Thursday, March 27, 2014
Video-Conferencing Outlook for 2014
Through the years, I had witnessed several hurdles and unacceptance (I
admit I was once a non-believer too) due to mainly to the costs involved
and quality of video broadcast (which is mainly due to bandwidth
issues), Video Conferencing have gone a long way in just these few
years. The ever evolving technological landscape together with the way
people are working in this digital era, Unified Collaborative
Communication is definitely going to be part of everyone's life. Thus
based on the trend that was observed from 2013 and the years before,
2014 is undoubtedly going to be bright and exciting. From the
indications I had gathered so far from my vendors and partners, I am
really excited with what the year has to offer.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
All About HDMI Cables And Specifications
HDMI stands for high definition multimedia interface, which is a
system of connection often used with digital video and audio. A HDMI
cable is a special cable that is able to transmit uncompressed digital
audio and video simultaneously.
This lead is used in connecting digital input sources to other digital electronic equipment such as computer monitors, televisions and receivers. A HDMI compliant TV, cable and source are required in order to view high definition video, eight channel digital audio and Blu-Ray. HDMI cable works with any TV or PC video format, including standard and high definition.
HDMI was first developed in 2002 to fill the need for a higher quality digital visual and audio system. Many different television, computer and electronic manufacturers have adopted the HDMI specifications. These standards were introduced by an association of electronic manufacturing companies, in cooperation with major music and movie distribution firms. HDMI uses the EIA/CEA-861 standards that define video waveforms and formats, auxiliary data, transport of compressed and uncompressed audio, and also LPCM audio.
Two different types of leads are available in the market, namely category one and two. These categories only apply to versions 1.3 and higher, which were made available in 2008. Category one cables bear the standard HDMI cable label and are suitable for transmitting 720p or 1080i video and audio signals. Leads in category two are also considered fast speed leads, and can carry video and audio signals of 720p and 1080i as well as 1600p. Category two HDMI cables are the only type guaranteed to work with a cable that is greater than 16 feet long.
When choosing a lead, it is important to consider the length.
Because of signal attenuation, there is a limit to how long a lead should be. Cables that are too long transmit very weak digital signal, resulting to blinking images on the screen. The problem of loss of signal as a result of excess cable length can be taken care of by using HDMI extenders, equalizers or repeaters. These are devices that can be used to connect the cables to each other, thereby extending the cable length without losing signal strength. The maximum length that can be used depends on the cable's category. Cables in category five and six can increase the overall cable length to as much as 164 feet. If an extender used is optical fiber based, the overall cable length can increase to 328 feet.
This lead is used in connecting digital input sources to other digital electronic equipment such as computer monitors, televisions and receivers. A HDMI compliant TV, cable and source are required in order to view high definition video, eight channel digital audio and Blu-Ray. HDMI cable works with any TV or PC video format, including standard and high definition.
HDMI was first developed in 2002 to fill the need for a higher quality digital visual and audio system. Many different television, computer and electronic manufacturers have adopted the HDMI specifications. These standards were introduced by an association of electronic manufacturing companies, in cooperation with major music and movie distribution firms. HDMI uses the EIA/CEA-861 standards that define video waveforms and formats, auxiliary data, transport of compressed and uncompressed audio, and also LPCM audio.
Two different types of leads are available in the market, namely category one and two. These categories only apply to versions 1.3 and higher, which were made available in 2008. Category one cables bear the standard HDMI cable label and are suitable for transmitting 720p or 1080i video and audio signals. Leads in category two are also considered fast speed leads, and can carry video and audio signals of 720p and 1080i as well as 1600p. Category two HDMI cables are the only type guaranteed to work with a cable that is greater than 16 feet long.
When choosing a lead, it is important to consider the length.
