AVForums

Our philosophy in our forums, reviews, podcasts and feature videos is to promote audio and visual excellence by gathering and sharing the best information and resources available.

Help

To begin please visit our help section »

Not a Member Yet?

It only takes a minute to start enjoying the benefits of AVForums membership, and it's free!

Member Log in

Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Post Reply
Old 21-07-2009, 10:24 AM   #1
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Experience Points:
4,402, Level: 15
Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 0
Posts: 43
Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Hi

I need to purchase a HDMI Splitter and cat5 transmitter balun.

I want to make sure that I get the correct ones that will do the job and not degrade the HD picture to the second TV.

Kit list as follows;

Panasonic G10 - buying today
Sky HD - Amstrad box (new replaced both that doesn't have component output hence the need for splitter / balun )
Ideally my TViX box.
Ideally PS3.

I have run 3 cat5 cables to the other TV which is around 8mtrs away.

Suggestions greatly received as always.

Thanks
Matt
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 10:41 AM   #2
Assured Advertiser
 
Jamie S's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Malvern
Experience Points:
3,359, Level: 13
Points: 3,359, Level: 13 Points: 3,359, Level: 13 Points: 3,359, Level: 13
Activity: 8.0%
Activity: 8.0% Activity: 8.0% Activity: 8.0%
Blog Entries: 2
Thanks: Gave 40, Got 177
Posts: 980
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

For a run of 8m, you could use a HDMI cable instead of Cat5.

Is there a particular reason why you are choosing Cat5 over a HDMI cable in this instance?

It would work out cheaper and less hassle really.
Customer Service Team @ HD Cable Ltd
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 10:49 AM   #3
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Experience Points:
4,402, Level: 15
Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 0
Posts: 43
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Purley for cabling reasons, my house is having the finishing touches put to it and as such skirting boards were not down nor the floor tiled so routed cat5 round between tiles and wall.

Originally I was just going to put component connectors on each end but with the HD box being changed this is no longer a option.

Thanks
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 11:02 AM   #4
Assured Advertiser
 
Jamie S's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Malvern
Experience Points:
3,359, Level: 13
Points: 3,359, Level: 13 Points: 3,359, Level: 13 Points: 3,359, Level: 13
Activity: 8.0%
Activity: 8.0% Activity: 8.0% Activity: 8.0%
Blog Entries: 2
Thanks: Gave 40, Got 177
Posts: 980
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

8m is too short a distance for our models of HDMI over Cat5/6 extenders, however I believe Joe's from The Media Factory will work over a short distance.
//www.tmfsolutions.co.uk/
Customer Service Team @ HD Cable Ltd
  Quote
Thanks from:
Joe Fernand (21-07-2009)
Old 21-07-2009, 1:18 PM   #5
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Experience Points:
4,402, Level: 15
Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 0
Posts: 43
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Thank you for your help.

Joe, do you have any suggestions for my kit as listed above please?

Thanks
Matt
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 2:46 PM   #6
Assured Advertiser
 
Joe Fernand's Avatar
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Borders
Experience Points:
36,531, Level: 46
Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46
Activity: 20.9%
Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9%
Thanks: Gave 205, Got 1,344
Posts: 14,186
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Hello

You can combine the Octava HDDA12-UK (Media Factory - Octava HDDA12-UK, 1x2 HDMI distribution amp.) plus HDMICAT-UK (Media Factory - Octava HDMICAT-UK, HDMI over CAT5 extender) or HDOCAT-UK (Media Factory - Octava HDOCAT, HDMI + Optical 5.1 over CAT5 Extender inc. IR Passthru) to achieve what you require.

The HDMICAT and HDOCAT will work with short CAT5/6 cable runs - I have a 2m CAT5e run in the test rig now running Freesat at 1080i50.

The HDOCAT unit gives you the option of IR over your CAT5 cables.

Is there an AV Amp anywhere in your system?

Joe
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 4:06 PM   #7
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Experience Points:
4,402, Level: 15
Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15 Points: 4,402, Level: 15
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 0, Got 0
Posts: 43
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Thanks Joe, I guess the 2nd cat5 option is if there is a optical sound source at the other end. In my case no I will just be using the speaker in the panasonic plasma.

I have run 3 shielded cat5 cables.

I do have a amp, that I'm wanting to upgrade to a HDMI capable one. Currently it is a Yamaha DSP AX750SE.

Thanks
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 4:41 PM   #8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Experience Points:
21,436, Level: 35
Points: 21,436, Level: 35 Points: 21,436, Level: 35 Points: 21,436, Level: 35
Activity: 5.8%
Activity: 5.8% Activity: 5.8% Activity: 5.8%
Thanks: Gave 239, Got 101
Posts: 2,750
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

I can help with the splitter if that's still on the agenda?

I've just bought two from neet cables (on amazon and flea) and they work perfectly and are the size of a small box of fags.

The service from the company was top notch. They cost £35 delivered.

One of them is connected to a 15m run of hdmi cable to a 1080p pj, no problems at all.

