Today’s Webinar: Introduction to A/V Connectivity Lastar Is A Leading Manufacturer Of Low-Voltage Connectivity and Cabling Solutions Presented to you by: Cables To Go & Quiktron Are Sister Companies Of Lastar 

Today’s Webinar: Introduction to A/V Connectivity Lastar: •Was established in 1984 •Has more than 800 employees •Developed award-winning, RapidRun www.CablesToGo.com www.Quiktron.com www.RapidRun.com Visit www.lastar.com for the complete story 

Introduction To A/V Connectivity An Overview Of Contemporary A/V Infrastructure Requirements 

Our Agenda • Basic Video Concepts – Aspect ratio and image shape – Understanding resolution and pixels – Basic electrical concepts important to A/V installation • Analog Video – Composite and component analog video – Computer display video topology • Analog Audio – Single-ended audio – Balanced audio • Digital Audio Basics • Digital Video Basics 

What is A/V Connectivity? • A/V is “Audio & Video” – This includes control requirements for the A/V products – A/V is primarily point-to-point “back end” connectivity dealing with signal flow between source devices and video displays with audio support • A/V Connectivity is Implemented as a Separate System from an Enterprise’s Computer/Data and Telecommunication Infrastructure • “Convergence” Describes the Combining of A/V and IT Technologies and Infrastructure – Network connections are the new “broadcast” for both internal and external content – Network connectivity may offer control or monitoring capability for A/V devices but does not replace dedicated A/V connectivity 

Elements of a Video Display • Resolution – Amount of detail a display can produce – Measured in lines or pixels – Higher number = more detail • Aspect Ratio Describes Screen Shape – Width of a screen : height of a screen – “Standard” displays or “academy ratio” • 4:3 or 1.33:1 – “Widescreen” displays come in multiple versions • 16: 9 or 1.78:1(DVD widescreen) • 16:10 or 1.6:1 (computer widescreen) • 2.35:1 (anamorphic widescreen) • Display Type – CRT – analog by nature – The following are fixed pixel displays and are digital by nature • LCD • Plasma • Projection 480 Lines, 4:3 720 Lines, 16:9 

What Is A Pixel? • Pixel = Picture Element – A series of “dots” that, when viewed from a proper distance, are perceived as a complete image – Newsprint, comic books and pop art such at the Roy Lichtenstein image shown to the right are examples of pixelated print images – This is a true “digital” image as each discrete component is either on (1) or off (0) • On a Flat Panel Display, Discrete LCD, LED or Mirror (DLP) Elements are Illuminated in a Specific Sequence to Create an Image 

Analog Video Signals • Black & White – Luminance or detail of video image – Luminance is defined by bandwidth • Approximately 80 “lines” of horizontal resolution per 1 MHz of bandwidth • Color – In analog, color is added as a separate signal riding at lower frequencies – 3.58 MHz “color burst” limits analog color resolution on composite signals to about 240 “lines” of horizontal resolution – To improve picture quality, more conductors (with resulting higher bandwidth) are needed • Component Video – RGB are the colors from which all video images are constructed • RGB + sync also describes commercial component connectivity – YPrPb is the consumer component connection • Luminance (Y) and phase-opposite (Pb/Pr) color elements • Computer Video – Is always transmitted in RGB format – RGB + sync is the basis for all computer (aka VGA) connections 

What is a 75-ohm Cable, Why is it Important to Video and Why Should I Care? • Electrical Impedance is the Measure of the Opposition that an Electrical Circuit Presents to the Passage of a Current when a Voltage is Applied – Impedance is measured in ohms (Ω) • 75-ohm coaxial impedance is set by the ratio of the cable’s conductor diameter to dielectric diameter – Proper impedance matching allows full transfer of signal power and purity • Characteristic impedance is partially responsible for the length limitations we face in connecting analog devices to displays • All Analog Video Signals are Designed to Operate in a 75 Ω Environment – Includes composite, component and computer (VGA) signals 

Coaxial Cable Construction • Coaxial Means “Sharing a Common Axis – An inner conductor surrounded by a flexible, tubular insulating layer, which is in turn surrounded by a tubular conducting shield • Coaxial Cable Differs from Other Shielded Cables Used for Carrying Lower-frequency Signals, such as Audio Signal – The dimensions and shape of the cable are controlled to give a precise, constant conductor spacing resulting in proper impedance • Composite, S-Video, Component and Computer Video Connecting Cables All Use Varying Quantities of Coaxial Conductors to Transport Clean Signals Between the Source and Display 

Composite Video • Carried Over a Single Coaxial Cable – RCA connection on most consumer and cross-over devices – BNC connection on many commercial devices • B&W and Color Information are Carried on the Same Cable – Color information is lower in frequency, extending to 3.58MHz – B&W information provides detail and can extend to 6MHz – Limited to about 500 lines of resolution with the best equipment 

Upping the Ante, S-Video • By Using Two or More Wires to Transport Color and B&W Information Separately, We Can Improve Picture Quality – S-Video uses two coaxial conductors to transport B&W (detail, luminance) and color (chrominance) separately – S-Video improved color quality, but not overall system resolution – Uses 4-pin DIN plug – Largely obsolete today 

S-Video Cable Construction 

Component Video • Maximum Analog Performance is Achieved by Using 3 Coaxial Conductors – There are multiple component connections that can be described by the signal content or by how system sync is maintained • RGB – Red, Green, Blue where each primary color is carried on its own coaxial connection • Sometimes knows as sync on green – RGBs adds a 4th conductor to transport sync signals – RGBHV add a 5th conductor to transport horizontal and vertical sync individually • This is the basis for all computer video connections • Consumer Component – YPrPb is luminance (Y) and phase opposite color pairs (Pr and Pb) 

