HDMI switch

[bignik]

Hi Guys -

Just wondering if anyone has experience using an HDMI switch? i.e. 3-5 HDMI inputs go into the box, and one HDMI output goes to your TV.

Yeah it'd be great if it auto-selected whatever input was active at the time, though those sorts of things don't seem to be 100% reliable in general, and as long as the unit has an IR receiver built into it that I can control with my Harmony remote that'd be enough for me.

While things like HDMI 1.3 and HDCP support would be ideal, they're not necessary at the moment.

Any recommendations?

Cheers - Nik

P.S. And hello to everyone! This actually is my first post on this forum - I still need to write a proper intro

[ExtremePC]

Originally Posted by bignik

Hi Guys -

Just wondering if anyone has experience using an HDMI switch? i.e. 3-5 HDMI inputs go into the box, and one HDMI output goes to your TV.

Yeah it'd be great if it auto-selected whatever input was active at the time, though those sorts of things don't seem to be 100% reliable in general, and as long as the unit has an IR receiver built into it that I can control with my Harmony remote that'd be enough for me.

While things like HDMI 1.3 and HDCP support would be ideal, they're not necessary at the moment.

Any recommendations?

Cheers - Nik

P.S. And hello to everyone! This actually is my first post on this forum - I still need to write a proper intro

G'Day and Welcome,

It actually will be necessary to get a switch that is at least HDCP compliant, having said that you'll find most already are. Google is your friend as they say, expect to pay $100 - $200.

[bignik]

Hmmmmmmm.... I'm not so sure about your price range, Ayn Rand man, though thanks for the welcome:

http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/category/hdmi-switches/

$59

Mostly curious if anyone here is currently actually using one and what their experiences have been.

Cheers - Nik

[ExtremePC]

Originally Posted by bignik

Hmmmmmmm.... I'm not so sure about your price range, Ayn Rand man, though thanks for the welcome:

http://www.kogan.com.au/shop/category/hdmi-switches/

$59

Mostly curious if anyone here is currently actually using one and what their experiences have been.

Cheers - Nik

You have to be a little careful with the cheaper ones because they tend to either be passive or only use one HDMI chip at the output and actually break contact between source and display, this will for some devices including PC video cards loose the handshake. The more expensive units usually have a chip per input and the output (its why they're more expensive) so they trick the display and source into thinking they're still connected. The more expensive units can actually work in either direction as in 4 sources switchable between one display or one source switchable between 4 displays.

[bignik]

Fair enough; the Oppo ones look like a good bit of gear but not sure where to get them here in Aus. Would probably be in the price range you mentioned.