Timeshares That Disable TV Inputs

[gnorth16]

At Playa Grande now and wanted to watch some family movies so we tried to hook up the Chromecast. All other inputs have been disabled so you can only watch cable TV.

Is this common at the timeshares you have stayed at? I saw it last year at an all inclusive and Grand Mayan Neuvo Vallerta...

Any idea how to watch a family movie with 4 people on the TV and not the 15 inch laptop???

 

[SmithOp]

I know why they do it, to cut down on maint call when tech challenged folks push the input button by mistake and can't figure out how to get the tv channels back on.


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[friedshrimp]

Many places these days require a digital box connected to the TV to get signal. If so they disconnect then digital box and connect the laptop (both should be HDMI). If the TV still uses the RF signal input for it's signal then you can't.

 

[moonstone]

Can you buy an HDMI cable & hook up the laptop to the TV (thus making the TV your monitor)? DH bought a netbook with an HDMI connection & fairly good quality HDMI cable just to use at timeshares. Many places don't have very good cable packages or we want to watch things that are only on the internet or aren't available where we are (Blue Jays games).

I get to use the netbook when we aren't on vacation!

~Diane

 

[MichaelColey]

I've run across that quite a bit with both timeshares and hotels. Annoying when you're wanting to use your own streaming device.

 

[friedshrimp]

Can you buy an HDMI cable & hook up the laptop to the TV (thus making the TV your monitor)? DH bought a netbook with an HDMI connection & fairly good quality HDMI cable just to use at timeshares. Many places don't have very good cable packages or we want to watch things that are only on the internet or aren't available where we are (Blue Jays games).

I get to use the netbook when we aren't on vacation!

~Diane

You can physically connect a laptop to a TV via HDMI with no problem but you still won't be able to see what's on the netbook if you can't change inputs on the TV.

 

[x3 skier]

You can physically connect a laptop to a TV via HDMI with no problem but you still won't be able to see what's on the netbook if you can't change inputs on the TV.

Unless the cable input is an HDMI connection and you can swap.

The cable input can be several types, co-ax, HDMI, RCA....so unless you can a) disconnect the cable and b) have a cable compatible with the cable input and the laptop, you will need the capability to switch the source input.

Cheers

 

[PigsDad]

Unless the cable input is an HDMI connection and you can swap.

AND if the HDMI connection is not protected w/ a tamper-proof enclosure. I've seen that a few times.

Kurt

 

[VegasBella]

I've run across that quite a bit with both timeshares and hotels. Annoying when you're wanting to use your own streaming device.

So annoying. I guess I've been lucky. I haven't run into any that do this. I would definitely complain.

 

[Elan]

Haven't experienced this. How is the TV typically fixed to one input?

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[PigsDad]

Haven't experienced this. How is the TV typically fixed to one input?

It is usually done by modifying a setting in the firmware so simply disable the other inputs. Most TVs have a "service menu" that is generally not accessible to the normal user which provides many more options to be set. The TVs that these hotels buy are probably sold to them w/ the customized settings.

Kurt

 

[Elan]

It is usually done by modifying a setting in the firmware so simply disable the other inputs. Most TVs have a "service menu" that is generally not accessible to the normal user which provides many more options to be set. The TVs that these hotels buy are probably sold to them w/ the customized settings.

Kurt

OK, thanks. That's kind of what I figured. I guess one could buy an HDMI adapter and swap out, but what a PITA. If I ran into this, I'd almost be tempted to disconnect stuff on my way out, just to make a point.

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[friedshrimp]

Unless the cable input is an HDMI connection and you can swap.

The cable input can be several types, co-ax, HDMI, RCA....so unless you can a) disconnect the cable and b) have a cable compatible with the cable input and the laptop, you will need the capability to switch the source input.

Cheers

Which I stated in post #3.

 

[friedshrimp]

OK, thanks. That's kind of what I figured. I guess one could buy an HDMI adapter and swap out, but what a PITA. If I ran into this, I'd almost be tempted to disconnect stuff on my way out, just to make a point.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

You would do something to piss off the next user because you think you would be getting back at the resort? WOW! :annoyed:

 

[gnorth16]

Nothing worked, so it's staring at the ocean til dark, then an HGTV marathon til bed! At least one of the kids like the Reno shows!!!

 

[hvsteve1]

Of course if the resort has a DVD hooked up to the TV, as most seem to do, you can always swap out that connection either with RCA cables or, if it's BluRay, an HDMI.

 

[pedro47]

I know why they do it, to cut down on maint call when tech challenged folks push the input button by mistake and can't figure out how to get the tv channels back on.


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Timeshare resorts are like most major cruises line they disable this feature to avoid rec'ing 100 maint calls every week from folks like me.