Roku setup

[Fred024]

I have a large long room with a large TV at one end and a small TV at the other.  This is a kitchen/dining room situation.  Only the large TV will have audio on.  Is it OK to use a HDMI splitter to split the ROKU out to both TVs?

[AvsGunnar · Accepted solution]

@Fred024 

Yes, you can certainly use a HDMI splitter to split the signal. (both TVS will be showing the same content).  

To watch different streaming content on both TVs at the same time, you will need two Roku streaming devices.

If you only need one TV at a time, you could also just remove the Roku device from the first TV and move it to the second TV.

[Fred024]

Thank you!  I was unsure if there would be any issues with device handshake or signal strength.

[atc98092]

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@Fred024 wrote:

Thank you!  I was unsure if there would be any issues with device handshake or signal strength.

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There are distance limitations for HDMI cables. Industry standards list 50' as the limit for a standard HDMI cable, assuming of course it's a quality cable. There is also an alternate method of sending the HDMI signal long distances, and that's using Ethernet cabling. Using Cat6/5e cables, the allowable distance increases to 100 meters/328'. But that adds the cost of the Ethernet adapters (one for each end, $40-50 a pair) to the total. It's also possible to send HDMI wirelessly, but that too comes with additional hardware (and cost, easily over $100) plus potentially introducing some lag between the two displays. 

[makaiguy]

How important is it to you that the two sets are perfectly synced?  With a splitter I'd assume both receive the signal at the same time (or so close as it makes no discernible difference) but the processing time for the two sets may be different, causing one set to lag the other slightly.

[Fred024]

Thanks, yes I will be under 40’.  I will get some good cables.  I have used that Ethernet technique for a home security cam monitor that was 70’ away from the NVR.       

[Fred024]

Thanks, only the large TV (yet to be purchased) would have audio on via a sound bar HT system.  So, an approximate sync is kind of important or the small TV would be irritating.  Today, I only have the small TV on the kitchen counter, but it does not have audio out and the speaker sounds like a fast-food drive through.  Will be interesting to see if processing time is a factor. 

[atc98092]

I don't think 40' will introduce any noticeable lag, so you should be fine.