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Frequently asked questions about HDMI and related products:-
1 : What is HDMI in
a nutshell?
2 : What is the difference
between HDMI and DVI?
3 : What does "HDMI Approved"
mean?
4 : How can I tell if a HDMI
cable or product is HDMI approved?
5 : What happens if I use a
product which is NOT officially approved?
6 : Why do the HDMI specifications
need to be so strict when other cable formats aren't?
7 : What is the HDMI ATC test?
8 : What products use HDMI?
9 : When will HDMI appear in
the marketplace?
10 : Can I switch a HDMI signal between
different HDMI equipment?
11 : Can I amplify / split an HDMI signal?
12 : What is the longest length HDMI cable
I can use?
13 : Is HDMI backward compatible with
DVI?
14 : Can I get adaptors to link HDMI and
DVI products?
15 : I want to mount HDMI ports in my
wall, can I get HDMI wall plates?
16 : DVI, HDCP, HDMI,
HDTV, what do they all stand for?
17 : Do I need a
wall mounted back box to use Freeport HDMI wall plates?
18 : Can I extend
/ join together 2 or more existing hdmi cables?
19 : Will I
lose signal quality if I extend / join together hdmi
cables?
20 : Are your
HDMI cable extender units HDCP compatible?
21 : Are your HDMI
splitters and switchers HDCP compatible?
22 : Are your HDMI cables
HDCP compatible?
23 : What is
the difference between 1080i and 1080p?
24 : What is hdmi 1.3?
1: What is HDMI in a Nutshell?
A: 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 19 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?
A: 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?
A:
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, like
Freeport.
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4: How can I tell if a cable/product is HDMI approved?
A:
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 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?
A:
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 colors 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 form 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?
A:
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
turing 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 smart system, that will both
simplify and enhance the entire home cinema experience
The
HDMI format therefore needs a 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?
A: 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 on request.
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8: What products use HDMI?
A: 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?
A: 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?
A: 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?
A: 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?
A: Freeport HDMI cables have been ATC tested
up to 12M, which makes us one of the only HDMI Adopter
/ manufacturers to pass the ATC test at this length.
However we also produce high 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?
A: 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?
A: 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?
A: Various single, and twin port HDMI
wall plates are available, with and withought 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. This is a crucial part of the HDMI specification.
Resellers must ensure that they are
supplying HDMI cables, splitters, boosters, and other
HDMI products that are fully HDCP compliant, to prevent
any legal action should a non compliant product be found
to strip HDCP content. All our products are FULLY
HDCP COMPLIANT
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 Freeport
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.
The Freeport 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 / rawlplug 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 Freeport 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
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