Community/SoapBox

The problem you had splitting the HDMI signal through a Gefen box is frustrating.  However, I’ve ordered and returned numerous splitters, distribution amps and switchers from these “cottage industry” suppliers and found that the break in the chain is often the switch.  At one time, these companies were selling these devices not knowing the way HDCP works.  I recall in one instance being told that a 1:2 splitter device was “HDCP Compliant” but couldn’t support both TVs at the same time (so it was a 1:2 switch in fact… not a splitter at all!).

Overall, I agree that HDMI has some trials ahead of it to make sure that its feature set matches the expectations of consumers as much as possible.  But I also know that buying high-tech from small supplier is generally hazardous especially if it’s a perform-or-die situation..

I’m sure there has to be some reliable spitting devices for HDMI out there somewhere. I’m just feeling particularly snake bit these days. The last three times out I’ve had problems. I also hear similar complaints (horror stories) in my practice from installers every day.

IMHO, some supplier needs to break though all the noise and clutter and come out and state unequivocally—“we are the HDMI experts. We guarantee a solution to your routing, splitting and distribution issues.”

I await that supplier with open arms....

I agree with your comments and share your pain on a regular basis.  It seems as if the promise of great things is on the horizon, but in the meantime we have clients to service.  As you mentioned, it is our job as professional integration companies to keep up with the latest offerings and issues to deliver the best solution today, while planning for the future.  Based on a great training class held by Matt Good from Denon, it would seem that the big issues come from the “handshake” that needs to take place between components.  One would think that these “cottage industry” companies have a full understanding of this technology, but alas, problems still exist.  My recent experience with a very promising HDMI over Cat5 solution, showed to me that even these companies understand they don’t possess the technology to guarantee a seamless implementation.  Every time I switched sources, it would take 15-60 seconds to re-sync the transmit and receive baluns, and the company explained that this was typical.  Sure that is acceptable for a static display device, but we need faster sync for home entertainment systems.  In the meantime, I insist that professionals continue to provide constructive criticism with proactive solutions, so we can keep the manufacturers working to market the truth and help us to offer the best technologies.

Another problem: No TVs support DD5.1 via HDMI audio. Why, when they do good things (like SRS) with DD5.1 via their internal tuner?

Ideally, the TV would act as the central switch to allow the individual inputs to be calibrated differently and simplify wiring and control. But without multi channel audio support on HDMI and audio pass thru to the digital audio output this can’t be done.  I have been waiting for a couple of years for this feature to appear.

Here’s a comment from Mark S. Goldman, President of Sound Components, Inc.

“As a dealer, we also make sure we run sufficient backup cables in case the HDMI is incompatible or has a problem. We also make sure we run at least 2 component cables as well as the HDMI to any display device.”

Comment from Thomas Moss, President, One Connection, Inc:

“Yes there are some horror stories with HDMI that still need to be shaken out. Although I believe part of this goes to the electronics manufacturers of the equipment also. Ours is a fast paced world and there will always be some catch up. The best thing I can say to anyone out there is if you have not tried it and it works in the office/lab then the customer should not be the guinea pig. As far as sending signals to multiple screens using HDMI the Key Digital Matrix switchers do a great job.”

The content providers don’t give a darn about the end user anymore.  They don’t care what problems you have as long as they get paid.  The solution is not better A/V equipment, the solution is not buying any content until they realize that the customer is king.  Who implements a half baked copy protection system that doens’t work right?  People that are making to much money thats who.  I am not buying any content that is copy protected, until that protection no longer degrades my experience.
Have prices decreased since copy protection schemes have been implemented?  Not that I have noticed.

Why HDMI in the first place? The broadcast industry has a reliable single coaxial cable standard called SMPTE 292 or “HDSDI” This single coaxial cable can also carry sixteen channels of digital audio along. It uses standardd BNC connectors! Now the HDMI proponents will claim it’s too expensine an interface for the consumer market. However the circuit level hardware is actually simpler than HDMI / DVI and with the manufacturing economics of consumer electronics it would actually be cheaper - for both the consumer and the professional user.

HDSDI is also a true single bit stream transmission technology. Both DVI and HDMI are quasi serial interfaces in that they send parallel streams of RGB plus a clock signal. This invites timing errors between the signals and is the principal cause of HDMI / DVI enxtesion problems. HDSDI can travel over 300 feet on RG6 cable! Try that with HDMI!

Now there is a hitch. HDSDI is a one way link. It is not bidirectional. So you could not do handshaking but then isn’t scrambling the bit stream enough? If not the Digital Cinema specification uses HDSDI but also a simple CAT5 ethernet link for handshake. I can see the need to protect first run cinema grade digital content but any consumer copy protection scheme that requires handshaking is doomed to problems throughout it’s life.

My point is the broadcast industry has had a highly reliable digital HD distribution system for many years. It is also a SMPTE standard. Why can’t the consumer electronics industry heed the expereince of the professionals instead of the “NIH” approach. What’s really silly is that most broadcast equipment manufactures are also the largest consumer electronics manufactures - Sony, Panasonic, JVC, Thomsom (RCA), etc.

Image Constraint Tokens are another reason to avoid Blu Ray and HDDVD and just get a proper external scaler.

I picked up a new receiver after my old one was damaged in repair. A new Harman Kardon with HDMI. I hooked it up to my TV’s DVI input and it only works about 1/4 of the time because, as far as I can tell, the handshake for HDCP kills the video. So I can’t use the upscalerthat I payed extra for in the first place. I refuse to buy a brand new TV just to get a new connector that passes the exact same info the DVI does. What a rip-off.