Ditto Brett's suggestion about JEff Boccaccio's session. HE knows everything about HDMI.
[Link: remotecentral.com]

Also, HDMI (Silicon Image) is in fact exhibitng this year. I don't think they've ever exhibited at an industry trade event before, and they're really reaching out to the channel.

I'm doing a Q&A with HDMI reps Thurs. 3:30 next to the EH booth -- look for the stage and chairs. Bring your questions. In fact, send me your questions, and I"ll be sure to ask.

Here's a couple of recent items from their new group, SimplayHD:

Group Quashes Notion that HDMI 'Can't Do' 1080p
SimplayHD, a wholly owned subsidiary of HDMI creator Silicon Image, sets straight some misconceptions about 1080p.
[Link: blog.ce-pro.com]

New Simplay Designation Means HDMI REALLY Works
[Link: blog.ce-pro.com]

"Is the engineer(s) here that designed that feeble connector?"

"Most Custom installers build cables to suit their jobs. why Not this cable and connector?"

" Are you working any other type cables/connectors and formats to roll out?"

"Could you compare this to a Digital SDI for strengths and weaknesses?"

If you would take the class you might find out the answer, as if this question is meaningful in any way. You expect to hunt the individual down and string him up from a tree? The connector is being changed so that it will have a locking mechanism. Sometimes.............

You have any idea what it takes to design a cable system to pass speeds of 1.66GHz where every signal MUST ARRIVE AT THE EXACT SAME INSTANT, give or take a few nanoseconds? You CANNOT field terminate this cable. Half the cables made in China on molds cannot pass.

One of the points Jeff makes is to learn and know before you speak and complain. Take the course. Make the time.


Again, were you to take the course you would discover that A) HDMI is it. Get over it and begin to deal with it. There will be other solutions but with the exception of fiber which is costly, they will all have their own specific limitations. Why is it that XM and Serius have those stupid connectors? Shouldn't they use F-connectors, like everyone else? And those idiots at Extron and Key Digital. Don't they know that RCA connectors are the consumer standard? Why would they place BNC connectors on thier switchers? What's up with that?

I am growing tired of the SDI comparison. A) It does not support HDCP so there is NO WAY any content will be released. It's a non starter so why continue to being it up? Can you modify a unit for SDI? Sure? And what is the resolution of a SDI signal? 480i. If all you care about is 480i or 480P stick with analog distribution. What will you offer a client who wishes to partake in 720P/1080i/1080P native rate content, especially if it is HDCP encoded? Nothing if you are offering them SDI.

Do yourself a favor. Skip out on one of the less useful courses you have signed up for and make time for this one. I promise that you will not only have all of your questions answered but you will find more useful knowledge imparted here then in any two of the other courses you will take.

And folks stop the bitching about HDMI. It ain't going away and other than minor changes such as the way the connector locks and now, I understand that analog component will not be automatically turned off, it is what we have. If it has warts we will need to learn what they are and how to deal with it but deal with it we will.

Alan

Julie, Alan.
Thanks for the class promotion.
Jeff will also be moderating a panel Tuesday, 4PM on "Digiital connectivity".
"Emerging Technologies" Friday 2PM.
Alan has pretty much pegged it .
HDMI is OUR future at least for the next 5/8 years.

Not sure what gave you that idea. You're probably refering to standard def version of SDI. HD-SDI supports 720p/1080i through a single cable, up to 100 meters. Dual link HD-SDI can support 1080p.
People keep bringing it up because it has some technical benefits over HDMI, such as field termination of standard coax cables with BNC connectors, and the distances it can go. There is also no technical reason why HDCP over HD-SDI cannot exist. But there is a different reason why it did not gain traction in the consumer market.

HD-SDI is a non royalty bearing standard offered by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. SMPTE doesn't really benefit either way from a manufacture adopting it or not. It was never in SMPTE's agenda to take over the consumer digital video market.

On the other hand, Silicon Image had recognized the market opportunity, and leveraged their existing work with DVI for the PC world, and combined that with HDCP to offer their own standard. That combined with strategic partnerships with top tier CE companies like Matsushita, Philips, Sony, etc. has allowed them to take over the world of consumer digital video.

Is it the best technical solution? Perhaps not. However it takes more than the best technical solution to win the market.

The content providers rule, not the hardware manufacturers. Someone has to pay for the copy protection software development and as far as Hollywood is concerned this has been done. You can bay at the moon all you want and preach to the converted about other superior technologies. Hollywood could care less. They have the format they want, copy code is written for it and no matter how often we suggest that it's China who is ripping them off and not Mr. and Mrs. America making personal copies on to their DVD servers it will not change things.

