two HDMI functions on your TV that should be known and activated to make the most of it

The ports HDMI from your television are the great standard for connecting devices such as consoles, Blu-ray players or multimedia centers. However, not all connectors are the sameand some of them may hide advanced features that significantly improve your experience. Therefore, today we are going to talk to you about two types of HDMI port that incorporate a series of additional features that you should know. Thus, depending on these characteristics you can decide what you connect to each of the ports. HDMI eARC for audio Nowadays, almost every modern TV you can buy includes at least one HDMI port that supports the eARC standard. This is the improved version of HDMI ARC, whose acronym means something like “Enhanced Audio Return Channel.” What this technology does is allow you send TV audio to an external sound systemsuch as an AV player or a sound bar. Come on, you can send the audio using the HDMI cable instead of needing to use specific cables for audio. The difference between the eARC that we find in HDMI 2.1 ports onwards and the old ARC of HDMI 1.4 or 2.0 is that while the old ARC only allows transmitting basic formats such as PCM, Dolby Digital or DTS, the eARC can send high quality audio such as Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Therefore, Your TV’s HDMI eARC allows you to stream high-fidelity audioand is appropriate for connecting your sound bar or speakers to the television. Always keep this in mind so as not to have it busy with other devices. HDMI-CEC The other connector that is worth knowing is the HDMI CECwhose acronym stands for “Consumer Electronic Control.” What this port does is facilitate the management of devices connected to the television. You can operate several of them with a single remote control. This will allow you to use a single remote control, like the one on a TV, to control a sound system, a Blu-ray player, a game console, or other devices you have connected. And when controlled with a single command, it allows all devices turn on or off at the same timeor that you can control everyone’s volume with that single control. The negative part of this function is that each manufacturer gives it a name commercial, so it can be a little confusing to find out if your TV has it or not. Here is a list of trade names by manufacturer, and remember that they all refer to the same technology: Samsung: Anynet+ Sony: BRAVIA Sync LG: Simplink Panasonic: VIERA Link Phillips: EasyLink Toshiba: CE-Link or Regza Link Here, one last thing you should keep in mind is that the brand of the connected devices does not mattersince regardless of the name, they are all usually compatible with each other. Other things to look out for To take advantage of these improvements, the most important thing is to make sure that Your television has HDMI 2.1 ports or higher, since it is the standard that allows you to use all these functions. In addition, not all HDMI connectors on your television will have the same standard or support the same technologies, you will have to pay close attention to each one. And in addition to the eARC and CEC functions, these ports may also have others focused on those who play on console or PC. For example, there is the VRR, which synchronizes the refresh rate of the television with that of the GPU to avoid interruptions in the image. There’s also ALLM, which automatically activates low latency mode when it detects that a game is running. In Xataka Basics | HDMI ports on your TV: how to distinguish them, differences and how to know which one to use

There are many wireless alternatives to the HDMI cable. The problem is that none of them work as well as the HDMI cable.

