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

Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Post Reply
Old 01-11-2009, 12:39 PM   #1
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
Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

I have a pretty annoying problem. Need to get a signal from my receiver to my projector using the tubes that are fitted inside our ceiling. Problem is, they're too small to put a HDMI cable in them, but I can fit 2xUTP in them without a problem.

So my option would be using a CAT5 extender, but I read that a cable length of minimum 15m is required for these to work. Problem, since the distance from my receiver to my projector is only about 8m.

Is there a way for me to get this to work? I would be able to use a 10m long hdmi cable and just plug it in when used, but that's not exactly practical; so I would rather use the small tubing inside our ceiling to hide any cables AND not make it necessary to keep plugging them in/out (which can't be good for my projector anyway).
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 12:44 PM   #2
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: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

I seem to recall that there are solutions that will run over shorter distances and if I recall correctly, the ones that TMF sell do work at that sort of length so with any luck Joe Fernand will drop into this thread soon.
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 1:27 PM   #3
Prominent Member
 
Trollslayer's Avatar
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bristol
Experience Points:
9,459, Level: 23
Points: 9,459, Level: 23 Points: 9,459, Level: 23 Points: 9,459, Level: 23
Activity: 26.0%
Activity: 26.0% Activity: 26.0% Activity: 26.0%
Thanks: Gave 297, Got 474
Posts: 4,170
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

There sohuldn't be any minimum calbe length for an extender.
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 1:31 PM   #4
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: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trollslayer View Post
There sohuldn't be any minimum calbe length for an extender.
Sadly that isn't the case for all extenders, plenty of documented examples around showing problems when you get down to less than around 8m or so.
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 2:58 PM   #5
Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Indian Rocks Beach, Florida
Experience Points:
1,657, Level: 9
Points: 1,657, Level: 9 Points: 1,657, Level: 9 Points: 1,657, Level: 9
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 2, Got 7
Posts: 38
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

One of the fundamental characteristics of CATx cables is that they curl up very nicely, but they don't stretch worth a darn. Is there room behind the Receiver to hide the extra cable needed to support a fixed length extender device?
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 4:52 PM   #6
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: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Any BALUNs that are known to have no problems at all with 8m cable length? I usually buy cable stuff at hdcable.co.uk but their site specifically states that cable needs to be +15m.
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 5:49 PM   #7
Assured Advertiser
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: East Yorkshire, England
Experience Points:
21,242, Level: 35
Points: 21,242, Level: 35 Points: 21,242, Level: 35 Points: 21,242, Level: 35
Activity: 2.7%
Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7%
Thanks: Gave 58, Got 205
Posts: 2,841
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Octava

Not as cheap as the cheap stuff but will work for sure.

Octava HDMI over CAT 5 Extender [Octava- HDMICAT-UK] - £143.95 : AV Cables and Interconnects, UK Cables Shop

Mark.
markgrantcables.co.uk --- Highest quality products and service --- Cables, OPPO Blue Ray region free , Focal speakers - Squeeze-upgrade.com PSU- Genuine UK business ( Assured Advertiser)
  Quote
Old 01-11-2009, 6:04 PM   #8
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: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Can I get this with a EU power supply too? Or is no power supply needed?
  Quote
Old 02-11-2009, 9:31 AM   #9
Assured Advertiser
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: East Yorkshire, England
Experience Points:
21,242, Level: 35
Points: 21,242, Level: 35 Points: 21,242, Level: 35 Points: 21,242, Level: 35
Activity: 2.7%
Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7%
Thanks: Gave 58, Got 205
Posts: 2,841
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

The Octava have a plug in power supply at each end.
The units I can supply have a UK PSU and a UK part number HDMICAT-UK

If you look on the Octava website:

HDMI Ethernet extender. Transmit 1080i HDMI to 300ft

they list livingcinema.nl Octava HDE HDMI Ethernet verlenger - LivingCinema Shop: Thuisbioscoop advies, apparatuur en service as a supplier in Europe.

So they must have Euro PSU with theirs.

Also might be worth contacting the UK importer and Distributor to see if they can supply with Euro PSU. the website is here:
Media Factory - Octava HDMICAT-UK, HDMI over CAT5 extender


( Remember to always test everything works OK before you permanently install it )

Hope that helps,

Mark.
markgrantcables.co.uk --- Highest quality products and service --- Cables, OPPO Blue Ray region free , Focal speakers - Squeeze-upgrade.com PSU- Genuine UK business ( Assured Advertiser)
  Quote
Old 04-11-2009, 11:17 AM   #10
Assured Advertiser
 
Joe Fernand's Avatar
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The Borders
Experience Points:
36,535, Level: 46
Points: 36,535, Level: 46 Points: 36,535, Level: 46 Points: 36,535, Level: 46
Activity: 21.3%
Activity: 21.3% Activity: 21.3% Activity: 21.3%
Thanks: Gave 205, Got 1,344
Posts: 14,187
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

As others have said lots of HDMI twisted pair extenders wont work on short CAT5/6 cable runs.

If you don't have a local Octava supplier Mark can supply inc EU PSU's - he just doesn't know it yet

Joe
  Quote
Old 04-11-2009, 4:04 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: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Who's this "mark" ?
  Quote
Old 04-11-2009, 4:18 PM   #12
Assured Advertiser
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: East Yorkshire, England
Experience Points:
21,242, Level: 35
Points: 21,242, Level: 35 Points: 21,242, Level: 35 Points: 21,242, Level: 35
Activity: 2.7%
Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7% Activity: 2.7%
Thanks: Gave 58, Got 205
Posts: 2,841
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

Me

Looks like I can order in Euro PSU Octava stuff from the distributor

If you cant find one locally to you I will work out a delivered price for you,
send me a message or email or contact me through my website,

Thanks,

Mark.
markgrantcables.co.uk --- Highest quality products and service --- Cables, OPPO Blue Ray region free , Focal speakers - Squeeze-upgrade.com PSU- Genuine UK business ( Assured Advertiser)
  Quote
Old 06-11-2009, 6:31 PM   #13
Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Bedfordshire
Experience Points:
6,106, Level: 18
Points: 6,106, Level: 18 Points: 6,106, Level: 18 Points: 6,106, Level: 18
Activity: 0%
Activity: 0% Activity: 0% Activity: 0%
Thanks: Gave 1, Got 20
Posts: 301
Re: Possible to use HDMI over CAT5 for short distance?

I tested this balun set we sell with 10m UTP patch cables and it worked perfectly, what length are you planning to use?

HDMI Cat5e - Cat6 Extender - HDMI Over Cat5e / Cat6 1080p 30m Only £32.29 at TVCables

Andy.
  Quote
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