AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › HTPC - Mac Chat › New Mac Mini DVI-HDMI Switching Not Working
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

New Mac Mini DVI-HDMI Switching Not Working

post #1 of 10
4/30/08 at 12:10pm
Thread Starter 
Hello all,

I finally had a chance to hook up my Mac Mini to my home theatre system last night. Amazing picture. I'm using DVI-HDMI cable to connect it directly through my Marantz 7002 receiver instead of Samsung LCD 71F series. I find that the Marantz automatically convert video signal to 1080P. Movies play through the Marantz also looked better than connecting Mac Mini directly to my Samsung. The problem I'm having right now is that when I have my Marantz input to the Mac Mini, it would only work fine in certain situation. When I turn on my Mac mini, I received picture on my Samsung. When I switch to another source and then back to the Mini, signal is gone. I would have to turn off the mini and back on again to get the signal. I tried calling Marantz customer suport and this was their answer, "Our receiver is not set up to be connected to a computer, only to AV equipment."

Anyone has this issue with their system?
Any workaround?


Thank you all,

D
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #2 of 10
4/30/08 at 1:11pm
Have you tried a DVI switch like this OPPO HM-31?

It may be worth a shot. I have my Mini connected to my Denon 4308ci via this Oppo dvi switch along with an Apple TV and a Power Mac G5. All work well together.

Just a thought.

Mike
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 10
4/30/08 at 3:06pm
I'd also confirm the settings on your mini. Make sure that you have the screensaver set to never come on, and that the computer should never go to sleep. I've had problems in the past with macs on kvms that went to sleep and didn't wake up correctly when the kvm returned control to them.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 10
4/30/08 at 3:23pm
Quote:


When I switch to another source and then back to the Mini, signal is gone. I would have to turn off the mini and back on again to get the signal. Any workaround?

Some folks end up finding success with something like the Gefen DVI Detective, which fools the Mac into thinking it's still connected to the display:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1378
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 10
4/30/08 at 3:25pm
Sounds like a job for the Gefen DVI Detective. I had the same problem with my Mini and Onkyo 605 AVR. The DVI Detective sits in between the Mini and the AVR and continuously transmits the AVR's EDID, ie pretends that the AVR is never switched away from the Mini. A bit pricey but works a treat.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 10
4/30/08 at 3:30pm
Thread Starter 
All,

Thanks for all your suggestions. I did set my screen saver to never come on and put to never sleep. Still the same issue when I switch back to the Mac Mini. It just seem strange why it would work initially but not when switching back?????

I have read about the Grefen solution but what I learned is that this thing will not do HD. Is this true?
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 10
4/30/08 at 3:36pm
Quote:


I have read about the Gefen solution but what I learned is that this thing will not do HD.

Where did you "learn" this?

Quote:


Still the same issue when I switch back to the Mac Mini. It just seem strange why it would work initially but not when switching back?????

Doesn't seem strange at all, you switched away. It thinks you disconnected its display. Hence the need for something to convince it otherwise.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 10
4/30/08 at 3:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by redaudi73 View Post

All,
I have read about the Grefen solution but what I learned is that this thing will not do HD. Is this true?

I think what this means is that the standard DVI Detective does not maintain the HDCP chain for the playback of protected HD content like Blu-Ray via a HDCP-enabled video card. The DVI Detective Plus apparently does this at an additional cost.

But neither Mac hardware nor OS X has any kind of HDCP implementation at the moment, meaning that you can't play protected content anyway. The standard DVI detective will work for anything you can play on your Mac Mini, at any resolution your TV is capable of and your AVR will pass through.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 10
4/30/08 at 11:16pm
Thread Starter 
All,

Thank you for all your advices. I will get the gefen product and let everyone know the outcome
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 10
5/1/08 at 7:27pm
I occasionally encounter the same problem. Putting my Mini to sleep (Apple+Option+Eject key) and then waking it up always brings it back to life. Your mileage may vary.

JoeBlowinski
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: HTPC - Mac Chat

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Video Components › Home Theater Computers › HTPC - Mac Chat › New Mac Mini DVI-HDMI Switching Not Working