HDMI switch advice

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sprucegoose

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#101580 4-May-2012 11:20

Hi all

First time posting, have found very useful information on this forum in the past and hopefully I'll be able to get some help now.

Moving into a new house in a couple of weeks. Will have a mysky box and bluray player in the lounge, I'd also like to view the output from those in 2 other rooms in addition to the lounge.

Does anyone have any recommendations or advice on a 2in/4out or 4in/4out hdmi switch to use that would achieve this? The one I've been looking at is http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-processing/hdmi-matrix-switcher/4x4-full-hd-true-matrix.html. Are there any hdcp problems or issues of any other nature I would run into using this?

Some further information I can provide is that the bluray player is a Sony BDP-S580 and the two tvs I currently own are Sony Bravias (not sure of model numbers). The longest hdmi cable run required would be 10-15m which I gather shouldn't be a problem if using good quality cable.

Thanks in advance
Jonathan

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#619847 4-May-2012 21:56

sprucegoose: Hi all

The one I've been looking at is http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-processing/hdmi-matrix-switcher/4x4-full-hd-true-matrix.html. Are there any hdcp problems or issues of any other nature I would run into using this?

They want $599 for this. Ouch! On a quick check Monoprice (who I have had a good experience buying from in the past) have the same thing for $US 159 (approx $195 NZ plus shipping). The rapallo kit would have to be something pretty darn special for me to pay two-and-a-half times the price elsewhere.

One of these should do what you want. I have a 4x2 from Jaycar which works well for me. The main caveat I would offer is that I understand that satisfactory performance could depend on how far you are running cables to the other rooms. Haven't tried long runs myself, but I understand that HDMI can get a bit iffy with cable lengths over 10 meters. There is (pricey) HDMI-to-ethernet kit that you can use for very long runs however.

As a random thought, I have also heard of video being successfully distributed over fairly long runs using component cables (which can, incidentally, do HD video just fine if the cable is of decent quality). Jaycar has a $99 4-output component video distribution amplifier, and you could explore something like that, with something like an HDFury between the source devices and the distribution amp to spit out an HD component signal, as an option.

Edit: Typos and incoherent sentence.

richms

28172 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#625071 14-May-2012 19:53

Friend got a cheap matrix switch off ebay and it does the trick ok. Only sometimes does it blank out when turning the second TV on, most of the time it is seamless.

Remote is a pathetic little card sized one but it has discret buttons for all 4 sources for both outputs so it ended up working well with his overpriced harmony to switch inputs around.

Richard rich.ms

sprucegoose

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#625237 15-May-2012 08:31

Thanks guys.

Have ordered one off RapalloAV so hopefully does the trick. Will test it out later this week.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#625576 15-May-2012 16:59

I'm curious - why order from RapalloAV when there is *much* cheaper pricing on the same item from other vendors?

khull

1245 posts

Uber Geek

#625584 15-May-2012 17:03

I got a cheap and dirty 4xInput including 4x digital optical with remote off eBay works great with with my universal remote and runs fine. Could not be happier

josephhinvest

1543 posts

Uber Geek

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#638625 10-Jun-2012 20:59

Did you have any luck with the RapalloAV product?

I'm looking at the 3 way pigtail switcher or the 2 way pigtail switcher.

These seem to be just what I need to get me one more hdmi input for an occasionally used device.
Has anyone tried these? Thanks.

Cheers,
Joseph

Edit: yay me, I have finally worked out how to use [ url =] tags!

minimoke

750 posts

Ultimate Geek

#639044 11-Jun-2012 15:58

but I understand that HDMI can get a bit iffy with cable lengths over 10 meters. ....

As a random thought, I have also heard of video being successfully distributed over fairly long runs using component cables (which can, incidentally, do HD video just fine if the cable is of decent quality). ......

For what its worth I've just run a $90 15m HDMI cable. At the Blu ray end it plugs staight in. At the TV end it goes through two 90 degree conecctors before plugging into the tv.There is no problem with a 3d Blu ray picture. Video sourced from a wirelss tream, SD card or USB stick all similalry have no problems.

The HDMI replaces a component cable. The HDMi gives much better picture clarity particulalry when looking at upscaled DVD's. For example in a music DVD on stage smoke has a slight grainy aspect when viewed over Component. When viewed over HDMI that grain all but disappears.

You can now get HDMI runs for any length. The installer just runs wire and puts connectors on the end. Any existing wire can probably be used as a draw string.

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sprucegoose

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#639050 11-Jun-2012 16:04

@JimmyH
Fair question, I just wanted the ease of dealing with someone in NZ if I needed to.

@jojizz
The switch I got from RapalloAV seems to work ok. Did a test in my lounge with two tvs, mysky and a bluray player. I could get both tvs showing either input at the same time, or a different one on each. Haven't got the end set up sorted yet, with the hdmi cable runs to other rooms.

FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#650304 3-Jul-2012 22:05

Hi Sprucegoose. Had any luck with your system? I am currently looking into getting a switch for hdmi.