HDMI CEC (or Consumer Electronics Control) is a standard which permits the control of multiple devices connected through HDMI using a singular remote (usually the TV controller).
This will allow you to ease remote clutter, as for example, you can issue commands to both a Blu-Ray player and TV using the same controller using the Remote Pass-Through function.
The commands that are available to use will depend entirely on the capabilities allowed by the manufacturer, and will differ on a product-by-product basis, but you can see a general list of the basic commands below:
- Remote Control Pass-Through: Permits remote control commands issued to the TV to be communicated to connected devices (such as the "volume up" key on your TV remote increasing the volume on a Foxtel box).
- One Touch Play: Allows a TV or amplifier to change to the relevant HDMI input when it detects video playback from the source device. For example, hitting "Play" on your Blu-Ray player connected to HDMI 2 would swap the TV's source to HDMI 2 accordingly.
- System Standby: Enables you to shut down multiple devices into "Standby" with a singular press of the relevant key on the main remote. This can usually be set per each HDMI channel to allow selection of which devices will receive the command.
- Device OSD Name Transfer: Sends the preferred names of the connected devices to the TV, allowing for easy identification.
- Timer Programming: Allows the use of an EPG (electronic program guide) on a TV or set-top box to program the timer on a connected PVR (personal video recorder) or DVR (digital video recorder).
- System Audio Control: Facilitates control of the volume level of an audio system (soundbar or home theatre receiver) from a different system remote (usually that of the TV).
Depending on the product you are attempting to use, you may find that CEC comes under a different title based on the manufacturer:
- Anthem: CEC Control
- AOC: E-link
- Denon: CEC or HDMI Control
- Emerson: Fun-Link
- Funai: Fun-Link
- Hitachi: HDMI-CEC
- Insignia: INlink
- ITT: T-Link
- Kogan: HDMI-CEC or CEC
- LG: SimpLink or SIMPLINK (HDMI-CEC)
- Magnavox: Fun-Link
- Mitsubishi: NetCommand for HDMI or Realink for HDMI
- Onkyo: RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI)
- Panasonic: EZ-Sync, HDAVI Control or VIERA Link
- Philips: EasyLink or Fun-Link
- Pioneer: Kuro Link
- Roku: 1-Touch Play
- Runco International: RuncoLink
- Samsung: Anynet+
- Sharp: Aquos Link
- Sony: BRAVIA Link or Bravia Sync
- Sylvania: Fun-Link
- Thomson: T-Link
- Toshiba: CE-Link or Regza Link
- Vizio: CEC
If your product has documentation stating the inclusion of the relevant CEC trade name, your device should support HDMI-CEC once enabled accordingly.