What’s The Difference Between CAT And HDMI Cables?

What’s the difference between CAT cables and HDMI cables? This question causes many do-it-yourself to scratch their heads in frustration as they attempt to set up a work station or home entertainment system. After all, time is already tight for many and the last thing you want to do is dawdle when there’s work to be done and movies to stream! Below are the top five tips you need to know when looking up your CAT6 cables and bulk fiber optic cables, from finding the right Ethernet speed to knowing how to keep your materials safe.

What Are CAT Cables?

First things first. You’ll want to know the difference between CAT5 cables and CAT6 cables when going out to the market, especially if high-speed and accessibility are at the top of your list. CAT cables are used for your Ethernet connections, allowing your computer and any additional appliances to be interconnected for maximum efficiency. CAT5 cables are a somewhat older model that can still be useful for some set-ups and boast an impressive 10-year lifespan if well taken care of. CAT6 cables, however, provide some of the highest speed and frequencies seen to date. Consider the latter if you work from home.

What Are HDMI Cables?

Now for HDMI highspeed cables. There are four different kinds of HDMI cables for you to choose from. You have the Standard, the Standard with Ethernet, the High Speed and the High Speed with Ethernet. Knowing which one to choose depends on how often you stream, whether or not you work from home and whether or not you prefer high-quality. Contrary to popular belief, the length of a cable doesn’t affect quality. It’s simply a useful addition if you have a large bedroom or living room for your set-up.

What Definition Should I Aim For?

If you like to stream movies or play videogames, you might be wondering about the best definition on top of buying high-quality CAT6 cables. HDMI 1.4, for starters, is designed to properly accommodate 3D Blu-ray discs, with the added benefit of passing two 1080p signals simultaneously. While the current definition standard for general consumer equipment has remained at 1920×1080, you can still reach for 3840×2160 and even 4096×2160. When it comes down to it, knowing what you’ll be using your workstation or entertainment system for will help you choose the proper equipment.

What About Protecting My Equipment?

There’s no reason to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on quality CAT6 cables and high-definition equipment only to have it go down the toilet due to an accident. When you go to the market you’ll want to add a surge protector on your list. A surge generally measures less than 500V on average and lasts less than two seconds, while a spike can measure thousands of volts in one-thousandth of a second. This can fry your equipment, ruin your data and leave you stranded when you least expect it.

What Should My Set-Up Have?

Now for the grand finale! If you stream television or movies, you’ll likely want high-definition to bring you the very best in color, lighting and detail. If you work from home and regularly use the Internet, CAT6 cables can be finicky to set up but will provide the fastest speeds on the market. Your HDMI cables should be matched properly with your CAT cables so every element of your set-up is working cohesively together. Remember that any and all frayed charger cables should be tossed to avoid a fire hazard and a surge protector can keep your equipment safe from a storm or power outage. Ready to take on the world? Knowledge is power!