HDMI Matrix Switcher advice

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Victoire

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#58945 23-Mar-2010 20:33

Hi,

Having an LCD and plasma, I purchased a HDMI switch matrix splitter from Jaycar the other day to split
the signal between the two. It does a fine job and suits its purpose very well. Though if I switch one of the
screens on or off, it terminates the signal to the other leaving the watcher with a black screen for 7 or 8 seconds.

I'm wondering, is this normal for all hdmi matrix splitters to do this?

Spotted another unit on RapolloAV for $345 that is "faster acting". Can anyone tell me if this one does the same thing?

Any advice on any other matrix appreciated.

CYaBro

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#310455 23-Mar-2010 23:12

I've found the same thing with the jaycar matrix switch. Haven't bothered to try any others as they are a lot more expensive.

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Bolly

68 posts

Master Geek

#310978 24-Mar-2010 20:57

Yup will do the same.

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#312046 28-Mar-2010 14:17

Victoire: Hi,

Having an LCD and plasma, I purchased a HDMI switch matrix splitter from Jaycar the other day to split
the signal between the two. It does a fine job and suits its purpose very well. Though if I switch one of the
screens on or off, it terminates the signal to the other leaving the watcher with a black screen for 7 or 8 seconds.

I'm wondering, is this normal for all hdmi matrix splitters to do this?

Spotted another unit on RapolloAV for $345 that is "faster acting". Can anyone tell me if this one does the same thing?

Any advice on any other matrix appreciated.

Every single switcher, splitter, matrix will to the same, that the HDCP negotiating the handshake a second time. Some will act faster than others. Ive never seen one take 7 or 8 secs though, the one I use returns the video & audio within 3 secs or so.

richms

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#312111 28-Mar-2010 17:49

Do you find that changing inputs on one of the TV's disrupts the other one? Friend was finding that with a cheap 4 output splitter that they got to go to the kitchen tv, main tv and a projector, messing with the kitchen tv would make the others drop out all the time.

in the end flagged it and got a hdmi to component adapter and ran a component cable.

no issues with hdcp on it yet, not sure if to expect any or not.

Richard rich.ms

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#312112 28-Mar-2010 17:53

richms: Do you find that changing inputs on one of the TV's disrupts the other one? Friend was finding that with a cheap 4 output splitter that they got to go to the kitchen tv, main tv and a projector, messing with the kitchen tv would make the others drop out all the time.

in the end flagged it and got a hdmi to component adapter and ran a component cable.

no issues with hdcp on it yet, not sure if to expect any or not.

All HDMI switchers/splitters will drop out in this situation but I cant see how 2 or 3 secs is a problem, I would still rather run with HD through HDMI than converting back to component.

richms

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#312117 28-Mar-2010 18:02

22" kitchen tv is fine on component off the HT system.

I dont see how dropouts like that can be an accepted part of a standard. I never saw anything like that when I had a DVI splitter in the older days, so I am assuming we have HDCP to thank for it.

Richard rich.ms

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#312121 28-Mar-2010 18:11

richms: 22" kitchen tv is fine on component off the HT system.

I dont see how dropouts like that can be an accepted part of a standard. I never saw anything like that when I had a DVI splitter in the older days, so I am assuming we have HDCP to thank for it.

Yes correct, thats the standard.

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richms

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#312122 28-Mar-2010 18:12

Any HDCP stippers around that can go between the AVR and the splitter to stop this nonsense? Not had a reason to look for one up till now, HDMI to compoment has been all I have needed in the past.

Richard rich.ms

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#312129 28-Mar-2010 18:37

richms: Any HDCP stippers around that can go between the AVR and the splitter to stop this nonsense? Not had a reason to look for one up till now, HDMI to compoment has been all I have needed in the past.

Yes these can be very good products to do the job but still considered expensive.
http://dme.ghost2.net/hdfury/home.php?SID=34&deflang=en

Victoire

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#313625 31-Mar-2010 21:48

70mm: Every single switcher, splitter, matrix will to the same, that the HDCP negotiating the handshake a second time.

Thanks 70mm. Makes things a little easier now that I know that they all do it. Especially when justifying to ones girlfriend how I can spend over $200 on a little box. What is it about some women and technology!? ;-)

70mm

80 posts

Master Geek

#313646 31-Mar-2010 22:30

Really if a switcher/spliter/matrix cuts out for a few secs while it negotiates the HDMI handshake, its still a small price to pay than the alternative of no switcher!

richms

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#313687 1-Apr-2010 01:57

Not really, its a massive step backwards if the loungeroom tv is going to glitch everytime the kitchen one is switched past its HDMI 2 input.

VGA never did crap like that, It is a massive price to pay for no benifit for the consumer, just a placibo of protection that the content industry wanted.

Richard rich.ms

smarsden

118 posts

Master Geek

#315953 7-Apr-2010 22:26

I just got one of the HDMI matrix boxes last week, and also noticed the drop-out while displays were being turned on/off, and HDCP re-negotiated things.

One thing that seemed quite clever as a consequence of this though, is that if both TV and projector (via receiver) outputs were set to display at the same time (from a blu-ray player), it recognised that the TV was only capable of 2 channel audio, and so output only 2 channel to the receiver also (rather than outputing multi-channel LPCM to a device that couldn't process it). When the TV was turned off, it re-negotiated, and then started to output multi-channel to the receiver.

richms

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#315997 7-Apr-2010 23:50

Thats strange, as the recivers I have used have not passed audio on at all so that sort of thing didnt end up happening.

Richard rich.ms