HDMI switches

[philipb]

Anybody know of a 1 in:2 (or more) out HDMI (or DVI) switch? They all seem to be many in:1 out.

[sbowler]

This has 3 in and 1 out.http://www.lektropacks.com/view_item...&&category=129

[Joe Fernand]

Hello philib

Gefen have a fair few options as far as Distributing DVI, DVI with HDCP or HDMI signals.

They are generally not 'switches' as the second, third forth etc output is usually a mirror of the selected Input and all Outputs are usually active simultaneously.

Take your pick - http://www.gefen.com/kvm/htda.jsp

Plus there are other options if you want multiple Inputs to Multiple Outputs - http://www.gefen.com/kvm/htswitchers.jsp

Best regards

Joe

[Mark_a]

Yes, Geffin (and others) want you to spend silly money on something you don't need or use. Sooner or later someone will produce a simple 1:2 HDMI switch, but at the moment they're only interested in gouging the early adopters.

Regards

Mark

[Nic Rhodes]

I wouldn't blame Gefen and alike, look to the HDMI licencing costs.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Mark_a

Why would anyone ask about or potentially purchase something they don't 'need or use' just because Gefen happen to manufacture and sell them???

As Nic says I'd have a look at HDMI and its Licensing cost and the stipulations on what a Repeater/Switcher has to do before you assume low cost devices are coming soon.

We've had HDMI for well over a year now and still no low cost Output switchers or splitters have materialised.

Best regards

Joe

[Mark_a]

Originally Posted by Joe Fernand

Why would anyone ask about or potentially purchase something they don't 'need or use' just because Gefen happen to manufacture and sell them???

Why indeed. The OP asked for a switch, not a distribution amplifier. Gefen are well aware for the need for a simple 1:2 switch but choose not to make one, presumably hoping you'll buy a pointlessly expensive and unnecessary alternative that they happen to manufacture.

Regards

Mark

[togad]

Originally Posted by Mark_a

Why indeed. The OP asked for a switch, not a distribution amplifier. Gefen are well aware for the need for a simple 1:2 switch but choose not to make one, presumably hoping you'll buy a pointlessly expensive and unnecessary alternative that they happen to manufacture.

Regards

Mark

Well Gefen are only one manufacturer - it's not like they have a monopoly or anything.

Presumably someone out there (other than you) has noticed this huge gap in the market for affordable HDMI switches and gone ahead and created a product to meet the demand at something other than a "pointlessly expensive" price that doesn't have "unnecessary" functionality.

I'll have a Google around for you and report back later in the day.

/edit

That didn't take long.

I've found a couple of non-Gefen 1x2 HDMI splitters (well, HDCP-compliant DVI splitters to be fair) for around the $300 mark.

Not sure how that compares to the price of the Gefen, but let me know if that's enough of a bargain for you, and I'll post links!

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Togad

As you say its not a Monopoly buy equally there are not lots of folk getting involved as entry into the HDMI Licence holders club is relatively expensive.

For comparison a Gefen EXT-HDMI-142 1.2 HDMI Distribution amp (with Optical Audio Out) has a UK SRP of 282.00 GBP; inc 1 x 2m HDMI cable. See http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2514

Best regards

Joe

[Mark_a]

Originally Posted by togad

That didn't take long.

I've found a couple of non-Gefen 1x2 HDMI splitters (well, HDCP-compliant DVI splitters to be fair) for around the $300 mark.

You seem to misunderstand the difference between a splitter (dist. amp) and a switch, which is what I, and apparently others, actually want.

And I'm well aware that Gefen are not the only perpetrators of this particular scam. I mean, why would you sell, say, a $50 switch when you can flog a $300 splitter that cost you considerably less than that to make? The law of unbridled economics, sustained by snobs with more money than sense. Apple and Bang & Olufsen, for example, have been getting away with it for decades. And will doubtless continue to do so.

Regards

Mark

[togad]

Originally Posted by Mark_a

You seem to misunderstand the difference between a splitter (dist. amp) and a switch, which is what I, and apparently others, actually want.

And I'm well aware that Gefen are not the only perpetrators of this particular scam. I mean, why would you sell, say, a $50 switch when you can flog a $300 splitter that cost you considerably less than that to make? The law of unbridled economics, sustained by snobs with more money than sense. Apple and Bang & Olufsen, for example, have been getting away with it for decades. And will doubtless continue to do so.

Regards

Mark

Mark - Apologies, I think you must have missed the tongue in cheek nature of my post. Perhaps I should have used a smiley.

I'll stay out of this now because I've got better things to do with my time than get involved in a discussion with someone with the paranoid delusion that there must be some sort of global conspiracy to scam people who want a simple HDMI switch.

That someone who does not have more money than sense requires a unit to switch between two HDMI capable displays I'll leave for others to comment on.

Have a great weekend.

[Nic Rhodes]

Whether it switched A or B outputs or A and B simultaneously really is mute. Whether it is a distribution amplifier or switch, the product will require an HDMI licence, (even if you just used the sockets), HDMI receiver and HDMI transmitter silicon, some sophisticated glue logic, RAM and clean PSU all made with some pretty smart digital engineering to make it work at 165Mhz etc. This will be the case for switch or distribution box. You don't think it will be a toggle switch with plugs on do you, like some of the less than stellar analogue switches that struggle with 5Mhz?

We knocked up some low bandwidth switchers for a project, basically they didn't work because we had tried to bodge something up quickly with a soldering iron. These things need to be done well to work at all, we were transmitting stuff that was barely SD bandwidths. It was quite a learning curve on HDMI and what you are allow / not allow / can do. I am still bruised by my professional encounter with HDMI. It is a nightmare and people still can't agree on how it is implemented

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Mark_a

You may find it would be more costly to build an Output Switcher as the HDCP compliance may be more tricky/costly on a Switch rather than a Distribution amp.

I think too there are a lot of folk who would not relish having to turn there Source plus all Displays off every time they want to change preferred Output Device.

If you want low cost why not go for a 30 USD 1.2 'splitter' cable - wont that do what you require?

See - http://www.hdtvsupply.com/hdspseonehdo.html

Best regards

Joe

[Mark_a]

Originally Posted by Nic Rhodes

Whether it switched A or B outputs or A and B simultaneously really is mute.

No it isn't. One is an unnecessary waste and expense, the other isn't. I've no doubt that if you wanted to switch something live you may need some extra glue. But as the primary reason is to switch between two displays there is no reason why that can't be done off-line. As such it really could be made cheaply and simply on the understanding that it's only guaranteed to work when switched off-line.

If you want to distribute between multiple screens then fine, get yourself a splitter. But I don't and I'm certain I'm not the only one. I simply want to save having to plug and unplug leads when I swap between a TV and a projector from the same source.

Regards

Mark

[Mark_a]

Originally Posted by togad

you must have missed the tongue in cheek nature of my post.

No, it wasn't tongue-in-cheek, just wrong is all.

Regards

Mark