Ultra High Performance HDMI Switcher, 3to1 Switch
by Portta
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Our Price: $8.18 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $8.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Ultra High Performance HDMI Switcher, 3to1 Switch
Customer Review: Goodbye Input Button, Hello Happy Spouse
Summary: 5 Stars
Technology is supposed to make life easy, yet when my 42-inch Philips HDTV developed a way-too-common HDMI switching problem that required several restarts in order to jump from TV to DVD, easy ended. So I bought this little, cheap and yet highly-reviewed device which automatically switches up to three HDMI ports based on the newest powered on source.
With almost no documentation, I plugged it into my TV and expected severely pixelated video, odd configurations that would require switching out my newer 1.3 HDMI cables to the older 1.2 or 1.1 cables and wondered if I had to get a power converter to keep it powered. Then I fired up the TV, saw the blue light on the little box light up (it runs off the power of the HDMI cable) and quickly watched as my FIOS TV showed up. Then I fired up my Blu-ray player. The TV image goes blank and then quickly switches to Blu-ray. I added an Xbox 360 with HDMI and the same thing happened. When I shut both off and then just left the FIOS box on... it switched back to TV without a single click on the Input button.
Sure, I do notice some decrease on the edges on text and softer images but I'm pretty picky -- yet it won't interfere with daily viewing and most won't even notice. For those who have multiple HDMI devices on at once, you'll either have to click the input button on the device or use the included remote to manually switch inputs. Anyone with a wife, husband or family member who still has difficulty with remembering what Input to change to in order to watch TV or a movie, this is a must. My only issue is that the name "3 Port Smart HDMI Switch" should be changed to "3 Port Brilliant HDMI Switch."
Customer Review: Not for use with AT&T uVerse DVR
Summary: 2 Stars
My older DLP TV only has a single HDMI interface. Based on the reviews of this product, I thought it would be the hands-free intelligent switch so I could add a blu-ray player to the mix. Unfortunately, it does not work with AT&T's DVR. The DVR shows a constant HD signal because it's connected to this. Previously, it would go out when the TV was off, now the indicator LED stays on all the time.
As such, the intelligent function of this does not work even when the higher priority port #1 blu-ray device is turned on. I've tried the DVR on ports 2 and 3 for lower priority, but because it always sees a signal, it never rescans for the higher priority devices. I can still use it manually as it's not worth keeping track of another remote and running more cables around for the remote's sensor.
Ultimately, I'm very disappointed in this product and would not recommend it if you have the DVR from AT&T, others might work (seem to from other reviews here). At least I do not have to re-cable things and just have to hit the manual buttons on the switch to change.
Also, the priority isn't really how it is described. The manual states it scans 1 -> 2 -> 3 and then back to 1 looking for a device that's powered. Prior to purchasing, I understood the device had priority settings. What it has is an ordered sequence, not priority. If it were a priority setting, #1 would be preferred over #2 if both were active (and are in my case). What it really is doing is holding on to #2 until it is powered off and then it scans the next devices in its sequence. So, I manually advance the sequence with the button on the switch.
Customer Review: Charming Little Switcher
Summary: 5 Stars
This item works better than expected. Its small and compact which is a plus since you can put it anywhere. The plastic does seem flimsy, but I don't plan on moving it around and I am definitely not stacking anything on it.
The package doesn't come with a power supply or cord which worried me at first, but I quickly found out that it uses so little power that it can draw what it needs from what it's connected to (in my case computer monitor, PS3 and Xbox 360). Also, if you really want to use a power cord you can use any 5v power input like the rock band USB port or for me my charger cord for my rechargeable AA batteries.
The remote can be a little difficult to figure out. It has a little sensor "box" that looks like a very small optical mouse. You'll have to point he remote directly at it for it to change.
The box automatically changes to which ever input is most recently turned on. So for example if you have your computer running and then turn on your PS3 it will auto change to your PS3 which can be good unless you want to play on your TV while having your computer up on your monitor. It's not to bad since you can just push the button or use the remote to change it back no problem.
All in all this product works great for such a small price. I highly recommend it. There is a momentary flicker when you change inputs, but really when do you ever need high def input this very second right after you change the input. Wait a sec or two and the picture will look great. Amazing value for the box...Bad service from the company though, but that doesn't detract from the product.
Customer Review: Fantastic so far
Summary: 5 Stars
I just got this thing set up last night. I am using it to switch between a Western Digital WD TV HD 1080P Media Player, an LG BD270 Blu-ray Disc Player, and the mini HDMI output of my ASUS Eee Slate EP121-1A010M 12.1-Inch Tablet PC. I had to play a little with turning the individual machines on and off and then changing the order of the inputs into the switcher to make the auto-switching function work properly. Other than that minor bump in the road, I've got only grins to share about this little gadget.
Absolutely no negative impact on picture and sound quality as far as I can tell, and I've been an A/V industry professional for over twenty years, so I'm pretty picky.
If you have an "older" HDTV (mine is about 3 years old - an older version of this: Panasonic TC-P42C2 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV) that only has two HDMI inputs, and you also have an older Home Theater receiver (mine's so old I'm not even going to try to find a product link for it) that doesn't route HDMI sources, then this little box should do the trick as you amass an increasing number of HDMI sources.
If it suddenly breaks down anytime soon, I'll come back and enter an update, but so good so far.
Customer Review: Fantastic, does what it claims and does it for less than others
Summary: 5 Stars
I needed to switch between my Sony PS3 (HDMI) and my Motorola DCX3400 (HDMI), which are connected to my Samsung 56-inch DLP (single DVI). I plan to someday upgrade my AV receiver to one with HDMI switching, so I did not want to spend a lot of money on an HDMI switch. I also once worked for a STB manufacturer and had many years of experience dealing with the pains of HDMI/DVI interoperability. I saw this on Amazon and read the reviews and was very hesitant about it, but what the heck, for less than $20.00 what did I have to lose? If it worked, then great. If not, then I would just toss in the junk pile with the rest of my bad purchases.
It arrived in a very simple package. I connected the PS3 to port 1, the STB to port 2 and then the output to my TV (with an HDMI-to-DVI cable). I then buried the unit behind my entertainment center, connected the provided IR extender (just in case I needed to manually switch) and the provided power supply.
When the PS3 is on, the unit automatically switches to the PS3. Turn the PS3 off and the STB on, the unit automatically switches to the STB. Have them both on and want to switch, use the supplied remote control.
Well, I won on this one. The thing does exactly what it says it does and does it all for less than $20.00. Why are people still buying the $100.00-plus HDMI switches??? Oh yeah, probably the same knuckleheads that believe gold plated optical SPDIF Mons%%er Cables are worth every penny and drastically improve the sound quality.... like P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute."