Belkin ships a low-cost 2-port HDMI switch

by Nilay Patel posted Dec 3rd 2007 at 12:18PM

There are quite a few HDMI switches out there for the input-challenged, but this latest box from Belkin is by far the least-expensive we've seen at $49.99 list -- which means street prices might be even lower. Nothing too special apart from that: 1080p compatibility, HDMI powered, IR remote for switching, and Belkin's classy-but-anonymous case design. Shipping now in the US and Canada, March 2008 in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Filed under: Switches

Tags: belkin, hdmi, hdmi switch, HdmiSwitch

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

JeffDM @ Dec 3rd 2007 12:45PM

The PR image conveniently leaves out the little IR bug:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=390676

I'd prefer to use a switch that has all the cables out one end. Monoprice has one like that for $28. It looks like it might be a little bigger, but it doesn't look like it has an IR receiver bug.

Neutral

Mike Avallone @ Dec 5th 2007 6:30PM

I got one from Monoprice at www.ehdmi.com for 50.00 it had 5 inputs and 1 output. comes with a remote and my Logitech harmony 880 operates it.
Great item.

Highly Ranked

anotherdave @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:18PM

Monoprice has 8 different versions of them starting from $19, and 5 of them with sub $50 prices.

Neutral

Marshall @ Dec 3rd 2007 1:34PM

Yeah, if this is the cheapest you've seen, you're not looking very hard. Monoprice has a 2 port for $36 shipped, and a 4-port for $50 shipped. Please, don't take press releases at face value; Belkin doesn't need more shills.

Marshall
----------
The Real HT Info Podcast

Neutral

TrentD @ Dec 3rd 2007 3:48PM

Properly designed HDMI switches have an outboard power supply - anything that is powered off the HDMI cable itself is against the HDMI specification, because that 5V line is for hot plug detect.

In a lot of cases, devices like this can cause problems with handshaking because they draw down that 5V power line.

Neutral

DonatoM3 @ Dec 3rd 2007 5:33PM

I bought a 3 port HDMI switch with IR controller on Ebay for $38 shipped with a 6' HDMI cable and it's full v1.3 capable. That was almost 6 months ago. Like Trent said the one I bought also has a power adapater and doesn't draw any power from the HDMI's 5 volt.

Neutral

Dennis Ramiro @ Dec 3rd 2007 8:43PM

XTREMEMAC 4PORT HDMI SWITCHER for $35.34 regular price is $79-99.

http://www.jpstock.com/catalog/xtrememac-4port-hdmi-switcher-p-895388.html

this hdmi switcher has gotten nothing but positive reviews.

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