HDMI Cec on TV – a function you have and which you don’t use. Simplifies the service of the equipment

Console, TV decoder, Blu -ray player, home cinema or soundbar – these equipment often accompanies TVs in our homes. Each with their own remote control. Thanks to HDMI Cec, we can embrace the chaos associated with many devices.

HDMI Cec (Consumer Electronics Control) is a communication protocol built into the HDMI standard, present on the market since 2002. This technology allows you to send control commands between devices connected by HDMI cablesthanks to which it is possible to control many equipment with one remote control.

What exactly can HDMI CEC do?

The HDMI Cec function offers a number of practical applications that significantly increase the comfort of using multimedia devices:

• Automatic switching on and off of related devices – starting the TV can automatically activate the soundbar or audio system
• Control of the volume of the external sound system using a TV remote control
• Navigation after the menu of external devices (e.g. console or player) using television pilot direction buttons
• Switching signal sources without having to reach for additional remote controls

Each TV manufacturer calls this function differently

What affects the limited awareness of this function among people is the lack of a uniform name. Sony baptized her as “Bravia Sync”, Samsung uses the name “Anynet+”, LG “Simplink”, and Philips – “Easylink”. This marketing confusion means that many users have no idea that their equipment is compatible with Cec. Take a look at your TV menu and look for one of these names. You will most likely find it in HDMI settings or general system settings.

How to start this function?

Configuring HDMI CEC is not difficult, but it requires a bit of patience:

• Activate the function in the TV setting menu (depending on the manufacturer may be in the HDMI section)
• Turn on the same function in all compatible devices
• Connect the devices individuallychecking each separately, starting from the audio system to the HDMI ARC input on the TV (TVs sometimes get lost when too many devices appear simultaneously)
• Verify the operation of everyone devices before connecting the next
• In case of problemsit is recommended to disconnect all devices and connect them once again

When can Cec not work?

This technology is not perfect. Sometimes devices of various brands do not necessarily get along with each other. In addition, in some situations, automation can be annoying – when you turn on one equipment and the other starts spontaneously, even though you didn’t want to. Fortunately, in most cases you can turn off this function or customize its individual elements according to your preferences.

It is worth spending these 15 minutes on configuration, and then enjoy the comfort of one pilot instead of the entire collection. The more that you do not need additional equipment for this – you already have everything on your TV. All you have to do is run.