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Post by Admin on Jul 14, 2016 15:17:14 GMT
The splitter shipping with DreamScreen has one input and two outputs - one for splitter and another for the DreamScreen Stick. There are many ways of connecting multiple sources to DreamScreen, such as: - A splitter like amzn.to/1nwvGx2 or amzn.to/1U6MJAf can be used to consolidate multiple HDMI inputs to one output and then connect to splitter. The ones listed here have been tested with DreamScreen and they are CEC compatible.
- Alternately, an HDMI matrix such as amzn.to/1OEbS1s can be used to bring in multiple inputs and provide a direct output to TV and one to DreamScreen stick. In such a setup, the provided splitter is not used.
- A receiver with multiple inputs such as amzn.com/B00V5VJ3TM can be used to consolidate multiple HDMI inputs to one output and then to splitter.
- A receiver with multiple inputs and multiple outputs can allow for use without splitter.
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Post by freddy on Jul 17, 2016 18:05:41 GMT
You forgot: 5. A scaler/splitter, such as goo.gl/LXwAJM and goo.gl/WuLi9A. These also have 1 input and 2 outputs, but they have a considerable advantage in comparison to the standard splitters: 1 output can be scaled down (the one going to the DreamScreen), while the other is a 'bypass', meaning it can send a signal (to the TV) that has the original quality... this would allow you to use the DreamScreen with a 4K2K signal (the signal going to the DreamScreen would be downscaled to 1080p, but the signal going to the TV would still be 4K2K). But whether or not these scalers actually work with the DreamScreen, is not known yet. The team has one of these devices in test, and will hopefully have test results available soon... |
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Post by lab714 on Jul 18, 2016 14:10:22 GMT
Freddy, Everyone,
We tested the Coboc USB 2.0 HDMI Scaler Splitter for 4K operation. The setup was as follows:
HDMI Source: Roku Set to 4K output connected on input
4K TV: Panasonic TC55CX420U connected to HDMI 1
1080P TV: LG 32LB5600 connected to HDMI 2
Splitter set to Scaler Mode.
In this setup, the 4K television was delivered correctly at 4K TV. However the 1080P television said Invalid Format.
DreamScreen was connected to the HDMI 2 port and the Video Mode DID NOT WORK.
The same test was repeated with Splitter set to ByPass Mode and this had same results.
We have not evaluated what the format is. We are able to run some debug diagnostics on the format and see if it is something that DreamScreen can support via firmware upgrade.
Regards
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Post by freddy on Jul 18, 2016 15:21:32 GMT
Thanks a lot for these tests! Do note that according to its specs, the Coboc is only able to handle input signals upto 4K2K @30hz... so it cannot handle full 4K @60hz. So if the Roku was sending a full 4K signal, then that may well be the reason why the downscaling failed.
Then again, I wasn't really expecting that Coboc to work perfectly. It would be great if it did, but I was surprised by the large difference in prices... that Coboc is available on Newegg for as little as $30, the CYP SY-4KS (which claims to have fairly similar specs) is for sale on Amazon (UK) for £184 (~$244), and the Avenview SC-HDM-HD42K is for sale on Amazon (.com) for $292.
And none of them support full 4K yet... the input signal on all of them is still limited to 4K2K (most @30hz, some allow 60Hz).
Full 4K60 scalers are slowly surfacing, but right now those are still even more expensive...
Another test I am curious about, though, is if Coboc would allow the DS to work with 3D... do you have any test setups that would allow you to try that?
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Post by Tyler on Aug 10, 2016 2:24:37 GMT
I would like to know as well, if I want to watch a 3D movie, I have to unplug the dream screen dongle from the splitter...essentially turning the lights into an ambient mode.
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Post by freddy on Aug 10, 2016 5:37:35 GMT
I would like to know as well, if I want to watch a 3D movie, I have to unplug the dream screen dongle from the splitter...essentially turning the lights into an ambient mode. From the Kickstarter comments section: |
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Post by Tyler on Aug 10, 2016 9:55:26 GMT
When a firmware update occurs...how am I going to update my stick?
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Post by freddy on Aug 10, 2016 10:48:19 GMT
They have not explained that yet, but I assume it will utilize the Bluetooth connection of the DreamScreen app on your phone...
