In some ways, installed HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cables are better than having a dog. A dog has to be let out, a dog never cleans up after himself, and a dog won't connect set-top boxes, Blu-ray/DVD players, personal computers, video game consoles and AV receivers onto one TV screen. Admittedly, this is a stretch, but what if it were possible to actually have that kind of convenience? It is!
By now I'm sure you (and every small child that's ever come into your home) has noticed the huge rat's nest of cables behind your television monitor. Not only is this unsightly, but more than a little dangerous to your devices and makes upgrading your current devices, such as DVD players, receivers and set top boxes, a real hassle. Imagine just unplugging one end of a cable and plugging in another. Wow, that's amazing!
First things first, though. Make a list of all the devices you have connected to your TV. Now go through and check the back of every device for an HDMI output. They should be labeled, but if they aren't, then it's suggested that you buy an HDMI cable and physically check to make sure you have an output.
While you were doing this you might have noticed that your TV only has one HDMI input. Your powers of observation are commended and as a reward you are offered an HDMI hub! What is an HDMI hub? Simply put, it is a switch or way to "splice together" all of your devices. In other words you could plug your DVD player, your Blu-Ray, and your cable box into one device and that one device into your TV.
HDMI hubs can be relatively inexpensive (between $30 and $1,200) and offer the convenience of being able to have a central location for all of your multimedia devices. What's more is they will make it so there's only one cable going up to your TV. Hubs come in a lot of different configurations and with several extra functions; such as automatic switching from device to device. To figure out what size hub you need, simply count the number of devices you need connected to your TV that have HDMI out ports. Let's say you have five. Since you only have one TV to connect them to, you would be looking for a 5x1 HDMI Hub. Hub will also accommodate several TVs or monitors. For the home user, it's almost preferred to have two separated hubs to avoid complicated switching options.
To get to the meat of the subject, HDMI cables can be cheap or expensive depending on your needs. The two basic things to look for are possible EMI (Electro-Magnet Interference, or cable noise) sources and cable length needed. Determining length is pretty easy when you consider digital signal can travel through a cable for 50' without any noticeable deterioration. Should you need to go further (for Pete's sake--why?), you can purchase digital repeaters. EMI is a little trickier though. Take stock of your electrical cords as they are the main culprits. Try your best to separate them from all the other cables. If that's not practical, just buy HDMI cables with thicker shielding. The price range for your cables can be anywhere from $8 to $100, so you have a lot of room to work with.
There are also several versions of HDMI cables out there. The latest version (1.4) is capable of taking the place of every cable out there. There are also different connector types. If you find that your new HDMI cable won't fit, adapters are relatively cheap and easy to install. While you were checking for HDMI ports, you might have noticed a DVI port as well, and in some cases, instead of an HDMI output. If this is the case, you are in luck. DVI and HDMI are completely compatible with an adapter.
The advantages of HDMI cables are obvious: condensing down your cable mess, cleaning up your signal, and allowing room for future expansion. Really, if building a car were this easy, we'd all be driving Ferraris. You can spend one afternoon redoing your cabling one time or spend a lifetime with a jumbled mess of cable literally hanging around. You'd better make up your mind quick though, because I think you just caught a dachshund back there. - 30542
By now I'm sure you (and every small child that's ever come into your home) has noticed the huge rat's nest of cables behind your television monitor. Not only is this unsightly, but more than a little dangerous to your devices and makes upgrading your current devices, such as DVD players, receivers and set top boxes, a real hassle. Imagine just unplugging one end of a cable and plugging in another. Wow, that's amazing!
First things first, though. Make a list of all the devices you have connected to your TV. Now go through and check the back of every device for an HDMI output. They should be labeled, but if they aren't, then it's suggested that you buy an HDMI cable and physically check to make sure you have an output.
While you were doing this you might have noticed that your TV only has one HDMI input. Your powers of observation are commended and as a reward you are offered an HDMI hub! What is an HDMI hub? Simply put, it is a switch or way to "splice together" all of your devices. In other words you could plug your DVD player, your Blu-Ray, and your cable box into one device and that one device into your TV.
HDMI hubs can be relatively inexpensive (between $30 and $1,200) and offer the convenience of being able to have a central location for all of your multimedia devices. What's more is they will make it so there's only one cable going up to your TV. Hubs come in a lot of different configurations and with several extra functions; such as automatic switching from device to device. To figure out what size hub you need, simply count the number of devices you need connected to your TV that have HDMI out ports. Let's say you have five. Since you only have one TV to connect them to, you would be looking for a 5x1 HDMI Hub. Hub will also accommodate several TVs or monitors. For the home user, it's almost preferred to have two separated hubs to avoid complicated switching options.
To get to the meat of the subject, HDMI cables can be cheap or expensive depending on your needs. The two basic things to look for are possible EMI (Electro-Magnet Interference, or cable noise) sources and cable length needed. Determining length is pretty easy when you consider digital signal can travel through a cable for 50' without any noticeable deterioration. Should you need to go further (for Pete's sake--why?), you can purchase digital repeaters. EMI is a little trickier though. Take stock of your electrical cords as they are the main culprits. Try your best to separate them from all the other cables. If that's not practical, just buy HDMI cables with thicker shielding. The price range for your cables can be anywhere from $8 to $100, so you have a lot of room to work with.
There are also several versions of HDMI cables out there. The latest version (1.4) is capable of taking the place of every cable out there. There are also different connector types. If you find that your new HDMI cable won't fit, adapters are relatively cheap and easy to install. While you were checking for HDMI ports, you might have noticed a DVI port as well, and in some cases, instead of an HDMI output. If this is the case, you are in luck. DVI and HDMI are completely compatible with an adapter.
The advantages of HDMI cables are obvious: condensing down your cable mess, cleaning up your signal, and allowing room for future expansion. Really, if building a car were this easy, we'd all be driving Ferraris. You can spend one afternoon redoing your cabling one time or spend a lifetime with a jumbled mess of cable literally hanging around. You'd better make up your mind quick though, because I think you just caught a dachshund back there. - 30542
About the Author:
Zeeman Haus enjoys writing articles online on a variety of subjects. You can check out his latest website on HDMI Review which discusses how you can get low prices on HDMI Cables, Splitters, Extenders, Boxes, and Adaptors.
