No picture through an HDMI switch or splitter
If the Aero works when plugged straight into your TV but shows no picture through an HDMI switch or splitter, the switch is almost certainly the cause – and it usually comes down to copy protection.
This affects 4K TVs. With a 4K TV, the Aero outputs a 4K signal protected with HDCP 2.2, and every device in the HDMI chain has to pass both through intact – the switch needs to match the TV. Many older or cheaper switches only support HDCP 1.4, or don’t pass 4K HDCP properly, so they block the signal. Broadcast boxes such as Freeview and Freesat recorders don’t apply this protection, which is why an older switch can work fine with those but not with the Aero. (On an HD TV, the Aero outputs 1080p, which older switches can generally handle without any of these problems.)
A switch or splitter doesn’t always block the picture entirely. One rated 4K@30Hz will pass a picture but may not carry the full 4K signal and its copy protection, and the live channels that need that protection, such as ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, can then fail to play (with an error such as ETV 6900 or ETV 6056) while the BBC channels and menus work normally. If the switch’s rating doesn’t say “4K 60Hz”, assume it’s the 30Hz kind.
A switch or splitter can work well with the Aero on a 4K TV – it just needs to be one rated HDCP 2.2 compatible and capable of full-bandwidth 4K (sometimes listed as “4K 60Hz HDCP 2.2”). It’s worth checking the specification carefully before buying. The cable matters too – see No picture or a flickering picture? Check the HDMI cable.
Some live channels won’t play?
If BBC channels, apps and menus work but live channels from ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and others fail with a Freely error (such as ETV 6900 or ETV 6056), something between the Aero and the TV may be limiting the connection: a switch, splitter, soundbar, AV receiver or older cable.
- As a quick test, go to Settings → Display → Resolution, choose 2K / 1080p @ 50Hz, then try the channel again. If it now plays, you can keep the lower resolution until the switch or cable is replaced, then set the resolution back to Auto.
- If that doesn’t help, connect the Aero straight to the TV with the supplied HDMI cable, with nothing in between, and try again. This is the best test, because it rules out anything else a device in between might be doing.
- On a Samsung TV, first switch on Input Signal Plus for the Aero’s input (under External Device Manager in the TV’s settings). If it still won’t play, try another HDMI port on the TV, switching the TV to that input. Some TVs carry the full 4K signal and its copy protection on only some of their ports, often the one marked for gaming or 4K at 120Hz.
Still no picture?
A full HDMI reset can clear a stuck handshake:
- Disconnect all HDMI leads from the TV.
- Unplug the TV from the mains for a couple of minutes.
- Plug the TV back in and reconnect the Aero first, then test.
- Reconnect any other HDMI devices one at a time.
If the switch isn’t HDCP 2.2 capable, a reset won’t be enough on its own – the switch will need replacing with a compliant one.