suggestions for inexpensive component switcher

[merk]

Hi all,

I just recently got an HDTV. It has two component inputs, 2 AV, 1 hdmi.

I currently have the following items i'd like to hook up to the TV:

digital cable box
PS3
DVD
DVR
Wii
Xbox

The PS3 i'm going to hook up to the HDMI port so that leaves me with 5 items. Since i have two component inputs, i can put one items on one component and then the other 4 can go on the 2nd component input with a switcher.

if anyone can suggest a better setup, i'm open to suggestions.

If not, i'd like to pick up a switcher that is inexpensive, wont distort the signal enough that i can notice it and preferably either switches automatically or by remote. I'd prefer one that does it automatically, but by remote is ok. And i wont absolutely rule out one that requires me to get up and press a button.

Since my DVR is always on and always sending a video signal, if i used an auto switching switch, i'd put the DVR on one of the other inputs.

I found this one on amazon which is a good price and seemed to get good user reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/RCA-COMP...WITCHER/dp/B000FCT2CK/

Does anyone else have any other suggestions? There's no audio system hooked up to any of this yet. And there wont be for a while. Just using the TV speakers for now.

and the tv this is all getting hooked up to is http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/te...oduct.asp?model=42HM66 - nothing supper fancy high end but a decent enough tv (i hope).

thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[montypythizzle]

You could just get a composite switcher...
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.2544
It is just a switch.

 

[merk]

I was hoping for a switch that support component connections instead of composite. Since i finally got an HD tv i want to use the better input signal.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: merk
I was hoping for a switch that support component connections instead of composite. Since i finally got an HD tv i want to use the better input signal.

I think he was referring to plugging RGB into RWY on a composite switcher since its just switching 3 cables at any given time. However this wont allow you to pass audio too, so it wont quite work.

Monoprice.com has a 4->1 component switcher for under 30 bucks that might be a good call for you.

Course you could get an audio receiver to do it all for you. Mine does 3 way HDMI (w/audio) and 3 way component switching. Its definitely a more expensive option, but will definitely be a long term solution.

 

[sdifox]

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=3027&seq=1&format=2

The fore-mentioned monoprice component switch. 33.50 each

 

[merk]

Originally posted by: sdifox
http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=3027&seq=1&format=2

The fore-mentioned monoprice component switch. 33.50 each

So that switch will handle the audio as well, correct?

I dont want to spend money on something better right now since the money i spent on the PS3 and HDTV was money wasn't really planning on spending. I saw a good deal on the PS3 ($100 off and free 2nd controller) and couldn't pass it up. And then since i was getting the PS3 with blueray i decided I needed something better then a standard tv.

I just realized though... i dont think the Wii or Xbox (not 360) have component connections. So then this switch isn't going to work, is it? my DVR definitely doesnt. it has composite and S-video.

 

[montypythizzle]

Well, the Xbox does have component cables, I got one for my PS2 which also had an end for the Xbox, and also the Wii has an aftermarket component cable as well.

For Wii, there are probably more alternatives though, probably even on this site:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4256
the Wii can do 480P AFAIK with most to all games

There is some options for Xbox on here:
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.608

But this is what I was looking at for you:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4805

You can buy one or two, I don't recommend using it for two consoles while still plugged in to either one or all of them, EEK!!!

 

[merk]

Why would be the downside of plugging in more then one console using that cable? If i dont plug in more then one, that it sort of defeats the purpose of using that cable doesnt it? I assumed as long as i only have 1 console actually turned on at a time, that having all 3 of them plugged into the same port wouldn't present a problem.

thanks for the links

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: merk

Originally posted by: sdifox
http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=3027&seq=1&format=2

The fore-mentioned monoprice component switch. 33.50 each

So that switch will handle the audio as well, correct?

I dont want to spend money on something better right now since the money i spent on the PS3 and HDTV was money wasn't really planning on spending. I saw a good deal on the PS3 ($100 off and free 2nd controller) and couldn't pass it up. And then since i was getting the PS3 with blueray i decided I needed something better then a standard tv.

I just realized though... i dont think the Wii or Xbox (not 360) have component connections. So then this switch isn't going to work, is it? my DVR definitely doesnt. it has composite and S-video.

No. Component is a video only connection, audio you just use either analogue or digital audio interconnect toy our receiver.

You can get component video cable for xbox and wii. OR just use your composite line and don't bother with having to switch component. Problem solved

 

[merk]

So the switch from monoprice does not include ports for the audio cables as well? I know component is video, but most of the component cables i've seen (not that i've seen a lot of them) include the 3 cables for the video as well as 2 additional cables for L/R audio. I just assumed that was standard. Guess I was wrong.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: merk
So the switch from monoprice does not include ports for the audio cables as well? I know component is video, but most of the component cables i've seen (not that i've seen a lot of them) include the 3 cables for the video as well as 2 additional cables for L/R audio. I just assumed that was standard. Guess I was wrong.

standard cable is just 3. I am not sure there is any component switch with audio since most people have receiver.

 

[merk]

ahh that sucks for me then. I'll hold off on buying a switch for now then and just see how many things i can plug into different ports.

 

[Twsmit]

Originally posted by: merk
ahh that sucks for me then. I'll hold off on buying a switch for now then and just see how many things i can plug into different ports.

If you look at the monoprice switch it has 3 inputs, and 1 output. Each have audio and video, as well as digital coax audio.

 

[merk]

Ahh cool. I didnt notice they had pictures of the back of the switch until just now. I read the description which says it has audio but since others said the switches dont usually have audio i thought maybe i was reading it wrong.

So it looks like i could use that switch.

What about using this:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4805

montypythizzle suggested that but also seemed to think it would be a bad idea to hook up more then one console with the same cable. I dont understand what would be wrong doing that as long as only one console is turned on at a time.

thanks

 

[montypythizzle]

Originally posted by: merk
Ahh cool. I didnt notice they had pictures of the back of the switch until just now. I read the description which says it has audio but since others said the switches dont usually have audio i thought maybe i was reading it wrong.

So it looks like i could use that switch.

What about using this:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4805

montypythizzle suggested that but also seemed to think it would be a bad idea to hook up more then one console with the same cable. I dont understand what would be wrong doing that as long as only one console is turned on at a time.

thanks

It is one cable, not a "switch" the output from one system can go into the output of another system while it is off, and if it turns on, both outputs will go into the input of the TV.
Get two or get dedicated ones for maybe cheaper if they have them and then just put the audio to the receiver if possible.

 

[merk]

Hmm, ok i understand about having more then one system turned on at once. Something i wouldn't do anyhow. But the output from one system can go into the output of another system? i.e. the signal from one console would go into another console? I didnt know that. Would that screw something up? or just degrade the signal?

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: merk
Hmm, ok i understand about having more then one system turned on at once. Something i wouldn't do anyhow. But the output from one system can go into the output of another system? i.e. the signal from one console would go into another console? I didnt know that. Would that screw something up? or just degrade the signal?

Typically feeding one output to another is only harmful if both are on, since you are going to get differential voltages, possibly causing current to flow from one source to another (if both are on)

Depending on how the outputs of the other consoles are designed when they are off if it presents a ground or something it could also cause this. however if it presents an open circuit it would be no issue. Still I find the idea of using one cable for all 3 kind of sketchy, unless you plan to unplug it from the 2 consoles not in use.

btw monoprice has a wii component cable for like 6 bucks, I totally recommend tossing that onto your order.

 

[merk]

ok thanks for the info. I'll sit down tomorrow and figure out which way i am going to hook everything up and then go from there.

 

[alfa147x]

My neighbor uses a switcher from monoprice and loves it