HDMI CEC (Controll all HDMI devices, including Steam Link with a single remote control)

[Grulemugg]

Hi,

I have set up my newly purchased Steam Link and all in all it's very promising. However in my oppinion Valve doesn't understand the usecases for the Steam Link completely as of yet.

HDMI is a pretty neat technology so simply connecting your computer to your TV using an HDMI cable is the perfect solution. The problem is, sometimes you don't want to run a cable through your livingroom.

Wireless HDMI box pairs cost 200 € to 400 € and they don't work for video games because they have 0,5 seconds (thats 500 milliseconds) latency. Blu Ray movies don't mind that - games do.

So for 55 € the Steam Link is an absolute steal used as a "wireless HDMI kit" - and it works. If you have ever tried using a wireless HDMI kit from Acer, Oehlbach or PureLink with a PC or console you realize how awesome the Steam Link really is, used as a cable replacement. (Utilizing the 5 ghz band and set to "balanced" quality).

Now here's the thing:

I don't want to connect a game controller to the Steam Link at all!
I don't want to and I don't need to.
My controllers (mouse, keyboard, gamepads) are wirelessly connected directly to my PC.
Most of the time I use my game controllers from my desk, and when I want to use them from my couch I take them there. I don't want to plug their dongles into the steam link, they are well within the reach of their wireless connections when I use them from the couch.

I realize that is my usecase, and maybe not yours, and all of the above works, input streaming can be disabled for the steam link, all is well in the shire except:

The Steam Link itself does not support HDMI CEC. I can't navigate the steam link with my TV's remote control. Right now I am forced to connect some kind of controller to the steam link to set it up and to operate it.

In my book that is a huge screwup from valve's side.

So here is my question: Is it possible to implement HDMI CEC with a firmware upgrade for the Steam Link? (like at all?) and will you guys do that? when? (me wanz it nao!)

If "no" please kindly notice to shut up and take my money for a "Steam Link 2" that supports HDMI CEC.

[JimmyJames26]

What's so bad about using the steam link as a Bluetooth hub? The input lag or annoyance from having to use a controller is little-to-none/petty at best. While maybe your idea isn't bad, I wouldn't call having to use a controller a "screwup". They aren't catoring to just you. Obviously they're catoring to the majority. It's not that that hard to pair a wireless controller with no dongle to the steam link or plug in a wired controller.

[Tucu]

The Steam Link already supports HDMI CEC. If I switch on my Steam Link it will turn on my Receiver, switch the audio source, turn on the TV and switch the HDMI source. It just doesn't expose all HDMI CEC commands.
There is a Steam Link SDK now and libCEC can probably be ported (if it is not installed yet).

[Grulemugg]

Originally posted by JimmyJames26:

What's so bad about using the steam link as a Bluetooth hub? The input lag or annoyance from having to use a controller is little-to-none/petty at best. While maybe your idea isn't bad, I wouldn't call having to use a controller a "screwup". They aren't catoring to just you. Obviously they're catoring to the majority. It's not that that hard to pair a wireless controller with no dongle to the steam link or plug in a wired controller.

I don't want to unplug my controller dongles (Logitech Unifying + XBOX One Wireless Adapter from my PC and replug it into the Steam Link. I would more or less need a second keyboard and mouse just for he Steam Link. Also, the Steam Link has limited compatibility with all of the controllers out there, especially with the xbox one wireless controllers. Also, disabling input streaming reduces load from the stream and improves streaming performance while in addition the controller response time is better.

I have a remote control for my HDMI CEC enabled home theatre setup. I can control my IPTV box, my Blu Ray player and my TV using a single remote. Most modern TVs feature that nowadays. I consider it a huge screwup that the Steam Link requires a USB device pluged in to even set it up. I want to use it with my TV remote controll, like all other HDMI devices. I don't even want to install the Steam Link in an accessible location. It is supposed to be mounted on the wall covered by a piece of furniture called "cinewall".

Please read your post again. You should apply it to yourself. This thing isn't just for YOU either. The majority would not be negatively affected if the Steam Link would support (full?) HDMI CEC, as any proper Blu Ray Player does, especially when it is used to stream Kodi (Media Center Software) from the PC or even gets Kodi as an native Steam Link app in the future...

