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Why Do HDMI cords suck so badly?

Matthew Quinn

Matthew Quinn

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Am I crazy? I feel like i am replacing HDMI cords all the time.. like i just bought 3 new cords from Filmtools when i was in LA in August.. before that 2 cords from B&H in July (both of which went bonkers).. a client just called saying one of the cords i put in with the monitor package is fried.. what the hell? I'm buying expensive cables..
 
HDMI is really a digital connection system for 'in situ' kit (normally of the home/media variety) and not really designed with the rigours of on-set use. SDI/HD-SDI is much more forgiving - the captive cable nature of HDMI is just a PITA, I find. They're great if left plugged in (TV/Console etc) or for very limited use - but I find constant plugging/un-plugging and general cable wrangling (on set or on location) just ends up killing them.

I've had heads snap or break (leaving the metal connector behind), cables go faulty and all sorts of problems. I try and stay away from them... but it isn't easy!
 
I can think of zero reasons to use hdmi for anything on a professional set. It has no place. Sure, if you can't afford the real stuff, and you are doing a passion project, use an hdmi transmitter or monitor. But if it's a real job, rent real gear.

Nick
 
I used a hinged adapter to plug my cables into. Felt if a jerk (yes, noun and verb'-) happened the adapter would be less likely to harm either the camera port or the cable end.
 
Im nearing the end of my love affair with HDMI for sure nick. I used to look at prices of things and say hey the HDMI one will work good enough.. Wrong.. Just another piece of equipment that works against you not for you. I suppose it really is worth the extra $300 or so you will save on cords anyhow. I'm tired of walking past the camera cart and seeing a piece of tape with the phrase "NFG" stuck on my bag of HDMI cords..
 
Matthew Quinn said:
Im nearing the end of my love affair with HDMI for sure nick. I used to look at prices of things and say hey the HDMI one will work good enough.. Wrong.. Just another piece of equipment that works against you not for you. I suppose it really is worth the extra $300 or so you will save on cords anyhow. I'm tired of walking past the camera cart and seeing a piece of tape with the phrase "NFG" stuck on my bag of HDMI cords..
Click to expand...

EXACTLY. And this is why HDMI is NOT used on features and TV shows.

Like a plastic, made-in-China $60 P-Tap splitter that is "good enough" - but you buy one every other job - it's considered a "disposable" and they can MELT and damage your gear. But is seems so much cheaper that a $300 P-Tap splitter with will last forever and protect your gear. It's not really cheaper in the end. At all.
 
Lol. I just switched to P-tap cables for all my AKS from 4 pin hirose. I guess I had better buy some more expensive p-tap splitters ;-)


Nick
 
Another vote here for MonoPrice.com and also SewellDirect.com -- overall great HDMI cables, as good as any of the expensive ones -- better, actually. I've had more failures with bigger name cables like Ethereal, to name the worst offender. I'm using these for everything from hooking up the Blu-Ray and PlayStation at home to corporate projector installations. As long as they stay plugged in, it's rare to have a problem. Longer cables tend to be more likely to fail in my experience. Keep extras on-hand. I also tend to run most everything over 50 feet with CAT-6 baluns. The Gefen POL (power over line) that don't require additional power for the receiver unit are my favorite and they'll do 4K up to 30Hz.

Now if you're constantly moving equipment around and re-plugging the cables, twisting, pulling, etc.. All bets are off. The HDMI's just don't hold up to that -- have extras.
 
HDMI was invented by 7 companies in 2002 and really was meant for home TV connections. I am not sure I have ever met ANYONE in our industry who likes HDMI. And if you even start with the micro HDMI connection it goes farther south.
 
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