For Best Results Choose the Right HDMI Switches and Converters
HDMI switch also known as HDMI switcher or HDMI selector is a device that receives HDMI signals from multiple HDMI sources. They send a signal from one of the sources to the HDTV. In this way , the HDMI device serves as an agent to accept signals from the HDMI eve if the consumer's HDTV has only 1 or 2 HDMI ports. Consumers can connect multiple HD sources to the HDTV such as : •
PS3, Xbox360, Wii with HDMI output
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Blu-Ray player, HD-DVD player, DVD player with HDMI output
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TPC, or computers with HDMI ports
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HD camera, or HD Cam recorder
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HD camera, or HD Cam recorder
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HDTV box, satellite dish network, HDTV recorder
Any other devices that are capable of outputting HDMI signals. There are a few things you should consider before you buy a HDMI switch. 1.How Many Ports Do You Need? An n-port HDMI switch receives HDMI signals from n HDMI sources. People might say that a 100 port HDMI switch may be one of the best to use, but if one does not have a HDMI devices to be plugged in, it’s a waste of time and money.
A consumer should know how many devices that have outputs from HDMI videos and buy those ones accordingly. 2. Supported Video and Audio Specifications An HDMI switch should be able to support 080i/p, 720p and all the standard-definition (for example, DVD) resolutions. It should support DTS / DTS-HD, Dolby Digital/Dolby True HD, Linear PCM (LPCM). The HDMI switch should meet these basic requirements as these formats are frequently used in HDTV broadcast, HD gaming, and HD-DVD and Blu-Ray player. It is not worth buying if the switch does not support any of these specs. 3. Automatic v.s. Manual HDMI Switching A good HDMI switch must be equipped with both automatic and manual switching functions. Automatic switching Each time a consumers turns on an HDMI source/device, the HDMI switch will automatically select this source. Manual switching When there are one or more HDMI sources 'always on', auto switching many not always work. An HDMI switch with manual overriding functions will usually have a button, by which consumers can choose the desired HD source by pressing it. For example, if the switch is currently on Input 1, by pressing the button once, it will let the consumer choose Input 2 and by pressing it again it goes back to Input 3.