Tips on HDMI cables

1.DP has a better transmission speed than HDMI, so why is HDMI more popular?

The latest standard DP2.1 has a maximum transmission bandwidth of up to 80Gbps, while the latest standard HDMI2.1 has a maximum bandwidth of 48Gbps. DP has an obvious bandwidth advantage; in addition, DP can support multi-screen splicing technology, and this technology can only be directly connected by the DP interface. Therefore, the DP interface is irreplaceable.

Why is HDMI more popular? There are two reasons:

• HDMI has a market advantage. The standard was released in 2002, while DP was released in 2006. HDMI was released 4 years earlier than DP.
• Cost considerations. The production cost of the DP output port is higher than that of the HDMI output port, so the DP interface is mainly concentrated in the pan-PC field such as computer motherboards, graphics cards, and monitors; while the cost of the HDMI output port is lower, and it can be used not only on the PC side, but also in home audio and video, game entertainment products, and the peak output of many home audio and video products is matched according to the performance of HDMI.

2.Four small details to avoid pitfalls when pre-buried HDMI optical fiber cable

• Length. First of all, it is best to measure the distance between the display device and the playback device on site. Choose HDMI copper core cable within 3 meters, and choose HDMI optical fiber cable for more than 3 meters. It is best to reserve about half a meter at both ends to prevent the cable from being too short and not enough in the later stage.
• Interface version. Confirm the version supported by the device interface at both ends, and try to choose the highest version supported by the device, so that both the HDMI optical fiber cable and the device can play their maximum performance (it is recommended to choose "2.1" in one step).
• Pay attention to the direction. Because the fiber optic cable chip conversion is a one-way transmission, you must pay attention to the direction when using the optical fiber HDMI cable; the source end is connected to the signal source end, and the display end is the display end connected to the display device. Be careful not to connect it in reverse during installation.
• Reserve one more line. It is recommended to reserve one more line, use one and keep one for backup, and protect both ends; in addition, the cable is easy to be damaged at the construction site, so leave one more just in case.

3.Is there a limit to the length of copper core HDMI cable?

HDMI cables are commonly made of copper core and fiber core materials, and the transmission distance varies depending on the material.

Common HDMI cables are made of copper core material. The longer the HDMI cable, the greater the resistance encountered by the electrical signal, and the more external interference factors will be disturbed. The HDMI Association laboratory data indicates that once the length exceeds 5 meters, the HDMI signal transmission capacity will gradually weaken to a visible level (the greater the signal loss).

According to the HDMI Association's recommendation: The maximum transmission distance of the copper core HDMI cable under the HDMI2.1 interface is recommended to be 3 meters.

4. Can the HDMI cable be hot-plugged directly?

It is recommended to plug and unplug the HDMI cable with the power off, and do not hot-plug the HDMI cable. The HDMI interface design is very convenient for plugging and unplugging, and the HDMI cable is also designed with hot-plugging function. However, due to the different internal processes of different HDMI cables and the different high-definition devices connected, some users have caused the HDMI interface chip to burn when hot-plugging the HDMI cable. Therefore, in order to use the HDMI cable 100% safely, it is recommended to confirm that the TV and HD player are turned off when plugging and unplugging the HDMI cable. In this way, both the HDMI cable and the HD device are more secure and accidents are avoided.

5. What to do if your HDMI cable doesn't work?

To troubleshoot any issues with your HDMI cable, you can follow these steps:

• Check the connection:Double-check that the HDMI cable is tightly connected to the source device and the display. A loose connection may cause signal loss.
• Check the cable: Evaluate the HDMI cable for any visible signs of damage, such as frayed sections or twisted ends. If damage is found, find another one and replace it.
• Test with a different port:You can also try a different port on your display device when connecting the HDMI cable, as sometimes some ports can be faulty.
• Restart your devices:Turn off both the source and display devices, unplug them for about a minute, reconnect them, and then power them back on.
• Select the correct input:When using an adapter, to ensure compatibility with older devices, check the menu settings on the display device and make sure the correct HDMI input is selected; this error often results in a no-signal situation.
• Test on another device:Connect your HDMI cable to another device to determine if it was faulty from the beginning.
• Update drivers/firmware: Make sure all drivers and firmware are up to date, especially for computers or other devices where software can still be updated. Otherwise, outdated drivers and firmware can cause compatibility problems, as old systems do not recognize the new versions and they lack the necessary files needed to function properly. Therefore, this specific type of connection called "HDMI" can cause such problems.

By doing this, we should be able to solve the most common problems encountered when establishing an HDMI connection between audio video components, and we will finally have everything working properly again.