HD300 Dual Monitor Setup

[KeithAbb0tt]

I had unused HDMI inputs on both of my dual monitors for my main workstation at home, so I thought it would be good to connect an HD300 to them. I wanted the flexibility to display on either monitor, so I purchased a $22 HDMI splitter (not to be confused with an HDMI switcher) with one input and two outputs. I also wanted to connect the HD300 to a small soundbar, so I found a splitter that also had audio extraction functionality. I mounted the splitter in backpack fashion to the top of the HD300 (see photos).

It works like a charm. The device that I purchased has optical and coax digital audio outputs, along with a 3.5mm analog stereo output. You might ask why I didn't just install the Sage client on my workstation? Actually, it already is, I use it all the time. However, all of my DVDs are ripped to .iso format, which the Sage client won't play (at least I haven't figured out a way). Also, sometimes there are multiple sporting events airing simultaneously; this setup allows me to watch one sport on the Sage client on one monitor and the other sport on the HD300 on the other monitor.

Another cool thing; the splitter uses USB-C for power, so I was able to use a short cable to power the device from the USB-A port on the back of the HD300.

[LoisGNS]

I've occasionally used the Client + PlaceShifter to look at multiple things at a time (not something I do often; more frequently I'll use one to do various maintenance tasks & the other to watch whatever). This lets me use one monitor plus portions of the other for regular computer stuff, while having a small window (or windows) for Sage activities. That (with only one Sage window) is how I do maybe 80% of my watching. I also have an HD100 and a small TV in my computer room, so that's another screen if I need one.

For my ripped DVDs, I've taken to used Handbrake to extract them to .mp4 files, which I can watch via extender, client, or PlaceShifter. I'd thought Client was supposed to be able to do ripped DVDs, but maybe not in the ISO format?