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Post by Conrad on Aug 22, 2016 13:03:16 GMT
So I've been at this all night long.. So I curently have a Sony Bravia XBR latest generation, a PS4, Apple TV all hooked up to my very expensive Onkyo reciever Via HDMI and a singer HDMI running from my reciever to my TV.. how is the best and easiest way to utilize this format.. I tried taking the one HDMI from the reciever and plugging it into the splitter then taking an extra HDMI from the splitter to the TV but all I get is sound.. this is exhausting
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Post by freddy on Aug 22, 2016 15:21:06 GMT
Conrad, there's 2 possible causes that I can think of:
1. The resolution that your receiver is outputting, may be incompatible with the range of resolutions that the splitter can handle (for example, the splitter cannot handle 4K resolutions... if you send those, the screen will go black)
2. One of the HDMI cables that you are using, may be incompatible with your setup. Do you have any spare HDMI cables that you could use for testing? (or you could buy a couple of cheap ones... they don't have to be expensive, any HDMI cable marked as being 'High Speed' will do (though, when you buy replacement HDMI cables, it may be wise to look for brands that are different from the cables you have right now...).
Especially the HDMI cables are a frequent cause of this kind of issues...
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Post by conrad on Aug 22, 2016 21:02:45 GMT
Which HDMI cables should I be looking for? The cables I curently have are a few years old. But I will check.. The resolution of the reciever is 1080p I think but I will check.. I know a few of my hdmi Ports on my tv are the new 4K Ports I will also play with those as well.. I also did unplug the set up, ran just the ps4 hdmi to the splitter and a HDMI to the splitter into the tv and that worked but my ps4 lost its ability to pass sound in high definition.. Also my tv has a ARC set up where u can control all devices from the tv and it started acting funny and switching from my PS4 to other HDMI sources when I used my game remote... In theroy if my HDMI cables are good and my reciever is passing the resolution at 1080p I should be able to keep my Intial hookup and plug all devices into the HDMI input on my reciever take the HDMI output cable, plug that into my dream screen splitter and plug the splitter using a HDMI into the tv right?
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Post by conrad on Aug 22, 2016 23:55:14 GMT
Would I stick the splitter in between the hdmi out cable and the tv or the ps4 and the HDMI input on the receiver.. All my devices are hooked into the receiver with a single hdmi from the receiver hdmi out into my tv
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Post by freddy on Aug 23, 2016 6:33:05 GMT
You should be able to put the splitter (with the DS) between the HDMI-out cable of your receiver, and the HDMI-in cable of your TV.
And those are the two cables that you should check first and foremost. If you only have sound without video on your TV (or only video without sound), then try replacing these two cables. In my case (and a couple of other cases I've read about), this solved the problem.
When you talk about control of devices, I assume you mean CEC, not ARC (ARC=Audio Return Channel, which can send audio from your TV back to your receiver through the HDMI cable). The splitter supplied with DS does not support ARC, apparently it does support CEC, but only on 1 port (see the installation image; make sure your connection to the TV is set up exactly as on that image).
I hope this helps.
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Post by conrad on Aug 23, 2016 7:06:47 GMT
So I have a pretty solid fix... I just unplugged everything checked all cables and ran all components to the reciever and routed the HDMI out to the included HDMI splitter.. Not sure what I was doing wrong but everything works minus the music mode unless I turn off the reciever and use the tv's internal speakers.. The only other foul ball is that when not using any devices and only using either the smart apps on the tv or available tv channels on the television the reciever doesn't recognize any sound because of no HDMI cable being routed to the reciever.. I will fix this by either installing an optical cable straight from the tv to the reciever or try and see if I adding another HDMI straight from the tv to the reciever will work.. Can't really change the music mode issue unless I can figure out if I can send sound through both the splitter and reciever speakers but I haven't looked into reciever settings.. All in all besides that issue, everything else works great.. I am able to use video mode on all devices by utilizing the one HDMI out straight from my reciever to the splitter.. Thanks for the help
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Post by freddy on Aug 23, 2016 7:28:53 GMT
Glad to hear it's working now.
Yeah, as I said, this splitter doesn't support ARC, so no audio going through HDMI from the TV to the receiver... an optical cable to the receiver is indeed the easiest solution.
As for the music mode... yes, some receivers have an audio out setting that you can set to "TV+Speakers" (or something similar). If you have that setting, then that may help. Other than that, I can't really help you with the music mode... in my setup, my receiver appears to send a HDMI signal to the splitter only when the TV is on, so music mode only works when watching a music channel on TV, not when I (for example) play a CD.
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