“The second number indicates that you can send the signal to one TV.” So, a 4 x 1 means you can plug four devices into the switcher, and send the signal to one TV.Īfter consulting an expert and browsing some of the most popular and well-liked models out there, here are some great HDMI switches that will keep you from constantly having to unplug your devices to make room for newer ones. So, how does it work? “An HDMI switch starts with multiple input sources to feed a single output,” Prouty says.īut what do the numbers (for example, 4 x 1 or 6 x 1) mean? “The first number indicates how many devices you can plug into the switcher,” Prouty explains.

“Cable boxes, Blu-ray players, streaming media players, video game consoles and more, all use them,” he says.īut what happens if your TV or monitor doesn’t have enough HDMI inputs to accommodate all of your cool devices? No one wants to keep reaching behind or on the side of the TV or monitor to disconnect one device so you can then connect another one.įortunately, an HDMI switch can solve this problem.

HDMI switches can increase the functionality of compatible electronic devices, and you probably already have tons of them in your home. “High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) has become the go-to cable for anything HD,” explains Carl Prouty, a technologist at Abt Electronics in Glenview, Illinois. You might need to purchase an adapter for some devices.Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account Since the docking station and converter box have their own power supplles, I didn't need to attach a micro-USB power adapter (not included). It also allows hot-swapping the PC and converter box by using the select button by that I mean that both 'IN' devices can be powered on and connected to the USB storage. It did work! I also tested this product with a Western Digital external hard disk, and it also worked. This product states that you can connect two PCs - but I was hoping that it would work also with the HW180STB. Prior to getting this product, I had to swap the USB cable between the PC and converter box. The USB specs do not allow for a simple cable Y splitter the only USB Y splitter cables you'll find have one data cable and one power cable on the dual side.

I have been looking for a way to simultaneously connect a Orico brand external USB 3.0 hard disk docking station with my PC and a Mediasonic Homeworx HW180STB TV converter box.

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