Tag Archive: plasma

Why HDMI?

May 18, 2010

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HDMI (High Definition Multi-Media Interface) is the newest method for hooking up your audio video systems. When properly implemented, you can get the best possible connectivity between your new Blu-Ray player and 1080P TV. It is also the cause of a great deal of confusion, misunderstanding and unfortunately, problems.

What is HDMI? It is a protocol for transporting pure digital audio/video signals between devices in a manner that optimizes quality and resolution while also keeping it copyright proof (thanks Hollywood).  

In the “old” analog days, you would hook up your equipment with RCA jacks. If the connection was good, you got a nice picture and sound. If the connection was bad, you would get a snowy picture or poor sound. Even if you messed it up completely, you might at least have something. 

In the digital age, it either works or it doesn’t:  No picture. No sound. No control. Nothing.  To complicate matters, there are a number of variables which can contribute to the HDMI failure, making the cause difficult to isolate.

So why HDMI? 

Well a couple of reasons: 

  1. Picture & Sound Quality: All new TV’s, Blu-Ray discs and cable boxes are capable of increasing resolution and clarity. This increase in resolution dictates more bandwidth and ultimately a different type of cable and hook-up method that can handle the signals.   
  2. Compatibility between devices: Picture and sound resolutions are not standardized and come in varying formats…480i, 480P, 1080i, 1080P, 1080/24, 1080/60, and on and on… And unfortunately not every device is capable of each resolution. To get around this, the HDMI protocol includes a “handshaking” system where the devices talk to each other and match their best resolution capabilities. Here’s a typical conversation between Mr. Blu-Ray and Mr. 60” Plasma:

Mr. Blu-Ray Player: Hi Mr. 60” Plasma, Mr. Blu-Ray player here and I want to play this disc in 1080/24.  Is that cool with you?

Mr. 60” Plasma: Yeah hi Mr. Blu-Ray. No, I don’t like 1080/24. Only my bigger brother can do that. Can you send it to me in 1080i?

Mr. Blu-Ray: Ok I guess. Not as nice a picture, but here you go. Enjoy the show. 

  1. Control: We all wish we had more control and HDMI is lucky enough to say that it does. Inside the communication link of HDMI is a provision for devices to talk to each other. For example, the simple act of turning on your Blu-Ray player could trigger your TV to automatically turn on and go the right input. Pretty cool. 
  2. Copyright Protection. This is the biggie.  Hollywood is terrified of having perfect copies of their movies reproduced and subsequently sold by street merchants on sidewalks atop an old blanket. Not good for their image or profits. So, they imposed a system on HDMI to prevent unauthorized reproduction. Basically it requires the two devices to establish and maintain a dialogue the ENTIRE time picture and sound are being played. Specifically, the receiving device (the TV) requests to see a “key” from the sending device (a Blu-Ray player). If the key looks good, the show goes on. If not, the curtains come crashing down. This dialogue happens many times per second. Remember the conversation between Mr. Blu-Ray and Mr. 60” Plasma? Well, here is what their continued chatter looks like: 

Mr. 60” Plasma: Hi Mr. Blu-Ray, can I see your key please?

Mr. Blu-Ray: Sure thing dude, here it is.

Mr. 60” Plasma: Thanks, looks good.

Wait 100th of a second

Mr. 60” Plasma: Hi Mr. Blu-Ray, can I see your key please?

Mr. Blu-Ray: Sure thing dude, here it is.

Mr. 60” Plasma: Thanks, looks good. 

Wait 100th of a second 

Mr. 60” Plasma: Hi Mr. Blu-Ray, can I see your key please?

Mr. Blu-Ray: Sure thing dude, here it is.

Mr. 60” Plasma: Thanks, looks good. 

And so on and so on. Really boring guys huh? 

All of the above sound reasonable so why is there a problem? Let’s look at the pitfalls of each:

 Picture & Sound Quality: Frankly this is the best part of HDMI and rarely is there a problem with how good the audio and video can be using this medium. Score 10 for HDMI! 

