---
layout: page
title: "Blackbird 8x8 HDMI Matrix Switch"
description: "Instructions on how to integrate Monoprice Blackbird 4k 8x8 HDBaseT Matrix Switch into Home Assistant."
date: 2018-03-29 16:35
sidebar: true
comments: false
sharing: true
footer: true
logo: monoprice.svg
ha_category: Media Player
ha_release: 0.68
ha_iot_class: "Local Polling"
---

The `blackbird` platform allows you to control [Monoprice Blackbird Matrix Switch](https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=21819) using a serial connection.

To add a Blackbird device to your installation, add the following to your `configuration.yaml` file:

```yaml
# Example configuration.yaml entry
media_player:
  - platform: blackbird
    type: serial
    port: /dev/ttyUSB0
    zones:
      1:
        name: Living Room
    sources:
      3: 
        name: BluRay
```

{% configuration %}
type:
  description: The type of device connection - serial or socket
  required: true
  type: string
port: 
  description: The serial port to which Blackbird matrix switch is connected. Either port or host must be defined.
  required: optional
  type: string
host:
  description: The IP address of the Blackbird matrix switch. Either port or host must be defined.
  required: optional
  type: string
zones:
  description: This is the list of zones available. Valid zones are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Each zone must have a name assigned to it.
  required: true
  type: int
  keys:
    name:
      description: The name of the zone.
sources:
  description: The list of sources available. Valid source numbers are 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Each source number corresponds to the input number on the Blackbird matrix switch. Similar to zones, each source must have a name assigned to it.
  required: true
  type: int
  keys:
    name:
      description: The name of the source.
{% endconfiguration%}

### {% linkable_title Service `BLACKBIRD_SETALLZONES` %}

Set all zones to the same input source. This service allows you to immediately synchronize all the TVs in your home. Regardless of `entity_id` provided, all zones will be updated. 

| Service data attribute | Optional | Description |
| ---------------------- | -------- | ----------- |
| `entity_id` | yes | String that points at an `entity_id` of a zone.
| `source` | no | String of source name to activate.