CEC, most commonly known as HDMI CEC, stands for Consumer Electronics Control. This is a special feature that allows you to control the devices of your need with a single remote. This means that there is no need to get a separate remote for each device.
Apart from controlling various devices through a single remote, there are many other benefits of using HDMI CEC. One of these benefits is that different devices connected through CEC also get partial control over each other.
So, you can also benefit from this special feature and enjoy the mutual connection of these devices. The most notable feature is that your TV can get some control over other devices.
When it comes to the TV brands that allow you to avail of the CEC feature, almost all of them provide you with this special feature. You can observe the features of HDMI CEC Sony and that of many other brands as well. HDMI-CEC Panasonic is also one of them. However, some of the brands don’t provide HDMI CEC features.
So, before buying a TV, you need to make sure that it gives you the feature of HDMI CEC.
Table of Contents
Why Is There A Need For CEC?
The most basic reason behind using CEC or HDMI CEC is to add more ease and comfort to your TV-watching experience. As told earlier, CEC adds advanced features to your TV. Using these features, you can have enhanced control over your TV as other devices are connected to it. You can switch between different TV-watching modes.
Gaming Mode:
For instance, CEC makes switching from TV-watching mode to gaming mode more easier and efficient. What you need to do is just press the respective button on either the gaming console or your TV remote. Pressing this button will switch your TV to gaming mode.
Most commonly the gaming mode switch applies to the platforms like Play Station 4 that are attached to your TV. It is worth mentioning here that CEC does not support gaming consoles and platforms other than PS4. Therefore, you have to be careful in this regard.
Media Player Mode:
In addition to gaming, various media-playing platforms are also supported by CEC. The most practical example of these platforms is Chromecast. If you are watching or streaming anything on your TV and you want to switch suddenly to an internet media player like Chromecast, then it is not a big deal.
What you need to do is just start playing Chromecast on any of the devices connected to your TV, the TV set will automatically start playing it. Here, you need not give proper commands or input via remote.
Once you switch from one display or app to another, the previously running app will disappear.
Different Names Of CEC:
As told in the beginning, CEC is also known as HDMI CEC. However, it is not necessarily called by just these two names, rather different companies and brands name it differently. Some of the popular names for CEC used by different brands are given below.
- Panasonic: VIERA Link
- Hitachi: HDMI-CEC
- Mitsubishi: Relink for HDMI
- Samsung: Anynet
- LG: SimpLink
- Toshiba: CE Link
- Philips: EasyLink
Apart from these, there are many other names for CEC as well. Therefore, you have to go through these names, so that you may easily recognize this feature in the features or specifications list.
How To Enable CEC On Your TV?
When it comes to the enabling of CEC or HDMI CEC, the process differs from brand to brand. Here are some of the popular TV brands’ CEC enabling procedures.
LG TV:
The CEC enabling process in LG TV is very simple and easy to understand. Here is how it can be done.
In the first step, you have to press the home button. A menu will appear on the screen. From this menu, you have to select the settings. After entering the settings option, navigate to the general settings.
Here, you will see an option named SimpLink. Simply activate it by clicking on it. At the same time, don’t forget to activate the “ Auto power sync “. Now, CEC is enabled and you can enjoy this feature.
Samsung TV:
In Samsung TV also the process is the same, however, the name of the feature is different. You need to enter the settings and then move to the general settings and external device manager respectively.
Now, you will see an option Namely-Anynet. Enabling this option will turn the CEC feature on.
Sony TV:
In Sony TV, you are supposed to navigate to settings via the home button. Out of the settings options, you need to find out the “external input” option. Upon entering it, go for HDMI setup and Control for HDMI step by step. The latter one is the CEC feature. Simply enable it and enjoy watching your TV.
TCL TV:
In TCL TV, the process is almost the same with a minor change. And that change is due to the difference in the name of the CEC feature. After pressing the home button and going for the settings option, you have to navigate to the input option.
In the input options, you will easily find out CEC feature. Enable it by tapping on it and you are done. Similarly, you can go for other brands as well, provided that you are aware of the names of CEC used by those brands.
Conclusion:
HDMI CEC or CEC is one of the most important and innovative features of modern TV sets. Therefore, it is almost necessary for every TV user to have a proper understanding. If you are unaware of What is CEC and how it works, then giving a read to this article is what you need to do.
This article clearly explains CEC, its enabling procedure as well as its working mechanism. After having read this article, you will be able to understand HDMI-CEC control and its functioning without having any difficulties.
