Alternative to fx4

[willtom]

I'm looking at splitting a uhd hdmi output into four hd outputs on 3g sdi. An fx4-sdi is roughly £2200+vat, a fx4/h & 4x hdmi>sdi totals about £1700+vat, and a hdmi>12g sdi converter into a 12g>quadlink 3g split totals about £800+vat.

Are there any clear disadvantages to doing it the cheap way? Or in this particular set of circumstances are these all basically identical solutions?

(I know I'll lose the flexibility of non broadcast resolutions, and the 12g solution won't be expandable up to 7680x2160@30, but I can live with those two limitations)

[He2neg]

if you just want to spilt a 4k hdmi Signal into 4 SDI 1080 outputs you can use

https://www.aja.com/products/mini-converters/ha5-4k

[willtom]

if you just want to spilt a 4k hdmi Signal into 4 SDI 1080 outputs you can use

https://www.aja.com/products/mini-converters/ha5-4k

Wonderful, thank you

[lightbx]

Last thing to note is that the Fx4 keeps all frames in sync, and the AJA HA5-4K can be offset by about 1 frame, or ~50ms. Another user ran a test and provided these numbers here, I believe in a thread specifically about the HA5-4K.

If they are all separate screens, and especially if they are all playing different content, the AJA will do what you need just fine (and at a third of the price). If you plant to edge blend 4 1080p signals together, or array 4 screens into a single image somehow, you'll want to keep your frames in sync.

[willtom]

There is a chance of this being use for edge blending. I'm surprised to hear that quadlink sdi isn't kept in sync, do you have a link for the previous discussion?

[kman1898]

Last thing to note is that the Fx4 keeps all frames in sync, and the AJA HA5-4K can be offset by about 1 frame, or ~50ms. Another user ran a test and provided these numbers here, I believe in a thread specifically about the HA5-4K.

If they are all separate screens, and especially if they are all playing different content, the AJA will do what you need just fine (and at a third of the price). If you plant to edge blend 4 1080p signals together, or array 4 screens into a single image somehow, you'll want to keep your frames in sync.

From what I’m reading in that post the frames are in sync. The delay is from computer to the ha5 itself. There is a similar 1ms delay with the fx4

[SiNiSon]

Anyone know how the aja handles HDCP most vid cards and laptops spit out HDCP on the HDMI.

[lightbx]

I've had no issue with a 2016 Macbook Pro HDMI out. Going to test later this week with a 2019 MBP using a 4K60 cable (Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI).

[kman1898]

Anyone know how the aja handles HDCP most vid cards and laptops spit out HDCP on the HDMI.

I’ve had zero issues with my ha5

[Arvol]

the FX4 has more options for configuration and raster manipulation. You also get to lock the clocks on your outputs to a single source and you can expand the fx4 to other units to have that same clock source drive those outputs. those features make me not want to recommend anything else.

If you don't care about screen tearing then go other routes, if you care about the quality of your product, the fx4 is hands down the way you want to go.