Hey guys...
I've bought a Fire TV to setup a easy to use XBMC based streaming device for my father in law, he does not have a HD TV yet so I had to find a way to convert the HDMI to RCA.
I've bought this converter, but it's giving me multiple issues, since we have root now I was hoping there was a way to fix these issues.
http://www.dx.com/p/playvision-hdv-...FuIVP5QJEdbgJkLvoj-ZI0Osx3Xw_wcB#.U6DPePldVKc
The Fire TV won't pass by startup screen when it is booted with HDMI connected to Converter (problem with HDCP handshake?)
When I boot the FTV with HDMI connected directly to my own HD TV it loads fine, removing the HDMI from my TV plugging it into the converter will push video through the RCA cable but images is black and white and distorted.
Does anybody have any experience with this ? Would downscaling to 480 help if possible ? or does anybody know another solution to get this working on a older TV ?
Thanks in advance....
Edit:
Looks like http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=334644 made a fix for some Samsung devices with a similar Snapdragon 600 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2621550
Not sure if that would be something that could be adapted for use on the Fire TV though.
It's going to be a challenge, because the copyright police are all over HDMI and what can cannot be output from HDMI.
I see a very few HDMI to analog video output devices. I'd expect to pay about 50-60 bucks for a good one.
I'm picking that price because it's what Monoprice charges (more or less) for a box that takes HDMI in and outputs HDMI and audio over RCA jacks. You basically need a video DAC!
The other option would be to move to a Sony or similar smart tv, one that has both Netflix and Prime built in. Granted it's more expensive to do but your dad may well find it worth the simplicity. At our house we currently have remotes for the Fire, the TV, the bluray player and the preamp. I can manage most of it from the IR blaster on the tablet, the glaring exception being the Amazon box which uses Bluetooth, won't pair with the tablet and actually works better with not just a remote but keyboard to boot.
It's a giant PITA for the uninitiated.
Userr12, I think I have the same adapter, here is the one I bought.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FO7PQA/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I actually have the Fire TV connected to an HDMI splitter, one port goes my main HD TV, the other to the HDMI2AV adapter linked above. An interesting side effect is when I turn off the HD TV the second output cuts out for 2-4 seconds, then comes back.
That said, when I initially setup my Fire TV, I tried an HDMI to DVI cable on a Dell monitor to see what would happen, but couldn't get through the setup. Direct HDMI was the only way I could get the intro video to show. Not sure why.
Sent from my TouchPad using XDA Premium HD app
I've played around with the unit a bit more and it's actually working
I was using a old LCD TV I have laying around but realized there is also a RCA input on my HD TV, when I use this input in combination with the converter it works, I will have to try this still on my father in laws TV, but the FTV to RCA/Composite works at least on some TV's
The image quality is doable, the color of the menu's in FTV and XBMC are a little flat and pixelated, video is more clear though, think the quality looks like what should be expected from a analog display.
Sound works fine, although I used a different USB power source to power the converter, I think there might be a power delay (or something else funky) happening with the USB port on the FTV, creating a nasty static, this static did interfere with the video image as well. (creating some distortion what seems to be running at the same Hz)
According to my experience, iDealshare VideoGo is the best one to Convert Amazon Fire TV unsupported WAV, FLAC, AIFF etc to Amazon Fire TV supported AAC or MP3.
I used a converter made by Bleiden, which I got on Amazon. The Amazon sku is B01MQGHNAR (just search in amazon or google for that and you'll find it).
I had to buy an HDMI cable to connect my Fire TV to the converter, but the converter itself worked without any problem. There were no restrictions on what I could or couldn't play. No video distortion, other than what you'd expect watching a 16:9 picture on a 4:3 TV.
Hdmi to av convertor for amazon fire stick fix
use a 5v usb adapter with twin ports plug in both amazon fire stick and the Hdmi to the same adapter,now your amazon fire stick will work fine
One of the reasons I bought the AFTV is the Optical port that in my mind would have helped with the horendeous delay I see through my Denon receiver when using HDMI sound.
Unfortunately, while I get Dolby+ when using HDMI for Netflix sound (set to Auto in Settings) I do NOT get the same (just stereo) when I force audio via the optical digital.
I'm a bit frustrated with the box as I already have an Ouya and Netflix HD and Dolby/DTS were the only reasons I got this device.
Let me tell you that the way one has to dance around for even the simplest tasks makes Ouya very "user friendly"...and believe me, if you check the Ouya forums you'll see frustration all over.
