HDMI became a standard for transmitting uncompressed video data to a host of devices after the most used VGA and DVI interface connectors. HDMI CEC is one of the ways to connect all your devices with HDMI. This interface is found everywhere, be it projectors, gaming consoles, laptops, TV, and much more. If you are unaware of the reason for its popularity it is its maximum bitrate of 48 Gbit/s that HDMI adapters support for transmitting data from the source device to display.
Along with that, HDMI adapters also bring features like HDIMI-CEC (also known as HDMI- Consumer electronics control which is supposed to bring interoperability among HDMI-connected devices. So what is exactly HDMI CEC? What are HDMI CEC adapters used for?
HDMI CEC Adapter:
HDMI, first introduced in HDMI 1.0 and updated in 1.3, HDMI CEC allows up to 15 devices to communicate with each other and share the setting to create a seamless home theatre experience. Plus, this is an optional feature found on the devices compatible with HDMI, that helps users to control multiple devices from a single control setup or remote, such as if you are operating through a projector or TV then their remotes can be used.
Before we get into the technical aspect of HDMI, to simplify the understanding here is an example. If you have explored the options of TVs (both smart and non-smart), you would know that these come with multiple HDMI ports for connecting various devices at one place, such as set-up boxes, gaming consoles, speakers, home theatres, and much more. Plus, all of the devices come with a separate remote to perform all the functions, for turning on/off or navigating through the menu or content.
What it means is that an HDMI CEC adapter allows you to combine the settings of all compatible devices into one remote. As for the multiple devices connected to your TV, you have several remotes that add to the clutter and can make your experience slow and frustrating. While in some instances, you may still need to use the specific device remote especially for unique device features, however, most of the core features of the devices compatible with it are supported by HDMI CEC.
Features of HDMI CEC
● Controls over playback, audio, and menu selection.
● Everything can be synchronized across all the devices.
● Remote control commands can be passed through to other devices within a system.
● It can greatly simplify your home theatre system, making switching between devices a breeze.
● Allows controlling volume levels or other compatible audio settings.
● Using one remote control allows controlling the menu system of other devices.
Now, what if you want to switch to gaming while you are watching movies? Generally, you would first need to shut down your set-up box so that no HDMI input is active and then switch to the console using a dedicated game controller to be able to play games. Most of the graphic cards do not support switching, sending, and receiving control messages. The CEC adapter allows Kodi to turn your TV and other attached equipment, in this case, a gaming console to turn on and off if they support HDMI. Likewise, these same devices can tell Kodi what commands to perform, such as your TV can have control over all the devices attached or vice versa.
Moreover, you can switch between different HDMI inputs and use one remote to control all the peripherals. Simply, with this adapter, you can move a step closer to a clutter-free living space while maintaining a single remote for friends and family who may not be familiar with all the features of single remote handling all the features.
While these are just some of the basic commands that an HDMI-CEC can perform by default, you can also tap into more advanced settings, by enabling HDMI CEC in your TV settings for functions like audio pass through, one-touch record or play, and much more. With HDMI-CEC you will no longer have to switch between remotes or devices. One device can control all of your devices.
