The Difference Between HDMI, CAT And USB Cables How To Become A Do-It-Yourself Guru

100 ft hdmi cable

What’s the deal with all these cables, anyway? You have HDMI, CAT5 and USB, among others, all seeming like they exist to torture you as you venture to the nearest hardware store in search of some equipment for your home entertainment set-up. You’ll be happy to know the below list will clear up any questions you have about the function of these important cables, all the better to get you shopping with confidence rather than confusion. From work stations to art stations to home entertainment systems, everyone can stand to benefit from a little knowledge.

What Are Precautions I Should Take?

There’s no reason you can’t be safe even as you shop and set up your station. If you have any frayed or damaged charger cables it’s highly recommended you throw them out. Believe it or not, the most common fire hazards are not from neglected stovetops and brush fires, but from electrical malfunctions! These see thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths each year, most of which could have been easily prevented with a little foresight. For those that have a lot of equipment, a surge protector can be a fantastic investment. These will make sure you don’t lose valuable data and hardware from a sudden power surge. Last, but not least, ask for professional help if you don’t feel ready to handle so much technology on your own.

What Is A USB Cable Used For?

Need to buy some USB 3 cables? Let’s talk about what they’re used for. These are useful if you want to connect any sort of device to your computer, though they can also be used to charge up your phone or tablet. The USB 2.0., specifically, was released in 2000 and noticeably increased the amount of bandwidth from 12 Mbit/s to 480 Mbit/s. What does this mean for your set-up? While you can use USB 3 cables with a USB 2 device, the performance of these connections will only be as fast as a 2. But enough about USB 3 cables. What about the rest?

What Is An HDMI Cable Used For?

Does your set-up involve streaming videos or playing videogames? You’ll probably want some high-quality HDMI cables to go with that. HDMI is able to pass video resolutions from 480i to 4K, though you should keep a close eye on what your particular manufacturer recommends you have. After all, no one company is exactly the same! The HDMI 1.4 can accommodate 3D Blu-ray Disc standards, too, so don’t feel like you have to skimp out on crisp video and audio when creating the entertainment station of your dreams. Keep in mind that the HDMI comes in four different types — the Standard, the Standard With Ethernet, The High Speed and the High Speed With Ethernet.

What Is A CAT Cable Used For?

Got Ethernet? Boost it with good CAT5 cables. Knowing which one to choose depends on what, exactly, you want to get out of your set-up. The CAT5 is an industry standard. While it’s a touch on the old side, you can still get some pretty good speeds out of it. The CAT5e, however, is the perfect balance between fast Internet and easy set-up. The CAT6 is only really recommended to those with experience, but nothing is stopping you from going the extra mile! Being familiar with these cables will help you cement the basics and keep you from feeling cluttered. Knowledge, after all, is power!

About: Ed