RTcom Intros Expandable HDMI Switching Matrix

Many installers have not made the switch to HDMI distribution throughout a house, choosing to stick with component distribution, because there have been few HDMI devices available that allow that kind of matrix distribution.

A new Korean company, RTcom USA, is now shipping a Digital Extender 6x6 HDMI switching matrix, the HS-66M HDMI Matrix Router, that is HDMI 1.3, HDCP compliant and supports resolutions up to 1080p.

The company says that it will soon have an 8x8 model and, for those with extreme resolution needs, will also offer a 6x6 DVI matrix switcher that supports up to 2650 x 1920p resolution.

All of the units are controllable via RS-232 serial or serial over IP, and RTcom says it has paid special attention to maintain the integrity of the DDC signal path to ensure proper handshaking of devices with all its switchers.

For larger installations, the switchers have expansion ports that allow for chaining multiple units together. Head-end-to-room distribution will also be possible via dual Cat 5 or 6 runs with transceivers on each end that will be priced at 30 percent less than current HDMI extension systems.

With the hurdle of switching and distributing HDMI via a house perhaps overcome, integrators now have one less reason not to go digital with HDMI.