Computer Graphics are Analog • VESA is the Video Electronics Standards Assoc. – HD15 = high density DBsub15, 3 rows of 5 pins It’s important to be precise! There is another connector called the DB15, which is not as common. The DB15 only has two rows of pins. Many times a customer will refer to an HD15 connector as a “DB15” • Signals Carried Include Red, Green, and Blue Video, Plus Horizontal and Vertical Sync Signals – Newer DDC standards also specify additional signals called ID bits, which allow a monitor to identify itself to a computer 

Computer Video • A Video Graphics Array (VGA) Connector is Composed of Three- Rows and 15-Pins – Uses RGBHV plus additional conductors for DDC – DDC (display data channel) allows communication between source and display that negotiates the right resolution format for the monitor – Requires pin 9 on the DSub15 connector to be active • VGA Resolutions Can Range from 640×400 Pixels up to 2048×1536 Pixels 

Analog Audio Signals • Line-Level Signals Describe the Communication Between a Source Component and Amplifier or Switcher – Single ended signals are typically carried on an RCA or 3.5mm TRS connector – Balanced signals use XLR connectors • Microphone Signals are an Order of Magnitude Smaller than Line Level and Need Additional Amplification Before Switching and Routing – Typically use XLR, but some less expensive microphones may use ¼ phone plugs • Speaker Level Signals are an Order of Magnitude Larger than Line Level – Typically use bare wire or speak-on connections For A Complete Understanding Of Audio And Speaker Level Connections, Ask Your Presenter About Our Additional Training Modules. 

Audio Interconnect Construction 

Digital Audio Signals • S/PDIF Sony Phillips Digital Interface – Common on consumer electronics devices – Two connecting systems commonly used • Coax, which uses a single RCA connector and looks electrically much like a video signal • Optical, which uses a “toslink” (toshiba optical link) connection – Typically plastic – Length constrained to about 5 meters – Not the same as fiber optics used in IT installations • AES EBU – Professional applications – XLR connector 

Why Digital Video • Computers, DVD Players and Other Devices Output Video in a Digital Format • Fixed Pixel Displays Use Digital Information to Create an Image • Leveraging Digital Communication Eliminates Complex A/D and D/A Conversions • Digital Video Comes in Two “Flavors” – SDI and HD-SDI are used in video production and broadcast only – All presentation systems use a system called TMDS • Transition minimized differential signalling • TMDS transport supports very high resolutions, such as 9.2 megapixel (3840 X 2400) displays • TMDS supports native 16 million true-color resolution For A Complete Understanding Of Digital Video And TMDS, Ask Your Presenter About Our Additional Training Modules. 

Digital Video Signals • DVI, Digital Visual Interface – Primarily used for computer and digital signage applications – Carries video only, no audio • HDMI, High Definition Multimedia Interface – Began primarily as a consumer electronics application – Now ubiquitous on most consumer and commercial products – Carries video and digital audio, control and ethernet signals – HDMI fully encompasses DVI-D • Both use the same TMDS encryption system 

HDCP • HDCP – Digital only method of preventing content piracy • “Analog Sunset” implies analog HDTV transport may be limited in the future • This will effect all computer and source device outputs • Key Authentication and Exchange are Elements of HDCP – Blom’s scheme describes the system for authorizing encrypted digital images – HDCP compliance is critical for presentation system utility • DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort Digital Communications All Support HDCP 

DVI - Digital Visual Interface • Utilizes TMDS – Transmission Minimized Differential Signaling • There are Multiple DVI “Flavors” – DVI-A • Analog signal that is the equivalent of VGA – DVI- I • Includes both analog and digital transport ability – DVI-D, Digital Video Only • Single link supports UXGA – 1920 x 1200 @ 60 • Dual link supports WQUXGA – 3840 x 2400 @ 60 

DVI-D Cable Construction 

High Definition Multimedia Interface • HDMI Originally Designed as a Consumer A/V Connection – Now ubiquitous on computers, portable devices, commercial products – Completely incorporates DVI-D for transporting TMDS signals between devices • Utilizes 4 Shielded, Twisted Pairs for Digital R, G, B And Clock Signals – Audio is embedded in video carriers – Supports 24 bit multichannel audio – Adds control capability via CEC – HDMI/E capable of Ethernet connections between devices 

HDMI Cable Construction 

DisplayPort • Introduced in 2006 – HP expects that DisplayPort will completely displace VGA and DVI by 2013 • Based on a Micro-Packet Protocol – Allows easy expansion of the standard with multiple data types – Flexible allocation of available bandwidth between audio and video – Multiple video streams over single physical connection • HDMI Compatible Using Passive Adapters Connected to Dual-Mode Ports – Marked with the DP++ logo – Most current DisplayPort graphics cards and monitors support this mode • Supports HDCP • Self-Latching Connector 

In Conclusion • A/V connectivity encompasses all “back end” communication between source and display or speakers • Analog video consists of color and detail components called chrominance and luminance – S-Video separates the signal into 2 elements – Component video separates the signal into 3 or more elements • RGB, RGBs, RGBHV, YPrPb • All analog video resides on a coaxial, 75-ohm connectivity topology • Analog audio is a 50-ohm connectivity topology • Digital audio “looks” like composite video from an electrical perspective • Digital video leverages the native digital environment of fixed pixel displays • Digital video is found in two common forms – SDI and HD/SDI for production – TMDS for playback and display • High bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) compliance is necessary on all TMDS installations • DVI-D and HDMI are the two most common forms of TMDS digital video • HDMI adds 8-channel audio and CEC control capability to DVI-D • DiplayPort is used as a media output on computers, but has significant distance limitations • DisplayPort ++ devices can output HDMI