HDMI-CEC issue with Kodi 21

Posted on Author tiniownzyou



I am busy upgrading Kodi to version 21. To do so, I bought a new microSD card on which I installed the latest Raspberry Pi OS and installed Kodi 21. I now find that I can no longer use my Samsung TV’s remote control to work with Kodi. I have spent 4 hours reading forum threads and trying the suggestions there, but none work.

What I have tried:

  • Power drain the TV and the Raspberry Pi (3 model B).
  • Disconnected cables and reconnected them.
  • Turn Anynet+ off and back on.
  • Start Raspberry Pi while the TV is already on the correct HDMI source.
  • Start Raspberry Pi while the TV is already on the TV source.
  • Install cec-utils and run the following:
Code:
$ echo 'scan' | cec-client -s -d 1
autodetect FAILED

When I boot the Raspberry Pi with the “old” microSD card, which runs Raspbian and Kodi 18.5, then the TV remote works without any problem.
I installed cec-utils on the “old” system and ran the same command:
 

Code:
$ echo 'scan' | cec-client -s -d 1
opening a connection to the CEC adapter...
requesting CEC bus information ...
CEC bus information
===================
device #0: TV
address:       0.0.0.0
active source: no
vendor:        Samsung
osd string:    TV
CEC version:   1.4
power status:  on
language:      eng

device #1: Recorder 1
address:       3.0.0.0
active source: no
vendor:        Pulse Eight
osd string:    CECTester
CEC version:   1.4
power status:  on
language:      eng

A very different result from when running it on the “new” microSD card.

Here are some further observations I made. Not sure if they are relevant, but maybe it helps.

  • When I installed cec-utils on the “old” microSD, it installed libcec4 when I installed it on the “new” microSD, it installed libcec6.
  • Via the TV remote control I can press the Tools button which then shows Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC).
  • Below that, on the “old” microSD I see the following 3 items: kodi MENU, kodi Tools and kodi Title Menu.
  • The 3 items on the “new” microSD show: raspberry MENU, raspberry Tools and raspberry Title Menu.
  • On the “new” microSD I once saw it with the kodi prefixes, but the remote still didn’t work and after a reboot it has only shown the raspberry prefixes.

Much of what I have read so far is about changing HDMI cables or replacing microSD cards with newer ones. In my case, I know the HDMI cable works and my microSD card is new.

All suggestions are welcome.