HDMI Splitter help

movingtables · 9 Jun 2013 at 16:28

MY new tv ( that i love for the bedroom ) only has 2 HDMI's.

I know the function of a hdmi splitter but:

currently i have my PC connected and also my SkyHD box.
I leave these two devices switched on "all the time".
I have read that some switches only switch when another device
Is switched on, for example an Xbox360.

what I want for example is say i had all 3 devices switched on at the same
time can I flick between each one or can you only have 2 displays available?
I know some switches have a button / remote for switching.

hope this makes sense lol.

lucid · 9 Jun 2013 at 16:30

You've answered your own question. Buy a switch (not a splitter) with remote control source selection. Simples.

MagicBoy · 9 Jun 2013 at 16:34

A splitter would be used to split one output to two or more displays. You want the other way round.

I used a manual switchbox on my old TV. £4 from a large high street retailer about 5 years ago. There's also remote controlled and automatic ones that cost a bit more.

Whether you can have multiple devices is down to the device to be honest. For example my white Xbox 360 used to reset itself as soon as you flipped the input, where the later 360 S didn't.

movingtables · 9 Jun 2013 at 16:47

right i need a "switch " then. cheers.
next question.

am I better with a switch that has It's own power source or
one that uses the HDMI power ?

MagicBoy · 9 Jun 2013 at 16:53

The manual switchbox I used was unpowered. Unsure what the benefits of a powered one are.

movingtables · 9 Jun 2013 at 17:11

MagicBoy said:
The manual switchbox I used was unpowered. Unsure what the benefits of a powered one are.

I think the ones that come with their own power supply help the device
auto switch when a new device is switched on, ie- from skyHD to Xbox360.
I wish to manualy switch between devices so I suppose I dont need
this feature, however the more expensive ones have this BUT the more expensive ones seem to have no signal loss.

this is the one I am eyeing up: http://www.kinivo.com/Kinivo-301BN-Premium-wireless-adapter/dp/B0049S6ZUS

reviews on a popular online retail site suggest no quality reduction
in connected devices.

MagicBoy · 9 Jun 2013 at 17:17

Can't really see why there would be quality reduction. HDMI is digital - it'll work or it won't!

movingtables · 9 Jun 2013 at 17:22

MagicBoy said:
Can't really see why there would be quality reduction. HDMI is digital - it'll work or it won't!

I read some reviews of the cheaper models and people where complaining
for example about artifcats on blu ray movies that went away when they just
connected them to the tv port rather than the switch.
I think the more expensive switch models handle multiple live inputs
better?
I dont mind spending £5 or £25 i just dont want image loss.

lucid · 10 Jun 2013 at 07:23

HDMI power was never designed to run ancillary equipment such as switches and splitters. It's there to power the HDMI receiver circuit in the sink device...the TV in your case.

Given the option I'd say go for a powered switch that uses an external power supply.