Video, Audio and Network Cable Descriptions

Ethernet Cables: used for Voice and Data Services

• Category 5:    Good / 100Mbps; also called Cat5

• Category 5E:  Excellent /1000Mbps; also called Cat5E

• Category 6:    Excellent /1000Mbps; also called Cat6 (GigEthernet)

HDMI: High Definition Multimedia Interface

• 100% Digital Video and Audio signal delivered in 1 cable; offers the best signal possible
• Most HDMI cables support 4K
• Supports Dolby 5.1 Surround sound
• Can pass higher-resolution audio, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio
• Can be used for audio only pass-through to a surround sound device, etc. if the device is so equipped

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Component Video with Composite Audio uses 5 standard wires

• Video: Red, green and blue bands on white connector for HD Video; offers very good signal
  • Does not support 4K
• Audio:  Red and white bands on black connectors for Audio; offers functional audio
  • Supports stereo and (analog) Surround Sound, only
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround not supported

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Composite Video and Audio uses 2 cables; offers functional signal

• Audio:  red (right) and white (left) audio cables
• Video:  yellow; Standard Definition only

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Coaxial Cable can be RG-6 dual-, tri- or quad-shielded

• Offers functional signal
• Audio, Video and Data uses

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DVI / DVI-I / DVI-D: uses a single cable to deliver Video signal, only

• DVI, or Digital Visual Interface offers very good signal
•  Used for LCD monitors and video cards
• Does not support 4K

Video Graphics Array: uses a single cable to deliver Video signal, only

• VGA / DB15 and HB15 offer very good signal
• Used for PC monitors, HDTV, plasma TVs, DVD players
• Does not support 4K

Component Video / YPbPr uses 3 cables; offers very good signal

• Jacks are color-coded
• Red, green and blue ends or colored bands
• Does not support 4K

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3.5mm to Component Cables provides Video only in a 3 to 1 cable

• Also called a Breakout Cable; offers functional signal
• Used with older TiVo Minis with one output port
• 3.5mm green jack on one end and color-coded jacks on the other end
  • Red, green, and blue
• Does not support 4K

Optical SPDIF cables offer excellent Audio signal, only

• Also called Digital SPDIF, Toslink or Sony/Philips Digital Interface
• Supports Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound

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Digital SPDIF cables offer very good Audio signal, only

• Also called Digital Audio, Coaxial SPDIF or Sony/Philips Digital Interface
• Uses an Analog connection
• Supports Dolby 5.1 Surround sound