Samsung TV HDMI port malfunctioning (after mainboard replacement)

[Grunberg]

I have a Samsung 50" 4K LED TV (MN #UN50HU8550), over two years old.

For months, the HDMI 2 port (connected to my PS4) was malfunctioning: the signal would intermittently flicker on/off. Eventually, HDMI 2 stopped working. Last week, after a local TV shop replaced the TV's mainboard, it seems HDMI 2 is still occasionally acting up...the signal would not come on upon power up.

My HDMI 2 port currently occupies a newer PS4 and what I feel is an exceptional HDMI cable. I consulted the TV shop, who said it could be "the source". I asked a local electronics store, who said try replacing the HDMI cable. (I swore I tried different HDMI cables over the span of this issue, but I could try replacing this one again.)

Then it dawned on me that my HDMI ports are labelled. This is my current configuration:

HDMI 1 (STB): Cox Cable box
HDMI 2 (DVI): PlayStation 4
HDMI 3 (MHL): ----
HDMI 4 (ARC): ----

Does this matter at all which HDMI port the PS4 is connected to?
I'm frustrated and confused. Is my TV defective, or what else could the issue be? Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Paul NZ]

Take it back tell them to fix it properly.

 

[InvalidError]

All HDMI inputs should work the same for normal HDMI input. Does the PS4 work when you use one of the other HDMI inputs? You can also try putting the STB on HDMI2. If the STB works on a given port but the PS4 doesn't, then your HDMI problems may very well be with the PS4 instead of the TV.

 

[Grunberg]

It would seem as though all other HDMI ports work fine. Here's an update on two attempts since the mainboard was replaced:

On one powerup, the HDMI 2 signal (PS4) didn't pick up. I powered down the PS4, powered it back up, and HDMI 2 picked up.
On another powerup, when the HDMI 2 signal didn't pick up, I moved that cable to HDMI 3 (worked), then back to HDMI 2, where it picked up.

I forgot to add that the TV's firmware is current. I've been frustrated with this issue and decided it has to be the HDMI cable. I bought a new Monster HDMI cable, and upon plugging that into HDMI 2 -- the first attempt -- the signal would not pick up. So the cable isn't the issue. Once again, the PS4 Pro is new.

I have a protection plan from the store where the TV was purchased. But the repair shop who provides that service already replaced the mainboard and said "check the source". I don't know whether it could be a general TV defect (call and ask them if there's anything else that could be done) or just contact Samsung.

If I have to pay to have this fixed, then why did I buy the protection? I might as well buy a new TV.

So frustrated and confused! Any input, anyone? Thanks again.

 

[InvalidError]

Plug your STB into HDMI2 and see if you get intermittent input over a few days/weeks. If the intermittent issue only happens with the PS4, then it could simply be that the port has compatibility issues with the PS4 for some reason. If the STB which works fine on #1 acts up on #2, then you'll have reasonable cause to suspect that your port #2 issue might be worse than a one-of-a-kind quirk.

 

[Grunberg]

I contacted a Samsung representative right after posting my follow-up. Here is the result.

He told me that the HDMI ports are assigned to different devices/sources, hence the labels beside the ports. I have never seen a configuration like this before -- nor does the manual detail this -- but it makes sense. My TV was manufactured in 2014, and he stated that TV's manufactured since 2016 offer universal HDMI connections. Either way, I've since moved my PS4 from HDMI 2 to 3 as he suggested.

Based on his information, it would appear that it just a technical misinterpretation on my part, and the TV is officially defect-free.
If everything I'm told is wrong and the issue persists, I shall take it from there.

Thank you all for your help!

 

[InvalidError]

The labels are there only to help people figure out which port is which. On many TVs, you can re-label ports in the configuration menus to reflect whatever you are actually connecting to them.

The only ports which is genuinely different from the other is the MHL port which has additional circuitry to enable MHL-compatible phones and tablets to send video over their USB port and get charged by the TV at the same time. It still works as a standard HDMI port for everything else.