Problem switching TV input source (via HDMI) *PROBLEM FIXED AGAIN* 10-7-22

johnniegr

Member
Hello Everyone!

I own 2 Minix boxes (U9-H and U22-XJ) connected both to the same TV via HDMI cables.

I've noticed that switching from the HDMI input on which i have connected the U22-XJ
to either the "U9-H HDMI-input" or the "antenna TV HDMI-input" -
and then coming back to the "U22-XJ HDMI-input" -
the video playing has been paused and i have to press play in order for it to continue again.

Doing the same with U9-H, it doesn't stop playing (in the background)!

Is it a U22-XJ restriction on energy consumption? May i bypass it within its settings? I've also checked my TV but i haven't found anything!
Can you help me?

Many thanks.
Greetings from Greece!!!
 
Hello Everyone!

I own 2 Minix boxes (U9-H and U22-XJ) connected both to the same TV via HDMI cables.

I've noticed that switching from the HDMI input on which i have connected the U22-XJ
to either the "U9-H HDMI-input" or the "antenna TV HDMI-input" -
and then coming back to the "U22-XJ HDMI-input" -
the video playing has been paused and i have to press play in order for it to continue again.

Doing the same with U9-H, it doesn't stop playing (in the background)!

Is it a U22-XJ restriction on energy consumption? May i bypass it within its settings? I've also checked my TV but i haven't found anything!
Can you help me?

Many thanks.
Greetings from Greece!!!

Most would probably say that's a good thing but I fully understand that such preferences are completely subjective :). Switch away from your active input therein missing what's happening & the app or hardware automatically pausing your media for you so you don't miss anything isn't a massive hardship. (Especially if you switch inputs & may not switch back for extended periods, to then return & discover you forgot, the credits are rolling, & you still need to jump/seek back again anyway) ;).

Which multimedia app are you using? (Some can/do pause or stop playing if you switch away to another input although don't ask me to list them!! I've often found Kodi will pause playing media if the input is inadvertently switched away with the U9-H but couldn't tell you if it's specifically Kodi, CEC involving my particular TV or AVR which I do use & need enabled for ARC anyway, or if it's the U9-H itself doing it.)

Have you tried a different app as well? Is it universal or can you use a different app to achieve your aims?

What's more, if you actually have a remote in your hand to actively switch inputs anyway that controls a CEC capable TV, all you need to do is move your thumb a little further over to use the play button or sometimes just the OK/enter button on the TV remote & voila, your media will immediately resume on the U22 again too. (I'm not being flippant towards your enquiry, it's merely a fact :).)

Have you also tried altering the CEC settings on the U22 &/or your TV? (Try disabling them if enabled & you don't need or want it, or vice versa. However, that may obviously cause other limitations you'd prefer to retain or introduce another problem you don't need instead.)

(Having said that, it's a known issue that CEC hasn't been operating flawlessly with the U22 since release so it's possible it's related.... Be patient just a little longer, you might get lucky with a future update directly addressing your particular issue as well :).)
 
the video playing has been paused and i have to press play in order for it to continue again.
Most would probably say that's a good thing
That's a good thing!

Is it a U22-XJ restriction on energy consumption? May i bypass it within its settings?
Why woud you want to bypass it? That makes no sense!

Have you tried a different app as well?
I checked out a few different video player apps and it appears to be app dependent!
 
@johnniegr

I agree that is a good thing.

I even say more:
If you are not using one device just turn off the device (shutdown or sleep) and then switch/use the other device.
 
It is app dependent, for instance the default YouTube app stops playing when you switch HDMI output away from the U22 but the Smart YouTube app continues to play.

I've tried some media players as well, VLC and MX Player stop playing (NB there may be a setting in those apps to alter that) while KODI and ES Media Player continue to play.

As to whether it is a good thing or not? I think it depends on what you are doing. I've been known to listen to music from my U22 while playing a game via a game console on another output.
 
It is (mostly) the MX Player and Ludio player apps - and I haven't found a setting (within those apps) to bypass it!

I just want to watch the live feed - "pausing" a match means that either i have to watch it "delayed" or
i have to exit the video app and come back again - in order to watch live!

Thanks again for helping me!!!
 
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That's a good thing
!

Heh ;).

I checked out a few different video player apps and it appears to be app dependent!

