Re: HDMI cables: Free? & price v quality.
 

As a condition of their support for Hdmi, the content providers stipulated that it support encryption at all stages. If that encryption is not present, they stipulated that the device revert to an SD signal.

Re: HDMI cables: Free? & price v quality.
 

Do all HDMI cables have the ability to carry data?

My Xbox one HDMI Cable has the ability to control the TV, and a few years ago I bought a HDMI cable which IIRC had network capability.

Re: HDMI cables: Free? & price v quality.
 

Watchdog test house on BBC 1 at 11.45 am daily, recently did a test on HDMI cables. 20/03/14
Try and get it in catchup.
Very interesting findings from a professor.
As long as it's made of metal and conducts electricity it will work all the same.
As long as the signal gets from one end to the other. All the same.
And the £3.99 cable came out as the choice in a test in which viewers watched the exact same film on the exact same equipment.
The other cable was approx £80

Re: HDMI cables: Free? & price v quality.
 

Yes.

See "Communication channel protocols" in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

Re: HDMI cables: Free? & price v quality.
 

Some say that while gold to gold (plug and socket) is best, nickel to nickel is better than gold to nickel, as gold is the most cathodic metal.

It's also possible that some medium to high grade cables may be better made, have better strain relief, but then if you break a pound store cable, replacing it won't break the bank, while if the £80 one suffered damage, you'd be very cross!

PS. one digital cable that is VERY variable, is the USB extension, some will do USB2, others won't- one particular paradox being a 5M (USB max length) that would, and a 1M that wouldn't.