Just Sharing This HDMI cables are supposedly simple and reliable items - but maybe not!

jeallen01

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Over the years I had a number of issues with these cables - and many of the problems were not always obvious because I hadn't got any proper method of fully testing them.

Therefore, in the end, I finally bought one of these cheapish HDMI cable testers and I then checked out most of the HDMI cables that I had and threw away several that had o/c connections.
NB: the tester is fine because at least one of my existing cables showed up as having a complete set of the right connections.

That meant that I had to buy some more, and so I've now received 4x 0.5m & 2x 1m cables from Amazon in the last couple of days - and ALL SIX show various combinations of o/c connections and so they have already been/soon will be sent back for refunds. Others are now on their way, but I'm not holding my breath as to how good those will be!

Thus for anyone who uses HDMI cables, and most of us do, I strongly suggest that you get some sort of similar cable tester so that you can avoid being stuck with faulty cables.
 

Lazarus

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I've got loads, all cheapo (Yorkshire!) ones for about a pound. No issues.
 

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I have never had an issue with any HDMI cables, always worked as they should..more like the tester is faulty!
 

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Always test the cable in both directions to eliminate test device failures of the socketry
 

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People sometimes have problems with the cables - and I certainly have had those, especially when connecting through HMDI autoswitches switches (which I need so as to connect various items to a particular monitor). The more complex the connection, the more likely it is that you could run into issues.

The issue is that it is very difficult to tell if you have actually got a faulty cable - even after reversing them - because there are so many data, shield and power lines. Far better to check them out when you receive them so you can send back any duff ones PDQ! s.

@scopus

It's not the tester because I have one or two unused cables that test out 100% whereas a few others, including the 6 that came recently, clearly show that specific connections (generally, but not always, the shield lines) are o/c - something you might never find out and then wonder why some of the HMDI functions don't work/work properly. Thinking back I suspect that upto 50% of those I've received - especially the really cheap ones - had faults
 

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People sometimes have problems with the cables - and I certainly have had those, especially when connecting through HMDI autoswitches switches (which I need so as to connect various items to a particular monitor). The more complex the connection, the more likely it is that you could run into issues.

The issue is that it is very difficult to tell if you have actually got a faulty cable - even after reversing them - because there are so many data, shield and power lines. Far better to check them out when you receive them so you can send back any duff ones PDQ!

@scopus

It's not the tester because I have one or two unused cables that test out 100% whereas a few others, including the 6 that came recently, clearly show that specific connections (generally, but not always, the shield lines) are o/c - something you might never find out and then wonder why some of the HMDI functions don't work/work properly.
You must be unlucky then, I have HDMI switch boxes and whatever leads I have used with it, it always works perfectly.
 

jeallen01

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Never mind anyway - just so you know the sort of thing to get if/when you do have issues that could relate to the "quality" of HDMI cables
 

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No problems here with any of my HDMI cables as I do not use switch boxes for several HDMI via a selector direct connection works just fine for me for 4 devices on one TV & 3 to 4 devices on a 2nd TV :)
 

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I lost count how many HDMI cable I threw away because they were faulty. Some worked with some equipment, some worked intermittently and some didn't work at all. Never from new but failures do creep in over time.

Recently nearly returned a TV because it refused to see HDMI signal with the cable I had but it worked perfectly with my old TV. Whether it was thr angle at which the cable was sat in its socket or something else, a replacement cable sorted it.
 

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@Captain Jack

"Glad" to hear that someone else has run into similar issues to myself<_<.

I think the the "failure in service" issue is a good point because it probably illustrates how poor is the construction of many of the (probably cheap) cables, and how easiliy they then fail during/after installation - and so how useful it would be to have some sort of cable tester around to check them out. OTOH, find that when you receive, and/or before you install, those cables and you can save a lot of time, trouble and swearing!

PS: Amazon has just refused to publish (not that this surprised me - it's happened before with similar "negative" reviews!) the review of the failed-on-receipt 0.5m cables that I tried to post a day or so ago because it had failed to adhere to "the following guidelines:" - probably the section called "Be Helpful and Relevant", presumably because it was not "helpful" to Amazon themselves, as opposed to potential customers :rolleyes:.
 
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jeallen01

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2 replacement cables arrived today (1.8m - I thought I ordered 1m ones, but more haste, less speed next time as I need some short ones:oops:) - Rankie-branded ones that check out 100% fine on the meter whereas none of the other ones received did do (in case anyone still thinks the meter is duff!).
 

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2 replacement cables arrived today (1.8m - I thought I ordered 1m ones, but more haste, less speed next time as I need some short ones:oops:) - Rankie-branded ones that check out 100% fine on the meter whereas none of the other ones received did do (in case anyone still thinks the meter is duff!).


I hope they're as robust and reliable as my pound shop ones :D
 

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All my HDMI cables came with the receivers so I have 8 in use + 15 spare :)
 

jeallen01

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All my HDMI cables came with the receivers so I have 8 in use + 15 spare :)
Ah, and so I wonder just how many of those "spare" cables will actually work properly should you ever need them if the existing ones start to fail (which, apparently, they are prone to do "over time")? - maybe a relatively cheap HDMI cable tester would then make life a lot easier, and far quicker, to get your kit working again? :D.
BTW: from what I briefly skimmed on the net, not all HDMI cables are 4k-capable, and so your 4k TV might not work with them (my tester won't check that, so check the cable specs, but, it seems, those can also be misleading - might need another tester in time).

On, the whole, and as an admittedly pretty crap "engineer" in general (TBH if I am honest!), I would far prefer to have kit which will quickly and easily check "stuff" like those cables than struggle to then try to find other ones which do work.:D
 
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..... or just buy a load of "pound-shop" ones that are just as "good" as the gold-plated oxygen-free carp that cost several pounds a throw!
 

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@Lazarus

You must have a pretty large WEEE recycling bin - or at least I hope you do:D

PS: "load of pound shop" cables = "quite a few quid" - a couple of "decent" cables probably less than ten!
 

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@Lazarus

You must have a pretty large WEEE recycling bin - or at least I hope you do:D


Nope. 100% success. Zero failures. Ever.

Price and quality have an uneasy relationship.
 

jeallen01

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Put then in water, and they dissolve, just like wet wipes

Oh wait !
Exactly, lots more plastic into the water supply:rolleyes:

PS: Night Night, nay-sayers!
 
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