If you read the article about the Basic HDTV Cabling, you may have noticed that I was not part of the original question to answer is – to know “how do you multiple programs are consistent sources (cable boxes, DVD players, etc. ) to the same HDTV? “
Multiple sources, you need a way to switch between them. Fortunately, for most HDTV sets, there are multiple sources of input, and you can switch between them using their own TV remote.
Deciding what to plug in where
The hard part is often just decide which device to connect to any input. Returning again to the wiring article, you will notice that some choices of higher quality cabling results than others.
In general, you want to plug each device in the highest quality input that they will fully support.
For example, if you have an HDTV satellite receiver with component and digital output, and a progressive scan DVD with component output, you’ll ideally want the satellite to connect to an HDMI or DVI input, and a DVD component input.
If you do not have HDMI or DVI, then you want them to plug into each separate component inputs.
Now if for some reason not have at least two component inputs, then the choice gets a bit ugly – can be a component video external switch that lets you manually switch between each source or you can decide much loss in DVD image quality and plug it into an S-video input instead.
In general, each video input also have their own associated set of audio inputs – this is a typical analog stereo (two channels, usually red & white RCA jacks) for composite, S-Video and component, and analog stereo or digital audio coax (or optical) digital inputs (HDMI or DVI).
Some HDTVs have a digital audio input, shared between multiple digital video inputs. If that is the case, then there is usually a menu option on the TV to select which digital video input is connected to the digital audio.
Frankly, if you do, however, digital audio, it’s probably time to look into a surround sound system and audio jack in it instead of the TV. In some systems this can mean you end rumble between two remote controls for both video and audio switch (which is why learning remotes like the Logitech Harmony were invented), or in more advanced systems, everything will plug into a home theater receiver, which then connects to the TV, and provides the audio off the video. But that is another article.
But for the most part, most modern HDTVs and programming resources give you enough input and connection options That with a little planning, you can manage to hook any device up to the TV (at least stereo audio) and use of the TV remote to switch between them.
The hard part is often just decide which device to connect to any input. Returning again to the wiring article, you will notice that some choices of higher quality cabling results than others. In general, you want to plug each device in the highest quality input that they will fully support. For example, if you have an HDTV satellite receiver with component and digital output, and a progressive scan DVD with component output, you’ll ideally want the satellite to connect to an HDMI or DVI input, and a DVD component input. If you do not have HDMI or DVI, then you want them to plug into each separate component inputs. Now if for some reason not have at least two component inputs, then the choice gets a bit ugly – can be a component video external switch that lets you manually switch between each source or you can decide much loss in DVD image quality and plug it into an S-video input instead. In general, each video input also have their own associated set of audio inputs – this is a typical analog stereo (two channels, usually red & white RCA jacks) for composite, S-Video and component, and analog stereo or digital audio coax (or optical) digital inputs (HDMI or DVI). Some HDTVs have a digital audio input, shared between multiple digital video inputs. If that is the case, then there is usually a menu option on the TV to select which digital video input is connected to the digital audio. Frankly, if you do, however, digital audio, it’s probably time to look into a surround sound system and audio jack in it instead of the TV. In some systems this can mean you end rumble between two remote controls for both video and audio switch (which is why learning remotes like the Logitech Harmony were invented), or in more advanced systems, everything will plug into a home theater receiver, which then connects to the TV, and provides the audio off the video. But that is another article. But for the most part, most modern HDTVs and programming resources give you enough input and connection options That with a little planning, you can manage to hook any device up to the TV (at least stereo audio) and use of the TV remote to switch between them.
http://hdtvprize.com/article/hdtv-–-how-to-connect-multiple-devices/
