Q: “I have my PS3 that I use for Hulu/Netflix and it’s in my basement. I have an HDMI cable to a TV in my basement and one running upstairs to my TV up there. Now, my question is, do they make HDMI splitters so I don’t have to run downstairs every time to switch the cable plugged into the PS3. Anyone have good experiences with HDMI splitters? I don’t want anything overly priced either; $50 is way too much. Hope someone can help.”

Answer: Yes, HDMI splitters would work for this. We sell one that runs around $30.

Q: What type of HDMI cable do I need for my 1080 TV and Blu-ray Player?

A: This answer depends on the distance between your TV and your Blu-ray Player. There is honestly no difference between expensive and inexpensive HDMI cables. Usually the only difference is length and sometimes shape or color. We recommend any cable that won’t hit your pocket book. Cheap HDMI cables that carry the HDMI logo and meet the latest HDMI.org standard will work exactly the same as the cables with an expensive package and flashy marketing lingo; all without affecting the quality.

Rear projection TV’s are quickly becoming a thing of the past, but they are still in existence and can still be useful today. Today’s question revolves around hooking up a gaming console to an older TV. How is this done?

Q: “I am trying to connect my PS3 to an older rear projection TV. The TV has a spot for an HD input, the inputs are for the R/G/B Hsync and Vsync, then the red and white audio. The problem is that the component cable for the PS3 only has the R/G/B and audio. I tried hooking it up and I just get a scrolling image that is really distorted that just kind of goes up and down the screen like an old VCR with bad tracking. This was the only component cable I could find for the PS3, unfortunately the TV does not have HDMI inputs so this is my only option for hooking it up. Please help or tell me what I need to do. It also has the standard yellow red white, S-video connection too. And then something that looks similar to an Ethernet port but I know that isn’t what it is.”

 A: RGBHV is a 5 RCA video connection that has the same signal as a VGA computer connection. You cannot connect a video game system’s component video (red/green/blue) into that. If the TV had a DVI input that would work.

So it sounds like your best option is a composite video cable made specifically for the PS3. These consoles usually come with the cable included; if you misplaced it they are super affordable.

Today’s question deals with how to turn a regular desktop monitor into a gaming monitor.

Question:

“So I wanted to use my Vizio smart TV as my gaming desktop monitor. Now my smart TV doesn’t have a VGA port or anything to do with VGA so I took an HDMI cable and plugged it in my PC then plugged the other end into my tv then I plugged the TVs power cable into the power strip I have then into the TV. So I turned my TV on and checked both HDMI 1 and HDMI 2 and it says (no signal) please help don’t get all techy-tech on me because I’m not the best with tech.”
Solution:

Our first suggestion is to turn the computer off and restart it. Then we would ask if the PC is connected to a standard monitor? The PC should be off when you are plugging everything in.

Once your computer is shut down, restart it with your TV set to the correct input (Whatever HDMI input you plugged the HDMI cable into should be labeled as input 1 or 2). If the PC doesn’t automatically detect the TV as your monitor, you’ll need to connect a standard computer monitor to play with the resolution settings.

In these situations, the number one troubleshooting step is to restart your system. This will usually fix any glitches that are occurring.

Today‘s question deals with transferring data from a camera to a PC through a micro SD card reader.

“I’m looking for an adapter to download pictures from a micro SD camera
to a computer with a USB port.”

This solution is easy.

Most Micro SD card readers manufactured today are small enough to
fit on a keychain; most are only a few inches tall and super
lightweight. They come in all types of colors and are simple to use.
Micro SD card readers are plug-n-play right out of the box.
These readers will not only allow you to transfer photos to your PC,
but also music and other documents. Card readers are cheap too;
they usually sell for a couple of bucks. Just pop your Micro SD card
into the reader, plug it into your computer’s USB port, and let the
card reader do the work for you.

Today’s question is regarding the newest TV resolution on the market: 4K

 “Do I need a new receiver for the 4K TV I ordered? I ordered a 4K TV and I know that 4K Ultra HD can run through HDMI cables but I just to make sure, that i don’t need a new receiver. I have a Denon AVR-E300.”

 Here are the specs for your receiver on Denon’s website. It lists 1080P as the max resolution. So it can send 1080P to your TV. Your TV would then be responsible for up converting that to the 4K resolution.

I am not seeing any mention of 4K anywhere on the Denon website. 1080P is the highest resolution listed. This is most likely because the receiver was listed before 4K made its debut. As for hooking everything up by HDMI, please keep in mind that all of our HDMI cables support the new 4K resolution.

CM, CMR and CMP are all markings that can be found on different cables, but what are the differences between them all? We sorted them out and came up with a list of some of the more confusing codes.

 PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) is a standard jacket used to cover cables. CM, CMG and CMx Rated cables are typically jacketed in PVC. These are all considered “general purpose” cables, and are designed to partially self-extinguish when burned. These are meant to be used in home and workstation environments, and are one of the most common cable types used. These can be dangerous if they happen to catch fire. When exposed to fire, these cable jackets can form HC1 fumes, which are highly flammable and pose a health hazard.

It is because of this that PVC cables are not a safe choice for industrial buildings. Instead there are much safer options, which are specifically designed for use in larger structures.

The space between the structural floor and the ceiling is typically considered the “plenum” area of a building; this can also be found under a raised floor. This area of a structure is used for air circulation throughout the entire building through vents and shafts; so in the event of a fire it is crucial that the cables running through this space do not emit toxic fumes.

There are cables that are made specifically for these areas.

CMP Rated: This is a traditional “plenum cable” that is designed to extinguish when exposed to fire, and are put through numerous fire safety tests in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association. These cables are encased in a flame-retardant jacket that is designed to release low amounts of smoke compared to regular PVC cables.

CMR Rated: This type of cable was meant to be run between floors and in elevator shafts. This is known as “riser rated cable.” These cables self-extinguish when burned vertically and are flame retardant.

Today’s question is in regards to splitting DVI monitors up:

   “I recently purchased two Mini DisplayPort to DVI Converter, but is there away to split the two DVI monitors up instead of having duplicate images?”

 The answer is:

You can’t get two different pictures with the same video card. In order to have separate images on each monitor, you would need to install a second video card in the system. Each monitor needs its own source to give you extended desktop. You can add an external HDMI Video Card along with an HDMI to DVI cable. This would be the easiest solution.

Keep in mind that if one monitor is higher quality than the other, you might need to change the resolutions on the more powerful monitor to match the lesser one.

Today’s question revolves around surveillance cable:

Question:

“I am looking for cable for my security camera. It would need to handle video audio and electric for the camera. I would need at least 1000 feet.”

If the camera system uses a coax cable for video in your setup, your best bet is to go with a Siamese RG59 coaxial video cable with the DC power bonded together. The Siamese cable consists of two 18AWG stranded power lines insulated together with an RG59 coaxial cable. These cables come in 1000 feet spools, but keep in mind that they arrive with raw ends, and you will have to add connectors yourself.

In the event that you need to bury the cable outside, make sure the cable is labeled “direct burial.” This means it is manufactured to hold up against the elements. These types of cables are best purchased in bulk, as the cable will need to be longer in order to be buried.