That the tangle of cables in our homes is well organized is something that it makes us obsessed for years. Normally, when we talk about cable management we usually refer to the workspace, but we also can be a problem in our salonswhere there are cables that no matter how much we try to replace them, they are still there. One of them is HDMI. Although there are technologies to be able to watch content on a television or projector without having to pull a physical cable, HDMI cable is still the best and sometimes only option. Alternatives to HDMI cable HDMI cables have the drawbacks of any cable: they limit mobility, cause visual clutter and, depending on the device we want to connect, it is very likely that we will need adapters. Fortunately there are technologies that allow us to do without it. Chromecast and Airplay Google TV Streamer, formerly known as Chromecast They are the most popular and well-known options since they have the support of large companies such as Google and Apple. More and more televisions integrate both systems, so it is no longer necessary to purchase a separate device. In the case of Chromecast classic, technically not a wireless solution, But it does allow us to launch the content we want to see without having to use one expressly to connect the mobile phone to the TV. Miracast Smart View on a Samsung mobile. Image: Xataka Home One of the solutions that has tried to replace HDMI is Miracastusually known as Mirror screen or Smart View on Samsung phones. It is a protocol that works through Wi-Fi Direct It allows two devices to detect each other and we can mirror the screen of one on the other. This point is important since it only works in mode mirroringthat is, that clone screen contentit does not extend it or play a video from an app like a Chromecast does. With Miracast, if you want to watch a video that you have saved on your mobile on TV, you will have to leave your cell phone on and the same video playing on it. The advantage is that it is a cross-platform standard and allows you to send FullHD video with almost no latency. That’s when it works well, because Connection problems are quite common. Wireless HDMI Kits If you can’t (or don’t want to) run an HDMI cable to a display or projector, a solution may be to use a wireless kit. It consists of an emitter that sends the AV signal wirelessly to a receiver, which will be connected to the destination device, such as the TV. There are quite a few options available at relatively affordable prices, such as this one from UGREEN that costs less than 60 euros or a little more expensive, like this one from VENTION for 119 euros. The problem with these types of solutions is mainly the interference and, above all, latency. In addition, they have limitations such as lack of HDR support and many do not support 4K video. HDMI is still necessary Although there are alternatives without cable, they are just that, alternatives, not substitutes. Yes, there are proposals that improve HDMI, such as GPMI standard developed by an organization of more than 50 Chinese companies. This interface promises transfers of up to 192Gbps and supports 8K video, but even if it manages to displace HDMI You still need a cable. There are no wireless alternatives that improve the performance and stability of a physical HDMI cable, especially in scenarios where latency is key such as competitive video games. Whether on the console or the PC, the cable will always be the preferred system in this case. It is also best if you are interested in obtaining the best video and audio quality, for example when connecting a home cinema system, and you prioritize connection stability. Of course, you have to choose the cable well and the port to which we connect it to get the most out of it. Image | Xataka In Xataka | The curse of hotels are TVs that do not allow you to use the HDMI port. The solution is obvious: hack them

If you have run out of free HDMI ports on your TV, this switch costs 15 euros and will solve the hassle for you

Although most televisions come with three or four HDMI ports, on many occasions we can fall short if we want to connect one or more consoles, a computer or a Fire TV Stick. For this, the switches or switch They are quite practical accessories that allow us to add more devices, and they generally tend to have a fairly reasonable price. The Anker Switch HDMI is one of the most affordable within the brand, and its compact format is designed so that it does not take up space on the television cabinet. Its price is 14.99 euros and it is a switch two in onewhich allows us to connect two devices to a single HDMI port on the television. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A way to connect multiple devices to one HDMI port The switch They are usually compact accessories that incorporate several HDMI ports: two or more input to connect devices and one out dedicated to connecting it to the TV. This one from Anker allows you to connect two devices, such as one PlayStation 5 and one nintendo switch 2and switch between them by simply pressing the button at the top. This switch offers a ratio of up to 4K/60Hz and is compatible with HDR and with a wide assortment of devices, thus allowing us to connect a console such as PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, an Xbox Series, a projector or a computer, among others. On the other hand, if we are looking for extra comfort, there are many others switch which include more HDMI input ports and a remote control with which to switch between connected devices. One of the most interesting is the Ugreen HDMI Switch (29.99 euros), which in this case comes with three HDMI input ports and a remote control. In case you want to take full advantage of the features of the current generation consoles, Ugreen has another switch (19.59 euros) that offers a relationship 8K/60Hz and 4K/240Hzalthough in this case it only comes with two HDMI input ports. You may also be interested Anker 8K HDMI Cable at 60Hz, Ultra HD 4K HDMI Cable at 120Hz, 0.9m, Certified High Speed ​​48Gbps Cable with HDMI 2.1 and HDR, Compatible with PlayStation 5, Xbox, Samsung TVs and More The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Logitech K400 Wireless Touch Keyboard Plus for TV with a Multimedia Control and Touch Panel, HTPC Keyboard for TV connected to PC, Windows, Android, Chrome OS, Laptop, QWERTY Spanish – Black The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Juan Carlos Lopez and freepik (header), Anker In Xataka | This is the gaming tower that I would buy. The computers with the best quality-price ratio for gaming recommended by Xataka In Xataka | Best gaming laptops: which one to buy and eight recommended computers from 770 to 3,000 euros

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