Because of signal attenuation, there is a limit to how long a lead should be. Cables that are too long transmit very weak digital signal, resulting to blinking images on the screen. The problem of loss of signal as a result of excess cable length can be taken care of by using HDMI extenders, equalizers or repeaters. These are devices that can be used to connect the cables to each other, thereby extending the cable length without losing signal strength. The maximum length that can be used depends on the cable's category. Cables in category five and six can increase the overall cable length to as much as 164 feet. If an extender used is optical fiber based, the overall cable length can increase to 328 feet.
Monday, March 24, 2014
HDMI Cable - Upgrade Your Entertainment
The old style of analogue televisions is long gone, and the only
place to find them these days is in second hand stores. That's because
high definition flat screen TVs are cheaper than those old TVs ever were
and deliver a much greater quality image. In other words, it's easy and
affordable to upgrade your entertainment system into the HD dimension.
But the TV and the HD video unit - whether it's a Blu-Ray player, PS3, or HD receiver - are only two of the requirements for getting perfect picture. You also need a good HDMI cable. There are some basic things to consider when you purchase your HDMI cable that will help ensure you get the right one.
First, you'll need to figure out which type of lead you need. The big thing to look at is what you're connecting to your TV. Standard Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles, and television receivers will all use a basic cable to transmit the digital data to the TV. But if you've gone the extra step and bought 3D capable equipment you'll need a higher-speed cable to deliver the 3D images to your TV. They cost a bit more but the experience is well worth the small upgrade in price. These are commonly called HDMI 1.4 cables, so be sure that you purchase these if you're looking for a 3D experience.
Length does matter when it comes to cables, and it's important that you size your HDMI cable accordingly. Choose a lead that is too short and you may not even be able to hook up your system. On the other hand, a cable that's too long will lead to signal degradation. This is because the longer a signal needs to travel, the greater the reduction of its strength. This translates into a reduced picture quality for you. Buy the right length for your needs.
Another thing that bears a quick mention is that if you're connecting smaller HD devices like camcorders, tablet computers, and even smart phones to an HD screen you'll need to look for a mini HDMI cable. These feature smaller connectors that allow the smaller devices to connect to your entertainment system.
These are the basics you'll want to keep in mind when you begin shopping for your wire. Keep them in mind and getting the perfect image transfer for your video will be simple. There are plenty of cables on the market, and it's easy to find the one for you.
But the TV and the HD video unit - whether it's a Blu-Ray player, PS3, or HD receiver - are only two of the requirements for getting perfect picture. You also need a good HDMI cable. There are some basic things to consider when you purchase your HDMI cable that will help ensure you get the right one.
First, you'll need to figure out which type of lead you need. The big thing to look at is what you're connecting to your TV. Standard Blu-Ray players, gaming consoles, and television receivers will all use a basic cable to transmit the digital data to the TV. But if you've gone the extra step and bought 3D capable equipment you'll need a higher-speed cable to deliver the 3D images to your TV. They cost a bit more but the experience is well worth the small upgrade in price. These are commonly called HDMI 1.4 cables, so be sure that you purchase these if you're looking for a 3D experience.
Length does matter when it comes to cables, and it's important that you size your HDMI cable accordingly. Choose a lead that is too short and you may not even be able to hook up your system. On the other hand, a cable that's too long will lead to signal degradation. This is because the longer a signal needs to travel, the greater the reduction of its strength. This translates into a reduced picture quality for you. Buy the right length for your needs.
Another thing that bears a quick mention is that if you're connecting smaller HD devices like camcorders, tablet computers, and even smart phones to an HD screen you'll need to look for a mini HDMI cable. These feature smaller connectors that allow the smaller devices to connect to your entertainment system.
These are the basics you'll want to keep in mind when you begin shopping for your wire. Keep them in mind and getting the perfect image transfer for your video will be simple. There are plenty of cables on the market, and it's easy to find the one for you.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
How to Repair Soldering on LCD Monitor Problems in Easy Way
Last month, I had received approximate 2~5 nos of faulty lcd
monitors everyday from customers lived in a residential area occupied by
20000 people. I have never got such a good harvest indeed. How much
wages do I get from the repair only? Unbelievable! It is $6400 roughly
which calculates from average $80 x 80 nos lcd monitor.