If it does not have copy protection its not going to gain any support. The content providers have spoken. They have the solution they want not the one you or I might wish but this is all there will be. Get used to it, learn to deal with it and stop the bitching because it's not going to change anything.

In theory one of my rants about a serial protocol can be brought to a manufacturer's attention and it could be fixed. I've managed to influence two protocols in minor ways this past year. These were small companies who still care and to whom one can speak to the top people. A'int no way HDMI is going to change save in a few cosmetic ways, even if every CI shop would stop work and picket every movie studio in existance. Whether HDMI is good, bad or indifferent Hollywood could care less. It's what they have decided upon, it meets their interests and you don't need to use it but you are not going to get anything else. Were you to take Jeff's course you would find this out. It's about money. They have spent the money developing this for their own interests and whether it fits the needs of CI matters not a bit. Use it, don't use it but this is it. In broadcase it may be different but not in consumer electronics. Since I know of few consumers who purchase thier own cable boxes, hacking the satellite companys' IRDs is technically illegal, and consumer DVD players only come with HDMI ( though you can again hack them if you'd like ). And after you have hacked the equipment you will have to hack the sync or displays. And then you wil watch what?

Alan

Alan

Thank you Late Night Bill on the HD-SDI information. At least I have better insight into that portion of it, even though I don't like it! Two BNCs are so much easier to deal with.

My Point with those needling questions was to see how lame the response would be and to show dissatisfaction with the cable, connector and incompatibility with some products. This could become even a bigger time waster when it comes to set top boxes. The only way to make a change is to let your voice be heard, if you feel it falls on deaf ears...so be it. It makes me feel better to say those words.

[quote]You have any idea what it takes to design a cable system to pass speeds of 1.66GHz where every signal MUST ARRIVE AT THE EXACT SAME INSTANT, give or take a few nanoseconds? You CANNOT field terminate this cable. Half the cables made in China on molds cannot pass. [/quote] Do you really believe this stuff you spew? IF Frequency was the only criteria, I have a Sh!tload of RG6 that is rated at 3.00GhZ, but that is not the only criteria now is it? So the chinese are wasting half of their cables? Really Alan, I have never known any Chinese too waste much of anything!

So Boeing is the only company that knows how to fly as well huh?

XM and Sirius use the SMB connector, which has ben around for years and is a modification (quick release) of the SMA, which has been around since I was using them in RF circuits in High School, decades ago. So... what else has the HDMI connector been used in except our wallets and patients ?

BrentM, The HDMI connector my be in YOUR future for 5/8years, but it won't be in mine unless necessary. Adapters will be made, they always are when situations necessitate the need. Now, if adaptation is part of the class curriculum, that would be usefull.

BrentM, The HDMI connector my be in YOUR future for 5/8years, but it won't be in mine unless necessary. Adapters will be made, they always are when situations necessitate the need. Now, if adaptation is part of the class curriculum, that would be usefull.

GotGame:
I would rather my future be analog compression (very low failure).
But as noted above content is king.
And content requires protection.
There will be more options for distance and distribution.
However the at product connector will remain HDMI.
We need to learn as much as possible in order to not look ignorant.
Frequency is not the only criteria in fact it is low on the list.
Intermodal Skew is the number one issue (timing).
That is what separates the men from the boys.
Many cable (and CE) mfgr's are having problems shifting to HDMI.
They are still thinking in analog terms.
Adapt or perish.
Learn how to work with your future (if you want to remain a viable business) and take advantage of the confusion.
Remember this is all about lawyers, not performance or convinence.

Bill, will I see you before the show?

I am not worried too much about it Brent. Before it really takes hold as it may, I will probably be out of the industry. My own business is turning into more Commercial, so I have little HDMI in my future. Certainly, I will enjoy the occasional cable sale from the projector down to the Source(s) through the conduit, because this is not the be-all, end-all cable solution.
The problem for me is the entire engineered solution from start to finish that has resulted in the HDMI connector, HDCP and less-than-elegant transport of a 1080p/i or 720p or above signal. The overcomplicated process and sheer waste of energy for all involved boggles my mind.

Cant argue that.

GotGame...
Yeah, I was wondering if Exxtron, Geffen or Muxlab have come out with any adaptors...yet? I'll do a little searching around & let you know if I find anything...

I am going to try and squeeze a visit in Tuesday, but not looking good. I'll be at the show Friday. I'll call.