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Power off issue with soundbar causing USB external hard drive plugged into TV to not sleep

(Topic created on: 06-12-2024 07:25 PM)
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bluepurple
Apprentice

‎06-12-2024 07:25 PM - last edited ‎08-12-2024 10:30 PM

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My setup:

  • TV Samsung QE50QN90BATXXU, software version T-PTMDEUC-1651.7, BT - S (latest)
  • USB External Hard Drive (HDD) attached to TV USB 1A port powered by its own plug
  • Soundbar Samsung HW-Q930D, firmware SAT-MT8532D24WWC-1016.0 (latest), connected to TV by HDMI eARC

When turning off the TV to standby it also turns the soundbar to standby as expected.

In standby there appears to be a power sequence where the TV semi-wakes without the screen coming on. The sequence is something like this (note when HDD is not recording or scheduled to record):

  • 0m 00s - Turn off TV & Soundbar into standby with TV remote.
  • 0m 23s - An audible click from the TV power board. My HDD powers down.
  • 0m 25s - My HDD powers up again.
  • 2m 38s - An audible click from the TV power board. My HDD powers down.
  • 2m 40s - My HDD powers up again.
  • 4m 55s - An audible click from the TV power board. My HDD powers down.

At this point with my previous Samsung HW-S50B soundbar the HDD would stay off. The HDD also stays off at this point if there's no soundbar connected.

However with the Q930D connected to the TV in this sequence, at 5 minutes the HDD powers up again, stays spinning and doesn't power down. This means unnecessary power usage and wearing out of my hard drive which is going to spend most of its time spinning while the TV is in standby.

After a bit of testing I have found a workaround which is to use a routine in the SmartThings app:

  • IF TV goes off (soundbar also goes off by the HDMI-CEC off command) wait 1 minute
  • THEN turn soundbar on
  • And then AUTO TURN OFF soundbar turn off after 30 seconds

This results in the HDD powering off at 5 minutes and not powering up again. This needs to happen before the 5 minute mark. The same effect happens if you turn the soundbar completely off at the plug and back on again before 5 minutes.

I have tried factory resetting and changing HDMI cables but this hasn't solved the issue. Nor has disabling eARC nor connecting via WiFi instead.

My guess there seems to be a bug in the CEC power off command for the Q930D which keeps the TV semi-awake and the external HDD continually powered on. That's my theory at least. Maybe it's just my setup but I thought I'd post this here in case this helps anybody else or one of you might be able to explain why my hard drive stays on with this soundbar. Very strange 🤔

2 REPLIES 2
gdm13
Apprentice

‎16-12-2024 04:36 AM

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There is indeed an issue with the USB port power since the last update. Who should I report this to?

The USB ports remain powered while the TV is off. This has only started happening since the last update, and we don’t have any option to disable it, such as power saving mode.

bluepurple
Apprentice

‎17-12-2024 11:26 PM - last edited ‎17-12-2024 11:30 PM

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Aah it was a recent update that caused this? Yes you're right, the external USB ports do seem to remain powered while the TV is off now whereas they weren't before.

Looks like we can report bugs using the members app although I don't have a Samsung phone to install the app. How to raise a bug report into Samsung? 

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