Everything You Need To Properly Set Up Your HDMI ...
Everything You Need To Properly Set Up Your HDMI ...
If you have ever enjoyed a movie or video game with dazzling graphics and sounds, chances are you were reaping the advantages of an HDMI cable and connector. Video game consoles, Blu-ray players, and cable boxes each have HDMI outlets, enabling HDMI cords to transmit visuals and audio to your TV or gaming monitor. Despite their popularity, the variety of functionalities, types, and setups can confuse the average user. If not paired correctly with the right devices or cable management processes, HDMI cable performance may suffer. CableWholesale explores everything you need to properly set up your HDMI connectors to ensure optimal HDMI performance.
What Is HDMI?
HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface. HDMI connectors serve as the modern conduit for establishing connections between audio-visual devices. In essence, it is responsible for transmitting audio and video to your television, projector, or speaker system. Different HDMI cords offer various functionalities, such as Ethernet support or specialized high-grade video and audio transmission. Most users typically use one type of HDMI cable and connector, which we will discuss later.
What Do HDMI Cables and Connectors Look Like?
Organizing cables in your home or office can be a daunting task. CableWholesale describes the appearance of HDMI cables and connectors, saving you time rummaging through tangled wires.
What an HDMI Cable Looks Like
The HDMI cable, which transmits data between devices, has distinct thick ends where the connector plugs into your monitor or speaker system. This part is usually rectangular and dense, securely holding the connector. Most HDMI cables are black; however, you can use electrical tape for color-coding purposes.
What an HDMI Connector Looks Like
The HDMI connector distinguishes itself from other cables. Unlike a USB connector, the HDMI outlet on your television or other devices resembles a trapezoid. This design ensures you can only plug the cord in one direction, eliminating confusion about whether the cable is connected properly.
Typically, HDMI connectors are silver, though you might occasionally find gold-plated versions. Regardless of plating, functionality remains the same. The base of an HDMI connector—the bulky part that supports both the connector and the cable—is usually black.
On the market, you will find straight and right-angled cables. Straight HDMI cords are prevalent, but right-angled connectors are advantageous for tight locations. If you already own a straight connector but want the benefits of a right-angled one, you can use an HDMI cord adapter to achieve compatibility.
Different Features of HDMI That Users Love
Here are several beneficial features of HDMI that users appreciate:
Transition-Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS)
Ordinary cables can experience signal loss and disruptive noise over long distances. TMDS protects HDMI from these issues by efficiently transmitting audio and video data between devices.
High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP)
HDCP, associated with Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) chips on connectors and ports, enables HDMI devices to verify the credentials of both sending and receiving devices. Once authentication is completed, data transmission follows a process known as a "handshake" in IT. This security measure protects HDMI transmissions from unauthorized interception.
Display Data Channel (DDC)
HDMI technology supports VESA DDC, which is crucial for optimal projection of data by your devices. VESA DDC is a set of protocols allowing HDMI devices to adjust monitor settings after inquiring about the audio and video formats they can handle. This information exchange is termed Extended Display Information Data, passed through the Display Data Channel.
Consumer Electronic Control (CEC)
Many modern streaming devices support CEC, allowing users to control up to 15 HDMI devices connected to a single television using one remote.
Chroma Subsampling
Chroma subsampling compresses video data by minimizing color information during transmission, reducing the chance of image quality degradation.
Different Formats That an HDMI Cord Can Support
Various Audio Formats
HDMI devices adhere to a minimum standard of uncompressed stereo LPCM audio and support various audio formats for television, movies, and music, including:
HDMI 1.0-1.1 Video Formats
- 720p at 25/30/50/60 Hz
HDMI 1.2-1.2a Video Formats
- 720p at 100/120 Hz
HDMI 2.0-2.0b Video Formats
- p at 240 Hz
- p at 100/120 Hz
- 4K at 50/60 Hz
- 5K at 25/30 Hz
HDMI 2.1 Video Formats
- p at 240 Hz
- 4K at 100/120 Hz
- 5K at 50/60/100/120 Hz
- 8K at 50/60/100/120 Hz
- 10K at 50/60/100/120 Hz
Are There Different Kinds of HDMI Connectors?
Yes, there are five different types of connectors. While generally, only one type is common, the others are important to mention to help you avoid purchasing the wrong connector.
Type A Connector
The standard HDMI connector, Type A is commonly found in entertainment systems, such as DVD and Blu-Ray players. This connector has 19 pins, measures 13.9 mm x 4.45 mm, and is compatible with single-link DVI-D.
Type B Connector
Type B connectors are physically smaller than Type A, providing dual-link connections. However, they are now considered obsolete due to Type A's superior transmission speed.
Type C Connectors
Type C HDMI connectors are mini connectors designed for portable devices. They also have 19 pins but measure 10.42 mm x 2.42 mm.
Type D Connectors
Type D connectors are micro connectors, measuring 5.83 mm x 2.2 mm.
Type E Connectors
Type E connectors are used in automotive connection systems. They secure cables with locking tabs and include an adapter for connections with other HDMI connectors.
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Additional reading:Servo distance - Project Guidance
HDMI Connector Pinout & Pin Connections
HDMI Connector Pinout: Pin Connections
HDMI connectors have 19 pins, although the pin configurations vary for different connector types: A, C, D, & E.
HDMI Technology Includes:
HDMI - The Basics
HDMI Versions
HDMI Connectors
Pinout / Pin Connections
HDMI Cables
USB C to HDMI
HDMI & DVI
HDMI Switch, Splitter & Matrix - The Differences
HDMI Extenders
HDMI Repeaters
Essential HDMI Products
The HDMI system has five connector types defined for the system: HDMI Type A, C, D & E. Type B, although defined, hasn't been used, so it won't be covered here.
