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FAQ's

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. What is HDMI in a Nutshell?


HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface.


HDMI connects high definition video sources from DVD, Cameras, and set top boxes, to digital display devices such as plasma screens, LCD TV, video projectors, DLP and DILA video projectors, in a secure manner with an uncompressed digital video stream.


HDMI carry both audio and video signals, across a single cable with a compact 29 pin connector interface only 21mm across by 5mm high and much more robust than today's Scart. HDMI is closely related to DVI. Various DVI-HDMI and HDMI – DVI converters are already available, allowing the two standards to work seamlessly together.

 

 

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2. What is the difference between HDMI and DVI?


There are many differences, but the key things are:


- DVI only has Video signals and only transmits at a 10MHz bandwidth
- HDMI has Video, Audio and Control Signals at a 1.65GHz bandwidth

 

 

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3. What does "HDMI Approved" mean?


The HDMI format is defined, specified and governed by HDMI Licensing, LLC in the USA. They have a licensing program, the licensees of which are called "HDMI Adopters" This programme details the minimum expected quality and performance standards by which products utilizing HDMI technology should be made. As they are also the owners of the Intellectual Property of HDMI and its logo, any production of HDMI related products and/or use of the logo which have not been authorized by HDMI Licensing are in effect illegal.


"HDMI Approved" simply refers to any product which meets all of the strict criteria as set out by HDMI Licensing, and is manufactured by a licensed HDMI Adopter, from where we buy from.

 

 

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4. How can I tell if a cable/product is HDMI approved?


The easy way to tell if a product is approved is check to see if the manufacturer is listed as a "HDMI Adopter" on the international HDMI website. If a manufacturer is not listed on this website then you must assume that their products do not meet the standards, or at the very least they are illegal due to their breach of international IP laws. Some brands market cables which they do not make themselves, but rather are made by third party manufacturers, some of whom may be official Adopters. However in these cases you can still not verify the authorized status of the products in question unless the brand discloses who their manufacturer is, (and they usually won't do this.) Just stating that a HDMI product is authorized, and using the HDMI logo, cannot necessarily be taken as fact.


For the sake of safety, reliability and performance use only products that come from manufacturers who are listed as HDMI Adopters, thus avoiding any performance, warranty or legal issues. Freeport our manufacturers are of course a listed official HDMI adopter and were one of the very first cable manufacturers to become so.

 

 

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5. What happens if I use a product, which is NOT officially approved?


The cable used is often the weakest link. This has always been the case with home cinema cables, as they provide the unique links between the system. Amplifiers, DVD players, TV/monitors and speakers etc all comprise a complex mix of electrical components, and the cables are a major extension of this. Using poor quality cables will reduce performance. With HDMI criteria being so demanding to enable the required quality, the effects of using sub-standard components and cables will compound the effect.


Using any HDMI product which is not approved may result in poor performance, or in some instances, no performance at all. This is true of the source component, the cable/s and the display. For example, an unauthorized cable may still be made to a high quality standard, but may lack the bandwidth as stated by the HDMI specification. For now it will work okay as long as low bandwidth sources are used, such as DVD and digital TV. In future when we start to see high bandwidth formats like Blu-ray and HD-DVD become available, then many unauthorized cables will show their true colours and simply not work.


The worst-case scenario in the use of unauthorized products, especially cables, can result in a void of warranty on your HDMI enabled hardware. For example, Denon (D&M Holdings, Inc.) issued a memo internationally in September 2005 stating that damage may result in a product through the use of unauthorized HDMI cables. In such a case, the resulting damage will not be deemed a warranty item, and the owner of the hardware will then be responsible for the repair cost themselves.


If you use only HDMI authorized products from an approved HDMI adopter, you will not have issues with cables not working, and you will be guaranteed a minimum level of performance. Therefore you will not risk voiding the warranty of your expensive hardware.

 

 

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6. Why do the HDMI specifications need to be so strict when other cable formats aren't?


HDMI is the first format to increase bandwidth. to 1.65GHz. By comparison, the existing DVI standard uses only a 10MHz bandwidth, and SD digital TV about 250MHz. Therefore at 1.65Ghz, HDMI is capable of transmitting at 165 times more bandwidth than DVI.


Furthermore, in addition to the high quality HD picture, HDMI can also carry eight channels of digital audio, as well as a low voltage data BUS. When manufacturers start to incorporate more of these HDMI features, we will start to see things like the source component automatically turning on other devices, which are connected through HDMI, changing input selections automatically. It can then change the picture format settings to suit the source. HDMI is a smart system, which will both simplify and enhance the entire home cinema experience.


The HDMI format therefore needs high-level specification criteria to maintain the required high standard, which means the use of high quality cables.

 

 

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7. What is the HDMI ATC test?


ATC means (HDMI) Authority Test Centre.


The ATC test is the HDMI official cable test method and includes the testing of a HDMI cables Attenuation (Insertion Loss), Differential Mode Impedance, Inter Pair Skew, Eye pattern Diagram and other parameters. A copy of our ATC test certificate is available upon request.

 

 

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8. What products use HDMI?


DVD players, DVD recorders, Plasma TV, LCD TV, Set Top Boxes, DLP and DILA video projectors, in fact any digital A/V equipment can and will be able to use HDMI technology in the future.

 

 

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9. When will HDMI appear in the marketplace?