To the best of my knowledge, DD+ isn't carried over optical, so the box is down-mixing the signal to 2.0. What model Denon do you have? Mine is the 2310CL, and I have no lag at all.
bruce7373 said:
To the best of my knowledge, DD+ isn't carried over optical, so the box is down-mixing the signal to 2.0. What model Denon do you have? Mine is the 2310CL, and I have no lag at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha, I have the same year model but it's the 3310
Weird, I have to compensate around 200ms to get lip-sync. No video processing for this input - so I have a hard time explaining why. I will have to find a DD/DTS movie to test, but as far as I can tell DD+ works over toslink:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK - but sometimes those pages cannot be trusted. I seem to find conflicting info.
IIRC, I had a WD TV Live Plus that was getting DD+ from Netflix just fine - hooked to the same receiver.
I wouldn't care about optical if I could find the cause for the audio delay...open to suggestions.
Netflix DD+
I bought AFTV because of Netflix DD+ issues. I was using a Roku3 to a Vzio 54" 5.1 sound bar. Not optimal but I did not wish to drill holes in floor of my new house to do the rear channels. The Vizio sound bar will not handle DD+ at all. You get nothing but silence via HDMI which is all the Roku3 has. You can toggle to Stereo through the Netflix settings and do 2-channel.
The AFTV allows you to select Optical as the output for 5.1. It DOES downcode the DD+ to DD, NOT STEREO, as the DD indicator light comes on.
As for the Vizio soundbar, don't buy it. A BIG $500 mistake. Not only is it old tech it has only one HDMI Input. Adding a $100 for AFTV and $50 for an HDMI Switch would have bought me a decent up-to-date AVR system. Big mistake but I bought I nice long flexible drill bit to route cables up or down inside walls. Live and learn.
Anyway, AFTV does output DD+ as DD through Optical if your setup does not support DD+.
New FireTV, unrooted, running software version 51.1.4.1_user_514013920. Running SPMC 13.3.3.
After maybe a day of use, the audio on the FireTV develops an high-pitched 'whistle' effect. It's not a constant whistle. It only accompanies the sound you are hearing. It is more noticeable the louder the audio. If I reboot the FireTV, the problem goes away for while. It affects all audio system-wide including SPMC (I spend most time in SPMC, don't use Amazon apps much yet).
FireTV audio set to 'Dolby Digital Plus Off' but happens no matter what FireTV audio setting is. If I unplug HDMI and plug back in, problem persists. Rebooting FireTV fixes it (until the next day when it recurs).
Youtube video of the issue - playing the Amazon intro video- When he says 'Hello, and Welcome.' you can really hear it.
Amazon Fire TV- Audio high-pitched 'whistle' artifact - 2014-11-30 ( firmware: 51.1.4.1_user_514013920 )
http://youtu.be/yp7rzrNMyi0
Amazon Fire TV- Normal audio after a reboot - 2014-11-30 ( firmware: 51.1.4.1_user_514013920 )
http://youtu.be/27WxbMgBzbM
Is anyone else having this issue? I exchanged another FireTV at the store because I thought the device was defective, but here it is happening again. What is going on here.
twqwctf said:
New FireTV, unrooted, running software version 51.1.4.0_user_514006420 which is latest as of 11/19/2014. Running SPMC 13.3.3.
After maybe a day of use, the audio on the FireTV develops an high-pitched distortion effect. It is more noticeable the louder the audio. If I reboot the FireTV, the problem goes away for while. It affects all audio system-wide including SPMC (I spend most time in SPMC, don't use Amazon apps much yet).
FireTV audio set to 'Dolby Digital Plus Off' but happens no matter what FireTV audio setting is. If I unplug HDMI and plug back in, problem persists. Rebooting FireTV fixes it (until the next day when it recurs).
Youtube video of the issue - playing the Amazon intro video- When he says 'Hello!' you can really hear it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2igVaVe6RmI
Is anyone else having this issue? I exchanged another FireTV at the store because I thought the device was defective, but here it is happening again. What is going on here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can NOT hear any distortion at all on the youtube vid you link. Sounds fine to me. I turned the volume up and turned off anything making noise. Sorry I'm not of any help.
nyder said:
I can NOT hear any distortion at all on the youtube vid you link. Sounds fine to me. I turned the volume up and turned off anything making noise. Sorry I'm not of any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is this high pitched whistle sound. It's obvious. When he says "Hello, and Welcome" for example, the high pitched whistle is very clearly heard.\
You know, it's not 'distortion'. I chose the wrong word. It's a high pitched whistle sound. That's the best I can describe it. My 12-year old walked in and noticed it. I know it's not just me LOL.
twqwctf said:
There is this high pitched whistle sound. It's obvious. When he says "Hello, and Welcome" for example, the high pitched whistle is very clearly heard.\
You know, it's not 'distortion'. I chose the wrong word. It's a high pitched whistle sound. That's the best I can describe it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, it's not obvious to me. Have you tried taking your AFTV to a neighbors/friends house and seeing if it has the same problem on their TV? This way you can rule out your TV as the cause. Another thing to try is a different HDMI cable.
nyder said:
I'm sorry, it's not obvious to me. Have you tried taking your AFTV to a neighbors/friends house and seeing if it has the same problem on their TV? This way you can rule out your TV as the cause. Another thing to try is a different HDMI cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can it be my TV or HDMI cable if I unplug the FireTV then plug it back in (reboot it) and the problem goes away? It is an old TV (from 2003 I think), I'll give you that.
