Help with choosing a HDMI switch

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FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#105339 2-Jul-2012 21:31

Hi. Been looking at this http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1619&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=1014#4 but not sure what the advantage of the ethernet connection would be. Does this mean my Samsung smart blueray player would be able to access the internet via the switch box, with a connection to my modem / router if connected to the switch box via the hdmi cable. I also like the optical audio connection which I assume would remove the need to select a different input for Sky, HD recorder, dvd player and blueray player to my older surround sound amp.

I had also been looking at the cheaper http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-processing/hdmi-switcher/mini-hdmi-switcher-4x1-with-3d-passthrough.html

Had also been looking at the oppo 3 to 1 switch which also seems to have a vga input for attaching a laptop. Can not seem to get one of those now.

Any advice?

tangerz

662 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 199

#649841 3-Jul-2012 02:54

FatCat970: Hi. Been looking at this http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1619&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=1014#4 but not sure what the advantage of the ethernet connection would be. Does this mean my Samsung smart blueray player would be able to access the internet via the switch box, with a connection to my modem / router if connected to the switch box via the hdmi cable. I also like the optical audio connection which I assume would remove the need to select a different input for Sky, HD recorder, dvd player and blueray player to my older surround sound amp.

I had also been looking at the cheaper http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-processing/hdmi-switcher/mini-hdmi-switcher-4x1-with-3d-passthrough.html

Had also been looking at the oppo 3 to 1 switch which also seems to have a vga input for attaching a laptop. Can not seem to get one of those now.

Any advice?

If connected to an ethernet port on your router, the ethernet connection on the Jaycar switch would allow, as you have guessed, internet connections for the HDMI connected devices... BUT ONLY IF the attached devices support that function which is known as HDMI Ethernet Channel or HEC for short. It was added to the HDMI specification in version 1.4, but is optional so manufacturers are not required to include it. Some newer devices may have it but I think most still don't. Also you need different HDMI cables that support this feature.

The optical (and coaxial) audio out would indeed allow you to connect to a non-HDMI amp, and negate the need to switch channels on the amp as you suggest. Also I see it has ARC (audio return channel) another HDMI feature added in version 1.4. This allows you to have the audio from your TVs inbuilt tuner come back to the switch (and I'm guessing out the optical/coaxial outputs as well!) Again, your TV must support this feature (look for 'ARC' by one of the HDMI ports. However this will work with standard HDMI cables.

FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#650201 3-Jul-2012 19:06

Hi. Thanks for that I will now check the specs of my Blueray to see if it will link up via this system. May be just as easy to keep the link straight to my br player anyway as only this is smart. The TV is just a basic thick one like me. The audio link would be an advantage but not so sure now about the ethernet link. May go for the cheaper unit. I had been looking at the Oppo switch which seems to also have a port to link your laptop up to the tv as well. These seem hard to get hold of in NZ now.

Anyway thanks for the info.

FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#650294 3-Jul-2012 21:48

Next question. Now thinking that it would be a good idea to just have the one optical audio cable. Already got a pile of wires at the back of the amp. Is there likely to be any difference between the sound quality between taking the output from the switch box to the amp as opposed to directly from each source such as the blueray player. I assume they are all digital and so it will not matter if the info has come via the hdmi link into the switch box and then into the amp via the optical cable.

Next question. I would be using 2m hdmi cables to the switch box and then a 10m hdmi to the tv. Would I need to boost this signal or has anyone got away with doing this?

tangerz

662 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 199

#650358 4-Jul-2012 00:44

FatCat970: Next question. Now thinking that it would be a good idea to just have the one optical audio cable. Already got a pile of wires at the back of the amp. Is there likely to be any difference between the sound quality between taking the output from the switch box to the amp as opposed to directly from each source such as the blueray player. I assume they are all digital and so it will not matter if the info has come via the hdmi link into the switch box and then into the amp via the optical cable.

Next question. I would be using 2m hdmi cables to the switch box and then a 10m hdmi to the tv. Would I need to boost this signal or has anyone got away with doing this?

Only difference would be that you can't get the HD audio formats (like Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio) via the optical cable route. Don't think this will be a problem though as you indicated you had an 'older surround amp' which I asssume won't process these anyway. Either way delivers standard Dolby 5.1 or DTS 5.1

There shouldn't be any difference in quality between

sources -> hdmi -> amp

and

sources -> hdmi -> switch -> optical -> amp

as the signal is digital all the way for both.

As for the cable lengths, you might/probably will get away with what you're planning but will be getting close to having problems. If you use decent quality HDMI cables, (and NO, you DON'T need 'Monster' cables!) it'll probably work fine.

