Long HDMI Kabel Test - Do They Work?
As if it's not bad enough with all this HDMI "stuff" that potential purchasers also need to worry about long HDMI Kabel runs. In the days of analog video the reliability of signal transmission over long kabel lengths never was a problem but in the early days of HDMI and DVI we heard rumors of shoppers encountering problems over relatively short runs but things have improved over time however the actual length you can run long HDMI Kabels over is still an industry hot potato.
HDMI Kabel Test
Let's look at the latest HDMI specification for an answer to the question. Every kabel has to be tested by the HDMI authorized test centers before they could gain compliance certification. These certificates may be used as some kind of unofficial guide for workable kabel lengths. There are a variety of kabel that are compliant at lengths over 10 meters there are some that have passed the testing as much as 13.0 meters, so they are proven not to degrade the signal beyond a point stipulated by the accreditors. A good piece of advice is to buy certified kabel with the latest specification, at this time HDMI is at 1.3b, but 1.3 and 1.3a are also acceptable, as the test protocols these kabel need to pass to receive the conventional are more stringent than for prior specification, say 1.1 or 1.2.
Prior to being tempted to buy anything over 13.0 meters (45-foot), they are offered and being marketed as compliant, then it may be wise to ask to determine a copy of the certification because only at that present time the size of 13.0 meters (45-foot) is the longest none boosted (amplified) kabel which i have seen with the correct certification.
Having said that, there are available HDMI Kabels which are classed as active designed to use powered amplifiers to enhance the signal enabling longer runs of kabel for use. An EQ unit is also used on these active kabel which examines lost high frequency data and then compensates for this. These systems do work, but with no reliable information concerning actual effective length, the additional costs involved and the extra possibility of signal delivery failure from the inclusion of extra components it might be a step to far for your house entertainment system and finest left to commercial applications.
But all is not lost if you need to run longer lengths of kabel. Just keep in mind the HDMI spec is the so you can be confident that whenever you build your system the compliant signal (source) can be connected to a compliant unit which can then be connected to another using compliant kabel and when you switch everything onto it will work. As with all specification, inside will be built some leeway - over engineered - and so the source signal delivered to the HD enabled devices are better than is needed for that equipment to function as mentioned. This gives you a couple of options, options that do not fit into the specification so are not guaranteed to work as in the example above, but options which have been proven to work and don't have the added costs of amplification.
There are connectors available which, although not compliant, will do employment and of course there are the over length (for compliance) kabel. If you're to go this way it is worth bearing in mind that the higher the bit rate your HD enabled equipment is pulling the less possibility of success you have. You also need to remember that this also applies to long chains, HDTV to Blu-ray or home theater connected to the internet streaming video on demand at 1080p will be pushing longer kabel lengths, those over a compliant length, to it's limits. However for 480p, 720p or 1080i they may work fine. Do you see just how hit and miss this can be.
Now consider future advances, which you should if you are putting these kabel in walls etc., as if you are running on the limits of the kabel this could stop you upgrading. Take where we are at present. 1080p is the latest resolution for HDTV. Not too long ago 480p was standard, then came 720p and 1080i which uses a bit rate almost three times that of standard 480p. Then along came 1080p that doubles the bit rate consumption of 1080i and 720p. Now we stand on the edge of 3d tv, 16 bit color and 1460p (and above), 16 bit color alone will double the amount required bit rate for current standard resolutions, so you see where this could go. Yet another important point to consider when deciding whether or not to go long or otherwise. It is a fact that on short kabel, the ones from 2-3 meter (6-10-foot) length, the standard matters less. A kabel costing a few bucks will perform just as good as you costing tens of dollars, however when entering the realms of none compliance quality matters far more. Generally speaking, the lower quality the kabel will be the lower the effective working distance is going to be when depth of color or picture resolution increases.
So lets unravel what's been postulated regarding long HDMI Kabels and their reliability. For the lengths that are HDMI compliant, those lengths as much as about 13 meters (45-foot), their me is pretty much guaranteed, even if you are using the cheaper options, for 480p, 720p, 1080i and - even when not as consistently reliable - 1080p so go ahead and use them with confidence. The same thing goes for those shorter kabel of 1-3 meters (3-10-foot) lengths, though care should taken when utilizing them in long signal chains because they could become unreliable. Cheaper options of the longest HDMI compliant kabel working on the limits of it's performance capabilities may struggle within the 1460p, 16 bit color future as well as their use needs to be questioned if their installation is behind ceilings or walls because the additional cost of a more expensive kabel may be less than a complete re-install in the (to not distant) future. Using over compliant length HDMI Kabels must be linked to all the factors mentioned above but with the rider the best method of testing whether it will be successful still lies with plugging it in. Even at these lengths, the cheaper options are still worth considering when the installation of long HDMI Kabels is easily accessed and they work Comfortable with your present equipment.
