Have you ever wanted your digital signage display to automatically turn on when content is scheduled and turn off when it's not? With HDMI-CEC, you can! This guide explains what CEC is, when it works best, and how to set it up with your Skykit player. This is available for Enterprise customers only.
Please note: Variation of Displays will dictate whether this functionality works should be checked in section 1 and we recommend testing.
What is HDMI-CEC? 🤔
CEC, which stands for Consumer Electronics Control, is a feature of HDMI that allows devices to command and control each other. In simple terms, it lets your Skykit player act like a remote control for your TV, turning it on and off automatically over the same HDMI cable that delivers your content.
The primary benefit? Energy savings and ensuring your screen isn't left on when no content is scheduled to play! 💡
Please note: Variation of Displays will dictate whether this functionality works should be checked in section 1 and we recommend testing.
How It Works with Skykit
When you enable CEC, your Skykit player monitors your content schedule (Play Rules):
When content stops playing: If there is no content scheduled, a "No Content Available to Play" message will appear for one minute. After that, your Skykit player sends a command to your display to turn off.
When content is scheduled to start: The player sends a command to wake the display or turn it back on.
Alternatively, you can manually send CEC commands via Control by:
Go to an individual device page
Peripherals tab
Scroll to the bottom
Click the button to send your command
OR do it in bulk:
Check the boxes next to desired device(s)
Bulk Actions
Choose your CEC command from the dropdown
Skykit supports two one different types of commands to control your screen:
Standby Mode (Recommended): This command tells your screen to go to sleep. It's the default option because it's the most widely supported and likely to work with the majority of displays. The Skykit player stops sending its video signal, which prompts the connected display to enter standby mode.
Power On/Off (Not Recommended): This command directly tells the display to power off completely. This is a more forceful command that may be a better option for some displays.
Pro Tip: To check your panels CEC command settings and naming convention, search for the brand/model name using your favorite AI tool like Chat GPT, Claude, or Perplexity.
When CEC Works Best ✅
Understanding the ideal conditions for CEC will help you deploy it successfully!
Consistent Display Infrastructure
CEC is most widely supported when you're using:
The same display brand across your Skykit network - Different manufacturers implement CEC differently, so mixed environments may require different configurations per location
The same model within a brand - Even within Samsung or LG, different models may respond differently to CEC commands
Commercial displays vs. consumer TVs - Commercial displays often have more robust and consistent CEC implementation
Connection Setup Matters 🔌
Direct HDMI connection - Your Skykit player should be plugged directly into the display, not through HDMI switches, splitters, or AV receivers, which can interfere with CEC signals
Single source displays - Displays dedicated to Skykit content work better than displays that switch between multiple HDMI inputs
Critical Things to Know Before You Start ⚠️
1. The Brand Naming Confusion 🏷️
Here's the tricky part: every manufacturer has their own proprietary name for CEC! You need to know your display brand to find the right setting:
Your Action: Before deploying CEC, check your display manual or settings menu to identify what your brand calls CEC, then enable it. This is the #1 reason CEC doesn't work!
2. Two Command Types - Test Both 🧪
Standby Mode (Recommended): Puts the display to sleep; more universally supported but relies on your display's power-saving settings. When using this option the display may display a "looking for HDMI screen" and may attempt to switch to another HDMI input.
Power On/Off (Not Recommended): Directly powers the display off; more forceful but may not work on older Android versions or all displays
Pro Tip: Use the test command feature in Skykit Control while physically watching the display to determine which command type works best for your specific model.
3. "Success" Doesn't Always Mean Success 🚨
A green "success" message only means the Skykit player sent the command - not that the display received or acted on it. Always verify by:
Watching the physical display during testing
Using Live View in Live Monitoring to confirm the display turns off/on
How to Set Up and Configure CEC 🛠️
For CEC to work properly, you must enable settings on both your display and within Skykit Control. Let's walk through it step by step!
Step 1: Enable CEC on Your Display 📺
This is the most common reason CEC fails to work. You must physically access your display and enable the CEC feature.
