Bounty 100 EUR - Displayport Alt Mode - Enable USB C to HDMI

[Inerent]

Hello devs,
Please look into enabling the displayport alt mode!!!
Its really frustrating how this phone cuts quality (480p) when used with a 4K TV. The only way is usb to hdmi cable, but sony decided to disable this feature.
Can you please make a tutorial on how to enable this?
Bounty 100 EUR

 

[Inerent]

Up

 

[Inerent]

I have found this intresting information:
https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/9195059/

It should be that easy as adding some lines of code?

 

[Inerent]

Another intresting video:
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Sony+Xperia+XZ+Premium+USB+Port+Replacement/97361
From this video we know thatXZ premium has all the USB type c 3.1 pins connected to the motherboard and therefor to snapdragon 835 (5:07 in the video)

Also take a look at this:
https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/type-c-pinout.png
Seems like the tx pins are responsible for Displayport alt mode
The good news is that they are soldered into the motherboard connector

Is it possible that the data pins have been disabled in kernel?

 

[Lirannl]

I look forward to this thing happening! (Although I'm waiting for a DRM backup method first)

 

[dazza9075]

as I said on the other thread, don't hold your breath, pins on a socket and PCB mean diddly squat.

Sony may very well disabled this or not even included supporting chips. I would strongly suggest if anyone wants to confirm this to find the same chipset on a different device with a working video out, then take a super high resolution photo of both sides of the PCB paying special attention to the numbers on the chips, then someone else do the same with the XZp

we will never be about to check the traces since it will be amulti layer PCB and we wont be able to check if any traces have been severed from a photo. but we will know if there are some supporting chips missing.

 

[Inerent]

I disagree with you. Today chips are not just chips, are SOC.
Hardware is there. This tx prins are active for usb audio also, but not for video data transfer.
Sony hasn't implemented snapdragon 835 low cost version, because it does not exist. There are no other chips related to display port alt mode. It is done in Sd835. Simple as that.

 

[dazza9075]

I disagree with you. Today chips are not just chips, are SOC.
Hardware is there. This tx prins are active for usb audio also, but not for video data transfer.
Sony hasn't implemented snapdragon 835 low cost version, because it does not exist. There are no other chips related to display port alt mode. It is done in Sd835. Simple as that.

SoC have been used for a long time mate, trust me, if Sony didn't want something there are dozens of things they can do to stop it. Its been a problem with SoC vendors for decades. a physical connection means nothing if its traces are cut

Of course its perfectly possible its just software limited but its equally possible its not physically possible. The proof will of course be if you can get it working... but They have been doing this for years now and are getting pretty good at it.

 

[Sasafrass]

SoC have been used for a long time mate, trust me, if Sony didn't want something there are dozens of things they can do to stop it. Its been a problem with SoC vendors for decades. a physical connection means nothing if its traces are cut

Of course its perfectly possible its just software limited but its equally possible its not physically possible. The proof will of course be if you can get it working... but They have been doing this for years now and are getting pretty good at it.

If you are so confident, then find out for your self, I would say.

 

[dazza9075]

You want me to prove that its broken or working? firstly I have no intention of putting any effort in to getting this to work, my device is perma locked and I really cant be arsed taking it apart and try to write over the ROM just to attempt to get this working.

Which leaves me with trying to prove its broken. as Ive said, multi layer PCBs will be impossible to check this without taking the device apart hell, ANY PCB will be impossible to check without checking each trace and that's not to say if QC hasn't used any fuses to blow certain circuits within the chips. If you get it working, then you will have your proof. all I'm saying is don't be surprised If it doesn't happen. it wont be the first time a manufacture has done this.

 

[Sasafrass]

You want me to prove that its broken or working? firstly I have no intention of putting any effort in to getting this to work, my device is perma locked and I really cant be arsed taking it apart and try to write over the ROM just to attempt to get this working.

Which leaves me with trying to prove its broken. as Ive said, multi layer PCBs will be impossible to check this without taking the device apart hell, ANY PCB will be impossible to check without checking each trace and that's not to say if QC hasn't used any fuses to blow certain circuits within the chips. If you get it working, then you will have your proof. all I'm saying is don't be surprised If it doesn't happen. it wont be the first time a manufacture has done this.

Nobody will be surprised, don't worry. Just that we don't know doesn't mean that we shouldn't try.

 

[Inerent]

Trust me, displayport alt mode is disabled in kernel.
Tx pins are active for usb audio playback!

 

[Inerent]

It seems the display link hardware is our only choice for the moment...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-5/accessories/usb-c-to-hdmi-adapter-t3631169/page8

 

[dazza9075]

Trust me, displayport alt mode is disabled in kernel.
Tx pins are active for usb audio playback!

Sorry bud, that doesn't mean anything more than USB Audio is connected...

 

[Inerent]

Check this out! https://youtu.be/Ff9GfDpH42Q
Maybe some devs look into the buildprop and kernel of the s8 to search for relevant data and compare them with our xzp...

P. S. another proof that makes me think that this sh...t is disabled in software is that with the displaylink apk the one plus 5, xiaomi mi6, etc are working. The data is sent by Displaylink app to those TX usb pins and works!
So with an app it can be sent, but with our sony software not? C'mon!!! This is BS!

 

[dazza9075]

Check this out! https://youtu.be/Ff9GfDpH42Q
Maybe some devs look into the buildprop and kernel of the s8 to search for relevant data and compare them with our xzp...

P. S. another proof that makes me think that this sh...t is disabled in software is that with the displaylink apk the one plus 5, xiaomi mi6, etc are working. The data is sent by Displaylink app to those TX usb pins and works!
So with an app it can be sent, but with our sony software not? C'mon!!! This is BS!

your saying that the Displaylink APK works on the Sony Xperia XZp and on the Sony XZp, data is sent to the correct PINs on the USB-C out but it doesn't display anything? on a linked display?

 

[Inerent]

Need help from rooted devices.
Please add or search in buildprop for ro.hdmi.enable=true
If it's present like this #ro.hdmi.enable=true, just delete the #
If it's not present, just add this line ro.hdmi.enable=true
Save and test only with usb-c 3.1 to hdmi and display port alt mode compatibile cable!
Let me know

 

[dazza9075]

Need help from rooted devices.
Please add or search in buildprop for ro.hdmi.enable=true
If it's present like this #ro.hdmi.enable=true, just delete the #
If it's not present, just add this line ro.hdmi.enable=true
Save and test only with usb-c 3.1 to hdmi and display port alt mode compatibile cable!
Let me know

yours not root-able?

 

[Inerent]

Hi Dazza! Yes mine is not rooted ... yet! Enabling Display port is the final step towards rooting my phone.
For devs: BoardConfig.mk and BOARD_KERNEL_CMDLINE

 

[AndroPlus]

Need help from rooted devices.
Please add or search in buildprop for ro.hdmi.enable=true
If it's present like this #ro.hdmi.enable=true, just delete the #
If it's not present, just add this line ro.hdmi.enable=true
Save and test only with usb-c 3.1 to hdmi and display port alt mode compatibile cable!
Let me know

I already tested but it didn't work.