Comparing an HDMI cable splitter to an HDMI switch is not about deciding which is better. It's about determining which will help you accomplish your goal.
An HDMI cable splitter can split one HDMI signal input into multiple signal outputs. In other words, the cable splitter will mirror an HDMI signal across more than one display. Every connected display will show the same image at all times. They also receive identical audio if the splitter is capable of handling audio.
An HDMI switch switches between multiple HDMI signal inputs, but it outputs just one HDMI signal. This technology lets you switch between devices connected to one display. Most HDMI switches have a physical button you must use to switch between HDMI inputs. Most switches also pass through any audio carried by HDMI inputs.
Can mirror an HDMI signal on multiple devices at once
May require external power
Usually affordable (under $20)
Can switch between HDMI signals, but only displays one at a time
May require external power
Pricing depends on number of inputs supported
Active HDMI splitters are often used when you have long cables or are outputting the signal to multiple devices. As a consequence of the extra power, active HDMI splitters are better at sending signals a longer distance in comparison to a passive HDMI splitter which is better for shorter distances. Active splitters tend to cost a bit more on Amazon as well.
Adding more power to the HDMI signal typically means using a power outlet. You’ll use a transistor to pass the original signal to the connected device. As it was noted above already, this will increase the power and can also reduce interference. Active HDMI splitters are better for not only longer cables but for sending the signal across multiple devices.
There are a few downsides to using HDMI splitters. For instance, you are weakening the signal when it’s split, and this can lead to lower quality audio and visual. It also can’t be done more than twice unless you use an active HDMI splitter. Contrast this to an active HDMI splitter which will reduce the risk for signal interference, even from radio frequencies.
When there’s a problem with radio interference the audio will sound choppy and you’ll see green and red dots on the screen. If the issue is persistent, even if you’re using an active HDMI splitter with a short cable, you’ll need to switch to an HDMI shielded cable to deflect the radio waves. HDMI shielded cables are more expensive but usually come with either a carbon allotrope or metal alloy.
When you want to plug multiple devices into the single HDMI port on the TV, you will quickly learn that you need additional inputs, and this is what makes HDMI switches so useful. An HDMI switch is a simple device that allows multiple devices to receive the signal from the TV’s one input and then send those signals out to different channels.
While there are several types of HDMI switches, the only difference is the number of devices that can be connected. The most popular ones can switch between three devices. Thankfully, setting up an HDMI switch isn’t difficult.
The switch must be able to plug into the power outlet and the TV’s HDMI port, moreover, it also has to be in reach of your devices. After you plug the switch into an electrical outlet, connect your devices’ HDMI cables to the ports on the switch. If your switch has pre-labeled ports for DVD players, gaming consoles, etc, you want to connect those devices to the corresponding inputs.
Finally, connect the HDMI cable from the switch to the corresponding one on the TV. You’ll need to set up the devices so that the channel each one is connected to corresponds to the proper port on the switch. Once this has been completed, you should have clear audio and video and the process is finished.
Virtual reality is an amazing new medium with heaps of potential for gaming, education, meditation, and communication. But while the technology develops we are restricted by certain elements of it. The length of the wires being a major one. Wireless options are available, but they're not cheap. Extending the cables, however, is relatively affordable, and an effective way to give you much more room to move while the headset is on, or extend its range from the PC it's attached to.
So, whether you’re looking for an Oculus Rift extension cable or you have an HTC Vive, or something else entirely, here's what VR extension cables you’ll need to have a flexible and enjoyable setup.
Here is a chart for quick reference: Most headsets will be perfectly paired with an active USB 3.0 Extension cable. An active DisplayPort extension cable is likely to work too if you own one of the 5 headsets utilizing DisplayPort.
Designed for Oculus Quest 2 and any devices which are suitable for the connection of other USB interface devices, TOTU VR cable's length is up to 16FT(5M) which allows you to play games freely and flexibly in a larger range of movement to get a better VR gaming experience.
Its 90-Degree Right-Angle Design makes the connection between the cable for Oculus link and Oculus Quest tighter and more stable. It also allows you to charge while playing.
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Mirror Display Settings:
Apple lcon > System Preferences > Displays
Right click on the monitor icon and select the “Mirror for Built-in Retina Display”.
Extend Display Settings:
Apple lcon > System Preferences > Displays
Right click on the monitor icon and select the “Stop Mirroring”.
Main Display Settings:
Apple lcon > System Preferences > Displays
Right click on the monitor icon and select the “Main Display”.
Resolution & Refresh Rate Settings:
Apple lcon > System Preferences > Displays > Display Settings
Check the right resolution under the “Scaled” menu.
Check the right Refresh Rate under the “Refresh Rate” menu.
Right click desktop >Graphics Settings >Display >Clone Display
Windows None-Mirror Mode:
Right click desktop >Graphics Settings >Display >Extended Desktop
Resolution Settings:
Right click Desktop > Display Setting
Check the right resolution under the “Resolution” menu.