[Grulemugg]

Originally posted by Tucu:

The Steam Link already supports HDMI CEC. If I switch on my Steam Link it will turn on my Receiver, switch the audio source, turn on the TV and switch the HDMI source. It just doesn't expose all HDMI CEC commands.
There is a Steam Link SDK now and libCEC can probably be ported (if it is not installed yet).

When I try to select the Steam Link using the Sony Bravia Sync Menu, I get an "Communication failed" message.

I think HDMI power on/off and HDMI control are two diffrent beasts, but I don't know in depth. Many devices seperate those HDMI options (control and power on/off) however.

[Tucu]

Originally posted by Krullemuck:

Originally posted by Tucu:

The Steam Link already supports HDMI CEC. If I switch on my Steam Link it will turn on my Receiver, switch the audio source, turn on the TV and switch the HDMI source. It just doesn't expose all HDMI CEC commands.
There is a Steam Link SDK now and libCEC can probably be ported (if it is not installed yet).

When I try to select the Steam Link using the Sony Bravia Sync Menu, I get an "Communication failed" message.

I think HDMI power on/off and HDMI control are two diffrent beasts, but I don't know in depth. Many devices seperate those HDMI options (control and power on/off) however.

You are looking for Device Menu Control that is a subset of the HDMI CEC commands. Not all devices have to support all the commands.
The Steam Link supports HDMI CEC but it doesn't support the Device Menu Control set (and I imagine other sets).

[JimmyJames26]

Originally posted by Krullemuck:

Originally posted by JimmyJames26:

What's so bad about using the steam link as a Bluetooth hub? The input lag or annoyance from having to use a controller is little-to-none/petty at best. While maybe your idea isn't bad, I wouldn't call having to use a controller a "screwup". They aren't catoring to just you. Obviously they're catoring to the majority. It's not that that hard to pair a wireless controller with no dongle to the steam link or plug in a wired controller.

I don't want to unplug my controller dongles (Logitech Unifying + XBOX One Wireless Adapter from my PC and replug it into the Steam Link. I would more or less need a second keyboard and mouse just for he Steam Link. Also, the Steam Link has limited compatibility with all of the controllers out there, especially with the xbox one wireless controllers. Also, disabling input streaming reduces load from the stream and improves streaming performance while in addition the controller response time is better.

I have a remote control for my HDMI CEC enabled home theatre setup. I can control my IPTV box, my Blu Ray player and my TV using a single remote. Most modern TVs feature that nowadays. I consider it a huge screwup that the Steam Link requires a USB device pluged in to even set it up. I want to use it with my TV remote controll, like all other HDMI devices. I don't even want to install the Steam Link in an accessible location. It is supposed to be mounted on the wall covered by a piece of furniture called "cinewall".

Please read your post again. You should apply it to yourself. This thing isn't just for YOU either. The majority would not be negatively affected if the Steam Link would support (full?) HDMI CEC, as any proper Blu Ray Player does, especially when it is used to stream Kodi (Media Center Software) from the PC or even gets Kodi as an native Steam Link app in the future...

Your post makes it sound like this is a deal breaker for the average user. I guess that's my point. Clearly it's not, since no one else is all disgruntled by this. Sure it would be nice if steam supported it or if it worked for you. I already said that.

[DirtyCamper]

The HDMI-CEC works fine. The link just doesn't implement everything. It switches over the receiver perfectly to the right channel, and that can work only *IFF* CEC enumeration worked.
And it is called "Steam-Link" in my CEC tv menu.
It unfortunately ignores RC controls, which is a pain anyway, because the TV only sents the appropriate RC controls depending on class type. (I have multiple devices with CEC, and I regularly snoop the CEC bus, which is basically a pull-down single wire "rs232" bus if I say that correctly).
So yes, I want RC controls to be fed as controller/keyboard input on the PC side, and for local menus.
But for now it works extremely well, I can use my devices on my computer and just use something to turn on the link.
Switching to it works too, but the link expects at least a controller.
The steam controller is perfect BTW, as it can easily switch between multiple associations.

[Djidane]

I think it would be a good idea to go deeper with HDMI-CEC options. In my case, I want to disable the shut down function (because I like to let the game running for several hours while shouting down the TV whenever I have to leave and the game don't let me to save at any time). As a workaround, I simply disabled HDMI-CEC on my TV for all devices (which is not a problem for me but could be annoying for others).

As OP said, it would be nice for using the Steam Link with Kodi (instead of using the controller).

An auto-connect function would also be fine if you plug your KBM/Controller directly into your PC.