Certification is a selling point that confuses the newbie. Some manufacturers market their HDMI switches as HDMI 1.3b certified; others claim their implementation “enhanced,” and most do not publish any version at all. The difference between 1.3a, 1.3b and 1.3c is minor; there are no new features, and the revisions deal mostly with compliance standards. The 1.4 version, on the other hand, adds greater support for stereoscopic 3D and big resolutions.

Labels, like ‘enhanced’ or ‘super,’ do not mean much within the context of industry compliance standards. An enhanced HDMI splitter from IOGEAR, for instance, is no more compliant than a more generic offering from a maker like Rosewill. The label may, however, indicate a feature set beyond the specification, but that will likely be obvious to the consumer anyway. So these HDMI switch labels are simply tools to guide your attention, and you can safely ignore them.

Another confusing issue is the shorthand notation that the industry uses to describe its products. For example, Xtreme/XtremeMac may label an HDMI switch as 1×2. With by-notation for switches, the value on the left indicates the number of inputs on the switch, and the value on the right indicates the number of outputs. Therefore, a standard 1×2 Vivo switch, for instance, would provide you with one (1) HDMI input and two (2) HDMI outputs.

Further confusing the matter is that the industry uses different language to describe HDMI switches and splitters, and manufacturers often label splitters as multi way, such as a Thor 2 way splitter. It may be helpful for the novice to think of HDMI splitters as a single input to multiple outputs and HDMI switches as multiple inputs to a single output. So Thor 2 way splitters are an excellent means to expand the connectivity of that television that only has one side HDMI port.

Finally, some HDMI switches are automatic or auto-sensing, some, including all with a single input, are manual, and both types can come with remotes for ease of use. In addition, almost all automatic switches have manual capabilities as well so that the user can override the auto-sensing behavior. What automatic or auto-sensing means is that the HDMI switch will auto-magically detect the priority signal and switch to it, such as automatically switching to the Xbox 360.

The biggest problem with this type of display link is that consumers have grown accustomed to HDMI, which always carries both a video and audio signal. They simply expect the digital video interface to do the same, but this isn’t the case. In fact, prior to 2008 a digital video interface port, link or cord was like VGA in that it was unlikely to support audio. If your DVI connection does output audio, then all that you need is a simple passive DVI-D to HDMI cable.

The iMac seems to but many other MacBooks do not support audio on their digital video interface implementation. Research and test before you buy; otherwise, you’ll get video but no sound, which is useless for watching videos and playing games and the like. If your link does not support audio, an alternative is to output the audio independently. For instances, most Macs have a digital audio output, and most modern TVs have a digital audio input.

Another common reason that people use this type of adapter is to facilitate dual displays. A common dual setup is using a monitor while also using the built-in MacBook screen. In this case, you can typically buy the cheapest cord available, and sound is not much of an issue, because the sound is onboard. An important factor, however, is output quality. If you Mac and LCD screen both support 1080p, you’ll want a cable rated for 1080p. Older Macs were 720p.

Apple product owners should be aware that their devices often require Apple-branded connections. For instance, an off-brand Mini-DVI to whatever may not work, while an Apple Mini-DVI to whatever will. This can present a number of problems and limitations. One way to overcome this is to buy the smallest, cheapest Apple Mini-DVI-to-DVI you can find. Then, you’ll be able to use that end to connect to most adapters currently available on the market.

A particularly popular solution these days is the small square-shaped switches that contain Mini DVI to HDMI as well as other standards, such as VGA, DVI-D, DisplayPort and so forth. This is a nice gadget to have in your laptop bag; as long as you have the appropriate cable on hand, you’ll be able to connect your computer to whichever support

Mini DisplayPort is a scaled down version of the DP digital display interface standard. VESA developed DisplayPort as a digital audio/video intended for a computer and its display, or even a computer and a home-entertainment system. VESA did not develop the DP and mDP standards to compete with HDMI, and in fact, VESA and the rest of the computer industry, perhaps excluding Apple, have worked diligently at maintaining cross-compatibility.

Apple MacBooks do not support HDMI directly. MacBook owners who want to connect their laptops to their televisions must use either the mDP or the mDVI port. The advantage of using Mini DisplayPort to HDMI, as opposed to an mDVI adapter, is that DP and mDP support sound inherently. DVI does not, and in the case of Apple’s mDVI implementation, it operates just like a standard VGA port, meaning no support for sound or advanced features.

