VGA Cables and Adapters: Lessons Learned from the Field

Whether it is a performance by The Root System, or a professional installation done by Sensebellum, the quality of equipment plays a large roll.

Recently, I had to update my stock of cables for my projectors. As a few words to the wise, and to share a few lessons, I will convey my learnings.

Cables:

Lesson 1: Don't buy the cheapest cable possible on Amazon, the internet, or abroad - you will regret it. Instead, find a reputable dealer (I suggest Monoprice.com) that will provide quality, yet, inexpensive cables.
Lesson 2: Gold plated will do. You might see "rated for in-wall use" or "plenum rated" but those only concern the composition of the jacket, not the transmission quality. This is important for the price jump is steep, yet, sometimes necessary. These ratings, like plenum, ensure that commercially installed cables will not emit toxic fumes when burned in the event of an office fire.
Lesson 3: Coil the cable properly. This may seem like a no brainer but it helps. And even if you do coil them, make sure that they do not end up twisted as the cables in the sheath may bunch up - similar to power extension cables.
Lesson 4: Ferrites are very useful. Notice how most cables have a larger diameter sheath right near but before the end? Well these absorb unwanted EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and help to reduce noise and signal loss - especially important in concerts and commercial applications.
Lesson 5: Limit the length of cable. Although it may work with other signals, don't expect to be able to daisy chain five 100ft cables together without any problems. Essentially, the signal will loose strength, gather noise, or become more susceptible to EMI at lengths longer than 100ft. To remedy this, you will need a signal booster like this.

Adapters:


Lesson 1: As with cables, don't buy the cheapest version you can find on the internet. If you think about it, these adapters and cables are the weakest link. Who cares if your A/V presentation is the baddest thing since the camera obscura - if they fail, you fail. I would suggest going with the "recommended version". In my case, this meant shelling out $30 a piece for Apple miniPort Adapters. But you only need one failed performance due to sub-par bargain adapters you got from Ted's Used Appliances to drive home the point.
Lesson 2: Keep your adapters with the cables. Along the lines of the "weakest link" analogy, if you don't have your adapter because it was in your "other bag" then you will be dead in the water. So keep them together.
Lesson 3: Ensure a quality physical connection. If you are going VGA, make sure to screw in the connections. If you are going the HDMI cable route, which will be the upcoming industry standard, you will need to do something about the loose connection inherent in the physical connection. All you need is a little wobble and your crystal clear, 1080p, multi audio channel signal is lost. A good fix was developed by Blue Echo and is called the HD EZ Lock. This is a simple device that secures the cable into the back of the device, locking the connection.

All in all, cables are a must have, and getting the right ones the first time is important. Hope you learned a bit from this and happy projecting!