4x2 HDMI Matrix Switch (4 HDMI in 2 HDMI out) 3D Compatible with Remote Control

I purchased this product to share a DirecTV cable box, an IPTV box (Katrina TV) that we have to pick up Russian programming, and an Apple TV between a 65" TV located in our family room, and a 46" SkyVue outdoor TV located on our covered 'outdoor entertainment area'.It works well.This product is sold by a number of different sellers on Amazon (I have counted at least three), and it is hard to know they are all the same thing. The reviews are all separate for each seller even though it is the exact same product. When looking at 4x2 HDMI Matrix Switches, you have to look at the pictures carefully to understand this. I simply chose the seller with the best price, which was this seller.On another listing on Amazon for this product, a reviewer mentioned that when switching video sources, it takes a few seconds, and thought this is a defect. However, the fact that it takes a few seconds to switch is not a defect.This box uses the Explore Microelectronics EP9432 chip which is a single chip with all six (4 in and 2 out) HDMI ports on a single Repeater/Matrix chip. This chip must re-sync the HDCP, which takes a few seconds, each time the video source is switched.(Explore makes another chip, the EP9442, which supports Instant Port Switching because it has, on-chip, 4 HDCP RX ciphers.)In my case, this slight delay in switching, just a few seconds, is not a problem because we do not often need to switch our video sources.The box is in a very solid metal case. It does not feel cheap. All the connectors, power and HDMI are on the rear of the box so wires are not running out of the side or front. I just have it sitting on top of my DirecTV box.One thing: the remote does not come with a battery. I think that is strange. I have not used the remote because we do not switch our sources very often. I use this basically to feed two TVs. Usually the Family room TV is on the IPTV box, and the outdoor TV is on the DirecTV box. Sometimes both TVs are on the same box, etc. I just use the front panel buttons when I need to switch a source, so not a problem for me, but it might be for someone who does a lot of switching, is disabled and cannot walk, etc.Very pleased with this product. If I have any problems down the road, I will update this review.Update (later the same day):I needed to go by CVS on an errand, and bought a #2025 battery. A two pack cost $7.79. This fits the remote, and now the remote is working perfectly. Why they do not include a battery is mystifying....I guess ever dollar they can save makes a difference, but I still think it strange. But, I am still very happy with this HDMI switch, and even without the remote control battery would still recommend it.

UPDATE:Below this update is my preliminary review, which is mostly negative. Ends up the culprit is not this switcher, but Windows Media Center. WMC likes to have your HDMI source active when you start the program. WMC will also not run the signal to two devices, like a flat screen and projector at the same time. So what I do is close WMC whenever I want to switch from my flat screen to my projector. Turn off the flatscreen and start the projector. In fact closing WMC (it will still record in the background) before turning off your TV is the way to go. If WMC is running, it is hard to get the flatscreen initialized after sleep mode, so now I close the program when I am done watching TV at the end of the night. It still records in the background. So I have learned to like this device. Fairly cheap way to get your video sources to either of two outputs.Original review: After all the mostly glowing reviews of this unit, I am totally disappointed in the switching glitches with Windows Media Center and my two computers. I have a Silicone Dust HD Prime with a cable card which is rock solid. If I route my WMC computers through this switch, and WMC is active playing TV or recorded TV, the screen goes black for a few seconds, which is OK, I expected it, but when the TV picture reappears, the resolution of the video has completely switched to 480P, or sometimes something even stranger. The only way to get it working correctly again is to close WMC and restart it. Then it will work. Or before I even touch the switches, remember no matter what you are switching for whatever source, you get the few seconds pause on any active output, you have to stop WMC and close the program before touching the switcher. Once it re-syncs, you can start WMC up and continue watching TV.

The switch advertises that it is HDMI v1.4a compliant which includes 3D video and it works as advertised to switch multiple HDMI sources between two playback devices which makes it OK, more like 2 1/2 stars. If it worked well with 3D signal and didn't have to be reset to pass 2D signal from time to time , I would have rated it higher. It was easy and simple to integrate into my A-V system and worked for about a week or so though I couldn't immediately test the 3D pass through till I received the 50 foot HDMI cable I needed for my Panasonic projector. Though 2D video sources (e.g. cable box, 2D Blu-ray discs, DVDs) play well through the switch, there is an issue with the switch sending 3D video signal to my projector and TV, it does not work with 3D playback. If I pull the projector cable from the switch and plug it in directly to my Blu-ray player, my projector plays the 3D video flawlessly. When I plug the cable back into the switch, the projector does not receive the 3D video signal though there may be occasional sporadic flashes of video (~1 second in length every few minutes or so) and there are longer flashes (1-3 seconds) of 2D video like menus and previews from the 3D disc. When I send 3D video to my TV, 3D signal does not pass through the switch but sometimes when I change to a different 3D disc I get a screen telling me that a 3D Blu-ray player has not been detected but in each case when I bypass the switch and make a direct connection, 3D playback is restored. I could not find contact information for PVCS tech support.