I can tell you that approximately 40 percent of total faulty monitors are easy to be repaired normally and the rest is a bit time consuming but it is worth to perform electronic component analyzing, testing and replacement. Once you got the culprit, you solder it out and replace the new part and solder it back on the circuit board.
One of the most important and essential techniques in servicing lcd monitor is the SOLDERING technique which will bring you fast dollars easily and quickly. I believe most repairers will agree with me.
Let take few real soldering examples as follows:
Case 1: Compaq FP731 shutdown from few seconds to few minutes
Solution 1: Re-solder the feedback circuit of the ccfl inverter section C215, C216, D201, D204, R215, R246, R218, D206, C242, D210, R234, R243
Case 2: BenQ T705 got display shutdown after power on for few second
Solution 2: Solder out 4 nos. shorted C5707 transistors and solder new transistors back.
Case 3: Dell e151fp ( equivalent to Acer FP553 Chassis ) No power or power on then shutdown shortly
Solution 3: Solder out the faulty C605, C707, C703 capacitor, the faulty power ic UC3842B, faulty resistors R613, R623, R615, faulty transistor Q601, faulty diode D604= 1N4148 and fuse F601. Solder the new parts back into the circuit.
From above examples, no matter how severe fault level of lcd monitor, the soldering work is always involved in repairing lcd monitor. You can find the following articles explain the basic soldering to advance soldering technique of the surface mounted devices (SMD) on our website.
1) Tools for soldering
2) Soldering safety and health
3) Photos for soldering dry joints on circuit boards
4) Basic soldering technique
5) Advanced Smd soldering technique
6) Quick and inexpensive soldering station
Once you master the soldering skill, you can apply this useful skill to fix the fault electronic component on any circuit boards. Start practice and practice make perfect.
I can tell you that approximately 40 percent of total faulty monitors are easy to be repaired normally and the rest is a bit time consuming but it is worth to perform electronic component analyzing, testing and replacement. Once you got the culprit, you solder it out and replace the new part and solder it back on the circuit board.
One of the most important and essential techniques in servicing lcd monitor is the SOLDERING technique which will bring you fast dollars easily and quickly. I believe most repairers will agree with me.
Let take few real soldering examples as follows:
Case 1: Compaq FP731 shutdown from few seconds to few minutes
Solution 1: Re-solder the feedback circuit of the ccfl inverter section C215, C216, D201, D204, R215, R246, R218, D206, C242, D210, R234, R243
Case 2: BenQ T705 got display shutdown after power on for few second
Solution 2: Solder out 4 nos. shorted C5707 transistors and solder new transistors back.
Case 3: Dell e151fp ( equivalent to Acer FP553 Chassis ) No power or power on then shutdown shortly
Solution 3: Solder out the faulty C605, C707, C703 capacitor, the faulty power ic UC3842B, faulty resistors R613, R623, R615, faulty transistor Q601, faulty diode D604= 1N4148 and fuse F601. Solder the new parts back into the circuit.
From above examples, no matter how severe fault level of lcd monitor, the soldering work is always involved in repairing lcd monitor. You can find the following articles explain the basic soldering to advance soldering technique of the surface mounted devices (SMD) on our website.
1) Tools for soldering
2) Soldering safety and health
3) Photos for soldering dry joints on circuit boards
4) Basic soldering technique
5) Advanced Smd soldering technique
6) Quick and inexpensive soldering station
Once you master the soldering skill, you can apply this useful skill to fix the fault electronic component on any circuit boards. Start practice and practice make perfect.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
HDMI Cables - PS3 HDMI Cable Price
I am often asked about the disparity between HDMI cables PS3
branded and the normal HDMI cable price. That is usually quickly
followed by the questions... "Because it's more expensive, is the
branded one better?" - and - "Will a normal one work OK on my PS3?"
