HDMI switch, matrix or is this even possible?

Zerratastic

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Aug 8, 2013
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Okay so. Im moving soon and want to have a gaming/tv setup where i want to have my xbox one by the tv but want to be able to connect it to my tv and/or my second monitor at the pc desk. And i also want to be able to have my desktop pc connect to either the second monitor or the tv, so i can chose if i want to play my xbox at the pc so i can chat with friends at the same time, and i want to be able to watch a movie or just show something from my pc to my tv. I understand that i cant do it at the same time via one cable. So can i do this with only one hdmi cable and using two switches (one in both ends) or how can i make this work? Does swtiches work both ways? Like does an output only work as an output or can it go both ways like a passthrough? Think I made this sound more complicated than it is but i hope you understand what i mean. And sorry for any misspelling or grammar issues. Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
Since your gear is not in the same spot the solution is different than just a matrix HDMI selector. That would require a lot of long HDMI cables.
The general idea is to send the xbox and PC video to both areas and select which one you want to see on which display.
You will need to use an HDMI distribution amp to split the output of the xbox.
One output goes to the TV. The other goes to the PC display area.
You will need a second long cable to get the PC HDMI to the TV area. Connect it to an unused HDMI input on the TV. Done at that end.
How you handle the PC end depends on what inputs your monitor has and video outs your PC has.You may need an HDMI input selector (to chose which HDMI source to view), another distribution amp (to split...

MCMunroe

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Jun 15, 2006
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I think you've over complicated it.
Wouldn't a traditional set up where you have your TV plugging into a modern receiver with HDMI, and everything including your PC going into the receiver, be closer?

We have an Onkyo receiver with HDMI 2.0. One in and 5 out. We just use the receiver remote to switch the inputs.

When the TV is being used as a TV, I often remote into the desktop with the laptop. To use both at the same time.
 

Zerratastic

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Onkyo's are pretty expensive but if i hook my xbox one and my pc to it can i send the signal from my xbox to the pc (the monitor). What i really need is a switch which have 1 input, 1 output and 1 that works as both input and output. Well actually i need two of them, one in both ends.
 

SkyNetRising

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With 2x of those switches - it should work. You would need not 1 cable, but 5:
  • pc to swich,
    xbox to swich,
    switch to swich,
    swich to tv,
    switch to monitor.
548324_LB_01_FB.EPS_1000.jpg

http://www.conrad.com/ce/en/product...l-bidirectional-operation-1920-x-1080-Full-HD
 

Zerratastic

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So is it a 3-way switch? All of them works as both input and output? Or do i still need to do all that? :
pc to swich,
xbox to swich,
switch to swich,
swich to tv,
switch to monitor.
 

Zerratastic

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Aug 8, 2013
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I need a switch which have 1 input, 1 output and 1 that works as both input and output. Or just a switch which have atleast 3 input/output ports if that even exists.
 

Zerratastic

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This is what i want to do. And with one cable i mean with only one going between the two switches. And yes i know i cant have the pc on the tv and the xbox on the monitor at the same time
InBzPzU.jpg
 

SkyNetRising

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This connection scheme allows connecting PC video output to video output of xbox.
I'd advise against that. It might cause damage to your hardware.

This would be correct way of connecting with 2 bi-directional switches:
W3FoIOI.jpg
 
Since your gear is not in the same spot the solution is different than just a matrix HDMI selector. That would require a lot of long HDMI cables.
The general idea is to send the xbox and PC video to both areas and select which one you want to see on which display.
You will need to use an HDMI distribution amp to split the output of the xbox.
One output goes to the TV. The other goes to the PC display area.
You will need a second long cable to get the PC HDMI to the TV area. Connect it to an unused HDMI input on the TV. Done at that end.
How you handle the PC end depends on what inputs your monitor has and video outs your PC has.You may need an HDMI input selector (to chose which HDMI source to view), another distribution amp (to split the PC HDMI out), or a video card with at least (HDMI for the TV) and another DVI or DP (for the monitor) or two HDMI


 
Solution