Once defined, the pinout or pin configuration for each HDMI type remains consistent, ensuring there are no compatibility issues. However, the different types have different pin configurations, requiring caution when designing equipment or crafting cables to ensure the appropriate pin numbers align with corresponding signals.
Fortunately, as the different HDMI connector types cannot connect with each other, there are no issues with cross-connecting and sending signals on the wrong lines.
HDMI Type A connector showing the 19 pin format.
HDMI Type A Connector Pinout
The Type A HDMI connector is the most widely used and is typically found on most TV sets, recorders, and set-top boxes. This is the connector most people associate with HDMI.
The HDMI Type A male connector measures 13.9 mm x 4.45 mm, while the female sockets are slightly larger to accommodate the male and measure 14 mm x 4.55 mm.
Often, the back shell for the HDMI Type A connector appears relatively large for its size due to the numerous pin connections required.
The Type A connector pinout consists of two rows of pins with alternating numbering along the length of the connector, meaning pins 1 and 2 are at one end, while pins 18 and 19 are at the opposite end.
Pin Connections for Type A HDMI Connector
| HDMI Pin Number | Signal |
|---|---|
| 1 | TMDS Data 2+ |
| 2 | TMDS Data 2 Shield |
| 3 | TMDS Data 2- |
| 4 | TMDS Data 1+ |
| 5 | TMDS Data 1 Shield |
| 6 | TMDS Data 1- |
| 7 | TMDS Data 0+ |
| 8 | TMDS Data 0 Shield |
| 9 | TMDS Data 0- |
| 10 | TMDS Clock+ |
| 11 | TMDS Clock Shield |
| 12 | TMDS Clock- |
| 13 | CEC |
| 14 | HEC Data- |
| 15 | SCL (Serial Clock for DDC) |
| 16 | SDA (Serial Data Line for DDC) |
| 17 | DDC / CEC / HEC Ground |
| 18 | +5V Power (50 mA max) |
| 19 | Hot Plug Detect (1.3) / HEC Data+ (1.4) |
While not all lines are used in every application, all cables include all lines, making them universally applicable.
Mini HDMI Type C Connector Pinout
The Mini-HDMI connector is less common than Type A but is often found in camcorders, DSLRs, and other photographic equipment where space constraints preclude the use of the full Type A connector.
HDMI Type C mini plugs measure 10.42 mm x 2.42 mm, significantly smaller than Type A.
The Type C mini-HDMI pinout closely resembles that of the standard HDMI Type A. The primary difference is that all positive signals of the differential pairs swap places with their corresponding shields, the DDC/CEC Ground is assigned to pin 13 instead of pin 17, CEC is assigned to pin 14 instead of pin 13, and the reserved pin is 17 instead of pin 14.
A complete pinout for the mini-HDMI is displayed below.
Pin Connections for Type C or Mini-HDMI Connector
| HDMI Pin Number | Signal |
|---|---|
| 1 | TMDS Data 2 Shield |
| 2 | TMDS Data 2+ |
| 3 | TMDS Data 2- |
| 4 | TMDS Data 1 Shield |
| 5 | TMDS Data 1+ |
| 6 | TMDS Data 1- |
| 7 | TMDS Data 0 Shield |
| 8 | TMDS Data 0+ |
| 9 | TMDS Data 0- |
| 10 | TMDS Clock Shield |
| 11 | TMDS Clock+ |
| 12 | TMDS Clock- |
| 13 | DDC/CEC Ground |
| 14 | CEC |
| 15 | SCL (DDC Clock) |
| 16 | SDA (DDC Data) |
| 17 | HEC+ |
| 18 | +5V Power (Power EDID/DDC) |
| 19 | Hot Plug Detect/HEC- |
Pinout for Micro-HDMI Connector
The micro-HDMI connector is less common than the Type A or C versions. It is intended for audio-visual applications on much smaller electronic devices, such as smartphones and similar devices that require full HDMI capability.
The micro-HDMI is significantly smaller than the Type A standard HDMI connector and retains the same 19-pin configuration shared with Types A and C.
Pin Connections for Type D or Micro-HDMI Connector
| HDMI Pin Number | Signal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hot Plug Detect/HEAC- |
| 2 | Utility/HEAC+ (NC on device) |
| 3 | TMDS Data 2+ |
| 4 | TMDS Data 2 Shield |
| 5 | TMDS Data 2- |
| 6 | TMDS Data 1+ |
| 7 | TMDS Data 1 Shield |
| 8 | TMDS Data 1- |
| 9 | TMDS Data 0+ |
| 10 | TMDS Data 0 Shield |
| 11 | TMDS Data 0- |
| 12 | TMDS Clock+ |
| 13 | TMDS Clock Shield |
| 14 | TMDS Clock- |
| 15 | CEC (Control) |
| 16 | DDC/CEC/HEAC Ground |
| 17 | SCL (DDC Clock) |
| 18 | SDA (DDC Data) |
| 19 | +5 V Power (Power EDID/DDC) |
** Descriptions of the pins are shown in brackets.
The pinout or configuration of different HDMI connectors is seldom needed when creating new connectors, as cables are widely available. However, it might be beneficial for troubleshooting or designing new equipment.
Check out the Electronics Notes: Essential HDMI Items List.
The above tables illustrate that the pin configuration differs for the various types of HDMI connectors. Care must be taken to ensure the correct pinout for the appropriate connector style is used.
Written by Ian Poole .
Experienced electronics engineer and author.
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