Try something like this: http://www.cablesdirect.co.nz/catalog/search?quickfind_needle=C-HDMI14-10

FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#650565 4-Jul-2012 12:07

Hi. Thanks mate you are a saint. I have however now found these matrix switches and they look cool. I am using a Samsung TV and Blueray player which seem to allow you to control basic features of other sources such as a DVD / hd drive via the hdmi cable and the tv remote. I think the standard is CEC. I am now looking at linking up my MySky+, 3d BR player, Multi region DVD / HD to two TVs. One in the living room and one in the bedroom via a 4 input 2 output matrix switch. I gather that if I go with 1.4 hdmi cable through the system then this would allow me to mix and match what I watch in the two rooms and still get some remote control function of the players in the living room via the TV remote in each room. I would have to stick with Samsung for the second tv. More expensive but would cut down on the cost of buying more players. My god having a tv used to be simple. Still fun to mess around with.

tangerz

662 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 199

#651026 5-Jul-2012 01:09

FatCat970: Hi. Thanks mate you are a saint. I have however now found these matrix switches and they look cool. I am using a Samsung TV and Blueray player which seem to allow you to control basic features of other sources such as a DVD / hd drive via the hdmi cable and the tv remote. I think the standard is CEC. I am now looking at linking up my MySky+, 3d BR player, Multi region DVD / HD to two TVs. One in the living room and one in the bedroom via a 4 input 2 output matrix switch. I gather that if I go with 1.4 hdmi cable through the system then this would allow me to mix and match what I watch in the two rooms and still get some remote control function of the players in the living room via the TV remote in each room. I would have to stick with Samsung for the second tv. More expensive but would cut down on the cost of buying more players. My god having a tv used to be simple. Still fun to mess around with.

Hey there! Actually it sounds like you're about to do the same thing I'm in the process of doing. ie. hooking up all the av gear in the lounge to the bedroom TV via a matrix switch ;)

You're right, you can get basic remote fucntions via HDMI's CEC features. It's a standard in the HDMI spec so you don't have to go with a Samsung TV in the besroom. Most current TVs have the feature, just under their own branding. ie Anynet+ (Samsung), BraviaLink (Sony), VieraLink (Panasonic), SimpLink (LG) are all just a different name for the same thing. It came in with version 1.2a so anything 1.3 and over will do it.

I don't think the MySky can use this so I ended up getting a remote extender as well for my setup.

Yeah, having a TV used to be simple, but then again the TVs used to be simple... Now they do so much more!!

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#651153 5-Jul-2012 10:46

How did it go with the long hdmi cable? I am going to need one around 25M. I expect to need an extender to relay the signal and remove noise from the picture. Could you tell me which matrix box you went for?

dolbyjr

31 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#651171 5-Jul-2012 11:11

I've been very happy with this device: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=KVMATN0482&name=ATEN-VS-482-Four-Port-Dual-View-HDMI-Video-Switch-

tangerz

662 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 199

#651603 5-Jul-2012 23:46

FatCat970: How did it go with the long hdmi cable? I am going to need one around 25M. I expect to need an extender to relay the signal and remove noise from the picture. Could you tell me which matrix box you went for?

Actually, as I needed to cover around 20m from the switch to the bedroom I went with an extender kit via cat5e/6. The kit I got is two wall plates with HDMI connections on the front and connections on the back for two cat5e/6. Just got the cat cables today and hooked them up temporarily running on the floor from the lounge to the bedroom. Works great ;) They have a jack for the, (included), IR extenders on the front as well. Now it's the dirty job of getting under the house to hook it all up permenatly!

They work up to 50m for 1080i 8-bit colour, 30m for 1080p 8-bit colour and 25m for 1080p 12-bit colour. If you're interested this is the kit I got: http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-over-cat5e-cat6-extender-wall-plate-417.html

The matrix switcher I got was off TradeMe. Might turn out to be dodgy but who knows? After looking around, all the ones I found looked virtually the same, just with different labels on them. My guess is they all come from the same factory in China. Brand on the one I got is 'Digitech'. Can't comment on it's performance yet as I'm yet to put it in the mix!

Here's the link to the auction: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=489446525

FatCat970

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#651614 6-Jul-2012 00:27

Thanks tangerz. I will have a look at this switcher. Let me know how you get on with it. I think you are right about all the items being made in the same place but with different stickers on. I have found the same true of other items purchased on Trademe.

tangerz

662 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 199

#653822 11-Jul-2012 02:40

Hey FatCat! I've run the cables under the house and added the Matrix switch into the mix. All seems to be working now.

Lounge TV had a bit of a fit when first all hooked up. Think it may have been the HDMI CEC controls that were set to 'ON' for the bedrooom TV as it's now working fine with that disabled.

May have to get a power supply for my HDMI cat extender system (currently running passive/without power) as my Freeview PVR feed to the bedroom sometimes drops out when the lounge TV also selects it.