Great HDMI Switcher [Text View]

compuz1

01-20-2007, 11:25 AM

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/)

Best,
Compuz1

T-Shee

01-20-2007, 12:06 PM

How does "smart sensing" deal with the S3's HDMI output, which I assume is "always on", thus always selected?

Thanks, it's always good to add first hand knowledge to the "resource" database, so to speak.

compuz1

01-20-2007, 01:04 PM

How does "smart sensing" deal with the S3's HDMI output, which I assume is "always on", thus always selected?

It works by sensing the input coming into the switcher by the devices. Devices with ON/OFF features are placed in the queue first. For example:

Input 1: DVD Player (Has on/off capability)
Input 2: HD Cable Box (Has on/off capability)
Input 3: TiVo (No On/off)
Input 4: Empty

Therefore if I am playing a DVD, it goes to Input 1. When my DVD is over and I want to watch Cable, I power OFF my DVD and power ON my Cable Box. If I want TiVo, Both DVD and CABLE must be off.

Yes, you do run into some problems. The SA8300HD Box, for example, while displaying nothing when in the "off mode" still sends a signal which the switcher interprets as beign active. In my case, I use my Harmony 890 and IR blasters to correct the problem.

T-Shee

01-20-2007, 01:10 PM

Thanks for the input, no pun intended.

ps - by Harmony/IR Blaster I assume that every input on the switcher is selectable, i.e . you can override the autosense?

compuz1

01-20-2007, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the input, no pun intended.

ps - by Harmony/IR Blaster I assume that every input on the switcher is selectable, i.e . you can override the autosense?

Yup

russwong

01-20-2007, 01:25 PM

If you have a remote that does macro's and stuff, smart sensing might not be a good thing, because then the HDMI switcher will switch to another port even if you don't want it to.

Take a look at monoprice's 5x1 HDMI switcher. only $98 and gets good reviews.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=2777&seq=1&format=2

bareyb

01-20-2007, 02:37 PM

[QUOTE=russwong]If you have a remote that does macro's and stuff, smart sensing might not be a good thing, because then the HDMI switcher will switch to another port even if you don't want it to.

Take a look at monoprice's 5x1 HDMI switcher. only $98 and gets good reviews.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=2777&seq=1&format=2[/
QUOTE]

Ive been using the Monoprice for a month or so and it seems to work perfectly. It also has discrete input selection which makes it pretty easy. The auto sensing feature sounds kinda nice if it works consistently, but for now I'm happy with the Monoprice since I only use to switch between my funky Comcast DVR and my DVD player neither of which gets used much. :p

DeathRider

01-20-2007, 02:50 PM

Decent price for HDMI cables to go with that switcher?

http://www.supermediastore.com/hdmi-to-hdmi-cable-3-meter-3pk.html?WT.mc_id=cjtext

compuz1

01-20-2007, 03:09 PM

01-20-2007, 03:42 PM

Decent price for HDMI cables to go with that switcher?

http://www.supermediastore.com/hdmi-to-hdmi-cable-3-meter-3pk.html?WT.mc_id=cjtext

Monoprice is cheaper, for both the switch and cables.

bareyb

01-20-2007, 04:29 PM

Monoprice is cheaper, for both the switch and cables.

The Monoprice swtich (which I have) doesn't have the "auto sensing" feature the other one has. So that may account for some of the price difference. I wouldn't mind having that feature if it worked reliably, but it sounds like it might be a little finicky.

01-20-2007, 04:40 PM

Even if it works reliably, I don't think I would pay $100 more for it. I have two S3s connected to one TV, so I would not be able to use the auto sensing feature anyway.

Terk has a 3x1 auto sensing switch for around $60. No personal experience with it.
http://www.buy.com/prod/AUTOMTC_SWTCH_FOR_3_INPU_1_OUTPUT_HDMI_SGNL_NIC/q/loc/111/203990129.html

aaronwt

01-20-2007, 04:55 PM

The MOnoprice 5x1 works great for me. I have no need for auto sensing with a Harmony remote. I prees one button on the Harmony remote and it changes the input for everything including th eMonoprice switcher. It works as it should and you can't beat the price.

Jerry_K

01-20-2007, 07:50 PM

I have the Monoprice 5X1 and it does autosensing for the active port.

bareyb

01-20-2007, 08:29 PM

I have the Monoprice 5X1 and it does autosensing for the active port.

I have the same one and as far as I know it doesn't have autosensing... I have to manually switch to the port I want to use... Unless perhaps I'm missing something... Are you sure? I haven't really tested it since I use it on a DVR and DVD so only the DVD has an on/off switch. I don't guess standby would do the same thing would it? Either way, I have macros on my MX-600 so I don't really need it, but it's nice to know it's there if I ever do...

DeathRider

01-20-2007, 10:35 PM

Monoprice is cheaper, for both the switch and cables.

Really?

This is 3 - 10ft cables for $23.99.

Or,

$11.99/pc (3 x $11.99) = $35.97.

Monoprice is 2-5 cables, $20.26/pc = (3 x $20.26) = $60.78 total.

