Sound only working on 4k channels

Possible Solution

This has worked for me about a dozen times.

We all appear to be frustrated.

I saw a post about a similar issue. It was suggested that you hold down the "on" button on your remote for about ten seconds. This has worked for me about about a dozen times but it’s not 100%. This just started a couple of months ago. I’ve changed nothing on my TV set up. Sound works fine for all streaming services.

Just this second, I turned DIRECTV off (TV off too). I then pressed the "on" and the "off" buttons on my (DirecTV) remote at the same time for 10 seconds. I then pressed the on button and turned the TV on. Sound WORKED 

I have a Samsung TV 4k HD, a year old. I have a mini genie model C61K-700.

Possible Solution Part 2:

This morning I watched a soccer game on 4K for a couple of hours. Changed channels, no sound. I tried the same I tried yesterday day and it worked again, to wit:

 I turned DIRECTV off (TV off too). I then pressed the "on" and the "off" buttons on my (DirecTV) remote at the same time for 10 seconds. I then pressed the on button and turned the TV on. Sound WORKED 

I also noticed something peculiar on 4 separate occasions that this trick as worked - when I’m pushing BOTH buttons, and the TV and SAT box are both still off, after about 10 seconds I hear an audible click sound on the TV set itself. It’s like something has reset. It’s not a loud sound but it DOES happen. After that click, I turn the TV on and sound works on all channels. Obviously this is a short term solution. I have to hit the on and off buttons at almost the exact time to keep both the box and Tv off - otherwise, the TV wants to toggle on. 

I have a Samsung TV 4k HD, a year old. I have a mini genie model C61K-700. Sound is only from the TV speakers. All streaming channels work fine, sound wise. Started noticing the problem a few months ago. This solution was suggested by someone on the internet having the same problem.

This bandaid fix appears to work.

It took a while for me to troubleshoot this down to the DirecTV box (C61K-700, connected to Genie 2 HS17/100, wired), but I can confirm this problem only happens after watching 4K channels.  You have to watch for a minimum amount (> 2 minutes) of time, exact duration unknown still. Sound on 4K channels remains, but there is no output on regular channels. 

Thought it might be related to Optical vs. HDMI cable out of my Samsung 4K TV, but sound is fine for over the air channels (not DirecTV).

I can’t find any info on why turning off TV/DirecTV and pressing on/off simultaneously for 10 seconds fixes the problem. 

Part 3

I have noticed that the problem seems to occur when the 4K channel (104, 105 and 106 for me) has been on for an extended period of time - say at least 30 minutes. When I fix it, with the on/off button thing, I can go back and forth between 4K and regular channels - no sound problems. When I leave the 4K channel on continuously for at least 30-45 minutes, the sound goes away on the regular channels. I’ve been able to replicate the problem 3 times now. 

I’ve also noticed that the problem does NOT happen in my bedroom. The TV in the BR is also a Samsung and only about two years older than the TV upon which I’ve been experimenting. I have several DirecTV boxes and remotes, all the same. I’ll try rotating them and see if I can find a problem.

I don’t understand any of this. 

Like others, this feels like very possibly a 'handshake' issue with HDCP since that is still a bit finnicky.

I have noticed a trend of Samsung TVs with this issue. Is anyone having this problem with a TV that is not a Samsung?

@DGDirect   Stupid question… do you have 4K on all your other boxes? I only have it on one, and the problem is directly related to 4K. 

@Juniper Good point about SAMSUNG. When I hooked everything together last year I had all my HDMI controlled by my Yamaha receivers with an HDMI out from that to the TV. Every now and then the screen would go black and the only way to fix it was to unplug the TV.  I finally switched to the TV for HDMI control and the black screen problem went away. I did not look further into it. 

If only Samsung is affected, possibly the TVs need a software/firmware update programmed to fix the problem. Still could be an HDCP hanshake issue, caused by a bug in Samsung's software.

As such, I would suggest anyone with the issue to submit the details to Samsung.

The issue occurs on my newer  Samsung TV's. I have 2 older Samsung TVs and this does not occur on them. It is a Directv specific issue, not Samsung as it never occurs anywhere other than when watching Directv 4K. It is not a new issue, so it is reasonable to assume Directv has no interest or intent to fix whatever in their code is causing ths problem.

Still can be a Samsung issue. Those TVs and DirecTV sometimes fight each other, historically because of the software/firmware of the TVs. In the end HDCP is finicky, but required by the networks, and DirecTV cannot force Samsung to have better receiving on their end.

When it is just certain TVs affected, it is most likely those TVs. Going forward I would suggest for anyone to avoid Samsung TVs with DirecTV. Not just the handshake issue, but people who keep trying to use the 'smart' TV app.

.... Jupiter .... or avoiding Directv is another option.

is this issue being discussed in the Dish arena?

@JERFRAN 

First of all it is Juniper, not Jupiter.

As Samsung is known to have TVs that don't work well with DirecTV, than avoiding those TVs or DirecTV itself is your choice. If you have DirecTV, but looking to get a new TV, then easiest route is just look at other brand TVs.

If you want to know what is being discussed in the "Dish arena" then go there to find out. Will not change how some Samsung TVs interact with DirecTV.

I’m still experiencing this. Anybody figured it out?

I found a work-around. When watching 4K I go into double-play mode with a regular channel. When I’m done with the 4K channel I double-play back to the regular channel and don’t have sound issues.