We have repeatedly discussed HDMI signals and how a series of accessories allow audio and video signals to be distributed to multiple displays within the same environment. But how is distribution managed in practice? You need to keep a few steps in mind and work with an eye not only on current needs, but also on future ones, given that technology is constantly evolving.

What is definitely needed is a splitter or a switch, which, depending on the case (domestic or commercial destination), manages the incoming HDMI signal and directs it to one or more monitors, or allows multiple signals to reach a single display.

In the first case, an example is a decoder that needs to interface with multiple monitors in the house. In the second case, it could be a video surveillance system that needs to send the signal from multiple cameras to a single monitor.

Therefore, you need to purchase splitters that have the right number of outputs to manage the number of displays or sources in the environment where the installation needs to be done. The models available on the market have 2, 4, or 8 outputs, and the difference, in addition to the number of outputs, also lies in their ability to manage a greater number of displays without the audio and video signal degrading. Splitters, in fact, are able to output the signal and direct it towards the destination device without the audio and video quality dropping.

Modern splitters also work on signal quality, adapting it to the destination display by implementing downscaling, a technology that transforms the signal in such a way that it can also be distributed to a monitor that is not the latest generation (from 4k to 1080p).

Regarding switches, these route multiple input signals to a single output, thanks to a selector that can be manual or automatic. In this case too, to manage multiple signals, they are equipped with multiple inputs (from 2 to 16) and incoming signals are managed thanks to a remote control or, depending on the model, some buttons on the switch itself.

In both the case of splitters and switches, one thing needs to be taken into account: the distance the signal has to travel through a cable. The greater the distance, the more difficult it becomes to transmit a quality signal, which is why choosing the right cable also becomes fundamental.