The answer is now. Home theatre enthusiasts have been using HDMI enabled products for over 2 years. But now HDMI technology is being incorporated in everyday LCD and Plasma TVs, DVD players, DVD recorders, and Satellite set top boxes, by most of the household name major manufacturers.

 

 

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10. Can I switch a HDMI signal between different HDMI equipment?


Various HDMI switchers are available in 2x1, 3x1, 5x1, and 5x4 formats. More HDMI switcher information...

 

 

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11. Can I amplify / split an HDMI signal?


yes we have a splitters /amplifiers to give outputs for up to 8 HDMI displays. These can be joined together to give many more outputs, with no loss from the original input signal. Please see our HDMI splitter page for further information.

 

 

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12. What is the longest length HDMI cable I can use?


HD Ready Technology HDMI cables have been ATC tested up to 12M, which makes us one of the only suppliers of HDMI Adopter / manufacturers to pass the ATC test at this length. However, we also supply large quantities of HDMI cables up to 20M, which are being used with no loss of quality by many customers and HDMI cables up to 40M with E.Q. Circuitry. You can also use our active HDMI cable extender unit to link together 2 cables with no signal loss at up to 30m (sometimes 40M) total length.

 

 

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13. Is HDMI backward compatible with DVI?


HDMI is closely related to DVI and is fully backward compatible. Various DVI - HDMI and HDMI – DVI converters are already available, allowing the two standards to work seamlessly together.

 

 

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14. Can I get adaptors to link and convert HDMI and DVI products?


HDMI to DVI cables are available up to 15M, plus HDMI to DVI adaptors (18 and 24 pin) to enable a DVI to HDMI cable conversion. However, please note that this still uses the DVI signal and only converts the cable so it can be used with the HDMI connector interface. Please see our products page for HDMI adaptors.

 

 

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15. I want to mount HDMI ports in the wall, can I get HDMI wall plates?


Various single and twin port HDMI wall plates are available, with and without short cable rear interfaces. These wall plates do not require any back box to be fitted. Please see our products page for HDMI Wall plates.

 

 

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16. DVI, HDCP, HDMI, HDTV, what do they all stand for?


DVI
Digital Visual Interface. Connection standard developed by Intel for connecting computers to digital monitors such as flat panels and DLP projectors. A consumer electronics version, not necessarily compatible with the PC version, is used as a connection standard for HDTV tuners and displays. Transmits an uncompressed digital signal to the display. The latter version uses HDCP copy protection to prevent unauthorised copying.


HDCP
High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection.
Used with HDTV signals over DVI and HDMI connections to prevent unauthorised duplication of copy written material.


HDMI
The High-Definition Multi-media Interface
HDMI is an industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio/video source, such as a set-top box, DVD player, and A/V receiver and a compatible digital audio and/or video monitor, such as a digital television.


HDTV
High-Definition Television.
The ATSC defines HDTV as a 16:9 image with twice the horizontal and vertical resolution of our existing system, accompanied by 5.1 channels of Dolby Digital audio. The CEA defines HDTV as an image with 720 progressive or 1080 interlaced active (top to bottom) scan lines. 1280:720p and 1920:1080i and 1080P are typically accepted as high-definition scan rates.

 

 

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17. Do I need a wall mounted back box to use your HDMI wall plates?


Rear wall mounted back boxes are not required with our wall plate design. Back boxes, either buried in the plaster or surface mounted on the wall are severely restricted in the rear space that they can offer, and is insufficient for most HDMI cables fitted with standard HDMI connectors. Our design enables the required rear space in the wall for the HDMI cable(s) to be decided by the installer and can then be as large or as small as is required. The inner plate is then screwed onto the wall via standard wall plug / raw plug fixings, which then covers the rear cabling in the hole that has been created. The outer plate is then screwed onto the inner plate, which covers any imperfections and gives an attractive finish. This flexibility of space is essential, as HDMI cabling can take up much more space than can be provided within even the deepest of back boxes, and this is certainly emphasised when using a twin HDMI port version. Please bear in mind the required cabling space considerations when planning your HDMI installation. HDMI wall plates single and twin versions.

 

 

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18. Can I extend / join together 2 or more existing HDMI cables?


You can normally extend our cables up to a maximum of 6 to 7M with no loss of signal using our passive HDMI to HDMI jointers. For longer length extensions, up to a maximum of 30m, (possibly 40m), you will need to use our active HDMI cable extender units.

 

 

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19. Will I lose signal quality if I extend / join together HDMI cables?


For longer length extensions above 7m, you will need to use our active HDMI cable extender units, to prevent HDMI signal loss.

 

 

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20. Are your HDMI cable extender units HDCP compatible?


(HDCP - High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection.)
Our HDMI Cable extender units are fully HDCP compatible.

 

 

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21. Are your HDMI splitters and switchers HDCP compatible?


(HDCP - High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection.)
Our HDMI splitters and switchers are fully HDCP compatible.

 

 

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22. Are your HDMI cable assemblies HDCP compatible?


(HDCP - High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection.)
Our HDMI Cable assemblies are fully HDCP compatible.

 

 

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23. What is the difference between 1080i and 1080p?


1080i refers to the resolution of a picture with interlaced (i) fields which fit together to form one full frame, producing an image which has a TV-like quality. 1080p refers to the resolution of the picture with progressive (p) multiple full frames, producing an image which appears more like film.

 

 

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Please contact us if you have any questions concerning any of our HDMI products