UHD-501 Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the UHD-501?

The OREI UHD-501 is a 4K@60Hz 5-port HDMI switch that allows you to connect up to five HDMI media sources to one TV, monitor, or projector.

It is useful when your display has limited HDMI inputs and you want to connect multiple devices such as a DVD player, Blu-ray player, laptop, Xbox, PS4 Pro, streaming device, cable box, or media player without constantly unplugging and reconnecting HDMI cables.

The UHD-501 supports HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2, with a video bandwidth of 18Gbps. It supports video resolutions up to 4K@60Hz and is compatible with HDR and 3D content. It also supports uncompressed LPCM and compressed audio formats including Dolby Digital, DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby TrueHD.

The UHD-501 supports manual switching, automatic switching, remote control operation, and CEC control.

IMPORTANT — HDMI Cable Quality Matters for 4K@60Hz

For 4K@60Hz, use standard HDMI 2.0 Premium High Speed HDMI cables.

IMPORTANT — Auto Switching Can Be Turned On or Off

The UHD-501 supports both automatic and manual switching.

When Auto Mode is on, the Auto Mode LED will turn on.

When Auto Mode is off, the device is in manual switching mode.

You can toggle between manual and automatic switching by pressing and holding the Select button for 3 seconds.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED / Button	Location	Function
Power LED Indicator	Front panel	Red means standby mode; blue means working mode; no LED means no power supply connected
Input 1–5 LED Indicators	Front panel	Blue LED lights up when the corresponding input is selected.
Auto Mode LED Indicator	Front panel	On means automatic switching mode; off means manual switching mode
IR Mode LED Indicator	Front panel	On means normal IR receiver mode; off means IR function is disabled
IR Signal Receiver	Front panel	Receives signal from the included remote control
Select / Switch Button	Front panel	Press to switch input channels; long press 3 seconds to toggle auto/manual switching; long press 6 seconds to toggle IR receiver mode
DC 5V	Rear panel	Connect the included power adapter
HDMI Output	Rear panel	Connect to a TV, monitor, or projector
HDMI Inputs 1–5	Rear panel	Connect HDMI source devices such as DVD player, streaming device, laptop, game console, or Blu-ray player

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect the included DC 5V/1A power adapter to the UHD-501 and plug it into a power outlet.
Connect your HDMI source devices to HDMI Input 1, Input 2, Input 3, Input 4, and Input 5.
Examples include a DVD player, Blu-ray player, laptop, Xbox, PS4 Pro, streaming device, or cable box.
Connect the HDMI Output port on the UHD-501 to your TV, monitor, or projector.
Turn on the HDMI source devices and display.
Use the Select button on the UHD-501 or the included remote control to choose the HDMI input you want to display.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

For best performance, use high-quality HDMI 2.0 cables.

The UHD-501 supports HDMI 2.0 with 18Gbps bandwidth. For 4K@60Hz 4:4:4 the input and output HDMI cable length should not exceed 5m.

For 4K@30Hz or 1080p, HDMI cable length may reach around 10m depending on cable quality and setup. In any case, keeping HDMI cables under 30 feet is the standard practice.

Understanding Manual and Auto Switching

The UHD-501 supports both manual switching and automatic switching.

Manual Switching

In manual switching mode, short press the Select button to switch between input channels.

You can also use the included remote control and press Input 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 to switch directly to a specific HDMI source.

Auto Switching

Press and hold the Select button for 3 seconds to toggle between manual and automatic switching modes.

When Auto Mode is enabled, the Auto Mode LED will turn on.

When Auto Mode is disabled, the Auto Mode LED will turn off, and the device will remain in manual switching mode.

IMPORTANT — Auto Switching Depends on HDMI 5V Signal Detection

The UHD-501 supports auto switching, but it works by detecting the 5V signal coming from the connected HDMI source device.

In simple terms, the switch looks for which HDMI source appears to be “active.”

If one source is connected and then another source is plugged in or powered on, the UHD-501 can automatically switch to the newly detected source.

However, many modern streaming devices do not fully turn off. Devices such as Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, Roku, and similar media players often go into standby mode instead of shutting down completely. Even in standby, they may continue sending a 5V signal through HDMI.

Because of this, the UHD-501 may still detect that device as active, even when the customer thinks it is “off.”

For example:

If you have an Apple TV connected to Input 1 and a PlayStation 5 connected to Input 2, the UHD-501 may switch to Apple TV when the PS5 is turned off because the Apple TV is still sending an HDMI 5V signal.

But when you later turn the PS5 back on, the switch may not automatically switch away from Apple TV because the Apple TV never fully stopped sending its HDMI 5V signal.

In this type of setup, manual switching using the front panel button or included remote may be needed.

Understanding IR Receiver Mode

The UHD-501 allows the IR receiver function to be turned on or off.

Press and hold the Select button for 6 seconds to turn IR receiver mode on or off.

When the IR Mode LED is on, the IR receiver is active and the remote should work normally.

When the IR Mode LED is off, the IR function is disabled and the remote may not control the switch.

If the remote does not work, check the IR Mode LED and make sure the plastic battery tab has been removed from the remote.

What Source Devices Is the UHD-501 Compatible With?

The OREI UHD-501 is compatible with HDMI source devices such as:

DVD players
Blu-ray players
Laptops
Desktop PCs
Xbox consoles
PlayStation consoles
Streaming devices
Cable boxes
Satellite receivers
Media players
Set-top boxes

For 4K@60Hz, the source device, display, HDMI cable, and HDMI settings must all support 4K@60Hz and HDMI 2.0 specifications.

What Displays Is the UHD-501 Compatible With?

The UHD-501 can be connected to HDMI displays such as:

TVs
Monitors
Projectors
Commercial displays

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI UHD-501 used for?
A: The UHD-501 is used to connect up to five HDMI source devices to one TV, monitor, or projector and switch between them easily.

Q: Does the UHD-501 support 4K@120Hz?
A: No. The UHD-501 supports up to 4K@60Hz.

Q: Does the UHD-501 support HDR?
A: Yes. The UHD-501 supports HDR.

Q: Does the UHD-501 support 3D?
A: Yes. The UHD-501 supports 3D content.

Q: Does the UHD-501 support CEC?
A: Yes. The UHD-501 supports CEC control.

Q: Does the UHD-501 output audio?
A: The UHD-501 sends audio along with the video to the connected TV, Projector or Monitor through the HDMI output. It supports uncompressed LPCM and compressed audio formats including Dolby Digital, DTS-HD Master Audio, and Dolby TrueHD.

Q: Does the UHD-501 support auto switching?
A: Yes. Press and hold the Select button for 3 seconds to toggle between manual and automatic switching modes.

Q: Does auto switching work with Apple TV, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, or Roku?
A: Auto switching may not work consistently with these devices because they often stay in standby mode and continue sending a 5V HDMI signal. The UHD-501 may still detect them as active even when they appear to be off.

Q: Why does the switch stay on Apple TV even when I turn on my PS5?
A: Apple TV may still be sending a 5V HDMI signal while in standby. Since the UHD-501 still sees Apple TV as active, it may not automatically switch to the PS5. Use the front button or remote to switch manually. This applies to other devices such as Fire TV Stick, Roku Stick, Chromecast, etc. as well.

Q: Why do I see a black screen when switching inputs?
A: This is normal. The display needs time to detect the new HDMI signal and complete the HDMI handshake. The delay can vary depending on the display, source device, resolution, refresh rate, and HDMI cables. The UHD-501 is not a seamless switch. When switching inputs, the display will usually go black for a second or two while the HDMI signal reconnects.