OTHER TECH

Cable Cutoff

Q. What is the maximum length for an HDMI cable? Alan F. Wufsus Via E-mail

A. I wish there was a quick answer to that question, but there isn't! Maximum HDMI cable length depends on several factors, including the HDMI transmitter and receiver chips contained in both the source component and the TV that the cable connects. It also depends on the gauge, or thickness, of the wires within the cable, as well as the resolution level of the signal being passed through the cable. In a best-case scenario, the maximum length for an HDMI cable specified to transmit 1080p-format HDTV signals generally falls somewhere between 10 and 15 meters. But there are various solutions available for creating longer HDMI cable runs. An HDMI Extender, for instance, is a component that permits longer cable runs by applying equalization to the signal. There are also a number of transmitter/ receiver systems that use CAT-5 or fiber-optic cables to distribute HDMI signals over distances longer than 150 feet.

Calibration Situation

Q. My DVD player and satellite receiver are hooked up to separate inputs on my plasma TV. The picture adjustments can be customized for each input on the set, and I'd like to tweak the settings independently for all the active inputs. I've already used a setup DVD to adjust the picture settings on the DVD-player input. But how do I adjust the picture for the satellite-receiver input? Joel Briere Via e-mail

A. If you have a standard-definition satellite receiver, you can temporarily plug your DVD player into the jacks normally reserved for satellite TV and use the calibration DVD to make accurate picture adjustments for that input. You can use the same DVD to make rough adjustments for a high-def satellite receiver, but you'll need to tweak those settings by eye once you've plugged the receiver back in. And when you eventually upgrade to an HD DVD or Blu-ray Disc player and matching test disc, go back and repeat the process to calibrate both sets of inputs for high-def.

Cleaning Screens

Q. Will an LCD or plasma TV attract dust and smoke like a CRT does? If so, can it be cleaned without damaging the screen? Brian Newell Storm Lake, IA

A. Surface dust will accumulate on all electronics - plasma and LCD TVs included - over time. But you need to be extra careful when wiping dust, dirt, and fingerprints off a flat-panel TV's screen. Don't even think of using a household glass cleaner such as Windex: these typically contain alcohol, ammonia, and other caustic substances that can easily strip off your screen's anti-glare coating. The best solution is to gently rub the screen's surface with a microfiber cloth. (Most TV manufacturers include one as an accessory with an LCD or plasma set.) If that fails to remove the dirt, try using a soft 100% cotton cloth dipped in water.

Lost About Lossless

Q. I'm confused about the new Dolby True HD and DTS HD lossless surround sound formats. Are they decoded in the Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD player or in the A/V receiver? And do both the player and receiver have to be HDMI 1.3-compatible for everything to work? Rich Anderson St. Charles, IL

A. Whether you get to hear the lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks contained on HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs will depend on the capabilities of both the player and the receiver. Some players offer decoding of Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, or both soundtrack formats, passing the decoded multichannel audio signals to the receiver via analog output jacks, or as a multichannel PCM digital stream over HDMI. In the latter case, the player and receiver's HDMI connections don't have to be Version 1.3 - earlier HDMI versions will suffice. Where HDMI 1.3 becomes important is when you want a receiver to do the decoding. Some new Blu-ray players (Panasonic's DMP-BD30, for example) can pass lossless soundtracks to a receiver in bitstream format for decoding, but both the player and receiver have to have HDMI 1.3 connections.

Wap Show

Q. I want to use a laptop computer to send music and slide shows to my TV and surround system. Are there any laptops and wireless systems that will do this? I'd like to be able to view the list of albums and tracks, and use the mouse to select what songs I want to play. Having the audio information displayed on the laptop is adequate, but having it shown on the TV would be a nice bonus. Robert Corzine Ridgecrest, CA

A. A number of products will do what you're looking for - you just have to put them all together. Start by choosing a laptop (PC or Mac - it doesn't matter which), establish an Internet connection, and then buy a wireless access point (WAP) - a device that creates a wireless network by broadcasting data between the computer and any nearby components with wireless networking capability. Most 802.11G WAPs - the minimum specification you'll likely need to reliably stream both music and photos - can be found for less than $100. You'll also need a wireless media receiver, which tunes into the wireless network to stream music and photo files from your PC. It also converts the streamed audio data into either an analog stereo signal or a PCM-format one that can be routed to your audio system over an optical or coaxial digital connection. Media receivers start at around $100 - the price for Apple's Airport Express Base Station, which I've used and works just fine. Spending a bit more will get you a higher-end model with an LED display for artist and song information, such as Roku's SoundBridge M1001 network music player ($149), or a full-fledged option with photo- and video-streaming capability and high-def video output, like the Apple TV media receiver ($229) or Netgear EVA8000 Digital Entertainer HD ($350). Happy streaming!

To Condition And Protect

Q. I read in a video forum that having a good line conditioner greatly improved the performance of a plasma TV, and can help protect these expensive components. Does having "clean" power really improve the picture quality of flat-panel TVs? If so, are there reasonably priced line conditioners available? Kenny Lee Madison, WI

A. Plugging your plasma TV into a line conditioner - a component that regulates and filters the power coming from the wall outlet - isn't required to get top performance from your TV. Careful calibration of its picture controls will prove far more effective there. Line conditioners tend to be expensive, and there's no guarantee that you'll see any improvement in video performance when using one. You'll get much better bang for your buck if you use a surge protector designed for A/V use. These usually cost less than $100 and provide basic AC-line noise filtering and power-surge protection, as well as a convenient place to plug in all of your gear. It's also a good idea to seek out one that offers a connected equipment warranty as insurance against any power-surge-related disasters.

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