Hi,

Currently, I use the el-chepo push-button Monoprice HDMI switch. However, I will be adding an HD-DVD player to my setup. I am thinking of purchasing the 4x1 Monoprice HDMI switch with the room. The 4 switch will also have additional input in case I purchase a Blu-Ray player as well.

I do not see the need for 5 HDMI inputs (Satellite box, upconverting DVD, HD-DVD, and perhaps Blu-Ray) I cannot brainstorm any other HDMI device in the future. But the 5x1 HDMI switch which is a little more expensive than the 4 HDMI-in switch seems a completely different build then the 4 input one.

Are there any differences between the two, and which one would you recommend?

Thanks,
George

I own the 3X1, which looks exactly like the 5X1. Mine works great. I think either one will be a great buy.

... all else being equal (well except for price that is) ... I would say that it definitely can't hurt to have the extra imput.

It depends on your situation. The 5x1 2.1 switch will work great in most situations. If you are using a PS3 you must use port 5 on the switch since the 5x1 uses two chips. The Oppo 981 will not work with the 5x1 switch.

The newer 4x1 switch only uses one chip and seems to work better with some equipment.

If you don't need 5 ports I would get the 4x1 rev 2.5 and save yourself a few dollars. It is
being sold for around $50 from Monoprice and it works great for me.

Alas, my Monoprice 4x switch has issues with TW, and the Motorola 6412 cable box.
PS3, DVHS, HDDVD work fine, but the Motorola box defaults everytime you switch back to it.... bummmer, .... I have a 5x switch on the way.

Let's see, what will do HDMI:

- PPV cable box
- HD TiVo
- HD-DVD player
- Blu-Ray player
- home theater computer (for music playback and web surfing)
- xbox elite
- ps/3

Right now, I can't see using more than seven inputs, but that could change. And to think that my AVR only comes with three :-/ Some of the above sources can be used with component video instead, but there are only a few component inputs on my AVR and component doesn't do HDCP. Better go for combo devices (ps/3 can display blu-ray, etc).

Did you leave the TW Motorola box set to on all all times. I would try it both ways. The box is loosing its HDCP handshake and I don't think it is the fault of the switch. It may be loosing the handshake when the switch changes inputs and when you switch back the handshake does not reconnect.

I don't think it is the switch either.

I tried everywhich way to get it to work.... no go.
The Motorola boxes have been known to have HDMI switcher issues.
The five way switcher arrived and it works fine with the Motorola box.

Plus the PS3 works on input 3, and didn't require input 5 like others have had to use.
Once again Monoprice gets the job done!

I don't think it is the switch either.

I tried everywhich way to get it to work.... no go.
The Motorola boxes have been known to have HDMI switcher issues.
The five way switcher arrived and it works fine with the Motorola box.

Plus the PS3 works on input 3, and didn't require input 5 like others have had to use.
Once again Monoprice gets the job done!

So Blasst, is this correct - you were using the 4x1 switch (Rev 2.5?) which didn't work with your motorola box (do you have Comcast?), you replaced it with the 5x1 Rev 2.1, and now it works?

If this is correct, I am in the same boat with my Motorola STB and PDP. I have the 4x1 box and I can't get the TV to see 1080 through the switch. I'm wondering if I should try the 5x1 box with the older code. FYI - my PDP is the newer Panasonic plasma PZ700U. I would have thought the box with the newer code would have been my best bet.

That is correct eflynn,

The Motorola box would default to 480i each time I would switch back to it.
I could then reset to 1080i, 16:9, and it would stay, but change to another input, and the default would happen every single time.
I have Time Warner now, using the same boxes I had with Comcast.
6412 phase 3 boxes.

I called TW and Motorola, and of course each rep I talked to, said it was not them causing the problem!

I wonder if other people have used the 4x1 box with Motorola boxes, with no issues?
Monoprice swapped boxes fast, and the 5x1 works great!

eflynn, you do know how to go into the service menu to change resolution on the cable box right?

