Projector To Two LCD Screens Using HDMI?

[vwarren]

Hello,

I have a Epson EX51 Projector in our children's department and I want to duplicate whatever is on the projector screen to two lcd monitors. So if we playing a video from the dvd player or using the computer whatever is showing on the projector screen will show on the lcd monitors. I purchased two hdmi cables to run from the lcd screens to the projector and then realized after I ran the cable that the hdmi hookup in the back of the projector is an input so I'm not sure how to go about outputting the projector image on the screens. I'd like to keep the hdmi cables since they are now opened and I'm on a very tight budget. Any help would be extremely appreciated.

Thanks.

[bpalermini]

Hi and welcome to the site. I'm also from the LA area.

Can you tell us how you are feeding your projector today and what outputs you have available on the device(s) feeding the projector. Do you have some sort of video switching device?

[vwarren]

We're upgrading our children's room it was a very simple setup. We are running a dvd player (composite) and a mac computer (vga) to the projector currently and switching between the inputs via the projector's remote. There is nothing else running to the projector and we were only using the projector screen to show videos/computer. We are not using a video switcher in the children's room.

[[Admin] osborn4]

Are there any outputs on the projector?

[petereit]

The only way to get the LCD screens to automatically display whatever is on your projector is to run all of your various sources through a switcher that has HDMI output. From the HDMI output on your switcher, you would run a 1-to-3 HDMI splitter -- one output going to your projector, the other two going to your two LCD screens.

At that point, you would keep your the input on your projector and your LCD screens all set to HDMI. You would use your switcher to switch your video sources between your DVD player and computer.

[vwarren]

Question,

Am I looking at having to buy a switcher no matter what type of cables I choose to run to my LCD screens? If I understand what you said correctly then I'm having to get a switcher because I want the same image automatically on all screens which means I'm going to run all the cables from my other components to it. Do I have any options other than purchasing a switcher?

The projector only has inputs no outputs as far as I can tell/understand from the manuals.

[petereit]

Well, you're kind of in a catch 22. You CAN get away without using a switcher, but then you'll need two distribution devices: a composite DA (distribution amplifier) to split your DVD signal to your three displays, and a VGA DA to distribute your computer display to your three devices.

But the obvious problem there is when you switch from your computer to your DVD: now you have aim your remote at your projector to switch inputs, then aim another remote at your TVs to switch their inputs. I'm sure that's not what you had in mind.

The only way to do what you originally asked is to have all three displays fed by one device. But because you have two video sources (DVD and Computer), something has to control which of those gets routed to your one device -- in this case, a switcher.

To make things as simple as possible, you'd want all of your devices (source and display) using the same type of connection. In your case, it looks like HDMI is the most common connector that your projector and TVs share (and you already bought HDMI cables for your TVs).

If the video card in your computer does not already have a DVI output, I would upgrade to one that does. Then you'll need a DVI-to-HDMI adapter to get your computer sending out HDMI. (Bonus if you upgrade to a computer display card with HDMI output built in, but those are typically more expensive.)

If your DVD player does not have HDMI output, my suggestion would be to just buy a new one that does. You can get upsampling DVD players for chump change at Wal-Mart or Best Buy these days (here's one on Walmart.com for $29.00)

Once you have your computer output in HDMI and your DVD output in HDMI, then all you need is an HDMI switch ($27.88 at Walmart).

The ouchie point in the budget will be the HDMI splitter. They're expensive because they don't just split a signal -- they have to digitally duplicate the digital content to all the ports. (Again, Walmart, $150.88)

Welcome to the delightful world of HDMI. (Look at my picture. HDMI did that to me.)

[vwarren]

Thank you for the quick responses they've really helped me out quite a bit. And I'm sure in a few days I'll have an avatar like yours ;P. I found a HDMI splitter at frys.com it's an Aluratek that's a four port and its significantly cheaper ($49.99), I'm wondering if that'll work the same as the one you've suggested.

[[Admin] osborn4]

This one?

It's hard to tell w/o any write up. But I'm not sure what a splitter would need with a remote. I'm guessing it's actually a HDMI switch instead.

[petereit]

That's actually a switcher, not a splitter (a splitter wouldn't need a remote). I think you'd be better off with the Walmart switcher for $27.88. Easier to take back and exchange if you get a bum unit.

[Brad Weber]

You may believe it is a simple setup but it may be more complex than you might think because you are apparently dealing with different signal formats. As Mark noted, the options are essentially to deal with distributing each signal format separately or to try to get everything into one common format before distributing it. Since you are only concerned with getting the same source to all display devices and the first option would require switching each display device if you switch between sources, the second option may make the most sense for you.

I would typically approach a situation like this by first looking at what formats are available. What outputs do the DVD and computer offer? And what inputs do the projector and LCD monitors support? At this point you are looking at whether there are composite video, S-Video, component video, VGA (HD15), RGBHV, HDMI, DVI (-A, -D or -I) outputs on the sources and inputs on the projector and LCD displays. The goal is to find the connectivity common to all destinations and the connectivity available for all sources. If there is one format or connectivity common to all devices, or one that can be addressed via simple physical adapters, then things are much simpler. If there is not, then you may have to look at scalers, transcoders or converters somewhere in the system in order to get a signal that can be communicated between all devices.

Another factor to consider is the cable distances and paths involved. What are the approximate cable lengths required to run from where the sources are to the projector and LCD displays? This is the actual cable lengths required and not just the point-to-point distance . And would these cables run through a ceiling area that might be a plenum area? This can make a big difference, I am currently working on a smaller project where it's under 20' from some inputs at a table to a projector and flat panel display in the same room, however because of the routing required to get between the table and the display devices along with the cables passing through a plenum ceiling area, we are looking at needing 75' long, plenum rated cables, which is in turn affecting what we may do.

So I think some additional information regarding the source and display connectivity and the cable paths is required before making any specific recommendations.