[bobtex]

I'm trying to get and hdmi device to output to 2 displays. Now obviously, you would say "just get one of these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HDMI-HD-Y-Splitter-Cable-Adaptor-SENT-TODAY_W0QQitemZ300237156925QQihZ020QQcategoryZ6139 5QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"

That's all fine and good, but that only works if you have BOTH displays on at the same time. I want to only use one display at a time, but don't want to keep connecting and disconnecting cables. Now I know that some hdmi "switches" - which normally allow 2 sources to connect to 1 display - can also be used in reverse, allowing 1 source to be connected to 2 displays, even though they are not meant for this.

On another thread (in the projectors forum), a user called Pecker confirms he is doing just that, with a manual switch he bought. However, that particular switch looks bulky and dull, is operated manually (by pressing buttons on the device itself) and has all the cables coming out of different sides, which looks messy.

Does anyone else here use a similar device and can confirm that it works "in reverse"?

[Para]

just search for a 1:2 hdmi distribution amplifier, there are plenty out there..

[bobtex]

Thanks Para - although I feel you may have misconstrued something. I know what they are - but using one only displays something if BOTH displays are on at once. I have a similar one. But I want to go the cheap route, and use something meant as a simple 2 way hdmi switch, in reverse.

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Most decent 1:2 DAs won't need display 1 on to show display 2. Some older ones did as a way of HDCP handshaking (i.e. get the handshake from display 1 to allow output to display 2 also). You can get decent ones for 60 quid which are HDMI 1.3 compliant nowadays!

http://www.avtoad.co.uk/catalog/prod...roducts_id=379

[mossym]

i think the reasons peckers works is his is s passive switch. hence the reason it is so big. the small ones are active switcehs, and will not work in reverse, as the muxs in them are monodirectional. most proper 1:2 splitters do not not require both displays to be on.

[bobtex]

Thanks to both of you.

Liam, this may sound cheapo of me, but 60 quid is a bit on the high side for what i want! I was looking between 15 - 30 quid.

Mossym, that is interesting! Is there a way to identify which switches are passive or active by looking at them, or otherwise?

Originally Posted by mossym

most proper 1:2 splitters do not not require both displays to be on.

yes, but most proper splitters are expensive. I would be happy to settle for the one Pecker has, if it didn't look so ugly

[kj23]

Not to hijack the thread but i've got one of those splitters from the first post. I didnt' realise both displays were meant to be on at once. I've got it plugged into my onkyo then my tv and projector plugged into it. Works perfectly fine with the tv but seems hit and miss with the projector. Sometimes it works, sometimes not and if it does it takes about 5 minutes for it to kick in and i've no idea why it works or not.