How to find the CEC setting:
Access your display's settings menu (usually via the remote control or physical buttons)
Look under menu sections like:
System Settings
General Settings
Connection Settings
HDMI Settings
External Device Settings
Search for your manufacturer's CEC name from the table above (e.g., "Anynet+" for Samsung, "Bravia Sync" for Sony)
Enable/turn on this setting ✓
Save the settings and exit
Can't find it? Consult your display's user manual or search online for "[Your Display Brand] CEC enable" or "[Your Display Brand] [CEC Name] enable"
Step 2: Configure CEC in Skykit Control 💻
Once your display's CEC is enabled, configure your Skykit player:
Log into Skykit Control (CUI)
Navigate to your device
Open the Peripherals tab
Locate the CEC section
Toggle CEC ON
Select your command type:
Standby Mode (Default - recommended to try first)
Power On/Off (Use if Standby doesn't work reliably)
Step 3: Configure Display Fallback in Beam 📋
For CEC to work with Play Rules, you must set the correct fallback behavior:
Open Beam (your content management interface)
Navigate to Display settings for the device
Set Display Fallback to "Sleep"
This ensures that when no content is scheduled, the device will trigger the CEC command after showing the "No Content Available to Play" screen for one minute.
Step 4: Test the Connection ✨
This is the most critical step - never assume CEC is working without testing!
In Skykit Control, go to the Peripherals tab
Find the CEC section
Use the "Send Test Command" buttons:
Click "Test Standby/Sleep" (or Power Off depending on your selection)
👀 Physically watch the display - it should turn off
Wait a few seconds
Click "Test Wake/Power On"
👀 Physically watch the display - it should turn back on
Remember: A green "success" notification only confirms the command was sent from the player. You must verify the display actually turns off and on by watching it directly or through Live View! 👁️
Troubleshooting: If CEC Doesn't Work 🔧
If your test fails, don't worry! Try these steps in order:
Double-check display CEC is enabled - This is the #1 cause of failure
Try the other command type:
If Standby doesn't work, switch to Power On/Off in the Peripherals tab test again
Check HDMI connection:
Ensure the Skykit player is directly connected to the display
Try a different HDMI port on the display
Try a different HDMI cable (use a high-quality cable)
Review display-specific settings:
Some displays have additional power-saving settings that interfere with CEC
Check if your display has an "Auto Power Off" timer that might conflict to
Consult your display's manual for CEC-specific configuration notes
Verify Play Rules and scheduling:
Test during a time when content is actually scheduled to stop
Confirm the "No Content Available to Play" screen appears before the display turns off
Pre-Deployment Checklist 📋
Before rolling out CEC across your network, complete these important steps:
Pilot test with one display from each brand/model in your environment
Verify CEC is enabled on every display - don't skip this!
Confirm Display Fallback is set to "Sleep" in Beam settings
Test with your actual Play Rules - ensure content stops and starts as expected in your schedule
Scenarios Where CEC May Not Work Well 🤔
Be aware that CEC might be challenging in these situations:
Mixed display environments with multiple brands requiring individual configuration
Displays behind HDMI switches or matrix systems where the CEC signal may not pass through
Older commercial displays that predate widespread CEC support (pre-2010)
Displays with complex power management settings that override CEC commands
Multi-input displays that frequently switch sources, which can confuse CEC handshaking
Energy Savings vs. Complexity Trade-off ⚖️
Consider whether the energy savings justify the setup complexity, especially for:
24/7 operations - CEC provides minimal benefit if displays rarely turn off
Small deployments - Manual power management might be simpler
High-uptime requirements - CEC issues could cause unintended downtime if misconfigured
Recommended Approach 🎯
For best results:
Start with a standardized display model across your deployment when possible
Enable and test CEC during installation, not after rollout
Create location-specific documentation noting which CEC command type work and the specific behavior for each display model
Have a fallback plan for locations where CEC doesn't work reliably (manual power management or display-native scheduling features)
The key insight: CEC works excellently in homogeneous environments with proper setup, but requires careful planning and testing in diverse display ecosystems. Take the time to test thoroughly, and you'll enjoy the benefits of automated power management! 🌟