Not a real port

[GreyMcDonald0No]

Alright, so I came across this connector which I thought was toshlink because it was called “digital audio out” on the TV and “digital optical out” in the manual. (This was on a Philips 55OLED705 - Denmark/Nordic)

But rather than being kinda square it was fully square with knobs on all four sides giving it a “star shape” 

 

I have no idea how to use this port, what type of cable/adapter one would need or what sort of equipment has this port in the other end.

 

if you know please do share, so we can educate one another. 
 

and if you know of other “weird” ports that took you a minute to figure out, please do share them as well. I for one love to learn about these things 

[Haraikomono]

5 minutes ago, GreyMcDonald0No said:

Alright, so I came across this connector which I thought was toshlink because it was called “digital audio out” on the TV and “digital optical out” in the manual. (This was on a Philips 55OLED705 - Denmark/Nordic)

But rather than being kinda square it was fully square with knobs on all four sides giving it a “star shape” 

 

I have no idea how to use this port, what type of cable/adapter one would need or what sort of equipment has this port in the other end.

 

if you know please do share, so we can educate one another. 
 

and if you know of other “weird” ports that took you a minute to figure out, please do share them as well. I for one love to learn about these things 

something like that ?

[GuiltySpark_]

This is the back of your TV.  That is a strange looking port, not like a normal TOSLINK port like is pictured above. I'm still searching for what exactly that might be but the first thing I'd try is to see if a standard TOSLINK cable will plug into it.

 

Could it be expecting a mini TOSLINK adapter maybe? 

 

[GuiltySpark_]

After looking into this further, I'm thinking a normal connector might just work in that port. Normally these ports have little doors and the cables only fit in one way. That port looks like it might almost be universal? Just would have to try it.

[AbydosOne]

1 minute ago, rickeo said:

After looking into this further, I'm thinking a normal connector might just work in that port. Normally these ports have little doors and the cables only fit in one way. That port looks like it might almost be universal? Just would have to try it.

That's my offhand guess. There's no reason that a optical port shouldn't be able to have infinite rotational symmetry (only one "pin"), so making a 4-fold rotational TOSLINK port isn't outside the realm of possibility.

[GreyMcDonald0No]

I did try to use the standard toshlink cable, That I had previously used, but It didn't fit. I only discovered this "weird" connector after I got down on the floor with a flashlight to see why the cable didn't fit.

I think there must be some kind of adapter, but I have no idea what adapter to to even search for.

And yes, this is the exact type of port on the back of my TV. I've never seen it before.

[GreyMcDonald0No]

9 hours ago, rickeo said:

This is the back of your TV.  That is a strange looking port, not like a normal TOSLINK port like is pictured above. I'm still searching for what exactly that might be but the first thing I'd try is to see if a standard TOSLINK cable will plug into it.

 

Could it be expecting a mini TOSLINK adapter maybe? 

 

I havn't tried with a mini TOSLINK, didn't have one, and kinda forgot they existed tbh. 

[tikker]

I can't find anything about a proprietary Philips cable nor about a star shaped optical connector. The manual(s) also refer to it simply as optical and TOSLINK, so everything would point towards that a normal cable should fit in there... Nonetheless if you tried that then this is one weird ass port.

 

I also don't see them including or selling specific cables. Have you tried contacting customer support?

 

[Edit] Looks like (some of) LG's X models have it as well and (excessive) force might be the unfortunate answer (though be extremely careful of course and don't try it if it really doesn't go in):

Same thing with people saying it's a normal optical port and people saying the can't get the cable in without a lot of force:

Quote

Hey, after calling LG Support Yesterday I Tried to Push a little Harder, because the Support never heard about such a Problem.... And it worked. I stabilized the TV by Holding one Hand with a soft towel between on the Screen Side and Put in the toslink with the Other. You hear a loud "Klick" when its in. And Support told me also, that it doesnt Matter in which "direction" you Put the toslink in.

Though there are comments suggesting it if doesn't fit it could be a defective/broken port or maybe mini TOSLINK, but from what I can find that looks like a 3.5mm input (and I would assume the manual would specify).

 

Maybe try a new cable as well?

[GreyMcDonald0No]

2 hours ago, tikker said:

I can't find anything about a proprietary Philips cable nor about a star shaped optical connector. The manual(s) also refer to it simply as optical and TOSLINK, so everything would point towards that a normal cable should fit in there... Nonetheless if you tried that then this is one weird ass port.

 

I also don't see them including or selling specific cables. Have you tried contacting customer support?

 

[Edit] Looks like (some of) LG's X models have it as well and (excessive) force might be the unfortunate answer (though be extremely careful of course and don't try it if it really doesn't go in):

Same thing with people saying it's a normal optical port and people saying the can't get the cable in without a lot of force:

Though there are comments suggesting it if doesn't fit it could be a defective/broken port or maybe mini TOSLINK, but from what I can find that looks like a 3.5mm input (and I would assume the manual would specify).

 

Maybe try a new cable as well?

I see, It does look like the same thing on the LG. Maybe it's just a redesign that allows the optical cable to be inserted in any direction with a little extra force. I felt like I tried to push it in hard enough, but I have to admit I was being careful as the TV is brand new. 

Someone in the reddit tread said some cables work, and some don't, I might try with a different optical cable, and a little bit more force. Fingers crossed.