I would recommend them 100%
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 7:18 PM   #9
Prominent Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Experience Points:
20,829, Level: 35
Points: 20,829, Level: 35 Points: 20,829, Level: 35 Points: 20,829, Level: 35
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 49, Got 709
Posts: 4,329
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Quote:
Originally Posted by indus View Post
One of them is connected to a 15m run of hdmi cable to a 1080p pj, no problems at all.
Do note though that the OP only has an 8m cable run and that is a problem for some baluns so their ability to work at that length needs to be checked.
  Quote
Old 21-07-2009, 7:33 PM   #10
Assured Advertiser
 
Joe Fernand's Avatar
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Borders
Experience Points:
36,531, Level: 46
Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46
Activity: 20.9%
Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9%
Thanks: Gave 205, Got 1,344
Posts: 14,186
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Hello MattyHerts

The key advantage (for some) of the HDOCAT is the ability to carry HDMI to the Display + IR back to the Source kit over the two CAT5 cables.

Joe
  Quote
Old 02-09-2009, 6:17 PM   #11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oudenaarde
Experience Points:
8,396, Level: 21
Points: 8,396, Level: 21 Points: 8,396, Level: 21 Points: 8,396, Level: 21
Activity: 0.4%
Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4% Activity: 0.4%
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 24
Posts: 1,145
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkTaylor View Post
Do note though that the OP only has an 8m cable run and that is a problem for some baluns so their ability to work at that length needs to be checked.
Which ones DO work over 8m (got a problem with the ones from neetcables here - they seem to break my Optoma projector)
  Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 7:36 AM   #12
Assured Advertiser
 
Joe Fernand's Avatar
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Borders
Experience Points:
36,531, Level: 46
Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46
Activity: 20.9%
Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9%
Thanks: Gave 205, Got 1,344
Posts: 14,186
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Hello lapino

The Octava units (Media Factory - Octava HDMICAT-UK, HDMI over CAT5 extender and Media Factory - Octava HDOCAT, HDMI + Optical 5.1 over CAT5 Extender inc. IR Passthru) will work at 8m.

Joe
  Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 2:04 PM   #13
Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Bangor, North Wales
Experience Points:
4,941, Level: 16
Points: 4,941, Level: 16 Points: 4,941, Level: 16 Points: 4,941, Level: 16
Activity: 0.8%
Activity: 0.8% Activity: 0.8% Activity: 0.8%
Thanks: Gave 31, Got 26
Posts: 407
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Hope you don't mind me asking a question on your thread

Jamie and Joe, Do your HDMI to cat5/6 extenders work through AV Receivers? I would like to extend my SkyHD from lounge to HC room (about 20m max) but at the HC room end I have an AV Receiver which feeds my PJ so this end will need to connect to my Denon 3808 AV Receiver.

Any known problems?

thanks.
  Quote
Old 03-09-2009, 2:23 PM   #14
Assured Advertiser
 
Jamie S's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Malvern
Experience Points:
3,359, Level: 13
Points: 3,359, Level: 13 Points: 3,359, Level: 13 Points: 3,359, Level: 13
Activity: 8.0%
Activity: 8.0% Activity: 8.0% Activity: 8.0%
Blog Entries: 2
Thanks: Gave 40, Got 177
Posts: 980
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

Not at 20m I shouldn't think there would be any problems.

In theory, connecting via an extender should be exactly the same as if you were connecting a 1m HDMI cable direct.

However, in practice it doesn't always work out like that, especially with AV receivers. The EDID and HDCP data on a HDMI signal is very fragile, any imperfection will not be tolerated by the AV receiver.

As long as you are using good quality Cat6 cabling and well terminated connectors I would not foresee a problem. The signal should be rock solid for you.
Customer Service Team @ HD Cable Ltd
  Quote
Thanks from:
welshy (03-09-2009)
Old 04-09-2009, 8:03 AM   #15
Assured Advertiser
 
Joe Fernand's Avatar
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Borders
Experience Points:
36,531, Level: 46
Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46 Points: 36,531, Level: 46
Activity: 20.9%
Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9% Activity: 20.9%
Thanks: Gave 205, Got 1,344
Posts: 14,186
Re: Which Splitter & HDMI Cat5 Balun

I keep various AV Amps here for testing connectivity configurations, problems and pre production samples.

I have an Onkyo TX-SR606 in the rack and am currently watching Freesat over a 40m dual CAT5 connection using a set of the Octava HDOCAT-UK extenders.

With the HDOCAT-UK I have full IR control of the Freesat and Onkyo AV Amp over the CAT5 connection.

If I follow correctly you are looking to first split the SKY HD output then extend one run over 20m of CAT5 to feed the AV Amp and then output to the Projector! That's a 'slightly' more torturous signal path but again something we know we can achieve.

Another advantage of the Octava HDOCAT-UK unit is that we provide HDMI + Optical + the IR Passthru channel so we can get the DD optical signal from the SKY HD box to your amp along with the HDMI signal.

Joe

Last edited by Joe Fernand; 04-09-2009 at 8:09 AM.
  Quote
Thanks from:
welshy (07-09-2009)
Post Reply



Thread information and display options
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off