Blue Ray & Hi Def Cable Box with one HDMI Cable?

Question

Is this possible to set up this way or do I have to have 2 HDMI cables? Basically, we have a TV on the wall and want to have blue ray/cable box in a different location where there is already one HDMI cable and want to see if we can connect all 3 using just one HDMI cable-or do we have to have 2 cables?

Answer 1

either get a receiver or a hdmi switch

Answer 2

The other option is to use HDMI switcher - 4x1 from Xtreme Mac for example, $99.  You can plug up to 4 source components into it - one HDMI coming out of it.  And it has a remote to incorporate into universal remote. They start at $40 or so - check out www.monoprice.com

Answer 3

Ideally you would use an A/V receiver as the hub (to feed a surround sound speaker system), but with just a cable box (assuming it is an HD model and has an HDMI output) and a Blu-ray player you would run one cable from each to the HDTV and use the input selector on the TV to select the source.  In other words you need 2 cables.

But don't buy expensive ones ... they are not necessary. Get an inexpensive one for monoprice.com or other source. You shouldn't need to pay more than about $20 max ... and may be able to find one for $10.

Answer 4

Well you were a bit foolish to not have run 2 HDMI cables and a component cable to the TV from the start. The install costs swamp the cost of the cables (and we could have told you where to buy good quality cables).

You need an HDMI switch or a AV receiver that includes HDMI switching.   A decent switch costs about $150 and a good Onkyo TX-SR505 receiver is about $380 that includes 2 HDMI outputs. Go up $100 to the 605 model for 3 HDMI outputs.

Check out Monoprice because if you go with a switch, you will need some short HDMI cables to feed the switch and they have both.

http://www.monoprice.com