One of the most popular adapters on the market is the Kanex mDP-to-HDMI adapter. The only problem with the Kanex is that it tends to be a little on the pricey side, more than $50. On the upside, it is one of the cleanest ways to convert your mDP signal to 1080p and transfer it to your television. It even integrates digital/analog audio, which some Macs require, and you can save $20 or more if you’re willing to settle for analog sound only.

Some DP and mDP adapters, often called booster cables, even incorporate signal-boosting functionality. The purpose of a booster is that DP is susceptible to degradation over long cable stretches, much more so than the high-definition multimedia interface is. For those connecting a laptop to a TV, distance generally isn’t an issue. However, they can be helpful when you want to connect a desktop to a television in another area of the home or office.

Consumers should note that Apple did not always support sound in their mDP implementation, and therefore, you may need an audio cable in addition to the Mini DisplayPort to HDMI connection. Apple began adding sound support to the iMac and Mac Pros with ATI Radeon 5870 GPUs in 2009. For the rest of their lineup, they began adding it in 2010. Before buying anything, make sure you know precisely what your Mac does and doesn’t support.

If you wanted to watch a movie from your computer on an external monitor, you may need a VGA to HDMI converter. Often, computers only provide VGA or DVI outputs while monitors and TVs sometimes only provide component or HDMI inputs. More and more TVs are providing analog inputs, but many still do not. Do some research and check the back of your TV for the inputs before buying anything. If your computer provides a DVI output, it can be adapted without a converter to another digital cable, but DVI does not support audio. You will need another cable to send the audio to your external device. If your computer provides only an analog output, you will need a converter to properly send a digital signal to your TV.

Companies like Monster and Atlona sell these devices. Prices are generally around $50-$80 for wired versions of these devices. If space is an issue for you, the converters are usually pretty small and rectangular in shape, meaning they can fit in many different places with ease. Many of these converters perform more than one conversion as well. Often, they take several different types of analog signals as inputs and output multiple types of digital signals. You should do some research and shop around before purchasing the device that fits your needs best.

If having wires lying around your house is an issue, Monster and Atlona provide devices that can convert the analog signal to digital using a wireless signal. These cost around $100, but may be worth it to save the hassle of loose wires lying around. Be sure to read the reviews online before purchasing, though, because some of the wireless devices don’t have very good range and may not work exactly how you expect them to. Wired or wireless, it’s up to you to find the right device for your situation.

The notable exception to this rule is Apple. They generally prefer to use the mini versions of DisplayPort (mDP) and DVI (mDVI) at the exclusion of all else. Further complicating matters is that Apple’s port implementation of mDVI does not include support for audio. This was also the case with DP until the standard changed and somewhat forced their hand. Apple began adding sound support for mDP in 2009, and by the end of 2010, their entire lineup had it.

If you have a device with support for DP but not for HDMI, then it is very important that you establish whether your particular implementation has support for audio. If not, then like with a VGA or SCART port, you must output the sound independently. Sound isn’t a requirement, but of course, video without sound is only useful in certain scenarios. DP adapters are available with digital outputs, analog outputs and USB outputs for handling sound.

It is important to understand that VESA created DP not to compete with but to complement the high-definition multimedia interface. The reason why that’s important is that there is no conversion in the DP-to-HDMI exchange. If you have a 1080p source, a 1080p display and a 1080p rated cable, then you’ll have a perfect 1080p result. This is the reason to choose Mini DisplayPort or DisplayPort to HDMI over DVI or RCA or other display standards.

Cable rating is another important issue. Most manufacturers rate their cables at 1080p. However, some rate for 720p, and some outputs only deliver 720p, such as many of the MacBooks prior to 2009. The good news is that it is fine to use a 1080p adapter with a 720p source. In fact, you’re better off opting for it for the sake of future compatibility. The exception would be when you can significant money, but these days, that is rarely the case.

Something else to keep in mind when choosing your DisplayPort to HDMI adapter is cable distance. Most people use these adapters to connect a laptop to a TV and thus distance isn’t an issue. However, the DP standard advises no more than 50 feet, or approximately 15 meters. When using the DP connection for video and sound, it is best to avoid anything greater than 10 feet. If you need more, then it would be wise to buy a booster cable.