That is correct eflynn,

The Motorola box would default to 480i each time I would switch back to it.
I could then reset to 1080i, 16:9, and it would stay, but change to another input, and the default would happen every single time.
I have Time Warner now, using the same boxes I had with Comcast.
6412 phase 3 boxes.

I called TW and Motorola, and of course each rep I talked to, said it was not them causing the problem!

I wonder if other people have used the 4x1 box with Motorola boxes, with no issues?
Monoprice swapped boxes fast, and the 5x1 works great!

eflynn, you do know how to go into the service menu to change resolution on the cable box right?

I know how to get into the menu to set the HD output to 1080i and the pass-through to 480i. Is this what you mean? Also, are you saying you had to go into the service menu everytime? I thought you meant you powered the box off and back on.

Yes.

Each time I would switch back to the cable box I would have to go into the service menu to change the output back to 1080i. I had a picture, just not HD.

I don't power the box off.

Does anyone happen to know if the latest Monoprice switch (4x1) is HDMI 1.3?

I bought the Psyclone one a few weeks ago to get 1.3 - but now I'm interested in the Monoprice 4x1 to save over $150 if possible :)

Thanks

I have checked out the specs on the Psyclone and the only place where it states 1.3 is on an Ebay site. I doubt if it really is 1.3 since very few units have been available with these specs. It does not say 1.3 on the best buy site. Having said the above many switches will work with the 1.3 playstation including the new Monoprice 4x1 switch.

I have checked out the specs on the Psyclone and the only place where it states 1.3 is on an Ebay site. I doubt if it really is 1.3 since very few units have been available with these specs. It does not say 1.3 on the best buy site. Having said the above many switches will work with the 1.3 playstation including the new Monoprice 4x1 switch.

Possibly a stupid question, but the switches do have different HDMI revisions, correct? In other words, they make switches that are 1.1,1.2a, 1.3a, etc?

Any problems with HD-DVD audio such as 5.1 PCM?

~Bobby

I have checked out the specs on the Psyclone and the only place where it states 1.3 is on an Ebay site. I doubt if it really is 1.3 since very few units have been available with these specs. It does not say 1.3 on the best buy site. Having said the above many switches will work with the 1.3 playstation including the new Monoprice 4x1 switch.I had the Psyclone and it said 1.3 on the box. It's also listed in the specs on their site as being 1.3 compliant.http://www.psyclonegamer.com/products/index.asp?brandtype=competition&id=1060

Hmm. I have the older Monoprice 2x1 powered HDMI switch, and it is struggling with my HD-A2 dvd player. Plus I have been having problems with the Motorola 6412 dropping back to 480i and 480p, even to 720p, but it didn't occur to me that the switch might be at fault here as well.

I am talking to Monoprice and they may let me swap switches. Is there any monoprice switch known to be working well with the HD-A2 and or the 6412?

jaz50y,

Did the switch ever work correctly?

I have a 2x1 powered monoprice that worked fine with a 6412, and I didn't even plug the power cord in.

It worked fine with a HD-A1 also...... so can't comment on the A-2.

As you can see earlier in this thread, the 4x1 switcher caused problems with my Motorola 6412, but the 5x1 switcher works fine.

Hopefully you can get it figured out.

Worked fine with Dish 813 and Momitsu V880. I switched to Fios first, and wondered why the 6412 periodically went back to lower resolution ( but always worked). The HD-A2 had problems from day one - it works ok when attached directly to the 25' cable to my Barco, tho it can take quite a few seconds from the dvd play start until the picture shows.

I did read the the Psyclone will work with HDMI l.3 but I wonder if it really has the full specs since 1.3 is so new and few companies are really using it. There is no indication who tested it and what chips it uses. Other switches also work with the PS3 and the Toshiba XA2 both of which use HDMI 1.3. I am using the Monoprice 4x1 which sells for about $50 usually. They have it on sale this weekend for $43.00

Hmm. I have the older Monoprice 2x1 powered HDMI switch, and it is struggling with my HD-A2 dvd player. Plus I have been having problems with the Motorola 6412 dropping back to 480i and 480p, even to 720p, but it didn't occur to me that the switch might be at fault here as well.

