HDMI is used in both consumer as in professional areas for transmitting over short distances uncompressed video data and compressed/uncompressed digital audio data from an HDMI-compliant source device, such as a PTZ camera, to a compatible computer monitor, video projector, digital television, video mixer, HDMI matrix, etc.
Although today many products are still equipped with a HDMI 1.4 chipset (10,2Gbps bandwidth), HDMI 2.0 becomes the most widely utilized version of the HDMI chipset that includes the latest UHD resolutions (up to Full 4K, 18Gbps).
HDMI is mainly used in small/medium installations like in Education, Corporate, Medical, TV Studio, etc.
PROS
•Very low latency
•No compression, no conversión
•Easy to find and buy
•High bandwidth (18Gbps for Premium or ‘18GB Certified’ HDMI cables, even 48Gbps now with the new Ultra Speed HDMI cables!)
CONS
•Price
•Maximum length of 20m max for 1080P and 7m for 4K signal with passive HDMI cables (more length with active or optical HDMI cables)
•Technically difficult to repair onsite or to terminate at a desired length.
•Possible confusion on the bandwith supported between the different HDMI cable types (See next slide)
•The HDCP digital protection can lead to some issues with handshake, HDCP keys, etc
The new HDMI 2.1 standard has recently been released supporting up to 48Gb/s bandwidth which was a BIG technological step supporting up to 8K at 120 frames (or 10K at 30 frames), but it will take some years before we can see many HDMI2.1 products around..
Note: Today, we would recommend working with minimum HIGH SPEED HDMI cables.
