HDMI cable or scart

timbo2410 · 20-09-2009, 3:01 PM

I have a Sky HD box and I want to run a cable from it to my main bedroom lcd tv (HD ready). I was looking around the net for some cable to connect it up. Now I can run scart or HDMI. I have found both cables on certain web sites and with various prices. As I need to run a cable that is around 10 metres in length, I need a reasonable quality. Any hints as to which direction I should head? I have trolled through endless hours worth of web pages and sites but there are a lot of opinions and even more choice of cables.
The scart cable will cost around £35 but the same brand in HDMI is £39 ... there are also higher quality cables (and cheaper) ... I am currently looking on the Cabling4less web site

mjcairney · 20-09-2009, 4:00 PM

If you want an HD picture then you have no choice, it must be HDMI.

Cheers,

Martin.

timbo2410 · 20-09-2009, 4:26 PM

thanks for that, HDMI it is then. Now, is it worth going for low price (low quality?), mid price or the high end gear. Remember I have to run this 10 metres.

mjcairney · 20-09-2009, 4:35 PM

Bearing in mind that all that is being transmitted along an HDMI cable is a series of zeros and ones, there is no need to spend a fortune on an HDMI cable, although for a 10M run you are probably better to not buy the cheapest available, so I'd probably recommend a mid range cable - I'd go for the £25.30 one on the www.cabling4less.co.uk site.

Cheers,

Martin.

timbo2410 · 20-09-2009, 6:06 PM

Can I ask why they make cables with a 1.2 or 1.3 rating? I also see that the Konig brand have an ability to transmit at higher resolutions as well. Is there something in the pipeline to increase standard HD resolutions to over the 1080 mark? I mean if I took the cheaper HDMI cable at £25 I could pay 3 times that amount for at HDMI lead of the same length if I bought the Konig cable .... I can't see the justification in doing that unless I am not seeing the big picture

Really, I don't mind paying for quality, but is it worth THAT much extra?

mjcairney · 20-09-2009, 8:30 PM

As I said, I would buy the one to which I gave you the link.

If you want to know more about HDMI, then go here and have a good read.

Cheers,

Martin.

Jamie · 21-09-2009, 9:44 PM

Only thing to bear in mind is the SkyHD box onlt has one HDMI. Won't this be already in use supplying your main TV?

Some of the older boxs also had component so you could use that as well to get HD to 2 TVs, if not you'll also need a HDMI splitter.

timbo2410 · 22-09-2009, 5:24 PM

Yes I was going to put up with plugging one or the other in depending on which tv I was going to use. I have seen some HDMI switches though
HDMI switches and splitters.
and I would also have to look for a magic eye so I could use the remote

Joe Fernand · 23-09-2009, 12:07 PM

Constant plugging/unplugging is not a great idea with HDMI - connecters and sockets are not made with that type of operation in mind and can (and do) fail.

SKY HD is 'only' 1080i50 so not as much of a 'load' as a BD at 1080p60 or 1080p24 - which means you may get away with one design of 10m HDMI cable for SKY HD but run into problems if you add in a BD or similar at a later date.

If you don't have the ability to install the 10m cable such that it is easy to recover/replace it in the future it is worth considering a better quality design/implementation of cable - though forget about v1.2, v1.3 (that's to do with supported features across the connection) cables are either CAT1 (Standard) or CAT2 (High Speed).

CAT1 cables can and do carry 1080p60 - they just haven't been certified with that (or higher) signal formats.

CAT2 cables generally top out at 8m (to do with how they are tested) - though you can get Amplified CAT2 cables up to 12m; Media Factory - Bettercables HIgh Speed CAT2 HDMI cables, 1m to 12m.

A 1x2 Distribution Amp (Splitter) will be ideal if its only SKY HD you need to share across two Displays; a multiple In Multiple Out unit is handy if you want to share more sources and or watch two different sources simultaneously.

Install a low cost RF cable alongside the HDMI cable and use a SKY 'magic eye' to give you remote IR control of the SKY box.

Joe

timbo2410 · 25-09-2009, 9:17 AM

Hmmmm ..... more to think about now. If only it was easier to get signal to anywhere in the house .....