Thought that might be the case as I've certainly seen one app playing local media that did it & another that didn't, but that's hardly a broad range to know for sure. Handy you've checked it. (Although, not including live streaming/on demand apps that do tend to pause regardless or even exit the app in some cases.)

It is (mostly) the MX Player and Ludio player apps - and I haven't found a setting (within those apps) to bypass it!

I just want to watch the live feed - "pausing" a match means that either i have to watch it "delayed" or
i have to exit the video app and come back again - in order to watch live!

Thanks again for helping me!!!

Ultimately, you'll probably just have to workaround it yourself. If you're switching away to another input then obviously you'd be missing what's happening in the live steam until you switch back again. Rather than pausing & watching delayed just immediately jump the live stream immediately back to real time, (as you would have still missed what went on while you had switched away to another input anyway).

Short of having a TV with the capability of a picture in picture mode to watch one channel/input with the option to have a second channel/input windowed for fast switching, or have 2 TV's next to each other, your options may well be limited.

(You could try asking around on a dedicated AV forum to see if any serious HT enthusiasts have any other possible workarounds you could check out though. Someone might have some useful tricks that could help & nothing to lose from trying :).)
 
Hello everyone!!!

I've updated the U22-XJ to version 20210203-V006a_20210203-1459 (via Minix FOTA update app) and my initial problem reappeared.
I thought it would be better to have the latest version but that didn't work for me.
I'm really dissapointed.

I've tried almost every single option in settings - just like the first time - and Ludio player, MX player etc
are "freezing" again when switching to another HDMI output.
Youtube is once more working fine when switching HDMI's.

HDMI-1 is connected to satellite receiver (Greek sports package provider - mainly for football),
HDMI-2 is connected to U9-H (same Greek sports package via its android app - mainly for basketball) and
HDMI-3 is connected to U22-XJ to watch other sports.
I just want to switch HDMI's and watch without "freezing" the streaming video playing at U22-XJ all the time.
Is there a way to revert to 20200826 version without deleting my apps?
Have you - or Minix - found anything in the meantime (all these months!!!) to figure out what is happening?

I hope Minix can see my message and release an update as soon as possible!!!

Many thanks!
Greetings from Greece!!!
 
Hello everyone!!!

I've updated the U22-XJ to version 20210203-V006a_20210203-1459 (via Minix FOTA update app) and my initial problem reappeared.
I thought it would be better to have the latest version but that didn't work for me.
I'm really dissapointed.

I've tried almost every single option in settings - just like the first time - and Ludio player, MX player etc
are "freezing" again when switching to another HDMI output.
Youtube is once more working fine when switching HDMI's.

HDMI-1 is connected to satellite receiver (Greek sports package provider - mainly for football),
HDMI-2 is connected to U9-H (same Greek sports package via its android app - mainly for basketball) and
HDMI-3 is connected to U22-XJ to watch other sports.
I just want to switch HDMI's and watch without "freezing" the streaming video playing at U22-XJ all the time.
Is there a way to revert to 20200826 version without deleting my apps?
Have you - or Minix - found anything in the meantime (all these months!!!) to figure out what is happening?

I hope Minix can see my message and release an update as soon as possible!!!

Many thanks!
Greetings from Greece!!!

You could try manually flashing the FW005 image but ensure that only the "erase bootloader" option in the USB burning tool is checked & all other options remain unchecked. (See image below.)

U9-H stuck at splash.jpg

This method would definitely work with a U9-H but I couldn't tell you for certain if it will work with a U22 as I haven't tried it personally. (I think I remember one or two of the guys attempting it with a U22 but also mentioning mixed success(???).)

Certainly worth trying if you want to revert to FW005 but still retain your existing data. However, please bear in mind there may be no guarantees if attempted ;)!!!)

Please let us know if you are able to successfully flash using this method :). It may help other forum members/end users in the future, even if it just confirms it's possible with FW006A back to FW005.
 
This method would definitely work with a U9-H but I couldn't tell you for certain if it will work with a U22 as I haven't tried it personally. (I think I remember one or two of the guys attempting it with a U22 but also mentioning mixed success(???).)
ive done all manual updates on the u22 with this method without an issue :)(y)
 
Thank you all so much for helping me!
I've followed the steps of the pdf regarding the "usb burning tool" but it cannot find the U22-XJ!
I don't know what i'm doing wrong!

