDMI sometimes we have to turn things off and on again since the HDMI HDCP HANDSHAKE (see google) has to happen and the HDCP "ID" may not be as expected and you'll get no display.

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?
Oct 26, 2018 11:47AM PDT

Thanks again - I am not sure I understand what your second paragraph means - my second make? I’m sure it’s a typo, can you clarify?

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Brands
Oct 26, 2018 12:24PM PDT

Ok - I have an LG smart Tv (not 4K) which is connected to a cable box. On the other side of this part of the room, I have a TCL Roku TV (not 4K).

I’ve used the rocket fish splitter and the GE Pro splitter (both pictures attached).

I reconnected the rocket fish one, and have an HDMI cable coming FROM the cable box to the hdmi input port.
And then I have two HDMI cables coming from the splitter output ports and going to the respective TVs.


**Someone else mentioned that I should have an HDMI amplifier - not a passive splitter. Any ideas?

Thank you!

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Pics
Oct 26, 2018 12:27PM PDT

Pics are not attached my mistake.

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OK. Still missing detail.
Oct 26, 2018 12:44PM PDT

So the TVs are not 4K. But are they EXACTLY the same as in 1080p? I've seen this fail when one is 720p and the other is 1080p.

Leaving out model numbers means I might have to leave you with the splitter maker support.

Looking up a Rocketfish now. I see folk note it's weird in operation.
'Will work with both TV's as long as they are both on. If you turn on both TV's then you can turn one off, but you cannot simply turn on one tv at a time. This is not the case with all TV's. my 19" Samsung in one room turns on by itself just fine but the 24" Sony in the other room cannot be turned on with out the second tv being turned on. This has more to do with the internal copyright and HDMI settings of the particular tv model then it does with the device."

I feel it's your choice to tell all but here leaving out model numbers or odd things like "I run 50 foot HDMI cables" means I can't point to anything.

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Info
Oct 26, 2018 2:29PM PDT

I snapped pictures of the two boxes because I had them with me but didn’t know the tv model numbers.

I just swapped out the LG for a Samsung (smart tv no 4k) so that TV is hooked up to the cable box and model # is UN48J5200AF and the Roku tv is TCL 40S305.

Thank you

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So both sets are 1080p sets.
Oct 26, 2018 2:35PM PDT

Try non-ARC ports, be sure to power cycle the (unknown) cable box so it's HDMI handshake is clear then power up both sets and hope it comes up.

If not you have to complain to the splitter maker.

Again, the only variables are those HDMI port types and power on sequence. Folk are yelping about the power on nuttiness.

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Gotcha
Oct 26, 2018 2:51PM PDT

Thank makes sense. I will try that and reply back. Can you recommend a splitter that you know is decent? Also is there any truth to it that I may have a ‘passive splitter’ and that I should replace it with an amplifier?

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I have yet to use an amplifier.
Oct 26, 2018 3:09PM PDT

But a powered splitter is probably next. I'd still contact the makers to see what they say but it's been so long since I needed a splitter but where I shop is off the best sellers list. Like this:
https://www.amazon.com/slp/hdmi-splitters/d6jcqthubm3r9tg

Odd that the current first is a SWITCH, not a splitter.

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Info
Oct 26, 2018 2:32PM PDT

I snapped pictures of the two boxes because I had them with me but didn’t know the tv model numbers.

I just swapped out the LG for a Samsung (smart tv no 4k) so that TV is hooked up to the cable box and model # is UN48J5200AF and the Roku tv is TCL 40S305.

Thank you

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Upload photos to imgur.com
Oct 26, 2018 2:56PM PDT

Then post links here.

Main problem is still copyright protection on output from your Comcast box. Even a $2000 active hdmi matrix switch/amp will likely have issues.

I will try to find a few matrix models you could try..,

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Update
Oct 27, 2018 2:54AM PDT

After cycling the cable box on/off, it seemed to reach the second step (second TV said ‘almost there’ when switching to correct source instead of the error I listed in original post) but lost signal again.

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Answer
Could be HDCP handshake problem.
Oct 27, 2018 4:24AM PDT
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Maybe
Oct 27, 2018 6:30AM PDT

Thanks for the links, I am not getting an error about HDP, but rather about nothing being connected to the HDMI port. Is it possible it’s related?

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Yes.
Oct 27, 2018 8:39AM PDT

Error messages are notorious for being incorrect, wrong, misleading and deep rabbit holes. The symptom is spot on for HDMI HDCP protection issues. Along with the noted problem about the one adapter only working when the TVs are one.

Since the problem is still there, back to the maker to have them tell you what's up.

Did you notice these products often write "works with most"? They don't claim to work with all sources and TVs. Can really upset folk trying this out for the first time.

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Maybe
Oct 27, 2018 7:57AM PDT

Thanks for the links, I am not getting an error about HDP, but rather about nothing being connected to the HDMI port. Is it possible it’s related?

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You will lose multi-channel audio with that converter
Oct 27, 2018 8:11AM PDT

Since it converts to a signal via component cables, you would lose all multi-channel audio. In addition to the other configuration headache with Comcast supplied content and configuration through their X1 platform, this may not be viable for some.