HDMI- Switching - incompatabilities

Hopefully this forum is the correct one for this post.

I needed additional HDMI inputs, and, planning for the future, i.e. in another room esp after TV goes all digital, I decided that the Monoprice.com 4 x2 Matrix Switcher would do the job for me.
It came today and was simple to set up. problem is that it didn't work.

So I called their tech support, after insuring that all sources, cables and TV inputs were working correctly (even though I knew they were I checked again). Sources were: Toshia A30, Samsung 1400, Sony DV955. TV is Sony SXRD 60 inch.

Tech explained that it may be an incompatability issue. He would run similar equipment thru another Matrix. I am to receive a RMA and send it back. I'll either be issued another Matrix or a credit.

Hopefully the Matrix will work. At under $90 plus shipping it's a steal. I'll post more later when I work thru it.

Any other suggestions for matrix like this or with more capacity will be greatly appreciated. For example I would run a HD Satellite dishnetwork receiver into one of the inputs when we go sat-HD.
Thanks in advance.

I've had a little experience with this sort of thing myself. The 990's switching has been very well behaved for me, but it only offers two inputs - not enough for the trio of sources you mention. I have had success with OPPO Digital's 3x1 switch (the HM-31, which I describe in some detail here ). If the second switch also fails to take care of you, the HM-31 is $99 plus shipping.

gonk:
I indeed considered the Oppo switch. Actually I would use the fourth input on the monoprice 4 x 2 for the Oppo player....or a sat HD receiver

I especially wanted the second output, which would have gone to another eventual HD TV in bedroom, for example. The other use would be to feed the next generation Outlaw pre/pro with hdmi, thus the wife could just watch on tv with tv sound (not bothering with the audio system) or we can use output #2 thru future outlaw pre/pro etc.

Gives more options.
Gefen makes a 4x4 switcher --- quite expensive

Merry Christmas to all.

For the four input part, I'd suggest a combination of the OPPO and the 990: I've got four HDMI devices connected to my HDTV right now in just this manner (BD30, HD-A2, and HD cable box through the HM-31 and into DVI2 on my 990, and 981HD into DVI1 on the 990). Toss in some handy macros on the MX-700 remote, and it's a seamless system.

The second output is a bit of a challenge, though. Most of the good switches that have multiple outputs are pricey, as the HDMI handshake issues get progressively nastier and the hardware requirements grow. Gefen has a few options (including this one ), but for your situation (a bedroom TV) I start to wonder if it wouldn't be cheaper to buy a couple of separate source components for that TV and avoid the costs of such a switch, the long HDMI cable required, and the IR repeater gear or RF remote and base station required to allow remote control of those sources from the bedroom...

At first glance, gonk, this appears to be a true 4 x 2 matrix. On examination of the manual it appears to be a 4-input splitter with two destinations.

The manual uses the term "mirrored". Additionally, unlike the Monoprice's 4x2's remote the Gefen remote appears to not allow output to two locations. Actually I'm now not sure the Gefen 4x4 does othr than mirror, though I'd check before buying if I could afford that cost.

Regarding buying separate sources for that TV: yes, you are correct, though the planned upgrade to HD-satellite only includes one receiver, thus it is desirable to send the signal to one or both TVs.

Thanks for your "input"

I can see how this could get tricky. There's no way to get a second HD receiver? That would be the cleanest solution, of course, as it would give you discrete control of the channel being watched. If all else fails, you might see if the HD receiver's component and HDMI outputs are both active at once (my HD cable box's component output is disabled when HDMI is connected, so it's not guaranteed) - you could run component to one display and HDMI to the other...

NFAguys,

I run my Scientific Atlanta 4250HD cable box directly to my Sony HDTV; I have HDCP issues. When I tune to a SD channel, I hold my breath because I often lose the picture, it becomes colored snow. I am then forced to disconnect the HDMI cable from the 4250HD and reinsert it. I use a digital coax cable so I never lose the audio.

That brings up a third option: use component from the HD satellite box for both spaces. True, HDMI has advantages over component, but cable and satellite sources don't always yield visible differences between the two (they haven't with either of the DVI or HDMI equipped cable boxes I've sued) - and splitting component video signals should be cheaper than splitting HDMI.

LIZ raises an interesting point thanks LIZ , one which I have not even thought of, and that is compatability of dishnetowrks sat receivers with my hdtv. Since the Sony 955, the Oppo, and the Tosh A30 and Sammy 1400 worked just fine into my Sony SXRD TV, I guess I just assumed....

So, I have dishnetwork satellite. Been using SD with model 721s. Considering going dish HD. I guess I need to ask if anyone here has any poblems with dish HD receivers of various models feeding a Sony SXRD. Mine is the KDS60XBR1, which I believe just preceeding the newer designation.

TIA

In theory, it's a reasonable assumption that HDMI will work. In reality, cable boxes are particularly notorious for having problems with HDCP. I don't know that satellite receivers are as at risk as cable boxes.

Yup, I just recently got Verizion FiOS TV (their TV over fiber service) and had to switch from HDMI to component because my Sony SXRD RPTV started having problems keeping locked onto the video signal.

AS per Brad, the president of Bettercables.com,

HD Broadcats companies in Satellite and and Cable TV are infamous for having HDCP problems. I use a Sony SXRD and my DVD player use the same HDMI cable and I never have HDCP issues.

Brad says the cable boxes/sat recivers need newer HDMI chips and the companies need firware updated.

Another possibility is to buy two of the Oppo HDMI switches and have the output of one switch used as one of the inputs to the second switch.

I haven't tried it, but "in theory" it should work.