Looking for HDMI Switcher to mirror 1 (of 2) inputs to 2 outputs

[greymalkin]

All,

This isn't technically the forum for this, but I couldn't find any that deals with this so I picked the closest one .

I have 2 projectors that I need to show the same image on..if I only had a single input I'd just use a splitter and we'd be on our merry way. BUT! I have 2 inputs I need to be able to toggle between. I bought an hdmi 2x2 switcher that does exactly this. It has the most basic remote with only 2 buttons where i can pick either input 1 or 2 and it automatically sends that input signal to both projectors.

The problem with the one I bought is it's a piece of crap. Sometimes the 2nd projector just shows a blue screen..the IR remote has a crappy range so I have to contort myself to get it to switch over. when it does switch over it takes about 5 seconds and flashes to a blue screen in between, and when it does switch over sometimes what I had in presentation mode no longer displays and I have to take it out of presentation mode then back in for it to register.

I've been searching for hours to find a switcher that checks all the boxes, but have not yet found one..leading me to believe i need to compromise on at least one of the thing I'm looking for:

- FAST switching - as close to instantly switching from input 1 to input 2 as possible
- Longer range remote - I'd prefer a remote that isn't IR...but any RF remote switcher I find is ALWAYS a single input..not the 2 that I need
- Simple Remote where I can just select input 1 or 2 and have it automatically mirror that input to both outputs
- the first one I bought was like 30 bucks...but for something that checks all my boxes I'm fine spending 100 or more

I'm not asking anyone to go searching for this, this is what I've been trying (and failing!) to do. I'm reaching out here just in case any one of you have any real-world experience with such a device which I think should be a pretty common thing???

Thank you for reading!

[jagabo]

You could use a pair of devices: a 2-in-one out switch along with a 1-in-2 out splitter.

Are your sources HDCP protected? That is the source of a lot of problems. HDCP must be renegotiated at each HDMI link. That leaves a lot of room for problems.

[usually_quiet]

The delay that occurs when switching from one source to another may be unavoidable. The required HDMI handshaking process could cause the problems you describe. The digital negotiation process takes 3-5 seconds. Looks like jagabo replied while I was typing.

[pandy]

There is no such device (unless you can find something from China where simply no one care about law) - technically first generation HDMI equalizers/retimers used own HDCP keys to decode data and later encode - nowadays it is against HDCP licensing policy so none of big US/EU semiconductor vendors offer similar functionality. But as i pointed - you can't be sure if there are some China semiconductor vendors that don't care about HDCP licensing .

[greymalkin]

Thanks folks this is helpful information! The source is 2 seperate windows 11 laptops so I’m certain what you are describing is the culprit. And going from a laptop to a splitter probably further muddies the water requiring multiple handshakes 😅.

I thought about having 2 simple splitters and those are cheap enough to try. It would require 1 more cable, but this setup will always have the risk of that handshake failing for one reason or another.

I think the best solution is to get the content all coming from a single source or expect occasional hiccups 🤷