Using the HDMI Input on a Hyatt TV
 

Whenever staying at a Hyatt hotel I was able to switch the TV from the regular analog mode to the HDMI input by changing the TV to channel 38 which controlled the "side" inputs. I would use this to hookup my laptop and watch iTunes movies I had downloaded.

The past few days, I tried it at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco (Embarcadero) and the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, OH and neither of them would let me switch over to HDMI. The SanFran Hyatt even had the input panel built into the wall!

Did Hyatt push some kind of software update disabling this functionality to all of their TVs or something? Anyone else see this?

I don't think that there is a standard Hyatt-wide setting.

Until last year, the Park Hyatt Tokyo had to loan us an extra TV for the room for the sole purpose of connecting an HDMI device, because the regular TV setup couldn't accommodate it. But now they have a special connection set up to connect your HDMI device to the regular TVs. You don't even require your own cable.

The TV at Hyatt Regency Tokyo had three HDMI ports available, but only one of them worked, and you needed your own cable to hook it up.

I've been wrestling with this one for years.

Often, in the regencys and Grands with LG TV's, the issue is getting to the "Input" function on the TV. Yes, of course, there are buttons on the side, but those don't do anything unless you are also in the right "mode," and the remotes are hotel remotes as opposed to the remotes for the TVs. So, here's what to do.

1. Unplug the Ethernet cable to the TV. That means you won't be able to use the hotel remote or get hotel functions/channels. (Don't forget to be a good hotel citizen and plug it back in before you leave.

2. Plug in your hdmi cable into the ports on the back of the TV. (Often, the biggest hassle.)

3. Use the side buttons on the TV to go to menu>inputs>hdmi

4. For what it's worth, I carry with me now a small "universal" programmable remote so I don't need to mess with the small buttons on the side of the TV, or, if those buttons aren't accessible.

Works like a charm about 95% of the time, and I don't have to watch the very limited stuff that Hyatt normally serves up.

Cheers

Thanks for this! I'll try it when I'm back in Cbus tomorrow night and report back.

Great - it (unplugging the Ethernet cable) should work. One of the maintenance folks in Kauai did this for us years ago when I was trying to figure this out, and it's worked in every stateside Hyatt since, as long as we could access an HMDI port.

Good luck,
Stephen

It varies from one property to the other. If the TV is HD and has HDMI connectivity and when no media hub is available, I usually call the Technical manager and ask to remove the Interactive TV Service such as Quadrigua, Swisscom, etc. which puts my name on the screen (I don't care) and which selects the TV stations for me (no use), including pay TV (complete obsolete). I also ask to deactivate the "hotel mode" of the set which allows me full control of the set so I can plug my HDMI cable directly in the TV. Then I can watch what I want in full HD quality.

It's really not that difficult (where the hardware allows for it) - one just plugs the HDMI cable into an unused HDMI input then uses the remote to change inputs... there is no need to unplug anything (not many TVs with an HDMI input have only one HDMI input).

That said, with every property having different hardware (TVs) and set-ups (service provider, media center), there are a number of variables to consider:

1. Some TVs have no accessible inputs (the TV is bolted to a wall with a hold behind it (Hyatt Maccau was like this).

2. Some TVs have the "change input" disabled (or there is no such button on the non-standard remote)... one must call Engineering and obtain the standard (TV brand) remote.

3. Some properties have old non-HD TVs, or old HD TVs that don't have HDMI (thus I always carry both an HDMI and a Super-VGA cable).

4. Some properties have made it so one can only physically connect to their media center (Alofts are like this), but this in general is much like combining #1 and #2 above.

I guess I agree, except that in all but a handful of US properties, "change input IS disabled" by the presence of the RJ11 cable, and, if you call engineering, and they can find the remote, which often doesn't happen, they still have to undo the cable so that changing inputs is possible to begin with.

Of course, in international properties, anything is possible, but in most US Regencies and Grands, if you arrive at 8:30 at night and you want to watch something other than what little choices Hyatt has to offer, and unless you want to wait for a half hour for engineering to come up, then it's actually pretty simple.

Interestingly enough, at a fair number of Hyatt Places, the built in media center HDMI input doesn't work, which is a huge hassle, but in general, I tend to avoid HP's and Hyatt Houses.