Not sure if the ferrite core really makes a difference. Also not sure in q of either cable .

stace

01-21-2007, 01:06 AM

I use the Octava with my setup, and a Harmony 880 remote. Pretty happy with it. I had hoped it would extract a digital audio signal from the HDMI so I could run a TOSlink to my receiver and HDMI to my TV. Alas, no, I need to hook up the TOSlink for my two PVRs if I want the TOSlink to work.

01-21-2007, 04:14 AM

Really?

This is 3 - 10ft cables for $23.99.

Or,

$11.99/pc (3 x $11.99) = $35.97.

Monoprice is 2-5 cables, $20.26/pc = (3 x $20.26) = $60.78 total.

Not sure if the ferrite core really makes a difference. Also not sure in q of either cable .

You're looking at the 24AWG cable at monoprice. The equivalent cable is 28AWG, which is $6.02 each for quantity of 3.

DeathRider

01-21-2007, 06:30 AM

You're looking at the 24AWG cable at monoprice. The equivalent cable is 28AWG, which is $6.02 each for quantity of 3.

oops. gotcha. I didn't scroll down far enough :eek:

My bad :rolleyes:

aaronwt

01-21-2007, 08:12 AM

I have over 16 of those Monoprice HDMI cables in use of varying lengths between 8 inches and 15 feet. Excellent prices and they all work perfectly.

bareyb

01-21-2007, 03:45 PM

I have over 16 of those Monoprice HDMI cables in use of varying lengths between 8 inches and 15 feet. Excellent prices and they all work perfectly.

I used three of the 22 ga. GIANT SIZED ones for my setup and I'm also using the swtich. Everything works great. No sparkles and comparable HDMI handshake times with the swtich. The 22 ga. are a little daunting to work with, but it sure gives one confidence after the install. I never have to worry I went with too small a gauge! :D

ashu

01-21-2007, 05:09 PM

I use the monoPrice 5x1 HDMi switch (with all-monoPrice cables as well) and love it. Perfect reliability with my Logitech harmony - as russwong alluded to. Better to buy a $80 remote control this advanced and a monoPrice switch, than to bother with an auto-sensing, prioritized switch hat costs over $100 extra!

And the monoPrice has rudimentary auto-switching. If I turn oiff the currently active (HDMI input) device, it moves forward until it finds a live one. Any live one.

Works flawlessly with my PS3 and PC at 1080P, and the S3, upconverting cheap-o Toshiba DVD player & 6412 at 1080i.

01-21-2007, 05:21 PM

And the monoPrice has rudimentary auto-switching. If I turn oiff the currently active (HDMI input) device, it moves forward until it finds a live one. Any live one.

The version 2.1 switch that I just received from monoprice does not have that feature.

aaronwt

01-21-2007, 11:39 PM

I wouldn't want that feature. It would be useless with a Harmony remote. The remote can change the input for me. the next active input probably wouldn't be the one that I want anyway. I'm using 4 out of the 5 inputs and many times they are all active simultaneously.

Redux

01-22-2007, 05:07 AM

I use the monoPrice 5x1 HDMi switch (with all-monoPrice cables as well)

Works flawlessly with my PS3 and PC at 1080P, and the S3, upconverting cheap-o Toshiba DVD player & 6412 at 1080i.I'm very confused about DVI to HDMI. Don't most good computers have dual-link DVI connectors? The monoprice DVI to HDMI cables are all single-link, and the switcher specs seem to be saying that it handles only single-link.

TydalForce

01-22-2007, 06:19 AM

As far as I know, HDMI itself doesn't support dual-link so there's no reason to make a dual-link DVI to HDMI cable

Dual-Link and "single-link" DVI are physically the same port on the computer, so the same cable will work

ashu

01-22-2007, 11:44 AM

In conclusion,

Nice Remote + non-AutoSensing HDMI switch > Auto Sensing HDMI switch
As a nice bonus
LHS $$ < RHS $$$
in most cases ;)

FlippedBit

01-22-2007, 02:22 PM

How does "smart sensing" deal with the S3's HDMI output, which I assume is "always on", thus always selected?

This is why I put my S3 into standby when I am not using it. The S3 outputs are off in standby.

Dan203

01-22-2007, 02:30 PM

I also have the Octva 4 port switch with Toshlink and it works great. It has discrete inputs so you can easily add switching functionality to a universal remote such as a Pronto or Harmony, but also has a Next button which can be learned into the Input button of the S3 for easy switching between my 2 S3 units without the need for the Harmony.

Works great for my setup.

Dan

ah30k

01-23-2007, 12:03 AM

While we're on Octava, anyone ever try their HDMI extender? I am contemplating a new HDTV setup in the basement and want to drive it with my family room S3 (another S3 is out of the question with the wife-factor). I use component for the main unit and was going to run the HDMI down the basement. The run is about 40-50 ft. I heard HDMI breaks down at that length. Octava sells an equilizer/extender for HDMI.

I could probably change my family room unit to use the DVI port and run the component downstairs but my 34" Sony CRT weighs in at about 2 tons and I have no desire to pull it out of the cabinet.