I am talking to Monoprice and they may let me swap switches. Is there any monoprice switch known to be working well with the HD-A2 and or the 6412?

I had the same issue with the 6412 and rev2.5 HDMI switch. The problem is within the Motorola STB software. It attempts to "intelligently" revert your video settings in order to get video output on your display when you disconnect the HDMI cable from the STB. I do not really understand why it does this, but there is no way around that when using HDMI. The only solution is to use the component output on the 6412. Comcast explicitly says they do not support HDMI yet, plus think about it... does the video that you get from your cable MSO really look that great anyway? I did an A/B test with the HDMI and component outputs from the 6412 and to my surprise the component output actually looks better on my Panasonic PT-AE900U front projector (720p). If you cannot use component output for whatever reason, like in my case where I don't have any more component inputs left on my A/V receiver, then I am not sure what you can do other than complain to your cable provider and Motorola to fix the issue.

As far as the number of HDMI devices goes, I already have 4 devices and I don't even have an HD/BR player or a PS3.

1) Xbox 360 Elite
2) HTPC (doesn't work with the switch...)
3) Oppo DV-981HD
4) Motorola 6412 (if this worked properly I would be using HDMI)

I have no idea why the HTPC can not detect my AE900 when going through the switch. I have tried 2 video cards from NVIDIA now, the BFG 7600GT (DVI) and the new MSI NX8500GT-MTD256EH (HDMI) and neither work through the switch. When I connect them directly to my projector with my 50ft HDMI cable the HTPC instantly detects the presence of the display device and the video appears. This is very frustrating now that I have spent another $80 for a video card with HDMI and it still does not work with this switch.

I have tried this with 2 separate Monoprice 4x1 rev.2.5 switches now because my first one completely died after 30 days. Three of the input lights would stay lit and it was completely unresponsive. Luckily, Monoprice reimbursed me for the cost of the replacement including the shipping fees. I actually inspected the PCB inside the device and despite a couple possible cold joints I didn't see anything physically defective with the unit. I think there is a chance that one of the HDMI ports were damaged by one of the cables that I tried to use because the pins on the cable stick out a bit more than the average HDMI cable that I have seen. It is hard to describe what I mean so don't worry about it, it shouldn't happen to you! Just be careful when you attach a new device to the switch and don't force a cable that isn't fitting properly, you are better off replacing the cable first.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my HTPC working with the switch?

On another side note, the Xbox 360 Elite acts a bit strange with this switch and my projector. When I configure it to always boot up to the Xbox dashboard whether a disc is in the drive or not, it will boot and display video after about 25 seconds. If I tell it to boot directly to the disc, it will never even boot at all. I can tell this because I do not hear any startup audio. When I have the Xbox connected directly to the projector it boots up within a second or two without any issues.

The Oppo DV-981HD works perfectly. No boot delays, no sparkles, no blackouts.

Anyone who reads these fourms can see that the HDCP handshake can cause all sorts of issues. We tend to blame the problem on the most recent component that we hook up and that is often the switch. The switch can be the issue but it could be something else including cables, loose connections, the length of the cable, the firmware in one of the components or almost anything else. The reason why we see so many questions about the Monoprice switches is that they have become very popular because of the low price. They have sold thousands of the different switches and most people have no problems. This does not help when you do have a problem and the only way that I have discovered to fix HDCP issues is through trial and error. I had no issue with the Monoprice 5x1 switch for months until I added the Oppo 981 and it would not work with the 5x1 switch. I ordered the 4x1 switch and everything worked fine again. It seems that the 5x1 switch has two chips for switching vs 1 for the 4x1 switch. The 4x1 switch is made by a different supplier and seems to have a newer chip in it rev 2.5 vs 2.1 for the 5x1 switch. Other issues could be caused by adding a few extra feet of cable to your system or even a loose connection. I once spent 3 hours trying to find out what the issue was only to find a loose cable causing all of the problems. I got the Monoprice "Port Savers" and they fixed the issue making for a snug connection.