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A: To confirm compatibility, please check whether the port you plugged into supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. If not, there is no video signal output from the port of your computer that you plug USB C hubs/docking stations into. So all hubs couldn't help. Often, many confuse USB C ports as Thunderbolt 3 ports since they are the same shape and size. You can check this by looking up your computer's specification online, or by contacting you computer manufacturer's customer support. It also is incompatible with the USB-A to USB-C adapter.
Q: My computer supports Thunderbolt 3, and the port I'm plugged into supports Thunderbolt 3, but there is still no video output.
A: 1. In order to confirm whether the product is working, first test your computer port by plugging in a USB device, such as a mouse or keyboard. If this is confirmed working, plug these USB devices into the product, and plug this product to your computer. If there any issues, please contact our after sale service support@mytotu.com to replace the wire.
Q: Some flickering pixels might occur on screen, or the display has occasional flashes
A: 1. Please troubleshoot the HDMI/DP cable. For example, check if the cable is loosely connected. Or try another new HDMI/DP cable to see if problems are solved or not .
2.Please troubleshoot the USB-C cable. For example, rotate the USB-C cable 180 degree plug into your laptop.
Q: It couldn’t charge my computer
A: 1. Please plug your computer charger directly to the port that you connect the docking station to your computer to ensure whether your computer is compatible to charge.
Q: Couldn’t connect the internet
A: 1. Please make sure you have a functional ethernet cable to use with the product. You can ensure if a connection is detected through the wire by observing the flashing light indicators on the ethernet jack of both the router and the product. If the yellow light flashing anomalously, the
port of our product would be defective, please email our after-sale service support@mytotu.com to get a replacement.
Q: My USB devices are detecting, but it's showing an error on the screen that it's not recognized.
A: 1. Connect the PD first, then connect all other devices, and finally reset the SMC (System Management Controller).
2.Please unplug and re-plug.
Q: My mouse and keyboard appear to be stuck.
A: This is a common problem of the USB 3.0 ports of all the hubs in the market. According to the Intel White paper, the radio frequency interference to wireless devices are operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band as a result of certain USB 3.0* devices and cables.
Here is the link for reference:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/universal-serial-bus/usb3-frequency-interference-paper.html
There are four ways to help you reduce the USB 3.0 radio frequency interference to the wireless connection of some laptops:
Option 1: Use Bluetooth or wired mouse/keyboard.
Option 2: Connect the laptop to a 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi network.
Option 3: Use high-quality shielded USB 3.0 devices/cables/connectors.
Option 4:Connect devices(e.g.wired mouse and keyboard) to USB 2.0
ports on the HUB.We kindly suggest do not use USB flash drives next to
the mouse receiver.
Q: If you are seeing a display, but your USB ports are not working
A: 1. Re-installation of your USB drivers
Q: My computer audio is not working after I connected the product.
A: There could be a chance that your computer has defaulted to the audio jack on your product. Simply switch the default speaker back to your desired speaker output(i.e. your laptop speakers)to resolve the issue.
Q: There's a lot of interference and static when using the audio from the product.
A: 1. Please double check to see if your audio cable is firmly secured onto the product. Also, try to use different audio cables to ensure your cable is working properly.
Q: How to drag the files from one screen to other screen on MST mode? (Windows)
A: Multiple Display> Select Display Mode>Extended Desktop>Identify and rearrange the order of you connected screen>drag the files left to right/right to left out of the screen. (Left to right OR right to left is determined by how you permutate the screens.)
Q: How to set the resolution of each connected monitor?
A: Intel Graphics Setting>Display>General Settings>Select the monitors>Select the Resolution
Note: You can set different resolution of different monitors, but the final resolution displaying depends on your laptops and monitors.
Please maintain display scaling.
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Fundamentally, Thunderbolt is a tunneling architecture designed to take a few underlying protocols, and combine them onto a single interface, so that the total speed and performance of the link can be shared between the underlying usages of these protocols – whether they are data, display, or something else.
At the physical interface level, Intel’s Thunderbolt builds in a few important features:
Different Connection Modes
With Thunderbolt having dynamic detection of the capabilities of the cables and devices that are plugged in, there are several modes that can be detected and activated, in a way generally transparent to the consumer.
USB Only Mode
If a USB device is plugged in, a USB host controller inside the Thunderbolt enabled system is activated, and the Thunderbolt 3 silicon PHY drives USB (2.0, 3.0, or 3.1) signals to the USB-C port. In this mode, a Thunderbolt 3 port behaves exactly like a typical USB-C 3.1 enabled connector.
DisplayPort Only Mode
If a DisplayPort display or adapter is plugged in, the Thunderbolt enabled system will detect this, and switch the pins driving the USB-C connector to the DisplayPort alternate mode. Thunderbolt silicon will then act as a router to send raw DisplayPort traffic from the graphics engine within the system out over the USB-C connector pins and pass that DisplayPort link directly to the display or adapter.
In this mode, a Thunderbolt enabled USB-C port will support a single four lane (4 x 5.4 Gbps, or HBR2) link of DisplayPort. These four links run across the two pairs of high speed wires in the USB-C connector and cable. This kind of DisplayPort link can support a single, uncompressed display, at 4K resolution at 60 Hz.
