Multiple Displays and HDMI Issues

Help and Support
1

Hi

I have a raspberry pi 2 and it is great with OSMC.
I use two different displays with it. One is a old Pioneer TV and the other a more modern set (panasonic I think).

The problem I have is when I swap the HDMI cables to the Pi. I am forced to do a reboot to get the display to work.
Currently, I am hard rebooting the power which I know will end in tears one day. #help-and-support

It is obviously some sort of HDMI detection at boot up.

Is there anyway of specifying a safe HDMI mode of some sort that will work.

I have also tried a fancy HDMI splitter that works great across 4 displays with a SKY HD box, but not with these two TV’s from the Pi.
When I manually change the resolution in OSMC with both displays connected I get limited success, but one or the other displays is visibly out of sync.

Any ideas?

2

I’d suggest adding hdmi_force_hotplug=1 to config.txt.
Find a mode both displays are happy with (perhaps 1080p60).
Set that mode in system/video settings (not DESKTOP which will vary with different monitors).
Disable “adjust display refresh rate to match video”.

3

Hi

Many thanks, I have just been looking at what is involved in the config.txt on the pi website. Quite specific and lots of detail.

I’ll have a go at this tonight. Many thanks indeed.

I know this will be in the useful info somewhere, but the SSH username and password for the OSMC image will be??

4
5

Hi

So I have come home and rebooted with both TV’s and have the following details.

Looks like the mode it is detecting is not compatible with the other and vice versa.

So, I understand if I FORCE it to Mode 5 (Compatible with both) all should be ok?

Pioneer

root@osmc:/boot# /opt/vc/bin/tvservice -s
state 0x12000a [HDMI CEA (20) RGB lim 16:9], 1920x1080 @ 50.00Hz, interlaced
root@osmc:/boot# /opt/vc/bin/tvservice -m CEA
Group CEA has 13 modes:
mode 1: 640x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock:25MHz progressive
mode 2: 720x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 3: 720x480 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 4: 1280x720 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive
mode 5: 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz interlaced
mode 6: 720x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock:27MHz x2 interlaced
mode 7: 720x480 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:27MHz x2 interlaced
mode 17: 720x576 @ 50Hz 4:3, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 18: 720x576 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 19: 1280x720 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive
(prefer) mode 20: 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz interlaced
mode 21: 720x576 @ 50Hz 4:3, clock:27MHz x2 interlaced
mode 22: 720x576 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:27MHz x2 interlaced

Other TV
root@osmc:~# /opt/vc/bin/tvservice -s
state 0x12000a [HDMI CEA (16) RGB lim 16:9], 1920x1080 @ 60.00Hz, progressive
root@osmc:~# /opt/vc/bin/tvservice -m CEA
Group CEA has 14 modes:
mode 1: 640x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock:25MHz progressive
mode 2: 720x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 3: 720x480 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 4: 1280x720 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive 3D:FP|TopBot|SbS-HH
(native) mode 5: 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz interlaced 3D:SbS-HH
(prefer) mode 16: 1920x1080 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:148MHz progressive 3D:SbS-HH
mode 17: 720x576 @ 50Hz 4:3, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 18: 720x576 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:27MHz progressive
mode 19: 1280x720 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive 3D:FP|TopBot|SbS-HH
mode 20: 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz interlaced 3D:SbS-HH
mode 31: 1920x1080 @ 50Hz 16:9, clock:148MHz progressive 3D:SbS-HH
mode 32: 1920x1080 @ 24Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive 3D:FP|TopBot|SbS-HH
mode 33: 1920x1080 @ 25Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive
mode 34: 1920x1080 @ 30Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive 3D:SbS-HH

6

Yes

7

Still not happening, I’ll have a look at some start up logs (I assume they exist somewhere)

8

How did you set the HDMI mode?
Just using the system/video settings and selecting 1920x1080p and 60fps should work.