With the recent switch to digital broadcast signals and the dropping price of HDTV sets, many of us are upgrading our RV media centers. In our Airstream, we have two HDTVs: one in the main living area, and one in the bedroom. The best cable connection for HDTV sets is called HDMI. These cables deliver a digital signal, and (of benefit to RV’ers) they are slender, having a smaller footprint than component cables.

If you walk into any electronics store, you’ll find HDMI cables are expensive, with some selling for $50 or more. Quite frankly, these high-priced HDMI cables are a RIP-OFF.

Do NOT Use HDMI Cables as Mental Floss.

Do NOT Use HDMI Cables as Mental Floss.

Don’t get suckered into overpaying for an HDMI cable. Digital signals consist of ones and zeros – there’s no discernible difference in signal quality between a $50 cable and a $5 cable. It either works or it doesn’t.

HDMI cables deliver pure digital goodness, but that doesn’t mean they should be expensive. You can buy a nice HDMI cable for less than $5.

Here’s one on Amazon:

 

<a href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L1ZYYM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003L1ZYYM&linkCode=as2&tag=lonlonhon-20″>AmazonBasics High-Speed HDMI Cable (6.5 Feet/2.0 Meters) – Supports Ethernet, 3D, and Audio Return [Newest Standard]</a><img src=”http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lonlonhon-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B003L1ZYYM” width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” />

Repeat: EXPENSIVE HDMI CABLES ARE A RIP-OFF.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.