Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you link to the software? It’s a pretty common term but sounds interesting
It's the same as Synergy which is at https://symless.com/synergy
Unlike Synergy, Barrier is entirely open source.
Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
121–130 of 185 posts
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#122I like using KVM switches for connecting multiple sources - if you are using multiple laptops/PCs, it has the benefit that you can use the same keyboard/mouse for all of them.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
See my answer here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34050157 TLDR: because it is done over a slow protocol (I²C) and because of artificial delays in code to account for slower devices
Why wait until the user switches input sources to do the negotiation? Why not do it earlier so that the new input is ready to go?
The monitor is not the active device in this situation, the host (Mac/PC/SBC) is.
The negotiation is done when the host initiates it, usually when the cable is connected to a port or when coming back from deeper sleep/standby.
If the host remains active after the negotiation, the monitor doesn't go through the process again, I explained how that worked for me here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34051428
The problem that OP has is when the host being switched to is in standby. In that mode, most devices deactivate the video ports completely, disconnecting the monitors and removing them from the hardware device tree.
Switching to the inactive input without waking up the host device will usually show a "No signal" message on the monitor. Waking the device before switching to the input could improve the waiting time, but that is an implementation detail depending on both the monitor and the OS and can't be guaranteed.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#124Recently (last few months) I've been testing HD Fury VRRoom, and am happy with it, as it allows switching instantly regardless of monitor, by having negotiation already set up: https://hdfury.com/product/8k-vrroom-40gbps/ It maintains a live connection to each of 4 x HDMI inputs, 2 x HDMI outputs (mirrored or matrixed), and 1 x eARC audio output, and can switch between them "instantly" as you ask. You can switch with…
HD Fury is also well known among home theater enthusiasts and they make some really amazing devices. They’ll also add new features based on fairly niche demand. For example they allow LLDV to be used with projectors that don’t natively support it (JVC, Epson) including sending serial commands to the projector to change its video mode when HD Fury device detects an HDR signal.
Anyway, pretty amazing if niche devices with fantastic customer support and willingness to add functionally for relatively small numbers of users.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#125I bought one of the first GSync monitors many years ago (ASUS PG278Q ROG Swift) and it goes from sleep to displaying an image in just a fraction of a second. It's totally amazing, way faster than any other monitor I've ever seen, including newer GSync monitors. It only has one single input port though. I've never tried hooking it to a KVM, but I bet it would switch super fast. Maybe try one of the first gen (2014) GS…
My native Gsync monitor, a now discontinued LG 32GK(?)650 is quite fast as well. I’ve complained a tiny amount about monitor reviewer blind spots, and this is one of them. The speed of every interaction on this monitor is very very fast. It is why I am very unwilling to let it go, even if it keeps me locked into the Nvidia side of things, since my monitor predates native Gsync modules that support DP Adaptive Sync and HDMI VRR.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#126If you got the cash, get a Blackmagic Atem Mini video mixer and an appropriate amount of x-to-HDMI dongles.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#127Recently (last few months) I've been testing HD Fury VRRoom, and am happy with it, as it allows switching instantly regardless of monitor, by having negotiation already set up: https://hdfury.com/product/8k-vrroom-40gbps/ It maintains a live connection to each of 4 x HDMI inputs, 2 x HDMI outputs (mirrored or matrixed), and 1 x eARC audio output, and can switch between them "instantly" as you ask. You can switch with…
I just bought this and the switching is anything but instant. It still negotiates for a at least a second or 2.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#128This has been annoying me since I first tried a PC after using Atari computers since they were a thing. No matter what monitor I use, it will take for ever to switch input port or just a simple change of resolution. I was used to be able to switch resolution several times per frame, you could make a game with low resolution and color on the upper 3/4 of the screen and have the stats in higher resolution 4 color mode…
One of the reasons why you could switch modes mid-frame is because the concept of a "video mode" is fundamentally different on a PC than on an Atari or Amiga. On a PC, ever since the EGA, the adapter can output at different horizontal and vertical scan rates and the monitor can adapt to the requested mode from the video card. That's why switching video modes takes a couple seconds and may involve a "click" or two. Up…
On the Atari and Amiga, the horizontal/vertical scan rates are constant
I can't speak to the Atari, but my memory is that this is not true of the Amiga.
The Amiga could do this amazing thing where it would display multiple resolutions on a monitor at the same time, divided horizontally. Analog was flexible that way.
An Amiga could even display two different resolutions from two different sources on the same monitor at the same time.
This was part of my workflow when I used an Amiga to do live TV news graphics around 1990.
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#129HDMI Switching like that takes long because there is a EDID negotiation going on between the minitor and the input devices. If you want to switch fast and often your best bet is getting an HDMI switcher that is basically always connected to the monitor and both sources and then toggles between the two. Beware of the supported resolutions and framerates. A cheap hack would also be to connect your second source to the…
But why is this at input selection? Have manufacturers cheapened out and only 1 port (with DP-AUX, HDMI-I2C ...) is active at the CPU?
Re: Ask HN: Can you recommend an “instant-switch” Monitor? Does one exist?
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
One of the reasons why you could switch modes mid-frame is because the concept of a "video mode" is fundamentally different on a PC than on an Atari or Amiga. On a PC, ever since the EGA, the adapter can output at different horizontal and vertical scan rates and the monitor can adapt to the requested mode from the video card. That's why switching video modes takes a couple seconds and may involve a "click" or two. Up…
No. I have a Sony G520 CRT monitor with a hardware switch. When I flip the switch, the other image appears in less than a second. In the past I had a Samsung (I don't remember the model) that made the switch without even interrupting the electron beam, in mid-frame. First 2 frames were garbage, until it sync'd to the new signal, but it only took a blink of an eye to switch (at 85 Hz). It was also very quick to sync a…
Oh man, I miss my Sony G520. It's still the best monitor I owned. I haven't had a monitor that nice since I gave it away a decade ago. It was still in great condition at the time too.