CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Hello, I have a setup that's worked for me for years:

TiVo, via HDMI output port -> HDMI to DVI cable -> HD fury -> VGA cable -> computer monitor.

Now, I want to install a DVD/VHS player/burner, which has an HDMI output port.

I tried moving the HDMI to DVI cable over to the new player/burner, and it works perfectly.

So now I'd like to put in an HDMI switch so that I can switch back and frot between my TiVo and my player/burner by pushing a button, so I bought this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0020426AG

Here are the technical specs of that switch:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features

HDMI Switch, HDMI SWITCHER, HDMI 3 In 1 Out Switch, HDMI 3 In 1 Out Switcher,
HDMI 3 Port Out Switch, HDMI switch 3D

Technical Details

Resolution: 1080i/p, 720p, 576i/p, 480i/p
Number of HDMI Input: 3
Number of HDMI Output: 1
Colour Depth: 12-bit
Auto-switching: Yes
Audio Formats: LPCM, DTS/DTS-HD, Dolby Digital/Dolby TrueHD
HD Compliance: HDMI 1.3b, HDCP v1.0 / 1.1 pass-through
External Power Supply: Not neccessary
Frequency: 60Hz / 50Hz
Amplifier Bandwidth: 2.5Gbps / 250 Mhz
Operating Temperature: 0 ~ 70°C (32 ~ 158°F)
Operating Humidity: 10 ~ 85% RH
------------------------------------------------------------------

It doesn't work. No signal reaches the monitor. But if I take the switch out of the equation, it works fine.

This tells me either
1) something is wrong with the switch I bought
2) the switch is somehow not compatible with my equipment. I assumed (maybe incorrectly) that all HDMI switches were standardized and compatible
3) The new cheap HDMI cable I bought which I'm connecting from the player to the switch is faulty.

Does anybody by chance have some troubleshooting tips I might use to figure out my problem?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:38 pm Post subject:

Lots of HDMI switches are cheap crap, and don't work in certain or some applications. All you can do is return it and try a different brand.

Welcome to the ridiculously frustrating world of HDMI. <insert sarcasm here> If you think it's bad now, you should have been here 5 years ago, when sometimes even the shortest DVI/HDMI cable wouldn't work in some installations.

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Thanks for the answer. I didn't realize it was like this, so I basically found the lowest priced switch I could find. Maybe instead, I should deliberately get a more expensive one, in hopes it'll work better.

Amazon has a return policy, so I can try to get my money back.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 3:53 pm Post subject:

Seriously, it's hit and miss. Do check all your cables by bypassing the switcher. Some low end stuff works fine, some high end stuff is crap as well. Buy locally so a return is easier.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 4:55 pm Post subject:

How long are your cables? I've seen a situation where short 3 foot HDMI cables wouldn't work but 6 foot and 10 foot worked fine going into the switch.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

Buy a Monoprice switcher. I bought one used from Clarence and have 3 sources hooked up with Monoprice cable and all is well... Smile

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Well, I just bought another switch:

http://www.iogear.com/product/GHDSW3/

This one doesn't work either. Sad

Here's the cable lengths:

DVD player -> HDMI output port -> 3 foot cheap HDMI cable I just bought from Amazon ->

HDMI switch -> 3 foot cord which has HDMI on one end, DVI on the other end -> HDfury -> one foot VGA cable -> computer monitor

The HDMI to DVI cable has worked for years, but the 3 foot HDMI cable I just bought, so maybe that's the culprit? Unfortunately, I have no other HDMI cables in the house that I can swap out to test. Until now, I've never needed an HDMI cable. I wonder if that's the next step though: swap out for a different HDMI cable to see if that fixes things.

And I can't swap out the known good HDMI cable with the new cable to test because that cable needs DVI on one end, so I don't see a way of testing the cables without getting some new cables.

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Actually, there's one way to test new cheap HDMI cables. Today I bought a 32" HDTV for the bedroom, which I intend to hook up directly to a different TiVo I have via HDMI-HDMI cable. I could try putting the cheap one there as a test. Of course, just because it works there doesn't prove in my mind that it works in the family room (i.e. HDfury) setup.

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

I unpacked the new bedroom TV and tested the cheap cable on it, and it works fine on that TV.

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Here's another question: the iogear HDMI switch I bought has a power adapter port. The manual says the power adapter is not required and sold separately. Is it possible that were I to purchase that power adapter and plug it in, that it could make a difference and enable the thing to work?

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:17 am Post subject:

Yep, not enough power will do it too. Do you have the HDFury powered?

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:22 am Post subject:

Yeah, sounds like you need a power adaptor for the HDfury. 5 volts, 500ma, center pin negative, outer barrel positive.

Not sure on the switcher however. The switch is pulling power from your source. Is there anything written on the switcher as to polarity and voltage?

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

The manual does say this, which I don't know if it's helpful:

"This device has been tested and found to comply with the following European Union directives: Electromagnetic Capability (89/336.EMC), Low Voltage (73/23/EEC) and R&TTED(1999/5/EC)."

Also, next to the power adapter port I see a graphic that looks like a + sign and a minus sign, with an arrow pointed from the + to the minus. Maybe that indicates polarity?

Maybe I can get more technical info by entering to a chat session with the support staff over at iogear.com.

But they don't open until Monday morning unfortunately. Meanwhile, maybe I should go ahead and get the HDfury powered. I could always test it after powering it to see if I really need the switch powered or not.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:33 am Post subject:

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Thanks for all the helpful information about this problem. I was about to try buy different HDMI cables, but you might have saved me some wasted work.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 3:58 am Post subject:

Let us know how it goes.

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin

Hmmm, I've been googling for a fair amount of time and have been having trouble finding any power adapter for sale anywhere with these specs. And it seems like I've found a few sites that say to get a 1000 ma for the HD fury instead of 500 ma. I'm still searching though.

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6635

One of these should work...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/items/5%20volt%20power%20adapter?_dmd=1&_sop=12

Better yet.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110#1011002

Zindar · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 26 Location: Austin