Learn About TV Ports
TV ports quick guide
What is it?
There are many types of ports. They are used to connect computer parts and accessories together through cables for communication and/or power. All communication ports fundamentally do the exact same thing, transfer data. The main difference between them is how fast can they transfer data. Faster connections enable transferring large data types in a reasonable period of time. For example, to transfer HD video, the connection speed needs to be fast enough to send all the data at a minimum of 24 FPS (frames per second) for the video to not be uncomfortably stuttering. In this case, the faster the connection, the higher the quality and/or FPS of the video. Moreover, many types of data can be transferred simultaneously as long as there is enough bandwidth in the connection. Some faster ports can be compatible with other slower ports. In the case a faster port is compatible with another, it is very important to make sure the entire chain of devices (Sender - Cable - Receiver) all support the fastest connection to avoid bottlenecks. The following are the most used standard ports used in TVs with their capabilities:
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HDMI
It stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), it is the most used port for video/audio transmission. It comes in 4 shapes, standard (most common), mini, micro, and can be carried inside USB-C. Learn more
HDMI 1.0 - 1.2 = 5Gbps
HDMI 1.3 - 1.4 = 10.2Gbps
HMDI 2.0 = 18Gbps
HDMI 2.1 = 48Gbps
HDMI is mainly used for video output.
HDMI can carry digital audio signals.
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Ethernet
It is the main port for wired connectivity. Learn more
10Mbps
100Mbps
1Gbps
2.5Gbps
5Gbps
10Gbps
Ethernet can be used for data transfers between PC accessories.
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Ethernet is used for connectivity.
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Audio Jack
Also called Aux, 3.5mm audio, headphone jack, audio port. It is mainly used for connecting audio devices. Learn more
576Kbps
Audio Jack can carry analog audio signals.
How does it work?
Ports work by doing the following (over simplified) steps:
- Receive data from sender
- Send data to receiver