Ferrite Cores

[canoner]

What are ferrite cores for? I know how to wrap the DV cables around a ferrite core, but what for?

 

[Mark R]

They are for EMI reduction.

By winding the wire around a ferrite core, it give the wire a higher impedance to high-frequency signals (the cause of EMI).

 

[canoner]

forgive my ignorance, what does EMI stand for?

 

[ethebubbeth]

electromagnetic interference

 

[MDE]

The ferrite cores keep the signal stronger and clearer to reduce data loss. ATI will send you a ferrite kit if you buy a retail Built by ATI retail card. I'd say they're important if ATI would go that far.

 

[canoner]

What wires should be wraped around a ferrite core? I have one DV cable for the camcroder, three USB for two digicam and a USB wireless. Shuld they all be wrapped? On which end?

 

[Mark R]

All cables from the computer should be wrapped, especially those carrying high-speed signals e.g. DVI, USB, VGA, Firewire.

As the computer is the source of most interference, it is better to put the core at the computer end.

Don't put too many cores on, or wrap the wire round the core more than once or twice - the cores main purpose is to reduce interference, but by doing that can weaken and degrade the signal very slightly. The wires normally come pre-fitted with the cores in the optimal configuration - the right balance between blocking interferance and degrading the signal.

Putting dozens of turns on a core could theoretically degrade the signal to the point where it doesn't work.