Jump to content

Upgrading Matrix Switch

Featured Replies

Posted

I am looking at upgrading my Component Video Matrix switch with an HDMI switch.

The model that looks like a good product and is within my budget is the GEFEN EXT-HDMI-848. Does anyone know if this is a good switch and if C4 has a driver for it?

Thanks

I'm curious if anyone had experience with this switch. The whole EDID thing makes me nervous. It is common for three different sized TV's to be displaying the same source at my house. I don't know if that wil work with this switch.

  • Author

Is there a switch that can display an HDCP signal to multiple outputs? I'm not sure how you would get around the issue with any HDCP compatible switch unless you can disable it.

  • Author

I just looked through the manual and it looks like the EDID function is disabled by default and therefore the HDCP issue doesn't show up unless you change the dip switch positions for each output.

Aside from the EDID issue, does C4 have a driver for this switch?

I just checked the database and didn't see one. There may be one kicking around in the dealer forums.

I know that drivers exist for some Geffen switches, and I didn't see any in there, so whatever that means...

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Since it appears that the HDMI matrix switch stuff can get complicated and cause video distribution to become problematic, I am now looking at staying component video.

With that said,

I currently have an 8 x 6 Video Storm Matrix switch. I'm looking to add another 6-8 inputs and need another 6 outputs. I read on here somewhere that you could daisy chain matrix switches in order to increase inputs/outputs...does anyone have experience doing this or know if it is possible to do this without degrading the video signal so much that it is no longer 1080i?

  • Author

Reliability is key. My first dealer couldn't get my system to function consistently and I nearly sold my stuff off for parts. My wife was more than peeved at how bad it worked for the money we had spent. Fortunately, I found a dealer who was able to fix all the bugs in our system in a few hours and it's been awesome ever since...

Now I want to do some upgrades and am trying to figure out the best bang for the buck while keeping everything working seamlessly.

I have a video storm CMX 86 which sounds like the same switch. They had a daisy chained HDMI switch that's supposed to be integrated with the component switch, but it doesn't have a control4 driver. Perhaps you'll have better luck getting a copy of the serial driver than I did.

If I had to do it again I'd look for separate video and audio switches rather than one switch for both. I've found that I need more audio sources than video sources.

I also have an issue with the video storm switch in that there is a delay between the video switching and the audio switching. It's not a big delay, and recent switch firmware improves the problem, but I still don't like it. Video Storm was unwilling to provide me with a copy of the unencrypted serial driver so I could have my dealer look at it.

I got a lower price on the CMX86 when I purchased it versus other matrix switches on the market. Please don't misunderstand me- I'm happy with the performance of the switch- but I would be looking for that lower price point if I were going to purchase product.

  • Author

I've noticed the audio can lag when switching sources. Sometimes it's less than a second, but it has taken between 3 - 5 seconds when it was at it's slowest.

How did you get a firmware update?

Check the downloads section of their website. They post the firmware and instructions to upload it via a serial cable. We used a USB to serial adapter and it worked okay. My firmware was old enough that sometimes the audio wouldn't even switch. They also released a new driver for versions 1.8+ which you might consider using. Send them an email- in my experience they're very responsive.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.