Blackmagic Forum

Hello -

Our church previously had an ATEM Mini Pro hooked up to an old Viewsonic projector via a fiber-optic HDMI cable (100'). Worked great except the projector was old and not terribly bright, so we upgraded to a new ViewSonic LS850WU projector. When I hook up the ATEM Mini Pro to this projector, I get the expected image at first for a second. Then the image turns a purple hue for another second. Then the projector acts like it's detected the signal again and the image blinks and is correct again. It constantly repeats that cycle - signal detect, correct image, purple image, signal detect, correct image, purple image, etc.

I've tried resetting both the ATEM and the projector. I also tried hooking up a computer to the HDMI input (using the same hdmi cable) and the image is fine, so it seems to be something between the ATEM and the projector. I've tried all of the various output rates in the ATEM settings with no success (same behavior for all selections). Also confirmed that the projector should support at least 1080p/60 and 1080p/50. ATEM is on the latest firmware (8.6.4).

Was hoping someone might have an idea as to what's going on or maybe any additional troubleshooting steps to suggest? Thanks in advance!

I'd suggest trying a different HDMI cable, a short passive HDMI cable (rather than the long optical one), to see if that makes a difference.

Optical HDMI cables have electronics in each connector (to do the electrical to optical conversion) and also have regular electrical wires running the length of the cable for EDID and CEC support. So there is a lot more that can potentially go wrong than with a short passive cable.

Thanks for the suggestion! I have to move some equipment around to do that, which I'm hoping to do this weekend. In the meantime, I did connect the ATEM mini to the projector using a HMDI over Cat5e extender. Configuration was:
* ATEM mini connected to extender Tx box via passive short cable
* Tx box connected to Rx box via longer Cat5e cable
* Rx box connected to Projector via passive short cable

Results were the same - image was still blinking between the correct image and a purple tinted image. Hoping to try a direct connection with a shorter passive cable soon.

I'm getting the same issue with a BenQ projector and a standard HDMI cable:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=155825

It will send the HDMI to my Panasonic TV, but the Projector either says No Source or flickers on for a second and then goes.

My supplier has suggested returning the Unit, any updates from your trouble shooting @rkymtneng?

@tonywaghorn, I was able to run some more tests this weekend. I unmounted the projector so I could hook it up with a short, passive HDMI cable to the ATEM mini. Same behavior persisted. I had also purchased another projector (NEC PL-525UL) to see if it was projector related. When I hooked that one up with the short HDMI cable, the projector did not even register that an input was connected!

Next, I tried hooking up a HDMI to VGA converter and plugging into the VGA port of the projector. That worked - not HD, obviously, but shows the signal is getting there. That method worked with my longer 100' fiber-optic HDMI cable as well. It's the method we're currently using in the interim.

I did find this thread (https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=107747&start=50), which seemed to imply that a Decimator MD-LX unit would fix the issue. Was hoping not to buy another box, but I've got one on backorder with shipment expected in several days. I'll see if that works once it gets here.

@RkyMtnEng

Really appreciate you following up with your troubleshooting.

Do you have any suspicion as to what has changed in the signal/encoding/framerate?

I tried an HDMI to VGA converter and we got a very purple and/or flickering display.

I'm stumped.

We updated the Atem Control software, but not the Firmware before this happened.
OR is there just a mechanical fault on the HDMI output?

I connected to a JVC tv screen and got an intermittent signal with lines flashing across the screen, and then no signal.

As an update to our problems - looks mist likely that the HDMI socket has gone faulty, awaiting manufacture repair quote.

Tony

Was hoping someone might have an idea as to what's going on or maybe any additional troubleshooting steps to suggest? Thanks in advance!

I would recommend hooking the ATEM up to a broadcast monitor, or better yet, a Video Assist, with two or three cables (to rule out the cable being bad). If it shows on the Video Assist, then we can rule out a bad ATEM. If it doesn't work on the Video Assist, that's a strong indicator of a problem with the ATEM.

Has anyone come up with a solution to this problem? I’m trying to play a video from a MacBook Air through an ATEM Mini Pro to a new ViewSonic LS510WH-2 and experiencing the same issues as other posters. Video plays fine if I bypass the switcher. I’ve upgraded software, changed the switcher video standard to 1080p60 (tried many others as well), and projector still acts as if getting no signal after the brief flashing that others have mentioned. Would very much appreciate any help.