HDMI auto-detect override

[edy]

Hi everyone,

My friend bought an MBOX android media player and it is plugged in to a TV at the office waiting room. Normally people can switch inputs and choose to either watch regular cable TV, or the HDMI (MBOX) that has some office ad looping.

The problem is, when people watch TV, the MBOX goes to sleep as it stops detecting the HDMI monitor. So after a few minutes when they flip input on remote back to HDMI they can't see anything from the MBOX

Now I have a feeling this may also have to do with a Y-splitter HDMI. The MBOX HDMI out is split to another TV as well. The main thing is, once someone stops watching the MBOX (either by changing their TV input to cable or turning off the TV) on one or both waiting room TV's, it looks like the MBOX doesn't detect an active monitor display on the HDMI and goes into sleep mode, and there is no "force output" anywhere in the settings menus.

Is there any splitter or "dummy load" type device or adapter that will trick the box into thinking a monitor is still there so the output remains active on the MBOX all the time? That way, either one or both TV'S in the waiting room can flip to the MBOX video at any time during the day and it will still be playing.

[wraper]

Well, you could try attach a 1k resistor between hot plug and 5V pins of HDMI wire. In this way it won't see that TV got disconnected. If that is not enough, you can also attach 24Cxx eeprom with TV EDID programmed to DDC data and DDC clock pins (and cutting those wires going to the TV) and powered from 5V pin.

[edy]

Thanks. Is there no dongle that will do this that is already made? I don't think she is technical enough to do that and I'm not nearby. If not, perhaps a cool project for someone to sell either kits or start making such an adapter/dongle. I will have to hack a spare HDMI cable if I don't find something and send it to her.

[andtfoot]

I don't know for certain it would work, but my first guess would be an EDID minder of some sort. Here is a commercial version; dunno if there is a consumer grade equivalent:
http://www.krameraustralia.com.au/products/model.asp?pid=1700&sf=524&pname=VA-2H

[Teledog]

I've got an Mbox (MXIII) and it doesn't "sleep" when the TV/HDMI is changed to the cable box, even if left for hours on end.
Might check the settings on the unit & make sure a screensaver/sleep mode isn't enabled.
Also, is the HDMI mode set to autodetect?

[wraper]

Thanks. Is there no dongle that will do this that is already made? I don't think she is technical enough to do that and I'm not nearby. If not, perhaps a cool project for someone to sell either kits or start making such an adapter/dongle. I will have to hack a spare HDMI cable if I don't find something and send it to her.

There are, but they aren't cheap http://www.amazon.com/Aten-VC080-HDMI-EDID-EMULATOR/dp/B00FQQFTGI
http://www.amazon.com/ConnectPRO-TMDS-KITU1-Video-Ghosting-Emulator/dp/B007JNYM6Y