[bsjd00]

Perhaps one TV via HDMI, and the other via component? Is it as easy as hooking up both an HDMI cable and component cables? Or would the component cable output be shut off if an HDMI cable was connected, and vice versa?

I understand that both TV's will have an identical output from Tivo. I'm just looking to have a Tivo in the living room, but also use it if I want to watch TV in the adjoining bedroom. I'm guessing I could have one remote and use an RF extender.

Thank you for any feedback ...

 

[aaronwt]

The easiest way would be to get a 1x2 HDMi splitter. You can get one for under $100.

 

[bsjd00]

Thanks for the quick reply!

One clarification though - how is this easier than plugging in a component cable and RCAs for sound that I already own?

 

[ah30k]

Finding a cheap and effective solution should be easy, dont ya think? But I don't think there is a cheap and perfect solution.

Wouldn't HDMI splitters have problems with the HDCP negotiation? I don't believe you can split HDMI to two sets simultaneously when the content is protected, but I might be wrong.

Analog component cable splitting is much more forgiving on the video side but splitting the fiber optic audio can be troubling.

Using component and HDMI simultaneously usually works well but has some minor problems with the component being disabled when the content is protected and the HDMI device is connected but turned off.

 

[drew00001]

There are at least a couple of threads that go into this in detail. There is a solution for HDMI/Component that is not perfect. Sorry I don't have the link.

 

[sfm]

I use a gefen 2x2 hdmi switcher/splitter to output to a Sony CRT and a Sharp PJ. In practice output is to one or the other but I have tested having both on at the same time with no issues from any source device.

Whether gefen is following the letter of HDCP law when doing this I can't say...

One thing I have observed is that it appears as if the splitter negotiates with the source device based on the first display device powered up. Confirmed this with my HTPC... when the Sony CRT (max 1080i) is powered up first followed by the Sharp PJ, 1080i is the max HDTV output the video card reports as being supported... when the Sharp PJ (max 1080p) is powered up first followed by the Sony CRT, then 1080p is reported by the video card as the max HDTV output.

 

[SNJpage1]

They make HDMI distribution amps. It sends the same signal to multiple TV's.

 

[Mike Lang]

You can buy a component distribution amp on ebay for under $30 and then you can display on both at the same time. I have 3 of them for 3 TiVos and 3 displays.

 

[A J Ricaud]

Perhaps one TV via HDMI, and the other via component? Is it as easy as hooking up both an HDMI cable and component cables? Or would the component cable output be shut off if an HDMI cable was connected, and vice versa?

That's what I am doing. My front rm. TV is an older one (Mitsubishi RPTV) w/o HDMI, so I use component. I use HDMI to connect to my bedroom TV (Westinghouse LCD). Both work fine.

I suggest you try using component to the farthest TV, the bedroom, I presume, and HDMI to the closest TV and see how that works. If there is an HDMI handshake problem then you can go to component on both or use HDMI on both using the suggestions above.

 

[chilipyro]

Connecting to HDMI and component works at first (you get output to both TVs), but HDMI negotiation occurs periodically, not just when you first connect. If your HDMI TV is off when the renegotiation occurs, the component output shuts off.

I don't know if this would also happen with an HDMI splitter. I have considered purchasing a splitter, but this concern has made me wary. Can anyone tell me from experience whether there are any dependencies on one or the other TV being on all the time after the signal is first negotiated through the splitter? I'd also be curious if there were HDMI splitter devices that could negotiate HDCP independent of any TV hooked up to that device.

 

[aaronwt]

If you are viewing HDCP protected content, like from HBO, it shouldn't work with HDMI and component. At least it doesn't here. A message comes up saying it's not allowed. WIth the HDMI splitter it should work as long as both sets are HDCP compliant.

With programs from HBO I run my HDMI output on my sereis 3 through a manual HDMI splitter. If I record something from the SVideo output to a DVD burner I switch the manual HDMI switch to the empty input so the Sereis 3 shows no connection with the TV. If I don't disconnect the HDMI with programming from premium channels, I can't record over Svideo to the DVD burner because the TiVo says it's not permitted. With non protected content it's fine.