Ok. I’m working on a probably the most interesting setup I’ve done since starting in the A/V industry. We have a customer who has a 65” Pioneer Elite Plasma. He also has a Sony Projector in the same room as the plasma with a drop down screen that covers the plasma. We installed an Anthem D2V rcvr because of the dual display over HDMI capabilities and because of the upscaling capabilities. We’ve gone through 3 different Anthem D2Vs and even installed a new video board in the most recent Anthem and have done all the most recent firmware updates.

Hook up to displays:
Pioneer Elite (HDMI)
Sony Projector (HDMI using Key Digital Balans over Cat5)

Sources:
2 Comcast cable boxes (Component)
Oppo Bluray (HDMI)
PS3 (HDMI)
XBOX 360 (HDMI)

The problem we are having is that every source works fine on the Projector but when we switch to the Plasma we get everything until the Projector turns off and then we don’t get the PS3 on the plasma. If you unplug the Projector HDMI from the Anthem the PS3 starts working on the Plasma so we figure it’s a HDMI handshake issue.

We just recently installed a Gefen HDMI 1-in 2-out splitter. Everything works fine on both sources including the PS3 on the plasma even when the Projector is off. So we shut down the system and did some other work in the house and then left. about 30 min later the customer calls us saying he’s how not getting anything on either display. We go back, turn on the system, no video. my partner unplugs the Gefen and then plugs it back in and once again everything works. So now we have to go back and install a switched outlet so the Gefen is only on when the system turns on and hope fully that works.

Questions I have is has anyone had anything like this happen to them? Does anyone have any suggestions for other solutions if the Gefen doesn’t work (this job is turning into a losing battle cause we keep having to go back)?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post just wanted to get as much info out there as I could to get everyone who reads this on the same page.

I’m a dealer for each brand you mentioned. I believe the Anthem is one of the finest A/V processors available, but it can be quirky. I too have gone through a couple including all software/firmware upgrades on the same job because I couldn’t figure out why it would work perfectly while I was there, and once the system was turned off for more than 15 minutes, it would fail again. Once everything was rebooted… magic!

I know this is the obvious, and it may sound stupid, but I solved my problem by installing an APC UPS. I typically use UPS devices on all systems, but the client, (even though he spent over $70K), didn’t want to spend the extra $700.00 on the UPS. After constant rebooting, the client finally caved in and spent the extra 1% in system cost. This happened back in January of this year and I haven’t heard peep of out of him since.

Again, I know this is an obvious solution and I must say that Anthem’s tech support in the field was great. It just turned out in my case that the client would not originally splurge for any power conditioners, surge protectors, or UPS devices even though we told him they were essential for his system from day one. Unfortunately, he was already “pre-conditioned” to the fact that most dealers sell these products to make extra profit on a job similar to selling extended warranties.

All I can say is that he’s happy, and the system now works flawlessly. BTW: I also run into the same problems when I’m using any B&K;processors.

Did you choose the UPS inorder to back equipment up? Was there any specific reason you choose to use a UPS ass opposed to a regular surge suppressor or power conditioner?

I agree that Anthem’s tech support has been very helpful but with all their help and suggestions we still had the same problems

Also: we even tried a different projector with the same problem as was suggested by Anthem. They said they had the same set up as we did but with a Sim2 projector instead of Sony and they said they had no problems.

Thank you for your reply. Crossing our fingers this Gefen keeps working as everything has been working fine since Friday.

The saying goes, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.” 

However, I chose to use the UPS because it had a surge protector and line conditioner built in. Normally, I like to keep these components separate… Furman line conditioners, Surgex or Panamax surge protectors, and APC UPS’s.  More importantly, the client’s home is in a remote, (extremely rural), area. While we were in the home, we noticed many brown outs over 8 hours time due to JCP&L;installing underground cables to feed other new homes that were about to be built on the same block. Apparently, the brown outs, (as short as they were),  were enough to lock up the micro processors in the components, (including satellite boxes). Thus, the UPS did it’s job.

I hope this helps and your system continues to operate.

you can try using this gefen piece. EXT-HDMI-EDIDP. it is about a 130 bucks retail. it stores the EDID information so the handshake is never lost when switching between devices.

thanks for the suggestion. if the gefen we are using right now craps out i’ll suggest that piece. thanks all for the help

I had a similar problem with a Denon receiver and Infocus projector.
I solved it by turning off the video source before turning off/switching the display device.
The order of shut down and power up affects the HDMI handshake.

In your case when switching to the plasma display from projector, try your macros like this.
shut down your video source then Anthen receiver 1st and 2nd
shut down the projector 3rd
power up the video source, anthem receiver then lastly the plasma.

This way a new EDID will be sent to the video source when switching displays. It sounds like your projector and plasma have different display capabilities and the EDID
is getting confused/locked down.

I have also used the Gefen devices with the internal EDID with success.

Good luck!

Crossing our fingers this Gefen keeps working as everything has been working fine since Friday.