One hdmi slot and 2 inputs?

Mr Magners

Hi All,

I got Sky+ HD installed yesterday. I already had a Sony Blu-Ray player connected to the TV via the only hdmi port on there. The tv is a Sony Bravia, only about 4 years old.

I think I need a HDMI switch but like all of these things Amazon and e-bay throw up loads of results and I'm reluctant to just take the plunge without advice from somebody who knows their stuff so I'm asking you good folk here for some guidance.

At the moment I only have two devices I need to connect but there's probably no harm in thinking ahead and buying a splitter with 3/4 input ports.

Very important that this needs to be as simple as possible to use as my good wife is a bit of a technophobe and we have a little one who loves he Barney dvds!! so switching from Sky to dvd needs to be painless as possible.

Thanks in advance.

Digital Satellite TV

HDMI Input Selector Switches work well in my experience. There are some technical issue regarding what version of HDMI the switch supports but in general for just TV viewing the vast majority of them work well.

The only other thing to consider is perhaps how you want to use it.

ie manual or remote controlled.

A manual one will be chaper but you'll have to get off your backside every time you want to switch the input. A remotely controlled one is certainly handier but will be a little more expensive with the downside that you will end up with another remote.

You can see an example of how the hdmi switch works at..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7Y7Ngc6s04

all the remote controlled one will work similarily. You can make your choice of makes and models after that from what you have already researched.

Cesium Clock

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/3-Port-1080P-HDMI-AUTO-Switch-Switcher-Splitter-Cable-/260919671706?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item3cc0063b9a

3 into 1 autoswitch no power supply needed

kin9pin

I bought this last week eBay Link

Works very well.

frankie2shoes

I got the same as Kin9pin. works a treat. switches to whichever source is switched on last. I saw no decernable loss in picture quality either.

Mr Magners

Thanks for the replies. Do I need an additional cable to use that one you've reccommended?

kin9pin

It doesn't come with any cables. You need to make sure you have one to connect to tv and then one for each input device.
Personally I went into the pound shop and bought 2 hdmi cables for €2 each. I don't notice any difference in quality between them and more expensive cables.

GoodisonPark

Bought this one a few weeks ago and works like a dream , switches automatically to the last device that was powered on , next day delivery and easy set-up.
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/180646440705?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

frankie2shoes

My advice is to spend a decent amount on your cables. you can get good ones on ebay for under 20euro that are great. I previously bought a cheap cable and it damaged the hdmi slot on my TV which cost me 200 quid to put right!! The pic quality is affected by cheap cabling to a small extend and as you are adding an extra juntion with the splitter the few extra euro will be worth it.
the 3m cable from my tv to the splitter cost about 30 yoyo's and the 1m cables from the splitter to the units were about 15 each. All well shielded and the pic quality is great.