Hdmi splitter and switch

richphilly

Happy New Year!

Question for everyone....I received a Sony BDP-S350 Blu Ray player for Christmas. My system consists of an Onkyo TX-SR 804 (two HDMI in/one HDMI out), a Panasonic DS-EV45V DVR Recorder/VHS Combination (with HDMI), a Panasonic TH-50PX600U Plasma TV (two HDMI in), and a Motorola DVR Cable Box (with HDMI) thru Comcast.

I ordered a Linksys WET200 Wireless Bridge so I can download firmware updates and additional content wirelessly via the Internet on the Blu Ray. My router, modem, and PC are across the room so I can run a short Ethernet line from the Sony to the Linksys, which can wirelessly pick up my router and access the web content.

I also wanted to have the flexibility of watching TV through the Onkyo but also directly through the TV speakers (I don't necessarily need to watch the 11PM news in surround sound nor do I think my neighbors want to hear it...gotta love rowhomes).

I wanted to run a HDMI line from the Motorola cable box to a HDMI splitter, then run one of the HDMI outputs directly to the TV and the other to a 5x1HDMI switch which would also have the Panasonic DVD Recorder/VHS combination, and Sony Blu-Ray attached to it via HDMI. I can then run the HDMI output from the switch to the HDMI input of the Onkyo receiver, then the HDMI output of the receiver to a HDMI input on the Panasonic plasma. The extra HDMI inputs on the switch may come in handy later if I add an X-box or PS3.

Thoughts? Opinions? Any better suggestions? I'm open to all. Any suggestions on which splitters/switches?

Thanks in advance for your help.

kegobeer

Instead of a 5x1 splitter, have you considered a 5x2 splitter? I definitely wouldn't recommend chaining two splitters together, and with a 5x2 splitter you could watch any of the inputs on the TV or through the receiver. They are pricey, but I think it would work well in your situation.

Here's one for you to read about:
http://www.octavainc.com/HDMI%20swit...2_toslink.html

richphilly

You're right, makes more sense than the splitter and switch.

So, your way, I would run the Blu-Ray, DVD/VCR, and cable box into the HDMI in ports and run one of the HDMI out ports directly to the TV and the other to the Onkyo receiver then to the TV. That gives me even more flexibility than my way.

Thanks so much. Do you use that switch you recommended?

kegobeer

Nope, I don't use a switch. I don't have that many components - my Onkyo handles all of my needs, as I choose not use send audio to my TV.

richphilly

A few more questions.....in doing additional research this weeked, after providing a list of my components to a tech rep at a web-based retail site, I was told that "all resolutions must match." I reviewed the spec sheet for each component and the only one that provided anything looking like a resolution measurement was the TV. The rep also asked if my receiver was HDMI v1.3. Does it sound correct that all resolutions must match? Where would I find this? And as far as the version of HDMI, all of my components are about 2 years old, so they're v1.1 and v1.2. If I purchased a switch that is v1.3 compliant, wouldn't it work? I thought HDMI was backward compatible like 802.11 for wireless networking. Lastly, thoughts on Monoprice? They seem to be the most reasonable with price, but am I trading quality for price?

My thanks to anyone with input/suggestions.

Lee Stewart

If you are going to use an HDMI switch then all resolutions will match - they will all be HDTV resolutions.

Don't give any thought to mixing 720P with 1080i with 1080P.

Yes HDMI 1.3 is backwards compatible with 1.1 and 1.2.

Monoprice = great bang for your bucks.

richphilly

Thanks Lee. One follow-up....when you say don't give any thought to mixing 720p with 1080i or 1080p, do you mean don't worry about it or don't even think about doing it? And what would it be that I'd be mixing, the different components that may be capable of producing 1080i or 1080p even though my TV is 720p?

Sorry if these questions seem elementary, but all these numbers get crazy after a while.

Thanks again.

Lee Stewart

There you go.

richphilly

Thanks so much, Lee. I'm going to take a look at Monopirce and pull the trigger on the purchase.

chrism87

Instead of starting my own topic I'll ask my similar question here.

We do a lot of Netflix streaming with our Xbox 360. I started thinking that it would be really great to have the capability of streaming Netflix to the bedroom TV, or maybe even the office as well. Right now there aren't any HDMI inputs on the small TVs in those rooms, but I'm planning on changing that soon.

Option #1 would involve 2 HDMI cable runs to the bedroom/office from the living room, connecting the Xbox to the splitter and the splitter to 2 HDMI wall ports and the AV receiver.

Option #2 involves buying a second Xbox 360 for $200 and running some CAT5 to the bedroom (which I plan to do either way).

I'm starting to think option #2 is actually more cost efficient, but if I went with the splitter:

1) Any TV connected to the splitter would need to be 1080P if the Xbox is set to 1080P, correct?

2) Is this even a worthwhile idea?

__________________

Living Room Setup:
Philips 42" PFL7422D/37 (DVE Blu-Ray calibrated)
PS3, Xbox 360 & Wii
VIP722 HD DVR (Dish Network)
Sony STR-DG820 AV Receiver
Boston Acoustic Horizon MCS 100 5.1 Speakers
Boston Acoustic 100 Watt 8" Powered Sub
Harmony 550 Remote

kegobeer

Have you thought about buying a Roku Netflix box? No need to run any wires - it works on 802.11g, and the resolution is great. I have one and it works like a champ. One HDMI cable from the box to the TV.

richphilly

Pulled the trigger tonight. Purchased the 4x2 HDMI switch this afternoon with a few extra HDMI cables. I can connect the Blu-Ray, DVD/VHS recorder and cable company DVR and still have a port open if I purchase an X-Box or PS3.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...seq=1&format=2

Hopefully it will work without any problems.

Thanks kegobeer and Lee for your input and suggestions.

kegobeer

Does your DVD/VCR combo send VCR output through HDMI? I know the Samsung equivalent does not, as it doesn't upconvert analog inputs over component or HDMI.