DisplayPort and USB Mulit-Function Mode
In this alternate mode of operation, one of the high speed connector pin pairs of signals will be dedicated to DisplayPort (now 2 lanes at 5.4 Gbps) and one to USB 3.1 This allows for a basic connectivity for data and display devices such as docking stations or data and display dongles. With two lanes of DisplayPort 1.2a, resolutions Quad HD (QHD) can be achieved, or 2560 x1600 at 60 Hz
Thunderbolt 3 Mode
If a cable and device supporting Thunderbolt are plugged in, the Thunderbolt silicon activates its highest capability mode and configures four high-speed links at either 10 Gbps or 20 Gbps (depending on cable and device support) to support the Thunderbolt transport. This provides bidirectional data rates of 20 or 40 Gbps.
Additionally, to fill this Thunderbolt link, the silicon extracts and routes up to 4 lanes of PCI Express Gen 3 (4 x 8 Gbps) and up to two full (4 lane) links of DisplayPort out over the Thunderbolt cable and connector to the device(s) attached downstream from the host system.
The first device in the Thunderbolt link has a few options of how it can use this underlying PCI Express and DisplayPort traffic:
If the Thunderbolt device has two Thunderbolt ports, the dynamic mode configuration described above will be configured on the downstream or second port of the device when another cable and device are plugged in to it. Each mode will still be supported on this downstream connector, and data and display traffic will be provided as demanded to that downstream port.
If each consecutive device is a Thunderbolt device, up to 6 devices in a chain can be supported. At any time if a USB or DisplayPort device is plugged directly into the USB-C connector downstream from any device, then the Thunderbolt daisy chain is terminated at that point.
Thunderbolt Networking Mode
An additional, powerful capability of Thunderbolt also allows the connection of two or more hosts directly (or on separate ends of a Thunderbolt chain) via Thunderbolt. In this case, Thunderbolt has software which creates an IP networking link between these systems.
This networking mode allows for the Thunderbolt interface to act as a virtual Ethernet adapter and transfer traffic over the PCI Express interface the Thunderbolt silicon has in each host system.
What is the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt?
USB Type-C, or USB-C, is a specification for connectors and cables. Some of the key features include:
Thunderbolt 3 defines a superset of capabilities that runs on USB-C connectors and cables. In brief, Thunderbolt 3 brings Thunderbolt to USB-C. Here are the superset of features that Thunderbolt 3 provides:
Intel believes Thunderbolt can be the only external connector you need for your PC. Power? Data? Display? External graphics? All of the above simultaneously, with the most bandwidth, through a dynamically allocated link? Yes…
The Vision of Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt is the single connector that can deliver on all your connectivity needs, from the mundane to the complex. Connect to a dock and expand to your legacy peripherals, directly cable to a monitor or two, or connect to a single (or series of) high performance dedicated Thunderbolt devices. You can do all this through a single connector which can also charge your system at the same time.
Importantly, Thunderbolt 3 builds on the new USB-C reversible connector and integrates the latest USB 3.1 technology to deliver high performance and high compatibility to the existing standard.
One connector for everything; that is the Thunderbolt vision. A consumer doesn’t need to know anything other than if they plug their device into a Thunderbolt 3 port, everything will just work.
If you want get USB HUB TYPE C to connect all your devices to C port, get no.1 in C port hubs today.
]]>If you want to connect more varied devices with your MAC C port, buy one at our store https://iple.com.
]]>At the most basic level, Type-C simply refers to this particular USB plug, plus some cable wiring specifications. So Type-C only tells you what the line looks like, it doesn't describe any specific speed, capabilities, or supported data protocols. It is basically designed as a more modern, future-proof plug. Type-C plugs have more pins, so it can do more "things" and the plugs are symmetrical, so don't be afraid to insert them.
Let's take a look at the different possible speeds of the TYPE-C cable. Some people may already be familiar with USB 3.1 or "Super Speed" USB, which supports speeds up to 10Gb. Obviously, TYPE-C is not one of these things. Similarly, Type-C is just a connector, and USB 3.1 is a data transfer standard. Instead, Type-C cables can use one or more of these USB standards. This can be USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1 Gen1 or 3.1 Gen2. Depending on the USB speed grade it uses, it will have a different maximum speed. This means that even though Type-C is the latest new connector, it may be as fast as a normal usb2.0 cable, only 480Mbps. Of course, it may also support USB 3.1. So pay attention to the parameters when buying the line.
Look at the current and power. Some charging lines can reach 5 amps and 100 watts, which is much higher than the standard 3 amps and 60 watts. However, not all TYPE-C cables or devices can do this. Type-C also has some special features if the cable, charger and device support power. For example, to charge a device as large as a display, without plugging the wall to the wall, all data and power are transmitted through the TYPE-C cable.
In addition, power transmission is more than just sending power, it also conveys information about connected devices. Because if the cable or device does not support power, the power will only send 3A by default, but if it sees it supports power, it needs to know more information, such as how much power to use. In addition, the power supply can take advantage of TYPE-C's "dual role" capability, so a port can be used as a power input or output, and can even switch between modes. That's why in the latest Mac computers, cables can be charged by plugging them into the TYPE-C port, and all of these ports can also be used to power the device itself.
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