Connecting large screen to multiple computers

[zaq1234]

We are a small design firm and we are looking for a way to connect four pcs to a large tv/screen so that anyone on the team can throw up onto the monitor what is on their pc screen and let everyone see it. What device would I need?

 

[unksol]

an HDMI cable...

 

[zaq1234]

an HDMI cable...

That would not be a solution at all. That would allow me to connect the large screen as a second monitor to one of the computers. Even if the large (probably 60" screen ) has multiple hdmi inputs I would still need to switch the source everytime someone a different person wants to throw the contents of the pc screen onto the large screen.

 

[bjaminnyc]

Well you're going to have the switching device issue regardless of whatever solution you go with. An HDMI cable from every PC to a HDMI switch would be pretty easy and just set all of the PCs to mirror on their second screen.

I'm sure there are professional grade, and very expensive solutions that would allow you to split the screen 4ways with 4 inputs but I don't know how that would be superior to just switching the inputs.

Get an IR remote controlled switch. If you want everyone to be able to share on the big screen without getting up just buy 3 additional cheap leaning remotes so they can change the input.

 

[zaq1234]

Well you're going to have the switching device issue regardless of whatever solution you go with. An HDMI cable from every PC to a HDMI switch would be pretty easy and just set all of the PCs to mirror on their second screen.

I'm sure there are professional grade, and very expensive solutions that would allow you to split the screen 4ways with 4 inputs but I don't know how that would be superior to just switching the inputs.

Get an IR remote controlled switch. If you want everyone to be able to share on the big screen without getting up just buy 3 additional cheap leaning remotes so they can change the input.

 

[zaq1234]

That is the simple solution that I thought of. Anybody have any input on the more expensive solutions and what the devices are called ? This must be a fairly common issue that every team would use to facilitate collaboration.

 

[bjaminnyc]

A decent stereo receiver would do the trick also. Most of the manufactures make at least one model with dual HDMI outputs as well so you could have the PCs feed two large screens simultaneously while only needing one cable to the receiver. Same idea about the extra remotes would facilitate the switching.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3JX16U2728

 

[bjaminnyc]

Here's a pro solution. I was curious as well. $5k

http://www.avace.com/RGB-Spectrum-/RGB%20250-2/2.cfm?gclid=CP2P8qqLvbsCFYNxOgod0F8Alw

 

[zaq1234]

A decent stereo receiver would do the trick also. Most of the manufactures make at least one model with dual HDMI outputs as well so you could have the PCs feed two large screens simultaneously while only needing one cable to the receiver. Same idea about the extra remotes would facilitate the switching.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3JX16U2728

i am not understanding how this would work. I would have a hdmi cable from each pc into this and then one out to the screen but i would still need to manually switch which input i select which means i can just do it on the screen.

 

[manofchalk]

I know there is a name for this kind of thing, but it escapes me right now.

Something like this should work fine.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815158124
Each PC has a HDMI cable running into this, and a HDMi cable runs from the box into your screen. You can then switch between inputs.
You could do that on the TV itself, but not many TV's have four HDMI inputs.

If you want screen space to be shared among your workers (basically want to split the screen by four) I think your out of luck.
Closest I can think of is early 4K TV's and Monitors that require dual HDMI cables to function. HDMI cant support a 4K resolution, so you need two of them to run each half of the screen, which appear as separate monitors to the computer. Get two of those screens, you have four HDMI inputs with half a screen each.