The need for this conversion in reverse is more common. Many VCRs, game consoles and even some DVD players used these particular leads. In these cases, we can use a relatively simple and inexpensive passive adapter cable to connect that older device to our newer equipment. A common example of this requirement is transferring our old VCR tapes to digital. The nice thing about this exchange is that it is simple and does not require any conversion.

Converting to this standard, on the other hand, is not nearly so convenient, and you actually need an HDMI to composite converter that scales the video appropriately. Of course, the converter must also have a SCART lead. Most such converters include other audio and video standards too, such as Mini and standard DVI, VGA, RCA, component and so forth. A converter like this is an excellent investment if you have a lot of legacy equipment.

If you already have a converter but it does not support this European standard, you can use a passive adapter, such as SCART-to-S-video or SCART-to-VGA. Then, you would simply connect the S-video or the VGA to the converter. You can even daisy chain, if need be, as long as you are daisy chaining to other analog formats. You cannot, however, daisy chain to avoid the converter. Beware: Some products on the market imply this functionality.

SCART does support audio, but not all sources provide audio this way. In addition, even if the source does deliver audio, you may lose it due to a particular passive connection or because your converter does not support audio. In either of those cases, you can overcome this hurdle by outputting the audio independently. To do that, you may need a splitter that splits the audio line out prior to the connection with an adapter or converter.

The good news in all of this is that inexpensive HDMI to SCART converters cost as little as $50 and a cable will cost a few dollars. However, quality varies quite a bit, so carefully consider usage. If you intend it for some brief presentations, the inexpensive converters will serve you just fine. If you’re planning to actually watch and enjoy the video, then a high-end converter with sophisticated scaling features will make that experience much more enjoyable.

Video graphics array, which IBM invented in the 1980s, is an analog audio/visual standard that uses 15 pins or holes in a 3 by 5 formation. The industry has been using it for years as the primary connection on most computer monitors and projectors. Even when VGA became outdated, such as when the industry added DVI and then HDMI connections to monitors, the older hardware was still there, and it was still the primary interface.

The high-definition multimedia interface, on the other hand, is a digital audio/visual standard using 19 pins in a two-row configuration. The entire industry played a role in creating this technology meant to serve as a homogenized audio-visual interface. The beauty of this breakthrough is that it supports incredibly high quality audio and video, but it is also extremely inexpensive. The low cost made it accessible to end-users, who embraced it right away.

As the market embraced it, the industry began to drop support for older standards, such as component, composite, RCA, Svideo and so forth. This presents a particularly big problem when a monitor only supports the video graphics standard array and the input device doesn’t support it all. Many consumers simply expect to be able to buy a simple inexpensive adapter to remedy the problem, but unfortunately, HDMI to VGA is not a trivial connection.

Making matters worse is that manufacturers on the fringe of the industry have attempted to cash in on the consumer need for simple and low cost by selling a cable that has the new tech on one end and VGA on the other. Does it work? Well, it can, in very specific scenarios, but it will not work in the manner that you would expect. The bandwidth is simply too much, so there needs to be some sort of conversion mechanism in place to make it functional.

The solution is an HDMI to VGA converter or display adapter. The good news is that compared to this conversion in reverse, the technology is relatively inexpensive. A converter with just a few inches of cable between the ends typically costs less than fifty dollars. It can, however, get considerably more expensive as you add distance. A cheaper alternative is to use USB, such as HDMI to USB, which can display directly to the monitor screen.

In fact, component, composite, VGA, RCA, DVI and DisplayPort cables tend to be much more expensive. This has made the transition an easy one because the customer was getting more for less. However, wireless options, which appeared on the market at near the same time the wired format did, have not fared nearly as well. This lack of acceptance gives some consumers the perception that it is failed or even unviable. Neither case is true. The wire-free technology has been slow to take off because of high costs, comparatively, and a reliance on wires.

That’s right: wires. The biggest hurdle facing this technology is that the system cannot yet be completely wire free. This will change soon, but in the meantime, consumers are unwilling to pay the added cost for a partial solution. There have been other issues too. The technology has not fully supported 1080p video, and there has typically been less support for connections to the mini variant. There have also been some restrictions on versatility: line of site, about 30 feet. And there is the issue of lag in gaming environments in certain configurations.

