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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:15 pm Post subject: HDMI Switch with Auto Sense? |
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I'm looking for an HDMI switch. I know many people (but not Clarence, yet  ) recommend the MonoPrice units, but as far as I can tell, you have to manually select the input or use the remote.
So I guess I have a couple of questions:
1) Has anyone had success using one of the MonoPrice switches with a Harmony 880 remote?
2) Does anyone have a recommendation for an HDMI switch with 4-5 inputs that automatically selects the input port based on the presence of a signal?
Thanks
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Last edited by GEBrown on Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:04 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: HDMI Switch with Auto Sense? |
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| GEBrown wrote: | | I know Clarence recommends the MonoPrice units |
To clarify, I haven't recommended the Monoprice switcher.
I've ordered one, but I haven't even seen the monoprice switcher yet.
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Oops!!!
Sorry Clarence!!
Original post corrected!!!
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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No problem... I just want to wait until I try it first.
Read this one...
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=337448
| compuz1 wrote: | Great HDMI Switcher
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FYI...
For those of you with sets having only 1 HDMI outlet, I wanted to fill you in on a great HDMI switcher. I am NOT associated with the company (other than buying three for myself). I have had problems with many switchers (component and HDMI alike) and this one has been problem free. It includes the "smart sensing feature" and also has discrete IR codes.
OCTAVA, Inc.
http://www.octavainc.com/
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Clarence wrote: | No problem... I just want to wait until I try it first.
Read this one...
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=337448
| compuz1 wrote: | Great HDMI Switcher
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FYI...
For those of you with sets having only 1 HDMI outlet, I wanted to fill you in on a great HDMI switcher. I am NOT associated with the company (other than buying three for myself). I have had problems with many switchers (component and HDMI alike) and this one has been problem free. It includes the "smart sensing feature" and also has discrete IR codes.
OCTAVA, Inc.
http://www.octavainc.com/
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Thanks for the link Clarence - that thread definitely answers the Harmony 880 compatibility question.
Gary
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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Given that the Harmony can easily control the input with discreet IR signals, I've decided to order a Monoprice HDX-401.
I'll follow up later with my impressions.
So far, the thing I have learned is that there are multiple prices for this same product from Monoprice.
If you buy the HDX-401 (4x1 switch) on eBay the base price is $44.95 plus $8.95 shipping. However, the same product on MonoPrice.com starts at $50.92 but the shipping is less.
But if you need a 5-port switch (HDX-501), then the Monoprice.com price is $59.40 whereas it is $65.95 plus $10.50 shipping on eBay.
Doesn't make much sense to me, but there you go.
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Clarence
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 3827
Location: Smith Mtn Lake, VA
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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This switcher doesn't auto-sense, but I thought I'd add it here as an option for anyone else that is comparing the options...
http://www.htdepot.com/HDVio_8x2_HDMI_Optical_Switcher_p/hdts82c.htm
| htdepot.com wrote: | Introducing HDVioTM 8x2 HDMI + Optical Toslink Switcher:
The long wait is over! The perfect solution for connecting all your HD and Hi-fi gears is finally here!
The HDVioTM 8x2 HDMI switch can route 4 HDMI and 4 Optical Toslink Audio connection simultaneously. The 100% digital connections guarantee the highest video and audio quality. With the included remote controller, you can control all your AV sources at your fingertips. Guarantee fully compatible with 1080p sources, including PS3, Blueray or HDDVD players. 100% HDCP compatible. Also backward compatible with DVI interface. |
A*S thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=854651
They call it 8x2 switcher because it's a 4x1 HDMI switcher plus a 4x1 toslink switcher. Same device listed on ebay (with missing pictures) if you search for "8x2 hdmi switcher".
$119
What interested me in this one is the toslink audio switching.
Right now, I run my 1080i cable box to a Lumagen HDP video processor to deinterlace 1080P... it comes out DVI, which doesn't carry audio. So that adds a wrinkle in my plan to route everything to HDMI.
I could swap out my Motorola 6412 DVR (with 720p/1080i component and DVI) with my cable provider to get the Motorola 6416 with HDMI (still only 720p/1080i)... that would give me HDMI audio... but my Lumagen doesn't accept HDMI, so I couldn't scale the video to 1080p.
What I really need is a device that will accept 1080p DVI (from my Lumagen) and toslink audio (from the cable box) and output HDMI A+V. Any chance that this device would merge the DVI video + toslink audio into the HDMI output?
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Clarence wrote: |
What I really need is a device that will accept 1080p DVI (from my Lumagen) and toslink audio (from the cable box) and output HDMI A+V. Any chance that this device would merge the DVI video + toslink audio into the HDMI output? |
This Sherwood device comes close, but I'm not sure it will do what you want. Part of the problem, at least, is the 1080P input resolution.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=252-140&ctab=6#Tabs
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:49 am Post subject: |
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It is interesting that no one makes an inexpensive Toslink switcher. There is one at Parts Express (3-in-1) and I think its optically switching, meaning its mechanical, but this eliminates any optical-to-electrical-to-optical process I suppose. Of course, I now have to wonder if those $50 HDMI switchers at Monoprice are doing a good job with both video and audio and to what extent.
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 729
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:34 am Post subject: |
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As a followup, I received my Monoprice HDX-401 (4-port HDMI switch) earlier in the week. I spent some time today wiring it up and testing it.
I'm happy to say I couldn't generate any HDCP error messages when turning on sources or when switching from one source to another.
My setup has two sources. A Comcast/Motorola 6412 HD PVR with DVI out and a Toshiba HD-D1 (all black version of the HD-A1) with HDMI out.
My projector is a Marquee 8500 with a Moome DVI/Component input card.
The projector is connected to the HDX-401 with a BlueJeansCable.com 15 ft HDMI to DVI cable
I have a newer Moome HDMI/Component card on its way. When it gets here I'll need to get a new HDMI to HDMI cable. If I run into any problems, I'll report them here, but for the time being all I can say is:
IT WORKS AS ADVERTISED!!
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rabies_70
Joined: 15 Feb 2007
Posts: 1189
Location: Carlsbad, CA
TV/Projector: Sony G70Q
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:38 am Post subject: |
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My HDX401 works FLAWLESSLY with my setup
Samsung BD-P1200 \_-HDMI-HDX-401- HDMI<DVI- iScan HD+- DVI>HDMI- Moome HDMI- Sony G70
Toshiba HD-A2......../
Again how 'bout a big "Mr Moome is friggin awesome!" 
oh yeah, monoprice is cool too
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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Whomever makes this thing needs to take the next step and also offer it with matching Toslink. I know most of you are thinking, "is he crazy" and I would be the one, but I am also thinking about the extension of my existing AVR which doesn't offer HDMI handling and as a result needs to handle audio in a different manner.
Ok, time to go place an order for this one. 
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GEBrown
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
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Location: Denver
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| WanMan wrote: | Whomever makes this thing needs to take the next step and also offer it with matching Toslink. I know most of you are thinking, "is he crazy" and I would be the one, but I am also thinking about the extension of my existing AVR which doesn't offer HDMI handling and as a result needs to handle audio in a different manner.
Ok, time to go place an order for this one. |
FWIW, my HT/AVR setup does not handle HDMI audio either. I output all the audio to my Yamaha Rcvr (old RX-V440) and switch it there.
My 2 cents
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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The problem there is that they want to pre-label all of the inputs. Wouldn't it be more simple (but, probably more expensive) to have all inputs multichannel and capable of handling the most sophisticated decoding whilest allowing you to label all inputs?
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