HDMI Kabel Test
HDMI Kabel Test
Let's look at the latest HDMI specification for an answer to the question. Every kabel has to be tested by the HDMI authorized test centers before they could gain compliance certification. These certificates may be used as some kind of unofficial guide for workable kabel lengths. There are a variety of kabel that are compliant at lengths over 10 meters there are some that have passed the testing as much as 13.0 meters, so they are proven not to degrade the signal beyond a point stipulated by the accreditors. A good piece of advice is to buy certified kabel with the latest specification, at this time HDMI is at 1.3b, but 1.3 and 1.3a are also acceptable, as the test protocols these kabel need to pass to receive the conventional are more stringent than for prior specification, say 1.1 or 1.2.
Prior to being tempted to buy anything over 13.0 meters (45-foot), they are offered and being marketed as compliant, then it may be wise to ask to determine a copy of the certification because only at that present time the size of 13.0 meters (45-foot) is the longest none boosted (amplified) kabel which i have seen with the correct certification.
Having said that, there are available HDMI Kabels which are classed as active designed to use powered amplifiers to enhance the signal enabling longer runs of kabel for use. An EQ unit is also used on these active kabel which examines lost high frequency data and then compensates for this. These systems do work, but with no reliable information concerning actual effective length, the additional costs involved and the extra possibility of signal delivery failure from the inclusion of extra components it might be a step to far for your house entertainment system and finest left to commercial applications.
But all is not lost if you need to run longer lengths of kabel. Just keep in mind the HDMI spec is the so you can be confident that whenever you build your system the compliant signal (source) can be connected to a compliant unit which can then be connected to another using compliant kabel and when you switch everything onto it will work. As with all specification, inside will be built some leeway - over engineered - and so the source signal delivered to the HD enabled devices are better than is needed for that equipment to function as mentioned. This gives you a couple of options, options that do not fit into the specification so are not guaranteed to work as in the example above, but options which have been proven to work and don't have the added costs of amplification.
There are connectors available which, although not compliant, will do employment and of course there are the over length (for compliance) kabel. If you're to go this way it is worth bearing in mind that the higher the bit rate your HD enabled equipment is pulling the less possibility of success you have. You also need to remember that this also applies to long chains, HDTV to Blu-ray or home theater connected to the internet streaming video on demand at 1080p will be pushing longer kabel lengths, those over a compliant length, to it's limits. However for 480p, 720p or 1080i they may work fine. Do you see just how hit and miss this can be.
Now consider future advances, which you should if you are putting these kabel in walls etc., as if you are running on the limits of the kabel this could stop you upgrading. Take where we are at present. 1080p is the latest resolution for HDTV. Not too long ago 480p was standard, then came 720p and 1080i which uses a bit rate almost three times that of standard 480p. Then along came 1080p that doubles the bit rate consumption of 1080i and 720p. Now we stand on the edge of 3d tv, 16 bit color and 1460p (and above), 16 bit color alone will double the amount required bit rate for current standard resolutions, so you see where this could go. Yet another important point to consider when deciding whether or not to go long or otherwise. It is a fact that on short kabel, the ones from 2-3 meter (6-10-foot) length, the standard matters less. A kabel costing a few bucks will perform just as good as you costing tens of dollars, however when entering the realms of none compliance quality matters far more. Generally speaking, the lower quality the kabel will be the lower the effective working distance is going to be when depth of color or picture resolution increases.
So lets unravel what's been postulated regarding long HDMI Kabels and their reliability. For the lengths that are HDMI compliant, those lengths as much as about 13 meters (45-foot), their me is pretty much guaranteed, even if you are using the cheaper options, for 480p, 720p, 1080i and - even when not as consistently reliable - 1080p so go ahead and use them with confidence. The same thing goes for those shorter kabel of 1-3 meters (3-10-foot) lengths, though care should taken when utilizing them in long signal chains because they could become unreliable. Cheaper options of the longest HDMI compliant kabel working on the limits of it's performance capabilities may struggle within the 1460p, 16 bit color future as well as their use needs to be questioned if their installation is behind ceilings or walls because the additional cost of a more expensive kabel may be less than a complete re-install in the (to not distant) future. Using over compliant length HDMI Kabels must be linked to all the factors mentioned above but with the rider the best method of testing whether it will be successful still lies with plugging it in. Even at these lengths, the cheaper options are still worth considering when the installation of long HDMI Kabels is easily accessed and they work Comfortable with your present equipment.
HDMI Kabel Test
