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The answer to the question of what it is usually involves what it looks like.
Splitter
is an HDMI splitter that has various components. The HDMI input is the one to which you connect an HDMI signal source, such as a computer or game console. HDMI outputs are the ports to which we connect various displays such as TVs, monitors or projectors.
Some splitters require power, especially if they are used to connect multiple display devices, and have an automatic selection function that allows you to choose which screen to activate. Usually you’ll find them enclosed in plastic housings that protect them from damage and dust, and on the outside you can see LEDs indicating which output is active.
It’s useful to know the distinction: an HDMI splitter accepts one source and sends it to more than one TV screen; an HDMI switch, on the other hand, accepts more than one source and then sends it to a single device or TV via a cable output.
How does an HDMI splitter work?
Easy to use and install
HDMI splitters
are used to connect an HDMI signal source such as a computer, game console or player to multiple displays or TVs simultaneously. They work as soon as the power and
HDMI cables
to the target devices. Also included with the picture is multichannel sound, which has become a desirable component of home entertainment with HDTVs and AV systems.
This is due to the fact that HDMI transmits both video and audio in a single cable. Thus, the need for multiple cables is eliminated, and this is much more convenient than earlier standards, which required separate ones for video and audio as in VGA, Composite Video, Component Video or SCART used in VCRs and AV equipment, which, while allowing the use of a single cable, has just been superseded by HDMI.
HDMI splitters
differ in the number of HDMI outputs, image quality, the ability to support 4K higher than standard HD 720p and full HD 1080p, and other features. It is worth noting the designation, which indicates the ability to split the signal from the HDMI port to more screens (2x, 4x, 8x, etc.). They are also eagerly used by users of the platform
Raspberry Pi
and others supporting the HDMI standard.
HDMI splitter - applications
We toss around some ideas that are ingrained in everyday life, but we don’t always think about them, or we only think about them when the need arises. If you have more than one TV in your home, an HDMI splitter allows you to connect one game console, Blu-ray player or streaming device to multiple TVs simultaneously. This is ideal for siblings who often want to play games in different rooms. Likewise, the room can include a single source, such as a game console, which is connected to several TVs or monitors so that children can play together without having to share a single screen.
A home theater with a projector and HDMI splitter will certainly benefit from the ability to connect different sources such as a Blu-ray player, game console or laptop to the same projector. For family gatherings or presentations, you can connect your laptop or tablet to multiple TVs so everyone can easily see presentations, photos or videos without juggling equipment and cabling.
HDMI splitters are increasingly appearing in offices where it is important for all participants to see the same thing on the big screen. For a monitoring center where there is a need to view multiple sources of information on different monitors, an HDMI splitter makes it easy to connect these devices to a single computer. When working on a joint project or creative task, or simply on dual workstations, an HDMI splitter makes it easy to use two screens simultaneously.
HDMI splitters - common problems
This does not mean that splitters often generate them, but the practice of life clearly shows that sometimes there can be some difficulties.
Perhaps the most common is the lack of signal on one of the outputs. Check that the HDMI cable is properly connected to both the source and the display. Make sure both devices are turned on and ready to use. Try connecting another device to the same splitter output to see if the problem lies in the signal line itself.
In the case of video and audio interference, it is worth trying other HDMI cables, whose price range is unfortunately related to the quality range. They are looking for those with better insulation and shielding. Interference can be caused by electromagnetic interference, so also make sure that all devices connected to the splitter are grounded.
Delays due to signal processing by the splitter require a model with low latency or a “Game Mode” function that helps minimize them.
Finally, some AV devices, especially older models, may be incompatible with some HDMI splitters. In that case, don’t necessarily run for a new TV, but rather choose an HDMI splitter that is known to be compatible with different types of devices. While most HDMI splitters and adapters can send a signal from a computer to multiple screens at resolutions up to 4K, and we should not lose any visual fidelity, some will limit and reduce the refresh rate to 30 or 60 Hz, and sometimes this is well below the display’s capabilities. Active HDMI Splitters have built-in signal amplifiers and, unlike ordinary HDMI splitters, sometimes called passive splitters, which simply split the signal into several outputs, actively amplify the signal before it is split. This allows HDMI signals to be transmitted over longer distances and to more display devices. From there, it’s closer to entering, for example, the territory of shopping malls, where a large number of outputs and HDR (High Dynamic Range) technology are required to transmit signals in the highest image quality.
