We use many power appliances on a daily basis that require correct connecting. We’re not only talking about basic power connection, but sharing data, charging, terrestrial television receiving, connecting a computer or tablet to the Internet. Which cables are required for the laptop and which are proper for the TV? Our suggestions should help you to find your way through the tangled cables.
Wire and cable – which is which?
Many of us unintentionally use the two terms synonymously: wire and cable. No wonder, as the customary names used colloquially are repeated and, therefore, remembered quicker than the real denunciations.
Half serious and half joking – some still use the famous “amelinum” instead of the correct aluminum. So what’s it going to be with the wire and cable?
It turns out that the wire is part of the cable and, thus, the cable is the set of wires usually isolated with plastic.
Additional options, such as taping and screening are strictly cable features.
The wire is a single cord being a kind of electrical connector.
It does not have to be isolated, however, in most cases it is.
Summing up, every cable is a single, double or triple wire – depending on the specifics, but not reversely. When using the laptop, we search for the cable, and not the wire.
Which cables are required for computers?
Cables at home are obviously connections to laptops, smartphones, TVs, toasters, hairdryers. Apart from laptops being powered with a battery, there are other kinds of cables. Let’s take the Internet cable RJ-45 for modem connections. It’s a must have in case of PCs, but merely an emergency for laptops – if the Wi-Fi fails. Another useful cable is the USB with a B or C ending, depending on the appliance we are about to connect. Chargers for smartwatches, mobile speakers and smartphones are the most popular and frequently used laptop accessories. Quick charging cables do a great job. If your laptop has the proper connection, you can charge the battery in a few minutes. You don’t have to wait about 6 hours, as in the case of older chargers.
Monitors are connected to computers using the VGA cables, also called the D-SUB. However, the transmission technology is quite limited, particularly due to the cable length and its quality. DVI digital connections are a better solution, which enable screen refreshing at 144 Hz, whereas in case of the VGA cable it’s only 85 Hz.
Which cables are best for the TV?
Modern television sets, apart from the power cable with the Euro connector, have a number of other cables for home cinemas, soundbars, game consoles and laptops. If you need to connect the laptop to the TV, we recommend using the HDMI cable. Necessary condition – both receivers must have the same sockets. The image transfer rate and capacity are essential here. HDMI 2.1 is currently able to handle 8K UHD and, thus, the highest image standard 7680 x 4320 pixels.
You will need the optical cable, the so called fibre-optic cable (Toslink plug) to connect the soundbar with the TV. It uses the light beam to transfer data between the audio and video.
We’re slowly leaving jack cables behind and prefer to use the wireless solutions. In order to receive terrestrial TV, we need the antenna cable with a coaxial F connector. You will easily find antenna cables of various length in every store offering electronic devices or market with household appliances and audio/video devices. Having so many cables in one room, it’s worth considering their proper organization and order. For this purpose, you could use a few interesting solutions.
Cable masking strip – how to hide cables?
Tangled cables can ruin the neat image of our home. That’s why many producers have implemented special boxes and strips that make it possible to hide and mask the cables. Some decide to use more invasive methods and hide the cables inside the walls. Home esthetics is becoming more and more popular and cables are needed. Fortunately, it is possible to reconcile these two aspects.
