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Cables to Keep Around the House

Spring is here and a lot of us are going to use that nicer weather to get a little cleaning done. If your house is anything like everyone else's, there is probably a junk drawer somewhere with a big mess of old cables. After untangling all the knots, you will want to look at each cable to see what you should keep and what can be tossed.

Keep: Micro USB 2.0

Micro USB is better known as a “phone charger” since they are mostly used for Android phones. Not to mention tablets, streaming devices, smart speakers, and more. Micro USB is not going anywhere anytime soon, so keeping a few extras around is a good idea right now.

Keep: Micro USB 3.0

This upgraded Micro USB is mostly used for external hard drives. Some cell phones use these for charging cables too. While not as widespread as the older 2.0 version, this is new enough that hanging onto one or two of them is worth it.

Keep: Lightning

Lightning cables are the Apple equivalent of Micro

Many electronics have to be connected to a monitor before you can use them. Even devices with their own screens like smartphones and laptops have that option so users have the option of using bigger displays like televisions and projectors. Over the years, many new video cables been introduced and gradually replace the old as technology continues to grow. Modern high-def TVs have come a long way from the black and white TVs of old.

Key Takeaways

• Video cable technology has evolved from primarily analogue connections to increasingly sophisticated digital interfaces.
• Common legacy video interfaces include VGA, composite, S-Video, component video, and DVI.
• Modern systems commonly use HDMI and DisplayPort for digital video.
• Different video interfaces support different resolutions, bandwidths, audio capabilities, and features.
• The correct cable depends on the ports available on both connected devices.
• Analogue and digital video interfaces are not automatically interchangeable.
• Older equipment

Cable switches are used to connect multiple signal inputs (computers, DVD players, video game consoles, etc.) to a single output (televisions, computer monitors, etc.). Switches all work on the same general principle and most are purely mechanical. A switch only goes from multiple inputs to one output; if you need to go from one input to multiple outputs, you will need a splitter instead.

Switches are used when you have a screen, such as a TV or computer monitor, that does not have enough ports. For example, say you have a TV with one HDMI port but you want to connect a DVD player, a laptop, and a video game console. One option would be to constantly reach behind the TV and switch the cables, but that gets old fast. The simpler solution would be using a switch that connects all three devices to the TV and lets you change between them at the push of a button.

Most switches are mechanical and do not require a power cable to work. The inside of a switch works similar to switching the rails

Audio and video cables go hand-in-hand, often being paired together. Some cables can even transmit audio and video on just one line. Over time a lot of new audio and video cables have been introduced, so the cable you need will often depend on the age of the equipment you are using. Most TVs, computers, and other devices can use multiple types of audio and video connections, so it is good to be able to identify them and know your options.

Key Takeaways

• Audio and video cables connect equipment and transmit analogue or digital sound and image signals.
• Common audio cables include XLR, RCA, 3.5mm, TRS, speaker, and digital audio cables.
• Common video cables include HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, composite, component, S-Video, and BNC cables.
• Some interfaces, such as HDMI, can transmit both audio and video.
• Always identify the connector and signal type before selecting a cable.
• Cable length, shielding, construction, and signal requirements can affect system performance.
• For video, consider