Chromecast with Google TV remote stops working with Sonos Beam constantly

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I'm using Chromecast with Google TV with a Sony Bravia TV and a Sonos Beam. Using Chromecast's remote settings, I've set up the volume +/- keys for controlling the Beam's volume. Technically, this works. But then, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, it stops working. I can restart Chromecast and nothing changes. The only way to fix this is to restart the Beam (unplugging its power chord and plugging it in again). Then everything is working again, for some time at least (anything between half an hour and a couple of hours).

I initially thought it had to do with that I used a different audio source with the Beam - but it also stops working while simply watching TV. It is extremely annoying.

Does anyone have any idea? Thanks in advance.

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Corry PAnswer

Sonos Staff

Hi @flasunco

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

Your Chromecast remote will work like this: a Bluetooth link from remote to Chromecast, then CEC through the HDMI connection to the TV, then CEC from the TV to the Beam, also via HDMI. This is why it works without IR being used. If there was no HDMI used, you’d need to program IR for the Beam.

If issues with Chromecast remote controls persist, first reboot your TV by removing power from it for 30 seconds. This will be enough to reinitialise the entire CEC network. If you continue to have issues, repeat the last step but remove any other HDMI devices from the TV while it is off. Test again, and if things are working, slowly replace each device, making sure you test fully before adding another. If you identify a device that’s causing problems, try to disable CEC on it. If you can’t disable CEC, you can purchase CEC-less adaptors that strip the CEC connection on device’s HDMI link.

Alternatively, give our technical support team a shout and they can get CEC network information via Sonos diagnostics and hopefully address the issue directly.

Personally, I just returned a new Chromecast (without a remote) after a couple of days as I found it’s CEC was far to aggressive and prevented my Samsung TV from selecting other Anynet+ (Samsung’s flavour of CEC) sources (though this was only when the Chromecast was plugged into a Samsung Blu-ray sound system rather than the TV, which was how I wanted it).

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein

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Corry PAnswer

Sonos Staff

Hi @flasunco

Welcome to the Sonos Community!

Your Chromecast remote will work like this: a Bluetooth link from remote to Chromecast, then CEC through the HDMI connection to the TV, then CEC from the TV to the Beam, also via HDMI. This is why it works without IR being used. If there was no HDMI used, you’d need to program IR for the Beam.

If issues with Chromecast remote controls persist, first reboot your TV by removing power from it for 30 seconds. This will be enough to reinitialise the entire CEC network. If you continue to have issues, repeat the last step but remove any other HDMI devices from the TV while it is off. Test again, and if things are working, slowly replace each device, making sure you test fully before adding another. If you identify a device that’s causing problems, try to disable CEC on it. If you can’t disable CEC, you can purchase CEC-less adaptors that strip the CEC connection on device’s HDMI link.

Alternatively, give our technical support team a shout and they can get CEC network information via Sonos diagnostics and hopefully address the issue directly.

Personally, I just returned a new Chromecast (without a remote) after a couple of days as I found it’s CEC was far to aggressive and prevented my Samsung TV from selecting other Anynet+ (Samsung’s flavour of CEC) sources (though this was only when the Chromecast was plugged into a Samsung Blu-ray sound system rather than the TV, which was how I wanted it).

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." - Albert Einstein

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