(What I need to do (tomorrow) is record another Youtube video (A vs. B) so the difference can be clearly distinguished. I'll post again tomorrow )
twqwctf said:
How can it be my TV or HDMI cable if I unplug the FireTV then plug it back in (reboot it) and the problem goes away? It is an old TV (from 2003 I think), I'll give you that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's about finding what the problem is. By using a different TV, you can rule out if it's an AFTV problem, or possibly your TV. You said you returned another AFTV for the same problem already, and 2 of them have the same problem, which isn't common, and you getting both? Not very likely.
So if we rule out the TV and can rule out the HDMI, then it leaves that you got very unlucky and got 2 AFTV's that ended up with the same problem.
And do you happen to hear the sound loudest when you have a mostly white screen?
nyder said:
It's about finding what the problem is. By using a different TV, you can rule out if it's an AFTV problem, or possibly your TV. You said you returned another AFTV for the same problem already, and 2 of them have the same problem, which isn't common, and you getting both? Not very likely.
So if we rule out the TV and can rule out the HDMI, then it leaves that you got very unlucky and got 2 AFTV's that ended up with the same problem.
And do you happen to hear the sound loudest when you have a mostly white screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hadn't noticed a correlation between whites in the screen and the audio anomaly. I'll have to go back tomorrow and inspect further. I hear your suggestions about ruling out the TV and cable. I have another cable so I will try that very soon. I also have another TV- I will try that one also. I will update this thread as I find out. Thank you kindly!!
twqwctf said:
I hadn't noticed a correlation between whites in the screen and the audio anomaly. I'll have to go back tomorrow and inspect further. I hear your suggestions about ruling out the TV and cable. I have another cable so I will try that very soon. I also have another TV- I will try that one also. I will update this thread as I find out. Thank you kindly!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a fire TV but it sounds like a crappy HDMI cable. Try a different brand then what you are using. I had got some cheap HDMI cables from amazon and this happened to me with one of my bluray players and a computer.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I have a gold tipped Vizio HDMI cable that I got from Wal-Mart at an inexpensive price.
I've never had any problems with it at all.
Look for a gold tipped one with 4K support like my Vizio HDMI cable.
Even when FTV is max 1080P,it helps tons that the HDMI cable supports an even higher resolution.
retroben said:
I have a gold tipped Vizio HDMI cable that I got from Wal-Mart at an inexpensive price.
I've never had any problems with it at all.
Look for a gold tipped one with 4K support like my Vizio HDMI cable.
Even when FTV is max 1080P,it helps tons that the HDMI cable supports an even higher resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to troubleshoot with a different HDMI cable. However, it is confusing to me how a reboot of the FireTV would resolve the audio issue completely (for a while) with the same HDMI cable. Can a low-quality HDMI cable degrade or become corrupt during it's connection to the display over time?
twqwctf said:
I'm going to troubleshoot with a different HDMI cable. However, it is confusing to me how a reboot of the FireTV would resolve the audio issue completely (for a while) with the same HDMI cable. Can a low-quality HDMI cable degrade or become corrupt during it's connection to the display over time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'd agree, but you should still try, maybe its the TV, when the FireTV sends different audio sources with like different bitrates or number of channels or something to your TV its somehow borking or mis interpreting the signal.. doesnt happen all the time because there could be something in some video content somewhere at some point triggering it to mess up.. but you would think a TV reset would fix it.. did you try unplugging the TV and just leaving the fireTV running and seeing what happens when you power the TV back up?
It could be electrical noise. Try a different outlet / circuit and see if that helps. It also could be noise / interference picked up in the HDMI cable.
martian21 said:
It could be electrical noise. Try a different outlet / circuit and see if that helps. It also could be noise / interference picked up in the HDMI cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
<<did you try unplugging the TV and just leaving the fireTV running and seeing what happens when you power the TV back up?>>
Haven't tried that. Will do and update this thread. It will take some time as the problem re-appears after about a day.. Thanks!!
The Vizio HDMI cable was my replacement for a cheap nickel-plated GE HDMI cable that had major issues such as Slenderman static randomly appearing.
Words Of Advice:Make sure to always go for gold-plated HDMI cables,avoiding the cheap nickel-plated ones.
Today it's 11/20/2014. System update must have applied.
was: 51.1.4.0_user_514006420
now: 51.1.4.1_user_514013920
retroben said:
The Vizio HDMI cable was my replacement for a cheap nickel-plated GE HDMI cable that had major issues such as Slenderman static randomly appearing.
