HDMI cables for TV: what are they and what are they for?

When purchasing a TV of a new generation, we expect to get advanced functionality from it, for example, you can connect it to a home TV or computer network, laptop, tablet, receiver or other system. Such devices are interconnected by means of special adapters and a cable, the choice of which depends on the available connectors in these devices.

At first glance, it is not easy to deal with this task of connecting and synchronizing devices, but if you look closely at the connectors, then choosing the appropriate HDMI cable for them is not so difficult. Any TV has a fairly clear interface and instructions for use, which greatly simplifies the selection of appropriate connector devices.

HDMI cables are a special device with which a digital sound and image signal is transmitted from one multimedia device to anotherwhile the quality remains high during transmission and not affected by electromagnetic interference. The HDMI cable looks like a long cord, with connectors at both ends. One of these connectors has a rectangular or trapezoidal flat design.

So, for example, it is possible to connect a video player, receiver, laptop, decoder, video card, camera to the TV. As a result of this connection, you will get a clear, full color picture and pure analog sound on your TV screen.

Today, HDMI cables are considered the main connector devices, which are used to transfer data in digital format at high speed. Such a wire is capable of transmitting a video signal at a rate of 48 bits, and an audio signal at a rate of 24 bits. When a signal from a multimedia device enters your digital TV, transcoding takes place inside it, and the video image may barely noticeably double, however, using HDMI cables for the connection, this effect of ghosting can be completely avoided.

One of the many benefits of an HDMI cable is its versatility - to connect 2 devices to each other, you only need 1 connector. The operation of the wire is based on the fact that it has a digital signal return function, therefore, using the modern technology of HDMI ARC connectors, you can get a high-quality image and clear sound on any classic TV receiver without extraneous electromagnetic interference.

Using an HDMI cable will give you the opportunity to view high-resolution photos on your TV screen. Connect a game console and play using a TV screen. Watch a movie transmitted from the Internet via a laptop displayed on a large TV screen. Almost any device can be used to connect to a TV and use its screen as a large monitor. In case you need to create your own home theater, but the TV does not have Smart-TV technologies, the HDMI cable alone will not be enough. you will need to buy a board or set-top box that has these missing characteristics.

The use of HDMI technologies allows transferring all kinds of files between multimedia devices, while you do not need for these purposes a lot of different wires, the complexity of connecting which can overshadow all the desire to view content on the TV screen. This technology significantly saves time on connection and allows you to quickly assemble and disassemble a bundle between devices.

Such versatility is good news and greatly facilitates the task of connecting multimedia devices. Besides, to operate the HDMI ARC device, you need to operate two buttons on the remote.

HDMI cable has its own classification and is divided into the following types.

• Standard cable - has the ability to transmit a digital signal with a resolution of up to 720 pix.

• HDMI Ethernet Channel Cable - in addition to streams of audio and video signals, it combines the ability to receive them from the Internet. According to its design, it has an additional twisted pair, which is responsible for accessing the Internet.

• Dolby Vision HDMI Cable - Supports the transmission of a video signal with a wide dynamic range, which has a clear image of both the dark and the brightest parts of the picture. Such a cable can also be called a high-speed cable.

• High Speed ​​HDMI Ethernet Channel Cable - its high transmission capacity is combined with the ability to access and receive signals from the Internet.

• Automotive HDMI cable - designed for connecting devices with small connectors. In addition, it is resistant to high temperature conditions.

For the first time the HDMI cable appeared in 2002, since then the developers have constantly improved the modifications of their products, so that you can find the following versions of it.

• HDMI 1.0 - the first wire used to transmit digital information with a resolution of 1080 pix.

• HDMI 1.1 - this version protected the sound transmission from electromagnetic interference. A similar wire was used to play audio and video from DVD media.

• HDMI 1.2 - allows you to establish a connection with computer equipment and recognizes a wider range of digital formats.

• HDMI 1.2a - a more advanced version of the previous one, which also made it possible to use the remote control system.

• HDMI 1.3 - made it possible to further expand the list of readable formats, minimized losses in sound transmission, and also increased the bandwidth and spectrum of transmitted colors.

• HDMI 1.3b - is an improved copy of the previous version, it adds the ability to remote control.

• HDMI 1.4 - Transmits and recognizes digital signals when using 3D formats and 4K content. In addition, the ability to connect to the Internet has been added to them.

• HDMI 1.4a - an improved version of the previous model, which has a higher bandwidth.

• HDMI 2.0 - added the ability to level the imbalance of various frequency levels arising during signal transmission. In addition, the reading of 3D and 4K formats is becoming more modern, thanks to which new possibilities for the transmission of sound and images have appeared.

• HDMI 2.1 - the version was developed in 2017, with its appearance, the data transfer rate and their volume increased, as well as the list of recognizable formats on which the content was recorded expanded.

The developers of HDMI technologies did not disregard those whose TVs were released without a special connector for connecting such a cable. In this case, a dedicated wireless HDMI adapter is used.

• DisplayPort - will help to connect any multimedia device to a TV with a DisplayPort connector, while the image resolution will be supported in the 1920 * 1200 pix format. Thus, older generation TVs can be used to connect with modern technology.

• HDMI-DVI - also allows you to use old and new type devices and connect them to modern multimedia devices without using an HDMI cable.

• HDMI-HDMI - It is used to transmit a digital signal from a personal computer to a television set operating on liquid crystal elements or to another modern multimedia device. There is no electromagnetic interference during signal transmission, which is an indisputable advantage of this wireless system.

• HDMI-VGA - used to connect a TV screen with a VGA connector.

• HDMI-RCA - used if you want to connect a modern multimedia device to an old generation TV with a kinescope.

