Multiple HDMI connections?

[garrad]

Ok so in the next few months I'm going to pick up myself an LCD projector with a HDMI input and also a new DVD player with a HDMI output also. I am wondering though when Sky release their HDTV box how can you connect two HDMI inputs to a single connection?

[Snoopstah]

Something like this would work...

[garrad]

Wow that's expensive for something so simple.

What about having two outputs also? Say I have a HD Plasma Screen with a HDMI input and a Projector also with an HDMI input, how can I source which can be used?

[Snoopstah]

Yup, but equally, one of the forum sponsors is selling a 5m DVI->HDMI cable for £75, which is obscene for what it is. Trouble is, there's currently so little demand for this stuff that prices are still very high.

Hopefully, now more displays are coming with HDMI inputs, when Sky bring out their HDTV system and more people start to want to use the HDMI stuff, switches and cables will come down in price significantly. I can still remember buying my first 2m DVI cable for 40 quid, whereas now you can get them for closer to £4.

The same switch *should* do for the other purpose too (one input into two outputs) - after all, all it does is connect one connector to another, it doesn't care which way the electrons go

You may be able to get away with a simple splitter, but I wouldn't like to guarantee it - there might be termination issues.

[KraGorn]

Originally Posted by garrad

Wow that's expensive for something so simple.

IIRC they have to pay $15000 a year to license HDCP and another $5000 for an HDMI license, plus a percentage in royalties per unit, so that's a pretty big overhead to begin with.

[garrad]

It's nuts. I see denon's top end £4000 amp has 3 in and one out. It would be nice to see the 3806 having the same... just 12 months to go... such a long wait.

[kballs]

Originally Posted by KraGorn

IIRC they have to pay $15000 a year to license HDCP and another $5000 for an HDMI license, plus a percentage in royalties per unit, so that's a pretty big overhead to begin with.

Are you sure that includes the physical specs for cables and mechanical switchboxes (which can be easily and legally reverse-engineered)? It seems like the licensing would only apply to terminal equipment (equipment that outputs an HDMI signal or takes HDMI input signal) where they need a lot of info on protocols and such... Think of China where they will make some cheap cable with counterfeit/reverse-engineered connectors and tell the standards orgs and WTO to because Wal-mart refuses to pay more than X for their product.

Of course the current cable makers might just be playing nice with the standards org, hence the high prices. I think also that long cables (more than 2 meters) are a low-volume market so they can rip people off and they will still pay (just look at the high price of 6 meter+ component cables).

[garrad]

It is really stupid how none of this is really thought out properly. I mean when Sky get's their HDTV sorted out most people here with a HD Projector will probably have a HDTV of some sort and possibly an HDDVD player also. Maybe even two as one for HD DVD and one for BluRay. So right now we have Sky and two DVD players. So that's three inputs and with two displays... this is now just stupid. How are you supposed to hook it all up together?

[KraGorn]

Well I am assuming that they're using HDMI transmitters and receivers rather than relatively simple digital switching .. AIUI the license would be needed for these chips, but that's an assumption.

[garrad]

I guess it's just a waiting game now.

[KraGorn]

Originally Posted by garrad

How are you supposed to hook it all up together?

Pay Denon 4 grand for a 59XX or whatever it is that has 3 HDMI inputs?

[garrad]

Mind you their top end amp is pretty sweet. Just £4000.... Way too much for me.

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Marantz SR8500 has 2 DVI in and 1 out (which with the right cables will switch a couple of HDMI sources). £1000 all in. Think we installed one last week. I reckon other manufacturers won't be too far behind, pretty far but not too far. After all Denon and Marantz are sleeping in the same bed so one would hope the next gen or gen after will have DVI switching

[garrad]

Problem is though that Sky will be HDMI only so not even HDMI to DVI will work

[KraGorn]

Why won't HDMI->DVI work, unless audio is the problem?