I understand your frustration and I believe HDCP should have never been forced upon us.
I wish someone had started a class action suite against the film companies and the manufactures who put out HDMI/HDCP equipment. This is worse than getting bad drivers on computers. We should be able to get bug free equipment. I even know a few cases where companies refused to fix the issue. Do any of you remember the Sanyo Z2 projector or some of the older Samsung TV's. I do have to give a few companies credit for trying to resolve the issues. Scientific Atlanta has worked very had to get HDCP right and others have done the same. The other thing to rember is that HDCP rev 3.1 is slightly different from early versions so even if you had everything working adding a new component can fowl things up. I also want to give credit to Monoprice for working with us and trying to get their switch to work with as many products as possible.

FWIW, I had initially purchased the 5x1 (2.1) switch for use with my Sony KD-34XBR960. But I was starting to have problems with my Oppo Digital DV-981HD, D* H20, and D* HR20 blanking out while in 1080i.

Since no one else was having problems with similar setups.

After trying different HDMI cables and ports, I decided that the problem was the TV. Thankfully, I had purchased an extended warranty when I bought the 960 as an open box item from Fry's. So, I went down and set up an onsite repair. The repair guy came out and replaced the HDMI card/board.

So, hooked up the 5x1 and it still wouldn't work with the 981, and I was getting intermittent audio problems with the D* HD receivers.

Fortunately, I was able to return the 5x1 switch for the new 4x1 (2.5) switch. And everything is now working together with no problems.

Anyone who reads these fourms can see that the HDCP handshake can cause all sorts of issues. We tend to blame the problem on the most recent component that we hook up and that is often the switch. The switch can be the issue but it could be something else including cables, loose connections, the length of the cable, the firmware in one of the components or almost anything else.

I am going to try shorter cables to see if that could be my issue. If it is then I am not sure what to do because I do not have the choice to shorten my cables since my projector is 20 feet away from the switch. If I had another HDMI device to test with I would but at the moment I'm out of luck. I have verified that all of the connections are snug. I suspect that the firmware/hardware in my projector, HDMI switch, or VGA card do not comply with HDMI v1.2a standards.

It would help if you guys could list some of the equipment that you have used without issues. Especially if these devices include HTPCs and Xbox 360 Elites. If these devices work properly with your TVs and wiring then I will be much more confident that the issue is not due to the 1x4 rev2.5 HDMI switch.

If it turns out to be the wiring length do any of you think this product from Monoprice could solve my issue?

HDMI Active Equalizer Extender Repeater - Extend Upto 100FT

As far as I know the 4x1 switch already has an active equalizer so I doubt this will help unless I split my 35ft cable into two ~18ft cables with this in the middle.

EDIT: To save a third post... I tried with 6ft HDMI cables on each side of the switch instead of my 35ft cable and the issue still exists. Looks like my system components and this switch are just not compatible. Now I have to figure out what brand is compatible.

I am using the Monoprice 4x1 switch with a PS3, Toshiba Xa2, Oppo 981, and a SA cable box all going to a Panasonic X57 receiver going to a Panasonic AE900. I would suggest trying one unit at a time with any switch you use. If you get it to work try the next component to find out where the problem is. If you find the problem try a different port on the switcher also try a different cable if you have one. I have discovered that all kinds of things can cause problems with HDMI/HDCP. The connector design is very poor and things can easily come loose. Yesterday I hooked up a system for a friend and I was having all kinds of handshake issues and sparkles on a short run. I changed the cable and still things did not work. I had a Monoprice "Port Saver" around and I added it and everything worked. I have no idea why adding it solved the issue. It might be that the short connector made for a snug connection with the internal connector on my equipment. With 19 connectors on the cable and in the port one loose connection can and does cause all kinds of issues. I have also found that vibrations from a subwoffer once cause my HDMI connectors to come loose. That is another reason why I added the Port Savers. Having said the above I don't know what will work or will not work in each case because there are so many issues with HDCP. Trial and error is the only way to solve the issues.