  1. Compatibility between devices: The whole idea of the two devices working together to give you the best resolution sounds great right? Most of the time it is. But the issues it can create are irritating. When you start up your system for example, you will have this black screen that says “no signal” even though you get sound.  And forget fast channel surfing: each time you change channels, Mr. Blu-Ray and Mr. 60” Plasma have to re-introduce themselves and negotiate a resolution. This means that you could get a blank screen for 3-5 seconds between each channel change. Score -3 for HDMI. 
  2. Control: A little is good but too much is overbearing. Imagine keeping your cable box on to record a show while changing over to Blu-ray to watch a movie and the TV won’t let you? Or how about using the cable box to listen to one of the music channels on your stereo but you can’t because when you turn off the TV, the cable box shuts down. And there are many other little maddening scenarios which will leave you thinking that your system is possessed. Score -2 for HDMI. 
  3. Copyright Protection: Remember I said this was the biggie? Well it is. If any one of the hundreds of boring conversations between Mr. Blu-ray and Mr. 60” Plasma TV gets interrupted, even just one, your screen goes blank. Nada. Zero. Nothing. And it could take 5-10 seconds for it to come back during which you will likely switch channels etc. trying to “make it work” which unfortunately makes it worse. Score -5 for HDMI. 

How do get around these issues?

  1. Use great cables! HDMI cables will not only get you better picture and sound quality, they will help to make sure Mr. 60” Plasma and Mr. Blu-ray keep talking. Think of the cable as a marriage therapist.
  2. Install the cable correctly: Any little crimp or extra pressure on a cable will cause a breakdown in communications. You know what that means.
  3. Use compatible equipment: If you are insistent on building the system yourself use  devices from the same manufacturer.
  4. Stabilize your power using a UPS: Any slight variations in power will impact the conversations between Mr. Plasma and Mr. Blu-Ray.  
  5. Do NOT attempt to run HDMI long distances (beyond 18’), regardless of what the specs say. Unless you are lucky, it will not work right.

 

LCD, LED, Plasma and Why Do I Care?

May 5, 2010

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By far, this is biggest question we get. Unfortunately, there is no right or wrong answer as each of the technologies offers differences that benefit certain applications. Plasma still provides the best picture assuming you do not have high ambient light or reflectivity. In contrast, LCD is great for those high ambient light rooms.  And “new” LED technology is simply a twist on LCD that enables TV’s to become ridiculously thin.

Why is it so expensive to install a TV?

March 29, 2010

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On any given Sunday there will be a flyer showing the latest sale prices on a TV. This past weekend I saw a 42” plasma on sale from Best Circuit for $475. Wow. Just five years ago a 42” plasma was nearly $5,000!

Now it would seem that the installation shouldn’t be much more right? I mean after all, it’s just a TV.

No, not really. Even a “simple” installation requires thought, planning and good supporting products. 

Let’s start with the TV. The one on sale is probably not all that great. It is there to catch your attention from a price perspective.  Even if you don’t hire a professional for installation, get the better TV. It will be worth it.

Next there are the cables, mounts and surge protectors.  Get good ones. It makes no sense to have a cheap mount that won’t secure the TV or cheap cables that can’t carry the HDMI signal properly. And surge protection, you bet. One nearby lightning strike can destroy your investment.

Then there other important items like having a small cavity behind the TV to store wiring, a great remote control to simplify your system, a conduit for future wire runs, and connectivity for Ethernet.

The advances in technology provide us with an incredible viewing experience, but the days of opening a box, placing the set on a coffee table and adjusting the bunny ears are long gone.

The Future of TV

February 26, 2010

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The capabilities of audio and video source gear have exploded in just the past year.  Someone with a sweet home A/V system used to have a VCR, DVD player, cable or satellite receiver (or both), Tivo, reel-to-reel, CD changer, cassette player, and phonograph.  This took up a lot of space, had a mess of wires, and required extreme dexterity to operate all the remotes, or one really well programmed universal remote.

 Today, the consumer can get a Blu-Ray player with Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Pandora, weather information, and access to local computer files.  TV’s are available with similar capabilities.  The ability to stream music and movies over the web is making source gear less necessary.

 However, video quality is still a bit of an issue.  Services that stream video in real time typically can’t give you the high quality picture of cable or Satellite.  Services such as Amazon.com and VUDU allow you to download movies for purchase or rental in higher resolutions.

 It won’t be long before you will be able to satisfy all of your audio and video desires by simply purchasing a TV, connecting it to the internet, and using the TV remote to watch TV, download and stream movies, and listen to music.

 This likelihood leaves me wondering how this will affect the movie and music industry, video gaming capabilities, power consumption (no more cable and satellite boxes hogging power when you aren’t using them).

 How do you think the landscape will change?  What issues might this cause or solve?  Let us know!