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Cabling & Wiring

HD DVD Home Theater HD Camcorders

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #570: HDMI Cable Throwdown, High Priced vs Generic

A controlled channel-change speed test pits a $6 Monoprice HDMI cable against a $70 AudioQuest Cinnamon 1m HDMI cable, measuring lock times across mixed 720p and 1080i resolution switches on a satellite receiver. Averaged across three runs, the Monoprice cable locked in 4.10 seconds versus 3.90 seconds for the AudioQuest, a difference of just 0.2 seconds. For consumers weighing cable upgrades, the data suggests a generic HDMI cable delivers effectively identical real-world performance at a fraction of the cost.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Cabling & Wiring DIY

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #493: Step by Step DIY Home Automation

A step-by-step DIY home automation guide covers system design using protocols such as Insteon, Z-Wave, Lutron, and powerline/RF/Ethernet/RS-232 signal transmission methods, helping homeowners choose between wireless convenience and hardwired reliability. The guide outlines a phased planning approach, from room-by-room automation inventories to macro-based triggers like dimming lights when a Blu-ray player is paused. Practical applications include Bluetooth-based presence detection for automatic home/away mode switching and SMS alerts when motion sensors are tripped, potentially eliminating monthly security monitoring fees.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVD Home Theater Cabling & Wiring

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast - Podcast #485: Painting Your Projector Screen

Painting a projector screen onto a wall can reduce screen costs by up to 95% compared to commercial options like the $2,700 Ara Black Diamond II, using specialized DIY kits from Goo Systems or DIY Theatre priced between $194 and $279, or a basic Home Depot approach for under $20. Proper wall prep with fine-grit sandpaper and a quality primer are critical to achieving a consistent image without hot spots. For viewers on a tight budget, this approach offers a custom-sized, fixed-screen solution that one user has relied on for six years after calibrating his projector for optimal picture quality.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVD Home Theater Blu-ray

HDTV Almanac - Thin HDMI Cables Are Smart

Redmere, an Irish company, has developed active HDMI cable technology that embeds signal-boosting circuitry inside the end connector, producing cables that are 70% to 80% thinner and lighter than standard passive HDMI cables while supporting runs up to 50 feet. The technology is already available through brands such as VIZIO, Samsung, Monster, and Radio Shack, with some models priced under $25. For consumers who need portable or long-run HDMI connections, this approach delivers full signal integrity without the bulk of conventional cables.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
Cabling & Wiring DIY

HDTV Almanac - DIY Big Antenna

A 40-by-36-inch DIY TV antenna, sourced from a hobbyist's experimental designs on Instructables, promises over-the-air reception up to 30 miles from transmitters using inexpensive materials from a hardware store. The design is optimized for UHF frequencies and performs well at the high end of the VHF range, though it may underperform for lower VHF signals used by some ABC affiliates. For cord-cutters or fringe-area viewers, building this antenna from scrap parts could deliver reliable digital broadcast reception at minimal cost.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
LED TVs Cabling & Wiring Digital Cinema

Classic Pete: Up On The Roof…Once Again

Getting free HDTV channels over the air takes more than pointing an antenna skyward. After the June 2009 analog shutdown pushed major New York City stations back to highband VHF, two suburban New Jersey homeowners lost reliable reception of ABC, PBS, and WPIX overnight. A hands-on antenna specialist grabbed his Sencore spectrum analyzer, climbed onto rooftops, and rebuilt split-stack UHF/VHF arrays from scratch. The results reveal just how much antenna selection and precise alignment matter when signals refuse to cooperate.

Pete Putman •
Bulletins
HD DVD Home Theater HD Camcorders

HDTV Almanac - Torrent HDMI Cables Get Distribution

Torrent's Sureconnect HDMI cables feature a secure-locking plug design and an LED indicator that confirms a solid connection, differentiating them from standard HDMI cables. Now available through Amazon and Dell.com, the cables are priced below top-tier brands while using environmentally friendly materials. For users who need a reliable, stay-put connection in demanding setups, the Sureconnect design offers a practical upgrade over budget HDMI options.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
DRM HD Audio Cabling & Wiring

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #386 - DIY Whole House Audio

Building a DIY whole-house audio system using Apple Airport Express units ($99 each) connected via powerline network adapters delivers up to 10 fully synchronized zones through iTunes and the Rogue Amoeba Airfoil application. Airfoil allows audio from any source, including Pandora or web radio, to be routed simultaneously to every Airport Express and Mac/PC on the network, overcoming iTunes' native zone limitations. A complete single-zone setup costs approximately $300, with an iPod Touch serving as a capable wireless remote control.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
Blu-ray Cabling & Wiring HD Camcorders

