Custom Search

When To Use A Hdmi Switch And A Hdmi Splitter?

In most of the televisions, you see one or two HDMI slots but to handle all the components, sometimes you will need more slots. An HDMI splitter or an HDMI switch can help you get that extra space you need to handle all the components you have.

Objective
If you have an HD monitor with less than the desired number of HDMI inputs, then you can use the HDMI switch in order to expand the system. This switch is nothing but a model that allows a user to select multiple HDMI sources like DVD players, set top boxes, into one single HD monitor. The models range from two ports to four ports respectively. Similarly, if you want a larger distribution configuration that can replicate and display HDMI video on many HDMI displays, then you can cascade an HDMI splitter. This splitter is a hardware device that allows a user to distribute a single HDMI video signal to multiple HDMI video display units simultaneously by the method of splitting. This helps to replicate and distribute HDMI video signals from sources like set-top boxes, DVD players, D-VHS players and other HDTV devices respectively. The splitter models range from 2, 4 and 8 ports which are available in various sizes.

Features
The features of an HDMI Switch include expandability, HDCP (high bandwidth digital-content protection) transparency, backward compatibility with DVI-D and remote control. On the other hand, the features of a splitter include supporting HDCP compliant devices, working on simple plug and play functionality; usage of a single cable to transmit video and sound while connecting the devices with HDMI output to the HDTV display.

Switch vs. Splitter
The switch looks small and accommodated into a box that uses HDMI port on your TV to take the signals in and it gives somewhere around two to five places to plug in other components and you can use all of them by switching among them. Whereas, unlike the switch, a splitter uses only one line from your TV, splits one line into two resulting in the eventual leading the components back to the same port. This works just like the old coaxial splitters.

Always there is confusion in understanding switches and splitters. In fact, both of these follow an almost the same formula says 1x2 or 1x4 convention to describe the number of ports.

Benefits
Both switches and the splitter are beneficial to you when different situations are taken into consideration. You can prefer a switch if you want to hook up more than one gaming system. However, the odds are you will not be using this at the same time. You can prefer a splitter if you have more than one TV and you would like to send a component. Mostly a switch is recommended to prevent overload on your TV.

As, HDTV technology is changing rapidly, the HD connections such as HDMI will be on demand. With increased HDM sources, the need for an external HDMI switch or HDMI splitter increases in order to select the desired input or output.

By: hdmlcable

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Justin Kingston is an author of hdcable.co.uk, One of the best technology company. He is writing articles on HDMI Splitter from past 2 years.

© 2005-2011 Article Dashboard