WARNING for Nvidia Shield Owners: Don't Insert a Comsol HDMI Cable with Locking Pins

ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 12:52
Last edited 17/09/2018 - 20:52

Hi all,

An important warning for Nvidia Shield owners….. Do not insert a Comsol HDMI cable into your device with locking/tensioning clips.

Edit: (3 days later) I suspect this warning should apply to all hdmi cables with the additional clips.

Why? : You will never get it out.

The cables to specifically avoid in the Comsol range are the ones with what's called "Universal Locking Connectors". These are two extra little clips on top of the HDMI cable that "stops it from falling out", according to the box.

Well, mission accomplished, the cable is now completely immovable.

Prior to inserting the Comsol cable, I've inserted many other HDMI cables into and out of my shield without incident. This is clearly a design that is not universally fit for purpose.

Electrical & Electronics Media Player Nvidia Android

Comments

  • Diji1 on 15/09/2018 - 12:57
    +1

    Heh, I've never seen a HDMI with locking pins.

    Displayport connectors usually have locking pins with a button that retracts them so it can be removed. Are you sure you can't retract the pins somehow to remove it?

    • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 13:35

      Yeah, there is no release clip like the display port.

  • Scab on 15/09/2018 - 13:08
    +1

    They don't actually lock.

    The spring clips just makes it a tight fit, so they aren't loose.

    Assuming you put them in straight you should be able to remove it as easy as it went in.

    • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 13:37

      They don't actually lock

      Of course they're no meant to, but in this instance they jam.

      • Scab on 15/09/2018 - 13:46
        +1

        Is it these ones:

        https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http…

        You unlock by turning them.

        • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 13:59

          Unfortunately no, it's this one:

          http://www.comsol.com.au/Products-by-Category/HDMI-Video-Cab…

        • Scab on 15/09/2018 - 14:09
          +1

          That only has a tension connector, so it should pull out with enough force.

          Can you press a screwdriver on the port lip to stop it loosening then try yanking the cable using pliers and cloth on the plug.

          I have similar cables, different brand but with tension connectors and they need a bit of force to remove but I can do it by hand.

          Be gentle and good luck.

        • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 14:16

          Thanks. but unfortunately, this is jammed well and truly. I could put 20KG of pressure on it and it still won't budge.

          I don't want to force it, as it will destroy the port. I'd sooner let Nvidia or Comsol be responsible for its repair.

          The fact that 3 other HDMI cables could be removed without issue seems to point to comsol.

        • whooah1979 on 15/09/2018 - 15:13

          @ash2000:

          The fact that 3 other HDMI cables could be removed without issue

          the 3 cables are easily removed because they're cheap with no locking. cheap cables falls out of the hdmi port with a light tug. cables with locking reduces the connector from falling out of the hdmi port.

        • Yummy on 15/09/2018 - 17:39
          +1

          @ash2000:
          It could be those tension clips are snapped. If nothing works, open up your shield unit & use a sharp pin to push the tensions down.

          And to fix a loose HDMI connection, you may apply a masking tape on one side of the metal contact plug, to help it grip better. Yeah stay away from anything that comes with tension clips.

        • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 18:31

          @Yummy:

          Yeah, that was my first instinct this morning, however after viewing some photos of the pcb, I discovered the hdmi port is fully enclosed by a tin shroud.

          Yeah stay away from anything that comes with tension clips

          NEVER AGAIN!

      • whooah1979 on 15/09/2018 - 15:04
        +1

        http://www.comsol.com.au/images/more/COHDP015_1.jpg

        these look similar to these.
        http://www.lucido.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Lucido-HDMI-…

        many hdmi cables without a push lock requires about 4.5lbs to 6lbs of pulling force to be removed. all you need to do is to apply more pulling force.

        • Scab on 15/09/2018 - 15:11
          +2

          all you need to do is to apply more pulling force

          I learnt this valuable rule as a teenager.

          Scab on 15/09/2018 - 15:11 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
        • whooah1979 on 15/09/2018 - 15:16

          @Scab:

          yes. op needs to pull harder.

        • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 15:45

          I have the other end of the cable, which has been inserted and removed with incident into my TV and receiver, so this gives me a guide of what force is needed.

          I'm pulling several times harder at the shield end and it pulls out about 5mm then stops.

  • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 14:23
    +1

    Just found out this is not an isolated case….here is another poor bugger with the same issue from the same cable.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/73d9h9/hdmi_c…

  • PandaExpress on 15/09/2018 - 15:48
    +2

    Maybe you can slide in a feeler gauge between the connector and the port to push in the locking mechanism?

    • ash2000 on 15/09/2018 - 16:21

      Thanks… That could possibly work, but I'd need to dremel the plastic shroud flat to get access.

  • kaos on 16/09/2018 - 22:05
    +1

    if you have a lot of tools try to slip something into the port to depress the locking 'bump' on the cable. I've got several tiny screwdrivers that might do it, you may have something similar

  • HighAndDry on 17/09/2018 - 10:18
    +1

    Those don't look like "locking" pins at all - just the geometry… they physically can't lock. Just pull harder. Or let your wife do it and then tell her you loosened it for her when she manages to get it free first go.

    • ash2000 on 17/09/2018 - 10:48

      let your wife do it

      I thought if that, but then remembered I am not married.

      Those don't look like "locking" pins at all

      Agreed, but that's what Comsol calls them.

      • HighAndDry on 17/09/2018 - 11:14
        +1

        Yeah - I think you can afford to put more force on it, if you can have something pressing against the HDMI port of the Shield so that you don't accidentally pull that off the mainboard.

  • ash2000 on 17/09/2018 - 20:45
    +1

    Hi all,

    An update. Earlier this evening I managed to extracate the hdmi cable from my shield using the combination of a spudger and brute force. Indeed, it required a haunting level of force, but it seems the Shield has escaped unscathed.

    Thanks all for your suggestions.

    For the love of God, please do not use an HDMI cable with tensioning/locking clips/pins on your Shield (and possibly any equipment), it's just courting disaster!

    -Ash

    • Yummy on 17/09/2018 - 21:19

      Any damage on the contact of HDMI cable itself? And pic pls if so. :)

      • ash2000 on 18/09/2018 - 12:12

        Curiously, there seems to be no damage to the cable. I'm not sure what was grabbing where, but the cable is unharmed and will be returned to office works shortly.

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