HDTV Almanac - Swivel-Head Cables

Atlona's swivel-head HDMI 1.3b cables feature connectors that rotate up to 90 degrees, reducing the cable's protrusion from the port to approximately one inch - less than half the depth of a standard HDMI connector. This design directly addresses the challenge of mounting ultra-thin flat panel HDTVs flush against walls or inside tight cabinet spaces where a straight-exit cable would force the display several inches forward. Priced at $29.99 MSRP for the 3-foot version, roughly twice the cost of a generic cable, these offer a practical and reasonably priced fix for a genuine installation problem.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
LED TVs OTA HD & Antennas Blu-ray

Belden Runs An Unamplified 1080p/60 Digital Video Signal Over 100ft of Connectorized HDMI Cable

Belden demonstrated its 23.5 AWG HDMI cable transmitting an unamplified 1080p/60 signal over 100 feet at InfoComm 2009, a feat widely considered impossible with standard cables. The performance is enabled by patented Bonded-Pair technology, which maintains constant conductor-to-conductor spacing to minimize impedance variations, return loss, and signal ingress/egress. For installers and integrators, this means longer HDMI runs without active amplification, reducing system complexity and cost in real-world deployments.

Bulletins
HD Camcorders HDMI Blu-ray

HDTV Almanac - A Better HDMI Cable

Torrent's SureConnect HDMI cable addresses the common problem of loose connections by using a ferrous metal sleeve bonded to the device on first insertion, paired with a strong magnet in the cable end that delivers more than triple the holding power of a standard HDMI connector. A built-in LED indicator provides instant visual confirmation of a secure connection, eliminating guesswork when cables are routed through enclosed cabinets or equipment racks. With list prices starting under $50, the design offers a practical reliability upgrade without the premium pricing seen from some cable manufacturers.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
HD DVD Home Theater Cabling & Wiring

HDTV Almanac - Flat Panel Wall Mounts Get Easier

OmniMount's new wall mount system simplifies flat panel TV installation by using four plastic discs and a cardboard template with a built-in bubble level, supporting VESA-standard mounting hole patterns. The system is rated for up to 40 pounds on drywall without requiring a stud finder, doubling to 80 pounds when two discs are anchored into a stud. At $39.95, it offers a practical, tool-light alternative to traditional metal bracket kits that often exceed $100 and demand more complex installation steps.

Alfred Poor •
Columns
HD DVD Home Theater HD Camcorders

Monster Introduces Breakthrough "SuperThin Cable™ for HDMI™"

Monster's SuperThin Cable for HDMI, developed with RedMere's MagnifEye Active technology, measures just 3.5 mm in diameter, roughly 65% thinner than standard HDMI cables, by boosting HD signals directly within the cable itself without an external power supply. The cables feature corrosion-resistant 24k gold contacts and a built-in LED activity indicator, and are available in lengths up to 16 feet. For consumers, this means a genuinely low-profile wiring option for flat-panel TV installations and a lightweight solution for connecting camcorders and mobile devices on the go.

Bulletins
DRM HD Audio Blu-ray

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #370 - Interview with Audio Expert Kevin LaTour

Audio expert Kevin LaTour makes the case for investing in premium speaker cables, arguing that higher-end wire from manufacturers such as Audioquest, MIT, and Aural Symphonics delivers audible improvements worth the cost. LaTour, a veteran of specialty audio retail at Acoustic Image, draws on his experience to counter the common position that basic speaker wire is sufficient. For home theater enthusiasts weighing cable upgrades, his perspective offers a practitioner's rationale grounded in high-end audio retail experience.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts
HD DVD Home Theater DRM

HDTV and Home Theater Podcast #366 - Speaker Wire Myths Busted

Speaker wire gauge recommendations based on run length (16 AWG under 100 feet, 14 AWG up to 200 feet, 12 AWG beyond) debunk the myth that heavier wire is always necessary, while electrical signals traveling at near light speed make length-matching cables a non-issue. A double-blind test comparing Monster 1000 cables against coat hangers found that 12 self-professed audiophiles could not distinguish between the two, undermining premium cable marketing claims. Copper wire purchased in bulk from a hardware store delivers equivalent real-world listening performance to expensive alternatives like silver or oxygen-free cables.

The HT Guys •
Podcasts