HDMI Splitters vs. Switches

I hear a lot of questions about HDMI splitters and switches now days. Now that you have your fancy HD TV and DVD player, you actually want to use it. However a lot of these great big massive TVs that have incredible screens, only have one itty bitty HDMI connection on the back. Genius! So, there has arisen a need for HDMI switches, which allow you to connect multiple devices to that lovely TV.

For example. If I have a cool gaming system, such as an X-Box or Wii, and I want it connected to my ginormous TV to play Guitar Hero III, I have to unplug my HD DVD player and plug in the HDMI cable from the game station.... How cool is that? Not very. So companies like WhataCable! in Orem, Utah sell HDMI switches, which increase the number of ports from one to four or five! This allows multiple cool devices to be connected to that one mega-TV. They even come with a remote control to easily switch between your favorite season of "The Office" to Wii Sports without you getting up out of your comfy laz-y-boy chair.... (if this all seems too real, well what can I say? I've been there). Here is the link to the 4-Port HDMI switch that will make your life better. http://www.whatacable.com/hdmi4-wayautoswitch.aspx For about $69 you will save the wear and tear on your big investments and on the HDMI cables.

Now to the splitters. This is also a hot little item, but for different reasons. In this case, you really dig your new HDMI device.... let's say it's a DVD player. And you are going to a trade show and thought that it would be fun to run a DVD at your booth. But, you only want to run one DVD player, and have that same image broadcast out to several TVs (monitors) at the same time. So, you need a???? Splitter! Yes. Very good. Now for a simple set up with two TVs (displays) and cords that are not going more than 6 feet each, there is an economical solution from WhataCable!. Their item # HDMI-SPLIT takes the device output (DVD player) and splits the signal into two HDMI signals. You simply then connect two HDMI cables to the splitter, run them to your TVs and voila! you have simultaneous broadcast of the DVD on both TVs. BUT... If you are running longer length cables, or if you need it split out to more than just two TVs, you will need a POWERED HDMI SPLITTER. And Yes, WhataCable! will "hook you up" with them too. (sorry, cable guys just love to say "hook you up".) I will provide links to each:

2-way HDMI Splitter Cable
http://www.whatacable.com/hdmisplitter.aspx
This will set you back about $15

2-way powered HDMI Splitter
http://www.whatacable.com/hdmi_splitter_box_1_in_2_out_with_power.aspx
This will set you back about $129

4-way powered HDMI Splitter http://www.whatacable.com/hdmi_splitter_box_1_in_4_out_with_power.aspx
This will set you back about $139

8-way powered HDMI Splitter http://www.whatacable.com/hdmi_splitter_box_1_in_8_out_with_power-1.aspx
This will set you back about $250

Until next time,

The Cable Guy