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Apple TV with HDMI Switch

T

thejgroves

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 28, 2012
4
0
I work at a university that is implementing a lot of Apple TVs into classrooms for the use of AirPlay mirroring with iPads and iPhones. The projectors we use typically only have a single HDMI port. The easiest solution would be to get an HDMI switch and switch between the PC and the Apple TV at the podium. We have tried a Kinivo HDMI Switch but it wouldn't work with the Apple TV. It would work with everything but the Apple TV for a matter of fact.

Before we go off and spend more money trying to find a switch that works, I thought I'd ask here to see if there is something special I need to look for or if someone has a recommended switch that is known to work. We're looking for something preferably inexpensive that is a 2x1 switch at minimum.

Thanks in advance.
 
I use my ATV 3 with a switch with no problems. I can't recall what kind it is but it was a cheapy switch ordered from amazon. Might be stating the obvious but did you ensure you don't have a bad HDMI cable??
 
After talking with one of our installers. The issue apparently is sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't. This is consistent across multiple rooms in different setups. It could just be a crap switch. We may give a different brand a go. I was just trying to make sure I wasn't overlooking some sort of requirement.
 
thejgroves said:
After talking with one of our installers. The issue apparently is sometimes it will work and sometimes it won't. This is consistent across multiple rooms in different setups. It could just be a crap switch. We may give a different brand a go. I was just trying to make sure I wasn't overlooking some sort of requirement.
Click to expand...

I've used a MonoPrice 4x1 HDMI switch with my ATV1 and ATV2 for years with zero issues.
 
I think we've narrowed it down to the projectors we are using. It seems they freak out when switching. We tried our switcher on a TV/Monitor and it works flawlessly. Not sure why, but the projectors have a hard time "reconnecting" to a signal after it is switched. There's usually a 10-15 second "no signal" time before it actually shows the switched source and sometimes it doesn't. So I guess I was wrong to assume it was the switch.
 
I've had a lot of trouble in the past with HDMI switches (not specific to the ATV). With some devices, the HDMI switch will fail to 'sync' correctly and so the image will flicker on and off. It doesn't seem to happen with manual switches, so I'd guess it's related to the auto-switch functionality where it switches input when it detects a new signal.

You may be better off with a manual HDMI switch or else turning the auto-switch functionality off and using the remote to control the switch.
 
I got one of the low-price HDMI switchers from Amazon, and it works great with the BluRay and XBox 360, but it doesn't recognize when the FIOS TV and Apple TV turn on (or off, in the case of the FIOS) so well. It may have something to do with the fact that they're never completely "off", but rather in a low-power semi-sleep, so the intelligent switch is not detecting a big enough change in signal to make the automatic switch.

I haven't returned it because the "intelligent" part was just a potential bonus - I just needed the extra HDMI ports, really.
 
hskzhangya said:
HDMI Converter is a very professional product. So it is very important to buy an original and high quality hdmi converter, or you will can't work and can't satisfied your requirement. My friend bought a hdmi converter from hdgenius.com several years ago.he told me that it is ok. If you are interested in it. Maybe you can have a try !
Click to expand...

This is one of the most amazing forms of native advertising I have ever seen. Delivery can use some work, but other wise good effort.
 
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