HDMI cable question \ shorting out HDMI outputs

[ManikM]

i have a panasonic 42 inch hd tv, it has 3 hdmi inputs, 2 rear, 1 front.

my problem is, i have 5 HD devices.

what i have done until now, is to manually plug in 3 of the devices into the front HDMI port when needed one at a time as i never need them all connected at the same time - these devices are my XBOX 360, an WDTV live media player, and my AZBOX. (i have an HDMI cable attached to each device)

well, just before xmas the HDMI port on my XBOX360 went kaput - i.e no signal was outputted to TV, i thought nothing of it and just put it down to one of those thing, besides, the component output using the special cable that came with the Xbox looked just as good in 1080i (analogue) as HDMI.

BUT now, the HDMI output has gone on the WDTV live device i have.

so, on the face of it, unplugging and plugging these devices in and out seems to have shorted out both the XBOX and WDTV hdmi outputs over time.

have i been stupid by doing this and maybe i should have used a hdmi splitter\switcher? should they not be able to tolerate such behaviour?

OR could it be the cable i use, its only a cheap €bay job - is it just a matter of hdmi cables are just not designed for being unplugged and plugged back in all the time?

it looks like BOTH fookin boxes will have to go off for repair.

my AZBOX still works, but im going to be careful from now on.

any ideas? am i unlucky or is there a reason for these issues?

thanks all!

[bob]

You could use a HDMI Port Switch, remote control with 2 to 5 ports, costing from about £18-£65, just Google HDMI Port Switches.
Plugging cables in and out can cause problems regardless of price the cable was, can also damage the HDMI socket. Better to use a switch

[ManikM]

thanks mate, i know this, but what about HDMI behaviour...answers to my questions

[bob]

The centre of the HDMI socket can crack or break causing this problem, but I can't see any real reason why it would damage your boxes, I could be wrong.

[ManikM]

i have since found this on another forum - its exactly what ive suffered with both my xbox and media streamer. i reckon its cheap HDMI cables, but from now on, im going unplug my HDMI devices...i should be able to get both repaired as they are both under a year old.

"It really isn't advisable to hot swap HDMI as it can fry equipment at one end or even both ends.

I have experienced this personally just recently. My customer hot swapped his HDMI cable to a projector... No more HDMI input available.

He then did it again with the DVD receiver at the other end when the projector came back from repair.... No more HDMI output from the Receiver... Off to repair again!

Most of the time you won't have a problem, but is it worth risking your equipment?"

[xanadu]

Did you try a new cable?

I found that some of the cheap cables break easily if you keep swapping cables all the time.

Also I had to repair one of my TV's HDMI sockets, as I think someone must have pulled on the cable while cleaning the house (bloody women!), as when I looked at the HDMI cable you could see one of the pins was damaged.

[ManikM]

yeah mate, i tried a cable thats working on other devices, nothing! (also tried other ports)

nothing

just got an RMA raised for my WDTV live...will do same for xbox tomorrow

[simon 2003]

you probably dont want to hear it now m8 but i never plug / unplug anythin into my fuji with it turned on seen this issue mentioned on AV forums

[mark1]

Yes Simon2003 is right HDMI connnections should never be pluged/unplugged with the units switched on..

[xanadu]

Yes Simon2003 is right HDMI connnections should never be pluged/unplugged with the units switched on..

Just been reading on AVForums about all the Sly HD boxes that failed because owners were connecting/disconnecting HDMI with the power on and plugged in.

[ManikM]

cool thanks...well u live and learn