PS1.: Except from the "FOTA update" app there is also an app called "update" which seems it can load files from "local" directory! I've tried 2 usb sticks with the "20200826" image file but while these sticks are recognisable - by both the ES file explorer and the preinstalled file explorer - they appear as "empty"!!!

PS2.: Lately i've noticed Youtube is also "freezing" many times while switching HDMI's! Could it be also a video codec-related problem (probably playing non-stop the streaming mp4's but pausing the streaming mkv's and webm's as an example)?
 
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Thank you all so much for helping me!
I've followed the steps of the pdf regarding the "usb burning tool" but it cannot find the U22-XJ!
I don't know what i'm doing wrong!

PS1.: Except from the "FOTA update" app there is also an app called "update" which seems it can load files from "local" directory! I've tried 2 usb sticks with the "20200826" image file but while these sticks are recognisable - by both the ES file explorer and the preinstalled file explorer - they appear as "empty"!!!

PS2.: Lately i've noticed Youtube is also "freezing" many times while switching HDMI's! Could it be also a video codec-related problem (probably playing non-stop the streaming mp4's but pausing the streaming mkv's and webm's as an example)?

Unfortunately this can happen sometimes with certain Windows PC's when attempting to manually flash a U22 & the cause isn't always immediately clear either. It's also not necessarily something you're doing wrong, it may just be your specific hardware.

First, it could be your cable. Preferably use the USB A -> USB C data cable that was supplied with the device. If that isn't working it's certainly worth quickly trying again with another cable just in case that was the problem initially. (It doesn't have to cost a fortune or be listed as high spec etc. (I frequently use a budget Amazon basics USB A -> C & that works fine flashing a U22, for example.))

Second, try ALL of the available USB ports on your PC/laptop. (If it fails initially, disconnect everything, choose another USB port & begin again from step 1. Rinse & repeat until you've tried all available ports. (Sometimes one port may work & others won't.)). If you have one, you could even try a USB hub on the off chance the U22 is recognised through that.

Third, try another version of the USB burning tool. (The official guide states to use 2.2.0 or later, but I've been able to flash using a version as far back as 2.1.7.1/2.1.7.3.). There are also newer versions of the burning tool available here... https://androidmtk.com/download-amlogic-usb-burning-tool

Otherwise, before you potentially start messing around disabling or even uninstalling things like security suites, firewalls, antivirus, or various other software on your main PC system....

....Do you have access to or can you borrow another PC just to quickly flash your device? Sometimes that's actually easier than the alternatives of arbitrarily removing software in the hope that whatever is "possibly" blocking the process suddenly allowing it through. (As some examples, I can't flash a U22 from an HP Omen gaming laptop or an MS Surface Pro running Win 10 Pro. However, I can successfully flash a U22 from a MINIX N42C-4 or J50C-4 Win 10 Pro devices. I also have an older Toshiba touchscreen laptop that's been kept around purely as an emergency backup (originally Win 8.1 but now Win 10), & I usually have to use that to flash my U22 because of the problems with my more recent hardware. All of these devices will, however, successfully flash a U9-H with any version of the USB burning tool I've tried.

If you know someone or even have an older desktop rig or laptop yourself that is at least Windows 7, you may have a significantly improved chance of success using one of them instead. (The flashing process only takes approx 5 minutes so you won't be imposing on a potential helper for long & obviously the software can be quickly uninstalled again once you're done if preferred.)

Give that lot a go & hopefully one of them will work sooner rather than later ;).
 
there is also an app called "update" which seems it can load files from "local" directory!
That app can be used if an update is released as a Full OTA Image Update file and, as far as I'm aware, can only be used to update the firmware, but not downgrade the firmware.
 
The new firmware update is finally available OTA (20210923-V007_20210923-1741).
I've done the update but the problem is still here....
I've been waiting 7+ months for this update - clicking every 2-3 days the FOTA app......

The only players/apps that doesn't "freeze" while switching are EurosportPlayer and CosmoteTV (local-Greek provider) - even Youtube "freezes" - while my U9-H still handle the above input switch without any freeze/pause.

Which element has changed since version 20200826 and the "switching TV input source (via HDMI)" problem still continues?
Does anybody at Minix finally have a solution or a possible explanation, so that i head to the correct direction on my U22-XJ settings?

Many thanks again,
John
Athens, Greece
 
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