Let's have a look at the second question first. It can be confusing for people to understand if a non-Sony cable will work with the PlayStation 3. For the older gamer, it probably stems from the proprietary console connections used in past play station models, and for the younger gamer, brought up on brands, it is possibly as simple as not realizing there are always alternatives. Due to the technological advancements made with 1080i, 1080p, blu-ray, high definition and the introduction of industry standard connections all previous rules no longer apply.
To comply with industry standard connections, for high definition, the PS3 has to use the same "in" connection as your Blu-ray, satellite or cable box or HD-TV to receive a high definition signal. This means that any cable will fit your PS3, not just the high end, branded version as the manufacturers of these would have you believe. As most gamers are looking at a cable of around the 3-6 foot length, you need never pay over $15 and in many cases an awful lot less. You can find some of the best HDMI cable deals by following the link to my website below.
If you have been looking around pricing up HDMI cables, ps3 branded version that is, you will know that the cost is well in excess of a normal HDMI cable price. But because it is more expensive does it do it's job better than the cheaper version. The truth is this. An high definition cable, of whatever cost, delivers audio and video digitally, which it does by transmitting a signal in 0s and 1s. The type of cable is the same and the signal can not be cleaned up in any way, meaning a cheap cable performs just as good as a more expensive one.
That said, there is an exception to this rule and that kicks in with longer runs of cable. For some reason the digital signal weakens or breaks down when working with a cable in excess of an industry approved length. At the time of writing, you will not find a bona fide HDMI-cable, carrying the industry standard, that is over 50ft (15m) in length. So beware, they are about but to my knowledge they all fail to meet the required test criteria to gain accreditation. Let me know if you know different.
I hope that clears up peoples concerns. You are now aware that if you do purchase a HDMI cable "ps3" branded then you have in a small way been had, as the cheapest HDMI cable price is still going to give you many years of high definition gaming but at a quarter of the cost.
Let's have a look at the second question first. It can be confusing for people to understand if a non-Sony cable will work with the PlayStation 3. For the older gamer, it probably stems from the proprietary console connections used in past play station models, and for the younger gamer, brought up on brands, it is possibly as simple as not realizing there are always alternatives. Due to the technological advancements made with 1080i, 1080p, blu-ray, high definition and the introduction of industry standard connections all previous rules no longer apply.
To comply with industry standard connections, for high definition, the PS3 has to use the same "in" connection as your Blu-ray, satellite or cable box or HD-TV to receive a high definition signal. This means that any cable will fit your PS3, not just the high end, branded version as the manufacturers of these would have you believe. As most gamers are looking at a cable of around the 3-6 foot length, you need never pay over $15 and in many cases an awful lot less. You can find some of the best HDMI cable deals by following the link to my website below.
If you have been looking around pricing up HDMI cables, ps3 branded version that is, you will know that the cost is well in excess of a normal HDMI cable price. But because it is more expensive does it do it's job better than the cheaper version. The truth is this. An high definition cable, of whatever cost, delivers audio and video digitally, which it does by transmitting a signal in 0s and 1s. The type of cable is the same and the signal can not be cleaned up in any way, meaning a cheap cable performs just as good as a more expensive one.
That said, there is an exception to this rule and that kicks in with longer runs of cable. For some reason the digital signal weakens or breaks down when working with a cable in excess of an industry approved length. At the time of writing, you will not find a bona fide HDMI-cable, carrying the industry standard, that is over 50ft (15m) in length. So beware, they are about but to my knowledge they all fail to meet the required test criteria to gain accreditation. Let me know if you know different.
I hope that clears up peoples concerns. You are now aware that if you do purchase a HDMI cable "ps3" branded then you have in a small way been had, as the cheapest HDMI cable price is still going to give you many years of high definition gaming but at a quarter of the cost.
Monday, March 17, 2014
LCD Monitor - A Better Option Than the CRT Monitor
It is not possible to imagine life without a computer these days.
