An HDMI lead is a special cable which transmits uncompressed digital video and audio signals from digital input sources to digital televisions or computer monitors. HDMI cables and HDMI leads are the same thing and the two phrases are often used interchangeably.
When you think of a digital input device, you immediately think of a DVD or Blue Ray player, or a digital satellite receiver. What you may not consider is your cell phone. If you have a Motorola Droid smart phone, then you have a portable digital input device right in your pocket. On the side of Droids you will find a small port known as a mini-HDMI connection. It’s for a special cable that features a mini-HDMI on one end and a standard HDMI connector on the other end.
If you connect your Droid phone to your HD television, you can send uncompressed digital signals, both audio and video, straight through to the big screen. What digital audio and video would that be? Well, it could be a movie you’ve downloaded with the Blockbuster android app. In the not-too-distant future, it could very well be a streaming Netflix movie. Netflix posted two job listings on its website in the summer of 2010 seeking engineers with android experience, and the market is certain that product development is well underway.
With an HDMI cable and a cell signal, your wall mounted TV will provide entertainment even when a storm interrupts your regular satellite signal. A gold plated 5m HDMI lead could set you back around $45, and it is important to buy the right kind of cable when you are spending that much money.
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cables come as category one or category two cables. Category one cables, which are commonly called HDMI standard cables, are rated for both 720p and 1080i video signals. Category two cables, which are also called HDMI high speed cables, are rated for 1600p video signals in addition to 720p or 1080i. Even if you do not own a 1600p video device, you may want to purchase a category two cable if the length of the cable is to be greater than 4.8 meters. The performance of category one cables is not guaranteed beyond this length. That distinction is important to keep in mind when you are purchasing a 5m cable!
Even when you are using category two cables, excessive lengths may require the use of an HDMI repeater or HDMI signal extender. Video degradation can occur as a result of signal attenuation in the cable as the cable length increases. A screen image that stutters or blinks rapidly is a symptom of signal attenuation. HDMI repeaters are essentially powered coupling devices. Simply plug the HDMI lead into each end and the signal will be passed through without any loss of quality.
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The High Definition Multimedia Interface or HDMI is an audio and video interface used for transmitting digital data from a multimedia source to a signal output receiver. A HDMI lead is important in this digital data transmission as it primarily connects the digital data source to an output device such as LCD projectors and HD televisions. The lead aids in delivering high definition digital outputs and works best in connecting video sources to HDTVs, but it can also connect the input source to other kinds of digital display screens as long as they utilize the HDMI cable as an input option. Examples of other digital display screens include computer monitors, LCD screens and digital video projectors.
Experts primarily recommend the usage of high quality HDMI leads in order to ensure the delivery of high definition digital outputs. A poor HDMI lead can corrupt the digital video sent so it is wise to buy a quality HDMI cable for a little higher price rather than to waste money on a cheap poor quality HDMI cable. However, there are circumstances that the cable is not compatible with the display screen that is if it is not HD ready, so make sure that your display screen can support HD video formats readily. The cable length, on the other hand, does not directly affect the quality of data transmission but signal attenuation can happen if the cable length is extremely long.
Before buying a HDMI lead, don’t forget to check first if your display screen can support high definition video outputs. A lot of problems associated with HDMI cables are often caused by incompatible display screens as there are televisions and plasma screens that do not readily support HD videos. Check the compatibility of the cable and the output display by inspecting its specifications in their related documentation to see if they are suitable for use together, in order to ensure you get the right HDMI cable appropriate for your needs.
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