• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Coaxial vs. HDMI

T

ThatPrsn

Junior Member
After finding many coaxial wires for $4, that as I can see from my HDTV is giving my great 1080i signal of various HD networks, why is an HDMI cable that does the same thing cost upwards of 5 times as much?

I realize the fact you can't exactly connect more than 1 coaxial cable to your TV, I was just curious after putting up with paying an unbelievable amount.
 
Because they can. Everyone already has Coax, so the market is small. Almost no one has HDMI, and it's the next big thing, so the market is huge. Their is no reason other than that, at least as far as I can tell. I can't imagine HDMI costing more than 1.5x as much to make.
 
Originally posted by: ThatPrsn
After finding many coaxial wires for $4, that as I can see from my HDTV is giving my great 1080i signal of various HD networks, why is an HDMI cable that does the same thing cost upwards of 5 times as much?

I realize the fact you can't exactly connect more than 1 coaxial cable to your TV, I was just curious after putting up with paying an unbelievable amount.
Click to expand...

Coax is cheap because it's really simple to make. But the gear to encode/decode QAM over coax is considerably more complicated and expensive than the all-digital stuff that handles DVI/HDMI. It also has problems with interference in some environments.

B&M retail stores charge obscene amounts for DVI/HDMI cables. You can get them online for much less. It's going to cost more than coaxial cable just because it's actually more complex to make.

Doesnt it have something to do with DRM?
Click to expand...

You can use HDCP over any digital connection. HDMI is just the most common one (Firewire being the other big one that uses it.)
 
Yeah, the only real reason that HDMI cables are so expensive is because they're new. That, and a lot of places overcharge for cables no matter what type.
 
Only one person answered my question, which was mainly, why don't DVD players use coaxial, seeing as it is so much cheaper. And apparently it's because the conversion takes a lot of money, but what I wonder, is couldn't they have the DVD player put out that signal, and have there be no conversion within the DVD player by changing DVD's so that they give out the pre-converted signal. But I guess that would mean that they wouldn't work in computers, quite the perdicament...
 
Originally posted by: ThatPrsn
Only one person answered my question, which was mainly, why don't DVD players use coaxial, seeing as it is so much cheaper. And apparently it's because the conversion takes a lot of money, but what I wonder, is couldn't they have the DVD player put out that signal, and have there be no conversion within the DVD player by changing DVD's so that they give out the pre-converted signal. But I guess that would mean that they wouldn't work in computers, quite the perdicament...
Click to expand...

...DVDs are digital. Coaxial cable carries analog signals. DVI uses a raw digital feed. Most HDTVs are digital. It makes very little sense to use an analog carrier in the middle, and adds a considerable amount of complexity.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top