Words Of Advice:Make sure to always go for gold-plated HDMI cables,avoiding the cheap nickel-plated ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see the problem. It would drive me mad as well.
I have a cheap long hdmi cable. I highly doubt that will make a difference. Bestbuy always sells the gold plated one. As for the sound, test it directly to the TV. Are you going through a processor. I had mine go through the bose lifestyle 535 and I got a lot of distortion and I thought something was wrong with the firetv. Who would think anything would be wrong with bose. Eventually it turned out the bose got defective and bose changed the processor under warranty and the flicker is totally gone.
Try it direct on the TV and see what happens. if not try it on another tv and try isolating the problem one at a time. Test other hdmi cables as well.
navigates said:
I see the problem. It would drive me mad as well.
I have a cheap long hdmi cable. I highly doubt that will make a difference. Bestbuy always sells the gold plated one. As for the sound, test it directly to the TV. Are you going through a processor. I had mine go through the bose lifestyle 535 and I got a lot of distortion and I thought something was wrong with the firetv. Who would think anything would be wrong with bose. Eventually it turned out the bose got defective and bose changed the processor under warranty and the flicker is totally gone.
Try it direct on the TV and see what happens. if not try it on another tv and try isolating the problem one at a time. Test other hdmi cables as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The FTV is connected directly to my old Panasonic TH-37PX50U (from 2004 I think). I'm still waiting for the audio whistling problem to recur again today.
twqwctf said:
The FTV is connected directly to my old Panasonic TH-37PX50U (from 2004 I think). I'm still waiting for the audio whistling problem to recur again today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it happen with other sources? if not It may be the audio sync. If it still does not fix, then try hdmi to RC
If you still have issues, try researching on converting the hdmi to analog with left right maybe? something like the one below. since the tv is old, it may not be able to handle the hdmi signals correctly.?
http://www.amazon.com/SPDIF-Compone...T8SA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#customerReviews
navigates said:
does it happen with other sources? if not It may be the audio sync. If it still does not fix, then try hdmi to RC
If you still have issues, try researching on converting the hdmi to analog with left right maybe? something like the one below. since the tv is old, it may not be able to handle the hdmi signals correctly.?
http://www.amazon.com/SPDIF-Compone...T8SA/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#customerReviews
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had an older 2nd gen AppleTV connected to the same TV earlier. No issues there. I used that AppleTV for several years. Still waiting for the audio issue to happen again today..
twqwctf said:
I had an older 2nd gen AppleTV connected to the same TV earlier. No issues there. I used that AppleTV for several years. Still waiting for the audio issue to happen again today..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the noise may come back. did you change out your hdmi cable. If it still happens. try the hdmi to component and see if it goes away. If you have a video processor like the bose or something else that may help too.
Edit--I'm sorry to report that after further testing the below is no longer working for me. It's strange that initially the audio glitch disappeared but I probably shouldn't have posted in haste. So following this I decided to try taping both pin 13s on both sides of the hdmi cable. I tried it again on my test tv and roku box first and this time it might be worth noting that a new message appeared on the tv saying "unsupported mode". This gave me some optimism to try it on aftv with both sides taped but i still have the same glitch when i power off my tv while leaving aftv on. If anyone has any insights, I'm listening. BTW--I didn't just come up with this concept. It does fix certain issues with older tv sets and newer set top boxes but my bedroom tv has something else going on i think.
I thought I'd tentatively share my working solution for cec on my bedroom aftv. I posted in the past that my bedroom tv absolutely MUST be powered on first before AFTV or the audio from every video i play will cut in & out indefinitely until i reboot aftv. This is extraordinarily annoying, especially since i have boot menu so the reboot process takes even longer. Someone isolated the problem as bad cec support on my bedroom tv. Looking into it, I saw you can remove or bend pin 13 on hdmi cables to kill cec. This seemed a little reckless so here's what I did...
I experimented with an old and unused roku box. I took a tiny sliver of electrical tape and carefully covered pin 13 on the hdmi cable. It took me like 7 times to get it perfect. Then i tried it with my roku box and everything worked fine.
So then i tried it on aftv with my old cec-impaired tv and it fixed my issue! Finally!
Only thing I wonder is the material i used. It's just a piece of electrical tape which should stay in place because this particular tv is mounted tightly to the wall with no side inputs (very difficult to plug in hdmi). Not that heat should be much of a factor since electrical tape should withstand but does anyone know of any reason this material might adversely affect the TV? All is working fine so I'm not trying to be pessimistic but if anyone with advanced knowledge of hdmi/cec has any info to add please let me know here. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing this info, I fortunately do not suffer from this problem but this is really great info. Thank you for the informative post