The industry expected computer power-users to be the early adopters for the wire-free technology. That never happened because the advantages over standard and mini DVI, DisplayPort and even RCA, in the case of gaming consoles and the like, have not been enough to warrant the expenditure. The good news is that prices have started to fall dramatically, and in the next several years, we will witness versions of the technology with far less restrictions hitting store shelves. When this happens, an industry market-wide transition to wireless HDMI is inevitable.

If wireless HDMI is inevitable then it begs the question: is it worthwhile to begin making that transition now? The answer is that it depends. If you want to use the technology to make your wireless surround sound system more convenient or to facilitate a home-based computer network, then yes, it can make sense to begin making the switchover now. But don’t begin buying the equipment simply to stay ahead of the trends. A lot will change between then and now. Prices will continue to fall, and improvements will continue to overcome limitations and restrictions.

Because HDMI cables are a digital interface, they provide the best possible video quality since there is not data being lost in analog to digital conversions, which is not possible in older analog style cables like composite, SCART, or RCA cables. One of the biggest advantages to using HDMI cords is that they are incredibly easy to plug in, as there is only one cable with one plug that needs to be connected. Because of their simplicity, HDMI cords don’t cause the same amount of clutter that many older style cables do, especially when run from a wall plate. An HDMI Wall plate is a metal or plastic cover that installs over walls so that the majority of an HDMI cord can stay out of sight, reducing the clutter around a home theater.

When shopping for HDMI cords, it’s important to buy from a trusted brand name, as many of the generic manufacturers tend to skimp on insulation, which can lead to signal degradation. Two of the better brand names to keep an eye out for are Belkin and Gefen, although there are many other reputable brands to choose from. It’s also important to note that HDMI cables come in several versions, the newest of which being HDMI 1.4. The HDMI 1.4 format brings several significant capabilities, such as the ability to stream 3D video and an HDMI Ethernet channel. Another important feature of the 1.4 format cable is that they support much higher resolution video than previous versions, going as high as 4,000 by 2,000 resolution support.

Even though HDMI is typically associated with TVs and projectors, they can also be used in conjunction with PCs by using a micro HDMI to USB cable. These allow a multitude of devices such as smartphones, digital cameras, and media players to be connected to a desktop PC with the benefit of the high speed transfer rates of USB. As its name implies, one of the benefits of micro HDMI ports are their extremely compact size, which allows them to be integrated unobtrusively into pocket sized devices without adding to their size. As with standard HDMI cords, Belkin and Gefen offer some of the best micro HDMI cords.

Another great benefit of an HDMI switcher is that is that it helps us to tackle the rat’s nest. One of the biggest problems with wire management these days is that our home entertainments centers are getting larger, more dispersed and more complex. Each device has its own cable or two, and that can mean a half-dozen or more cables stringing this way and that. With a switcher, you at least have all of those cables coming into one entry point.

When shopping for a switcher or splitter, you’ll find a lot of competition and a wide range of respected brands: Apogee, IOGear, Joytech, Psyclone, TriLink, XtremeMac and so forth. That’s a lot of choice, and it can be overwhelming to the novice. It’s important to know that brand doesn’t matter much. As long as you’re buying a quality brand and the right splitter and cable configuration for your needs, the specific brand doesn’t matter.

After testing a wide range of HDMI and DVI AB switches, from manufacturers like Joytech, Psyclone, TriLink and XtremeMac, consumer groups have found differences in reliability and speed only when dealing with long stretches of cable. Even then, they were usually able to close the gap using an HDMI signal booster. But if you plan to use long stretches, it may be worthwhile to buy high-end. Otherwise, get the most basic model that meets your needs.

Feature set is an extremely important issue with HDMI and DVI AB switches because, for instance, not all of them support 1080p. If yours doesn’t, you can connect a 1080p device to your 1080p TV and have to watch the result at a lesser quality. Another important issue is powered versus “non-powered.” The powered units require a slot on your power strip; the non-powered units don’t. This feature costs a little more, but saving a precious slot is worth it to us.

Finally, when choosing an HDMI switcher, the most important aspect is that it has enough HDMI ports for your current configuration. Go ahead and plan for the future, but only if it makes financial and logistic sense to do so. In the worst-case scenario, you can simply buy another switcher and daisy chain the switches together. Using short HDMI cables, you can daisy chain numerous switches together with no loss of speed or reliability.