[MattyHerts]

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

[Jamie S]

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.

[MattyHerts]

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

[Jamie S]

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/

[MattyHerts]

Thank you for your help.

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

Thanks
Matt

[Joe Fernand]

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

[MattyHerts]

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

[indus]

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%

[MarkTaylor]

Originally Posted by indus

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.

[Joe Fernand]

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

[lapino]

Originally Posted by MarkTaylor

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)

[Joe Fernand]

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

[welshy]

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.

[Jamie S]

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.

[Joe Fernand]

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