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3D seems to be the technology topic de jour these days.   Many TV manufacturers have introduced 3D TVs,  Digital cinema is showcasing 3D movies almost on a monthly basis,  and cable and satellite have broadcast3D programming over these past few months.   Sony also announced a recent 3D software upgrade for the PS3.

During a recent visit to a retailer,  I started to inquire about 3DTVs and the various technologies offering 3D.   During the conversation, the sales associate mentioned that I would also need new cabling from any new 3D source to my new 3DTV.   I noted that I had the latest state of the art cabling to my current HDTV, and was using HDMI.  The sales associate mentioned that those HDMI cables would not work with the new 3DTV.   I needed new 3D HDMI cables.

I reached out to several industry experts to determine if in fact this was a true statement.   Here are the facts from industry experts.

The HDMI specification that adds 3D as a feature is called HDMI 1.4a.   Within this specification, there are various 3D formats defined that enable TV manufacturers, Set-top manufacturers, console game platforms, broadcasters and PC manufacturers to conform to receiving and decoding these various formats.   Some of the more common and mandatory 3D formats are:

1. Frame Packing – a very high resolution 3D signal that requires a lot of bandwidth – this is not suitable for most broadcasting over Cable TV systems or Satellite systems.  It is very suitable for Blu-ray disc and gaming systems.  For the USA, there is 1080p at 24 frames per second – sent by Blu-ray players and 720p at 60 frames per second expected to be used by future gaming consoles.
2. Side-By-side – this is where a normal video frame actually contains two frames (one for each eye) and if not processed as a 3D signal would look like two pictures side by side on the screen of the TV.  In the USA most of these signals will be 1080p 24 or 30 frames per second, 1080i 60 fields per second, or 720p 60 frames per second.  These signals are suitable for broadcast applications.
3. Top-Bottom – this is similar to Side-by-Side where the normal video frame actually contains two frames except the normal frame is divided in haft top to bottom.  Again the in the USA most of these will be 1080p 24, or 30 frames per second, 1080i 60 fields per second or 720p 60 frames per second.  These types of signal are also suitable for broadcast.

On the surface one might believe that new cabling would be required to support these “new” 3D formats.   The reality is that the HDMI specification does not specify cabling such as 3D HDMI,  120Hz HDMI or even 240hz HDMI.  The only requirement for the HDMI cable to support 3D is called a Category 2 or a High Speed HDMI cable.   This high speed cable enables the pass-through of 1080p signals which is the highest HDTV and 3D resolution.

You can purchase very inexpensive HDMI cables that will provide for the enjoyment of 3D and HDTV.    Here are a few examples:

http://www.amazon.com/High-Speed-Digital-HDMI-Cable/dp/B001CHM3VO/ref=sr_1_6?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285789224&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Cable-2M-6-Feet/dp/B0002L5R78/ref=sr_1_2?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285789224&sr=8-2

Don’t get duped at retail with spending more than $10-$20 for an HDMI cable that is labeled as 3D capable, 240Hz, 120hz, etc.

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Tags: 3D, 3DTV, cables, HDMI, HDTV, man cave stuff