Enabling CEC

What is CEC?

CEC stands for "Consumer Electronics Control." This is an emerging protocol that lets devices talk to each other over the HDMI wire.

We can use CEC to auto-switch to Odessa for an incoming video call or message, or even to turn the TV on when a call is coming in.

CEC is a maturing technology, so older TVs may not support CEC switching. Modern smart TVs support CEC and most have it enabled by default, so auto switching should work out of the box for newer TVs.

For older TVs, you may have to go into the TV settings to turn it on (and make sure it is available).

Unfortunately there is no standard yet, so every manufacturer has their own name and settings for enabling CEC. The instructions below will walk you through enabling CEC for most major brands.

The steps may vary from model to model, and may change when TV software is updated. When in doubt, refer to the user manual or online documentation for your specific make and model.

TIP: If a TV doesn't detect the Odessa device and it does not properly switch HDMI ports after following the instructions below, try unplugging the TV and plugging it back in, then turn the TV on.

Hitachi (HDMI-CEC)

CEC steps:
1. Press MENU on your Hitachi remote
2. Use the right and left directional buttons to find the Setup submenu
3. Use the up and down directional buttons to highlight HDMI-CEC
4. Press SELECT
5. Select On to enable CEC
ARC steps:
1. Perform Hitachi CEC steps 1 and 2
2. Use the up and down directional buttons to highlight ARC
3. Press SELECT
4. Select On to enable ARC

LG (SIMPLINK)

Note: SIMPLINK must be enabled using the CEC steps before you can enable ARC

CEC steps:
1. Hold Settings on your LG remote for 5 seconds to open the Settings menu
2. Select All Settings from the bottom right corner of your display
3. Select General from the left menu
4. Select SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)
5. Set SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC) to On, and confirm
ARC steps:
1. Perform LG CEC steps 1 and 2
2. Select Sound from the left menu
3. Select Sound Out
4. Select Audio Out (Optical/HDMI ARC)
5. Set Digital Sound Out to Auto

Panasonic (HDAVI Control, EZ Sync, or VIERA Link for CEC)

CEC steps:
1. Press MENU on your Panasonic remote
2. Use the directional buttons to highlight Setup
3. Press OK
4. Select HDMI control
5. Select CEC function
6. Select ON
ARC steps:
1. Perform Panasonic CEC steps 1 through 3.
2. Select VIERA Link settings
3. Press OK
4. Highlight On
5. Press OK

Philips (EasyLink)

CEC steps:
1. Press Home on your Phillips remote
2. Use the directional buttons to highlight Setup
3. Press OK
4. Select TV settings
5. Select Installation, followed by Preferences
6. Select EasyLink
7. Set Master EasyLink to On
8. Set Auto TV on to On
9. Set RC key forwarding to On
ARC steps:
1. Perform Phillips CEC steps 1 through 6
2. Set HDMI-ARC to On

ROKU

CEC steps:

Press Home on your Roku remote
Scroll and select Settings
Select System
Select Control other devices (CEC)
Scroll and highlight System audio control
Check the box to enable System audio control
Highlight 1-touch play
Check the box to enable 1-touch play

Samsung (Anynet+)

CEC steps:
1. Press Home on your Samsung remote
2. Use the directional pad on your remote to navigate and select Settings
3. Select System
4. Select Expert Settings
5. Select Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
6. Select On
Alternate CEC steps:
1. Perform Samsung CEC steps 1 and 2
2. Select General
3. Select External Device Manager
4. Enable Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC)
ARC steps:
ARC is enabled automatically on Samsung TVs when Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC) is enabled.

Sharp (AQUOS Link)

CEC steps:
1. Press MENU on your Sharp remote
2. Select System Options
3. Select AQUOS Link Setup
4. Set AQUOS Link Control to On
ARC steps:
1. Perform Sharp CEC steps 1 through 3
2. Set Audio Return Channel to Auto

Sony (BRAVIA Sync)

CEC steps:

Press Home on your Sony remote
Use the directional buttons to highlight Settings
Press OK
Select Watching TV (if External inputs isn't an option)
Select External inputs
Select BRAVIA Sync settings
Enable BRAVIA Sync control
Enable TV auto power on

Toshiba (CE-Link or Regza Link)

CEC steps:
1. Press MENU on your Toshiba remote
2. Use the directional buttons to highlight Options
3. Press OK
4. Select HDMI CEC Control Setup
5. Set HDMI CEC Control to On
6. Set TV Auto Power to On
7. Set Auto Standby to On
8. Set Amplifier Control to On
ARC steps:
1. Perform Toshiba CEC steps 1 through 4
2. Set Initial Speaker Setting to Receiver

Vizio

CEC steps:
1. Press MENU on your Vizio remote
2. Select System
3. Select CEC
4. Use the arrow buttons on your remote and set CEC Function to Enable
ARC steps:
1. Perform Vizio CEC steps 1 through 4
2. Set System Audio Control to On

TV not listed?

Try the following:

Ensure your TV supports HDMI-CEC by Googling "{TV Brand Model} HDMI Support"
If it does support it, make sure it's enabled by going to the Settings section and ensuring it's turned on.
Try turning all the devices off, and then powering them on, one by one, starting with your TV, then the Odessa device.
If you have an AV receiver that you've plugged the Odessa device into, try plugging the Odessa device directly into the TV.

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