CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

stefuel · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 12:19 pm Post subject: Quicker HDMI switching???

I'm trying to bend my brain around a quicker form of HDMI switching. Right now, I'm only using a 4X1 HDMI switcher with it's output connected to a HD Fury and Box 1020. When I switch from Fios HD to my PS3 everything goes blank for up to 7 seconds while HDCP figures thing out. After that it is connected to my NEC switcher, then off to the projector.

I'm going to be redoing my rack to include a source for a 1080P flat panel in the living room. I'd like for the living room to be able to share a proposed 400 disc Sony BR changer. In the rack will be 2 Fios HD boxes and the changer. One HD box for the living room and one for the theater. My thought is to go with a 4X4 matrix switcher, 2 HD Fury's and two Box 1020's. Obviously the flat panel needs no adapters but the projector does. My hope is through the use of 2 HD fury's that the signal will be constant. The ultimate goal is to have faster switching with fully automated control. Signal routing will be controlled with my Crestron system and both rooms will have touch panels for control. As I see it right now, I'm still unsure about my ideas ability to retain the signal from the changer as I think the Fury's would have to be connected before the switcher to retain signal. That leaves the flat panel in the cold

Has anyone figured out a way for quick HDMI switching for two displays without breaking the bank?

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Hi Chip, I think Moome MUX switches much faster, let me check tonight when i get home.

Athansios

stefuel · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:44 pm Post subject:

When my system is on all my stuff is on. What ever I use to switch between them must be controlled from the outside. It must be controlled by IR or RS-232 and not active signal switching.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Yep, the Mux has IR controller. I'll check the switching speed.

Athanasios

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

Why even switch sources when an HTPC can do everything? Twisted Evil

Mike

stefuel · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject:

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Ok, It depends on the source for time of switching. i only have two BD players at the time connected, i am experimenting with them for the blend.
It might also have something to do with the VP as well, but going from my LG to the Oppo its 2 seconds and selecting the LG from the oppo takes 4 seconds for
a complete sync.

Also the Mux has two outputs one HDMI the other DVI however no Audio over HDMI but has Opticals, And i bet you need that Sad

Athanasios

stefuel · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 12:05 am Post subject:

For the living room, I'll need audio over HDMI. For the theater, I can have optical or coaxial digital audio. That may change when I upgrade my theaters audio.

VideoGrabber · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 933 Location: Michigan

HDMI handshaking and (slothful) switching speeds have always been an annoyance to me. Moving from instantaneous switching with analog, or non-encumbered digital sources, to 2 or 3 seconds for "fast" HDMI switching, to as bad as 8-10 second for some pathetic excuses for A/V devices is hardly what I'd call "progress".

And all this (expensive) technology to prevent us from doing things most people would never even try in the first place. And those that would, still have circumvention technologies available. Gotta make sure that "high value" content is "protected". Totally assinine, but... I'm sure it's generated some cash-flow for the companies involved. That's gotta help the GNP, right?

For the best switching speeds, put a (Moome) stripper on the output of each device. Once powered on, HDMI handshaking is maintained, so there will be no delays. Somebody (SI?) made a switcher/processor(?) that internally had an HDMI chip on _each_ input, then one more on the back end. That also provided instant switching of sources, but still required handshaking delays if switching destinations.

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Chip tv one makes seamles switchers so i wonder if thier HDMI switcher is just as good?

http://www.tvone.com/1t-sx-632-634-main.shtml

Athanasios

MikeEby · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Posts: 5237 Location: Osceola, Indiana

WTS · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1276 Location: Calgary

I use an Oppo switcher and I can switch between my 3 HDMI inputs in seconds, typically a second to switch to another HDMI input. Actually it takes longer for my Zenith1200x to switch it's input setting than the switcher takes.

nuttall_chris · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject:

The Lumagen Radiance keeps the inputs active at all times so switching is almost instantaneous.....It also does picture in picture with HDMI Smile

Chris.

stefuel · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:39 pm Post subject:

nuttall_chris · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 12:30 am Post subject:

stefuel · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:33 am Post subject:

VideoGrabber · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 933 Location: Michigan

Chip,
> I have not had time to check but is there such a beast as a HDMI (Y) cable and if so, how does it deal with EDID and hand-shake issues? <

They don't have Y cables, but they do have distribution amplifiers (DAs) that handshake with both destinations. They even call them splitters. There are many available, but one you could check out is here.

At $25, it's a bit cheaper than a 2nd Radiance. Smile

As for the EDID's, I'm really not sure. Logically, it would process the 2 EDIDs, and return on the upstream the LCD of the two (lowest common denominator).

stefuel · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 11:20 am Post subject:

stefuel · Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:31 am Post subject:

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

How much time per year do you think you spend watching a blank screen due to this 7-second switching? How much time on the FBI accusations of piracy? Just a thought.