An Easy Way to Connect Devices, TV: Switch Lets You Feed Two HDMI Cables into a Single Jack

Feb. 2--As high-definition set-top boxes, video game consoles, DVD players and other video peripherals accumulate in your TV cabinet, it can be tough to find enough plugs on your television to connect all those device simultaneously.

That's especially true if those boxes all have high-end HDMI connections, since a lot of HD televisions only include one or two of those jacks.

There are several HDMI switches available.

The little boxes connect multiple HDMI devices into a single connection and then run a single cable to your television.

That lets you toggle between devices.

One such box is the UltraAV Series HDMI 2-to-1 Switch from Accell for $99.

This device is notable for its simplicity.

There are only two HDMI slots on it, but you don't have to plug in a separate power cord, a welcome relief in light of my cluttered power strips.

And the matchbox-size switch also comes with an optional remote control and a five-foot antenna cord.

You can hide the switch behind your cabinet or in a bookshelf and then snake the thin antenna underneath your DVD player or receiver, for example.

Then you use the remote to flip between the two HDMI devices.

The device supports connections up to the highest 1080p resolution and is HDCP compliant, meaning it can handle the cumbersome anti-piracy software that a lot of newer video devices use.

The only drawback is that the switch doesn't come with an HDMI cable, so you need to make sure you have an extra one to connect the box to your television.

Pros: Adding one more gadget to your cluttered TV setup may sound frustrating, but this little device is almost invisible when you use the antenna. Video and audio quality through the switch are flawless.

Cons: The switch has only two HDMI slots. More expensive switches often include more slots. No HDMI cable included.

Bottom line: If you need one more HDMI outlet to complete your home theater, this switch is the way to go.

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Copyright (c) 2007, The Dallas Morning News

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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