How to tell which HDMI cable it is? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 12:15:44 pm
content: Anybody a good simple test how to determine what type of HDMI cable it is?

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 12:37:31 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on September 19, 2018, 12:15:44 pmRead the label?

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 12:45:17 pm
content: Quote from: BradC on September 19, 2018, 12:37:31 pmYeah. But if there is none?

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 01:02:43 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on September 19, 2018, 12:45:17 pmThen you'll need to give a little more information about what you are trying to determine.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 01:06:50 pm
content: Quote from: BradC on September 19, 2018, 01:02:43 pmWell cables are in different types: standard, high speed, with ethernet, etc.https://bettercables.com/pages/hdmi-cable-typesI have some cables but not a clue what it supports.

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 01:37:49 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on September 19, 2018, 01:06:50 pmWell -QuoteI checked my HDMI cables and they are labelled "High Speed", if yours aren't labelled then you might have cheap inferior cables might want to buy new ones.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 02:03:18 pm
content: Ever notice the text printed along cables?It's there for a reason.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 02:05:50 pm
content: Quote from: Ampera on September 19, 2018, 02:03:18 pmStating the obvious? Maybe you should not assume? I get that its written there. But I have a few that are just plain black.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2018, 10:52:03 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on September 19, 2018, 02:05:50 pmLikewise, about half of my HDMI cables have no print on them and all of them are genuine brand-name or high quality cables.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2018, 05:14:02 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on September 19, 2018, 10:52:03 pmYeah, I hoped I could measure it -some how- to determine (some pinout?) what it is. BTW some of mine do say "high speed" but don't mention EthernetWas trying Dolby Atmos with my ATV4K (connecting ATV -> SJ9 -> TV) and first time since a decade, cables are giving me a issues. Like glitches, audio issues.

author: stevelup
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2018, 07:23:44 am
content: Not one manufacturer ever implemented the ethernet feature so that's nothing to worry about.In your position, I'd just buy a couple of Amazon Basics cables and replace the ones you have.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2018, 07:34:42 am
content: Don't worry about it just plug it in and see if you get a stable picture at the highest resolution and frame rate. If you have issues throw it away and buy a proper one.Yes some cables are better in that they will mangle the signal less by the time it gets to the other side. But this becomes more significant over longer cables. You need a fancy 8GHz scope to characterize how good the cable is. Its much like trying to measure the difference between CAT5 and CAT6 cable. And you can run 10 Gbit Ethernet over CAT5 that is only supposed to do 100Mbit, it just won't be guaranteed to work. It might only not work if the cable is long enough, and one brand of CAT5 might work for longer runs because they happened to get there impedances and tolerances closer.If the cable is for anything mission critical (As in if it fails you will hear it from a client and will have to go drive 200km to go replace it) then don't bother and just throw it in the trash, instead buy a known good cable from a reputable source.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2018, 10:01:29 am
content: Quote from: Berni on September 20, 2018, 07:34:42 amI will just add to this... don't waste your money on expensive HDMI cables. They are for no one else other than Audiophools who are suckered in by marketing.Any good office supply store will stock good quality cables that perform just as well. For example, here in Australia, you can buy a 1.5 metre Comsol-branded HDMI cable which is good for resolutions up to 4096x2160 for under AUD$20.If it doesn't do what it says on the package, take it back for a refund.

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2018, 01:21:35 pm
content: Some early HDMI cables do not have every pin wired.I've got a couple - they don't have any markings on them - that do not pass the 'ARC' audio backhaul signal. This signal was defined, if I recall, in the 3rd or 4th revision to the standard, and these cables were purchased before that. I think it's pin 19 but don't hold me to that.In any case it's hard to imagine you can do any harm by hooking it up and checking if it works in your specific situation. Good luck sorting it out.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2018, 10:34:46 pm
content: Thanks all Ordered a few new cables. Curious if its any better 🧐Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk