Correct termination for HDMI over CAT?

lapino · 14-11-2009, 8:14 AM

Can someone tell me how I need to terminate my CAT6 cables to be used with HDMI>CAT extenders? I seem to have a hard time making them to work, and I'm starting to wonder if my cables might be incorrectly terminated (which pairs etc).

Andy98765 · 14-11-2009, 8:37 AM

here you go How to Make a Category 5 /5e Patch Cable

andy1249 · 14-11-2009, 8:42 AM

Cables should be straight through , no crossovers , and more importantly they cannot be part of any home network.

They must be used exclusively for connecting HDMI extender transmitter to HDMI extender receiver.

lapino · 14-11-2009, 8:53 AM

As far as I can tell, I terminated my CAT6 cables like they should. I have LAN tester which show corresponding lights on each end and they all match. So I guess my cables are ok then?

Jon Weaver · 15-11-2009, 8:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapino

As far as I can tell, I terminated my CAT6 cables like they should. I have LAN tester which show corresponding lights on each end and they all match. So I guess my cables are ok then?

Have you definitely split the pairs across pins 3 and 6?

Its quite a common mistake to put the pairs in 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8.. But the pairs on an Ethernet cable go 1/2, 3/6, 4/5 and 7/8.

If you havn't done it the right way you cable tester will still show you that its OK, but the pairs will be mixed..

Jon

lapino · 15-11-2009, 9:10 PM

Yes I have. I do get picture so that's enough proof that the wiring is ok right? But I also get static and (very minor) dropout which clearly indicates SOMETHING is wrong, but what?

Jon Weaver · 15-11-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapino

Yes I have. I do get picture so that's enough proof that the wiring is ok right? But I also get static and (very minor) dropout which clearly indicates SOMETHING is wrong, but what?

The fact you get a picture doesn't prove your wiring is right.. even if you connected the wires to random pins and did EXACTLY the same at the other end, you would still get a picture.. But in order for it to be 'correct' you need the pairs correct.

But if you have checked it against the diagram, then its not that.

How long are the cables? I know that the extenders have a minimum legth (10m I think).. Is it possible to make them longer just to test.

I am expecting delivery of my "Cheap Ebay Extenders" this week and am going to do some tests with cat 5 (which i have loads of) run loosely around the house.. If I learn anything about this in the process, I will report back

Jon

lapino · 16-11-2009, 6:38 AM

Cables I use (the CAT6 in ceiling) are about 8m long. But I bought two 15m CAT5e cables this week just to test it out, and I don't get any stable picture with them either. I don't quite understand how the wiring makes a different honestly. Like you said, one color at one end and same at other end...for me looks the same. Signal goes in and out in same place. But apparently that's not the case right? How does it make a difference?

I can buy two new CAT6 cables in a shop, but I got a feeling these will be straight wired too. I just checked the 2x15m CAT5e cables I bought and these seem to be straight wired (4xpairs next to each other), so maybe that's the reason they don't work.

The current CAT6 cables I'm using have this written on them:
DIGITUS UTP CAT.6 23AWGx4P ISE/IEC 11801 Ed.2 EW S0288 TIE/EIA-568-B.2-11

Jon Weaver · 16-11-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapino

I can buy two new CAT6 cables in a shop, but I got a feeling these will be straight wired too. I just checked the 2x15m CAT5e cables I bought and these seem to be straight wired (4xpairs next to each other), so maybe that's the reason they don't work.

The current CAT6 cables I'm using have this written on them:
DIGITUS UTP CAT.6 23AWGx4P ISE/IEC 11801 Ed.2 EW S0288 TIE/EIA-568-B.2-11

The whole point of CAT5 is that its 'twisted pairs'.. Twisting wires together on a balanced circuit is fundamental when transmitting a signal over a distance.

Due to the way that the RJ45 is wired, for some reason the pairs get split.. SO.. If you wire them one for one, then one 'leg' of the signal will go down one pair and the other will go down another pair.. This will result in them being unbalanced and will affect the ability to transmit high frequencies over long range.

In order to rule this out, you MUST wire the RJ45s correctly... I am not saying it will solve the problem, but since 'twisted pair' is a fundamental requirement for this type of communication, you can't overlook the significance. Whilst wiring them 1 to 1 will result in ELECTRICAL continuity the cable will be incapable of driving high data rates over long distances..

Jon

lapino · 16-11-2009, 3:15 PM

Well, my CAT6 cables are connected like they should but don't work. So either the cable has faults, or the connectors are not 100% ok (I re-fitted them twice, but still get statis/sparkles when using 1080p). Just bought some new plugs to fix on my shop-bought 15m CAT5e (which is connected with 4x2 pairs), going to re-wire them and see if these work. Only other option after that is getting 2 new CAT6 cables with factory installed connectors, test them, and if they work, only re-fit one end after pulling them through the tubes.

Is it possible that other cables inside the tubing next to the UTP's cause problems? I have 2 speaker wires going through them in one tube, and one powercable in the other tube (three tubes next to each other).

lapino · 16-11-2009, 3:42 PM

Narrowed the problem a little down: I have no problems whatsoever when using 1080i/60, but get static (part of the picture, not all of it) when using 1080p. Both when using factory-made 15m CAT5e and custom made CAT6. So this kinda proves that my wiring and connectors are ok right? But if so, what's causing the static? Quality of the extenders?