It turns out that the Monoprice switch just isn't fully compatible with my projector. I am not sure if my projector is the issue, however, I ordered another HDMI switch which should work with my projector. The wiring lengths didn't affect the problems at all. I did test multiple ports and single devices at once and even tried a monitor instead of the projector. Just keep in mind before you buy these switches that they may not be compatible with your devices or displays.

So Blasst, is this correct - you were using the 4x1 switch (Rev 2.5?) which didn't work with your motorola box (do you have Comcast?), you replaced it with the 5x1 Rev 2.1, and now it works?

If this is correct, I am in the same boat with my Motorola STB and PDP. I have the 4x1 box and I can't get the TV to see 1080 through the switch. I'm wondering if I should try the 5x1 box with the older code. FYI - my PDP is the newer Panasonic plasma PZ700U. I would have thought the box with the newer code would have been my best bet.

I have attempted many different options regarding cables and ports and have not had any success in passing my Dish VIP722 and HD-A20 through the monoprice 4x1 to my Panny PZ700u. The 4x1 will pass the Samsung DVD/VCR recorder through to the PZ700u though.

Any suggestions?
Would the 5x1 be a better option for my equipment?

I had the same issue with the 6412 and rev2.5 HDMI switch. The problem is within the Motorola STB software. It attempts to "intelligently" revert your video settings in order to get video output on your display when you disconnect the HDMI cable from the STB. I do not really understand why it does this, but there is no way around that when using HDMI. The only solution is to use the component output on the 6412. Comcast explicitly says they do not support HDMI yet, plus think about it... does the video that you get from your cable MSO really look that great anyway? I did an A/B test with the HDMI and component outputs from the 6412 and to my surprise the component output actually looks better on my Panasonic PT-AE900U front projector (720p). If you cannot use component output for whatever reason, like in my case where I don't have any more component inputs left on my A/V receiver, then I am not sure what you can do other than complain to your cable provider and Motorola to fix the issue.

As far as the number of HDMI devices goes, I already have 4 devices and I don't even have an HD/BR player or a PS3.

1) Xbox 360 Elite
2) HTPC (doesn't work with the switch...)
3) Oppo DV-981HD
4) Motorola 6412 (if this worked properly I would be using HDMI)

I have no idea why the HTPC can not detect my AE900 when going through the switch. I have tried 2 video cards from NVIDIA now, the BFG 7600GT (DVI) and the new MSI NX8500GT-MTD256EH (HDMI) and neither work through the switch. When I connect them directly to my projector with my 50ft HDMI cable the HTPC instantly detects the presence of the display device and the video appears. This is very frustrating now that I have spent another $80 for a video card with HDMI and it still does not work with this switch.

I have tried this with 2 separate Monoprice 4x1 rev.2.5 switches now because my first one completely died after 30 days. Three of the input lights would stay lit and it was completely unresponsive. Luckily, Monoprice reimbursed me for the cost of the replacement including the shipping fees. I actually inspected the PCB inside the device and despite a couple possible cold joints I didn't see anything physically defective with the unit. I think there is a chance that one of the HDMI ports were damaged by one of the cables that I tried to use because the pins on the cable stick out a bit more than the average HDMI cable that I have seen. It is hard to describe what I mean so don't worry about it, it shouldn't happen to you! Just be careful when you attach a new device to the switch and don't force a cable that isn't fitting properly, you are better off replacing the cable first.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can get my HTPC working with the switch?

On another side note, the Xbox 360 Elite acts a bit strange with this switch and my projector. When I configure it to always boot up to the Xbox dashboard whether a disc is in the drive or not, it will boot and display video after about 25 seconds. If I tell it to boot directly to the disc, it will never even boot at all. I can tell this because I do not hear any startup audio. When I have the Xbox connected directly to the projector it boots up within a second or two without any issues.

The Oppo DV-981HD works perfectly. No boot delays, no sparkles, no blackouts.

FYI- HD-TIVO does it too. It's not just motorola.