Like any other essential, having a computer is no longer a luxury but a
day to day need. Having said that, one needs to have one PC in the room,
if not a laptop- this would mean making the room look very clumsy and
cluttered. That is what most of the people would use the laptops, which
would not only save the space but could be moved easily or could be
carried to any other location. But for the people, who for some reasons
would not want to go for the lap top would be stuck with the personal
desktops.
The conventional personal computers were bulky and had those CRT monitors, which made the computer look even more bulky and at the same time these would consume a lot of space. The mid way out from the extreme of going for an expensive laptop or being stock with a giant CRT monitor, it is best to go for this monitor. These would not all to the decor of the room, but at the same time would be very economical on the space bit, leaving quite a lot for the keyboard to be placed. However, with the kind of options and brands that are available, one should look at the following points before going ahead and purchasing a monitor in the budget you have.
The resolution of this monitor would mean you should at least have the 1600x1200 or higher for the normal home use. More would be better and as one would go higher on the resolution the prices would go high. Hence, unless you have a specific need for resolution, 1600x1200 would be reasonable.
The contrast ratio of this monitor is another way that the LCD monitors of various brands in a said price range could be compared. There are two kinds of contrasting ratios, make sure that you are comparing the same ones in two different LCD monitors. The static contrast ratio should be 1000:1 or more.
Response time is very important for people who like to play games on the PC. The response time could be understood as the time taken for the pixel to change. Less the response time, better would be the quality as that would mean that the pixel would be capable of changing fasted. A decent LCD monitor should have 5ms. For the gamers 2ms should be good but this would be an expensive choice.
Power consumption is another thing that one needs to look at. Lesser power consumption would be preferred for obvious reasons. The best is to look for the energy efficiency logo which has stars. More stars would mean that is more energy efficient.
The LCD monitor which are with fixed stands would be less expensive as the once which are with adjustable stands. Going for the adjustable stand in a LCD monitor is any day a better choice. A better viewing angle and the flexibility to adjust it would help making the most of the extra bucks that one would be paying for the monitor with adjustable stand.
The conventional personal computers were bulky and had those CRT monitors, which made the computer look even more bulky and at the same time these would consume a lot of space. The mid way out from the extreme of going for an expensive laptop or being stock with a giant CRT monitor, it is best to go for this monitor. These would not all to the decor of the room, but at the same time would be very economical on the space bit, leaving quite a lot for the keyboard to be placed. However, with the kind of options and brands that are available, one should look at the following points before going ahead and purchasing a monitor in the budget you have.
The resolution of this monitor would mean you should at least have the 1600x1200 or higher for the normal home use. More would be better and as one would go higher on the resolution the prices would go high. Hence, unless you have a specific need for resolution, 1600x1200 would be reasonable.
The contrast ratio of this monitor is another way that the LCD monitors of various brands in a said price range could be compared. There are two kinds of contrasting ratios, make sure that you are comparing the same ones in two different LCD monitors. The static contrast ratio should be 1000:1 or more.
Response time is very important for people who like to play games on the PC. The response time could be understood as the time taken for the pixel to change. Less the response time, better would be the quality as that would mean that the pixel would be capable of changing fasted. A decent LCD monitor should have 5ms. For the gamers 2ms should be good but this would be an expensive choice.
Power consumption is another thing that one needs to look at. Lesser power consumption would be preferred for obvious reasons. The best is to look for the energy efficiency logo which has stars. More stars would mean that is more energy efficient.
The LCD monitor which are with fixed stands would be less expensive as the once which are with adjustable stands. Going for the adjustable stand in a LCD monitor is any day a better choice. A better viewing angle and the flexibility to adjust it would help making the most of the extra bucks that one would be paying for the monitor with adjustable stand.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
What Is HDMI and Where to Get an HDMI Cable?
What does HDMI mean?