• HDMI-2.0 USB - It is used to transmit a digital signal through the USB port, the release version of which is 2.0.

• MicroHDMI - this adapter is used to connect multimedia devices that have a small connector, for example, such as a tablet.

• MiniHDMI - used to connect a laptop, camera and other devices with a small connector.

• HDMI-DisplayPort - allows you to connect modern TV models with other types of multimedia devices, including a personal computer.

HDMI cables are usually divided into 5 main types according to the type and size of the connector.

• Type A - the most common, and it can be found on most models of TVs, set-top boxes, GPU modules.
• Type B - a rare connector designed for data transfer in the 3830 * 2400 pix format. It is practically not used in modern multimedia devices of the latest generation.
• Type C Is a miniature connector that is used for mobile devices such as a tablet, smartphone, camera.
• Type D Is another miniature output used for small devices or mobile systems.
• Type E - used to connect various car multimedia equipment, for example, to connect a car radio.

The length of the HDMI cable may vary, it will vary in the range from 0.75 to 10 m. If you use certain amplifiers, then its length without losing the quality of the transmitted digital signal can reach 35 m.Longer cords are impractical to use, since in this case, distortion or attenuation of the digital signal may appear during the transmission of the connection, which negatively affects the quality of the transmitted sound or Images.

You can get a high-quality connection and a high transmission speed without accompanying electromagnetic interference using an HDMI cable, which is made using an expensive material - oxygen-free copper. The thicker the copper core inside such a cable, the higher its quality, therefore the thickness and length of the HDMI cable plays an important role in the transmission of digital signals. In addition, observations have shown that transmission quality begins to deteriorate if the length of the cord exceeds 15 meters.

Thus, when choosing an HDMI cable, it is important to take into account its properties and the materials from which it is made. If you have to transfer a small amount of content, for example, to a TV from a satellite receiver, an inexpensive cable will do.

In order for the transfer of the connection to take place, the multimedia devices to be synchronized must be properly connected. Each case has its own small nuances.

In this case, it is important to adjust the resolution of the PC screen and monitor. The order of performing the actions here is as follows:

• select the length of the cable and the corresponding connectors of the TV and video card of the PC to which the monitor is connected;
• both devices must be off when the HDMI cable is connected - they do this to prevent a short circuit;
• after connecting the connectors and cable, both devices can be turned on;
• using the TV remote control, go to its menu and select the option for connecting an HDMI cable, while a copy of the desktop appears on the screen, as on a computer monitor;
• further, in the TV menu, select the option "equipment and sound" and connect it, at the same time disconnecting the speakers on the computer.

After completing all the stages of connection, you can view the content in full and with the proper high quality.

Using an HDMI cable that supports an Internet connection, follow these steps to connect to the TV:

• in order for the connection to ensure the loading of any Internet pages, it is recommended, in addition to the cable, to use also a modem, with the help of which certain identification data are entered;
• first of all, a router is connected, for which the Internet cable is fixed in a special WAN connector;
• configure the router by opening the corresponding panel with options in the menu;
• after entering the Internet, you can connect the TV, for which you need to connect a modem to it and perform the setup;
• through the remote control they go to the menu and find the "network settings" option, where they select the "connection via cable" function.

This completes the connection - the TV and the Internet are connected to each other.

To view photos or videos, go online, play computer games and use various application formats, phone or smartphone can be connected to TV:

• find a small connector in the phone or smartphone and select the appropriate type of HDMI cable (if there is no such connector, then use the appropriate adapter);
• Further, you need to turn on the TV, in the menu select the option with obtaining an HDMI signal source and connect the TV to the telephone with a cable;
• after connection synchronization of these devices will be configuredsometimes it needs to be done manually.

In order to watch television in digital format, a receiver is used for televisions of the old generation - a special device capable of receiving a digital signal. The connection is made like this:

• select an HDMI cable with appropriate connectors;
• both devices - the receiver and the TV - are disconnected from the power supply;
• connect the connectors on both instruments and turn them on.

After making the connection, you will be able to watch HD video on the TV screen.

This procedure is one of the simplest, since modern TV models were produced at about the same time as tablets. To connect these devices to each other, you will need to select the appropriate HDMI cable and connect it to the devices, previously disconnected from the power supply.

When the connectors are installed in their places, the devices can be turned on, and at this moment their parameters will be automatically synchronized, after which you can start watching or listening to the content you are interested in. If the TV does not have a corresponding connector, then a wireless USB adapter is used.

With prolonged use of an HDMI cable, its connector may become unusable under its own weight. A malfunction may manifest itself in the fact that when the cable is connected, the image is not displayed on the TV screen, but there is sound. Sometimes the situation is different - when the cable is connected, the sound does not work, and the image is transmitted to the TV screen with interference. This flaw often accompanies many HDMI models, and repairs are required to restore them.

If the HDMI cable connector does not connect, you can remedy the situation by cutting its outer shell exactly along the seam with a knife or sharp blade... After you manage to remove the outer shell, you will see a wire that is connected to the metal part of the connector - this is a protective shield. It also needs to be carefully embroidered and removed. After that, you will see a lot of contacts, which are separated by plastic inserts. In cheap Chinese models, plastic crumbles and crumbles over time. For this reason, the connector is deformed and the cable does not detect a digital signal. In such a situation, it is no longer possible to restore the connector and you will need to buy a new cable.

In the case when the contact plate remained intact, you need to check the soldering of the connector pins - there are several of them... Over time, some of the connector pins come off, and the soldering is destroyed, so the signal does not pass through such a cable and the TV does not show an image.

See below for HDMI cables.