I have a good reason to want to know if an HDMI signal can be split and sent to to inputs, for example, sending HDMI from Blu Ray to a TV input and also to a pre/pro (i.e. 997).

Here's why: while I would play movies thru the 997 the wife (not knowledgeable in this equipment) would like to (as she does now) put on a DVD and play it thru the TV directly (hdmi from blu or other to hdmi on TV).

A true matrix (which I tried from Monoprice and it didn't work - it was a 4 x 2) would do this.

Does anyone know whether a simple passive splitter would work and if so where to buy one.
TIA

Look at getting the Harmony ONE remote for your wifes birthday. It takes all of the guesswork out of what equipment setup needs to happen to play any item in your system. It is completely programmable and it is easy to use.

Thanks, but that doesn't answer the question.

A splitter on HDMI will not work because of the necessary High Definition Content Protection (HDCP) protocols that are part of the specification. Every piece of gear in the chain must take part in this protocol and ensure that high definition content cannot be illegally copied. This also limits HDMI devices to pretty much one in/one out or multiple in/one out types.

The Harmony One or other universal remote will allow your wife to properly configure the system (TV, Pre/pro, Blu-ray, etc..) for the desired activity with one button press. It will send the proper codes to power up each piece of equipment and configure that device properly for the activity. This will allow you to run the HDMI signal through the 997 without making your wife learn the details of operating each piece of equipment.

I use the Harmony 880 and it's made life much easier. I ended up using HDMI directly into the TV for the Blu-Ray, switching component video from the other sources through the 990, and running the WII component video directly into the TV (game mode picture setting to minimize lag time at the cost of picture quality). This means that I have to switch inputs on the TV and on the 990 for various functions. Before the Harmony I needed to keep 4 or 5 remotes handy and juggle them for different functions. Now it's just selecting the function on the remote and all the powerup, powerdown, and configuration settings on all pieces of equipment just happen.

"Splitting" HDMI is possible - there are some switchers and splitters available - but as mahansm points out and as your own experience with the MonoPrice switcher shows, it is not easy or sure-fire because it runs headlong into HDCP handshake woes on a very large scale. It's why you often see receivers or processors with two HDMI outputs implementing an "either/or" sort of solution where only one output is active at a time. A passive splitter will absolutely fail. A setup like you describe will be logistically disastrous, whereas a universal remote (my wife has been a strong supporter of all three URC remotes I've had in our den over the years - MX-500, MX-700, and now MX-900 with RF base station) would allow her to operate a surround processor like the 997 without you there to drive it. If that's not an option, though, you could always run component and stereo analog to the TV and HDMI to the 997 and then to the TV, but she will need to know how to change inputs on the TV (which would not be necessary otherwise).

this doesn't sound like it will work in your scenerio, but for those with an htpc with blu-ray drive, you can use software called Anydvd. Anydvd eliminates the hdcp "handshake" requirement for equipment in the signal chain. a simple splitter should then work.

this is more of an fyi, your wife probably doesn't want to mess with a htpc either.

Thanks everybody.

Even if you could disable HDCP from the source, there would probably need to be some care taken with a splitter. The split would presumably produce a drop in signal strength, which would have a negative effect on how far the video cable could run before you started seeing problems. For short runs, I doubt it would matter, but if you were sending out of the split signals to a front projector you'd potentially have a problem.

I did a google search on hdmi matrix.

Here is a link to one device that looks interesting and maybe it would suffice:

Link to HDMI MATRIX

Others were lots more expensive.

I have the 4x2 swicher from Monoprice and mine does work. However, the first one I received was defective (which they easily exchanged at their cost.) To my surprise, I can display the same HDCP content on my FP and my Sony HDTV.