HDMI represents "High Definition Multimedia Interface", a standard designed by a few electronics brands. It is an audio/video protocol that is used to transfer digital data. Information is transmitted in the form of 1 and 0. The benefits of transmitting data in digital format is that the data losses due to interference could be minimized. When compared with analog interfaces including S-Video, electronic interfaces have way less signal loss.
Devices Supporting This Standard
Many modern-day multimedia electronic products support this standard. For example, most video gaming units e.g. Xbox 360 (the most recently released ones) and PS-3 have an output port that conveys signal in electronic form. Almost all new video players have this port too, including Blu-ray disc readers and set-top boxes. Some computers also have this interface so that the computer screen could be outputted in digital form to televisions.
How to Purchase
To link up two devices both having HDMI interfaces, a matching cable is needed. There are several types of connectors, the most typical one is the standard type but there are some types with different sizes and forms. For example, mini-HDMI is a lot smaller than HDMI. You ought to examine your appliances before buying a cable.
These cables may be readily found in many shops selling electronic equipment. If you want to shop on the internet and getting the item delivered to your house, you could purchase it from Amazon. These cables have different lengths. Find out the separation between your machines before hitting the buy button. I often allow for a bit longer length to prepare for unexpected problems. For instance, if the distance between two devices is 6 feet, you have to purchase a cable of 9 ft long. After all these cables are not very costly, it do not cost you too much to purchase something a bit longer.
Another matter to note is the plating on the connector. A typical plating material is 24K gold. Many people believe that this coating was applied to attract purchasers. No, they aren't. The truth is that ordinary connectors have lower level of resistance to rusting, by applying an additional covering we could increase the durability of the cable. Buying a gold-plated cable does not cost too much more, but may lengthen the life of the cable. Hence you are suggested to buy gold-plated cables.
If you buy the cable from internet stores, make sure you read the appraisals left by other consumers. These appraisals are really helpful since these people bought the cable and actually tested them. Their reviews may provide some concepts to you about the product. Particularly for very good or bad items, people really like leaving comments about them.
HDMI represents "High Definition Multimedia Interface", a standard designed by a few electronics brands. It is an audio/video protocol that is used to transfer digital data. Information is transmitted in the form of 1 and 0. The benefits of transmitting data in digital format is that the data losses due to interference could be minimized. When compared with analog interfaces including S-Video, electronic interfaces have way less signal loss.
Devices Supporting This Standard
Many modern-day multimedia electronic products support this standard. For example, most video gaming units e.g. Xbox 360 (the most recently released ones) and PS-3 have an output port that conveys signal in electronic form. Almost all new video players have this port too, including Blu-ray disc readers and set-top boxes. Some computers also have this interface so that the computer screen could be outputted in digital form to televisions.
How to Purchase
To link up two devices both having HDMI interfaces, a matching cable is needed. There are several types of connectors, the most typical one is the standard type but there are some types with different sizes and forms. For example, mini-HDMI is a lot smaller than HDMI. You ought to examine your appliances before buying a cable.
These cables may be readily found in many shops selling electronic equipment. If you want to shop on the internet and getting the item delivered to your house, you could purchase it from Amazon. These cables have different lengths. Find out the separation between your machines before hitting the buy button. I often allow for a bit longer length to prepare for unexpected problems. For instance, if the distance between two devices is 6 feet, you have to purchase a cable of 9 ft long. After all these cables are not very costly, it do not cost you too much to purchase something a bit longer.
Another matter to note is the plating on the connector. A typical plating material is 24K gold. Many people believe that this coating was applied to attract purchasers. No, they aren't. The truth is that ordinary connectors have lower level of resistance to rusting, by applying an additional covering we could increase the durability of the cable. Buying a gold-plated cable does not cost too much more, but may lengthen the life of the cable. Hence you are suggested to buy gold-plated cables.
If you buy the cable from internet stores, make sure you read the appraisals left by other consumers. These appraisals are really helpful since these people bought the cable and actually tested them. Their reviews may provide some concepts to you about the product. Particularly for very good or bad items, people really like leaving comments about them.
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