[lapino]

Maybe I can get some clear answers from you guys about my (still ongoing) HDMI extender problem. I've narrowed the problem down (sort of) but need help in fixing this.

So, I'm using (cheap) extenders from either Neetcables and Marmitek. Both work fine when setting my devices (PS3, Xbox360, Popcorn Hour etc) to 1080i/60. But when I set them to 1080p, I get static above the picture (not always in same place, all over the place, like horizontal lines).

Either my cable is not good enough, but I tried this with both 2x15m CAT5e (with factory made connectors) and my custom-built CAT6 cables. Same problem with either one.

I understand that 1080p needs a decent amount of extra bandwith then 1080p, but where is the problem? Is it the cables? Or is it the extenders not 'strong' enough to pass through 1080p? I also tried connecting the included power brick to the output-part of the extender but this makes no difference at all (what are these power supplies supposed to do then?).

It's pretty clear to me that my extenders DO work (but limited to 1080i). So what can I do about this? Do I need (expensive) Octava extenders and would that definitely solve the problem? Or do I need to put a repeater in front of the hdmi>extender at the input level as to boost the signal a little bit?

Please help me out here, I really want to get thix problem fixed (if possible without spending too much extra money).

Of course I can leave my consoles and other devices to 1080i; but that seems to be a drastic solution since my plasma (Panasonic P50V10) definitely has no problems with 1080p and I understand using 1080i is bad for picture quality.

[lapino]

Update:
PS3 : 1080i=ok, 1080p=static (very quickly)
XBOX360 : 1080i=ok, 1080p=also OK (?)
Popcorn Hour : 1080i=ok, 1080p=statis (but very minor)
Panasonic BluRay player : 1080i=ok, 1080p=static (minor)

All my devices are connected to a Marantz SR6004 receiver, with the HDMI2 output sending the signal to the extender, set as 'through' (so the receiver doesn't do anything to the signal).

So as far as I can tell, it seems the Xbox360 is sending out JUST a little stronger signal, making the hdmi extender/cat6 to work even at 1080p. Could it be that devices are sending out a little too weak signal for the extenders to work at 1080p?

If so, what can I do about that? Or am I making the wrong assumptions?

[Jamie S]

You are making slightly the wrong assumptions.

Strength is not a factor with HDMI output signals from source devices.

The Cat5e/6 cabling is much more likely to be the culprit. It very much sounds as though the CAT cables being used are unable to handle the required bandwidth. They are just on the very edge of what they can handle.

Try upgrading the CAT cabling to shielded STP solid core CAT-5e, CAT-6 or CAT-7 cable on the video line to reduce interference.

Are the cables running close to electrical power cables at all? This is a very bad idea and you will be forever chasing your tail if this is the case.

If the units are provided with power supplies - then use them! They are not being included in the package for no reason, they are there to power the signal compensation and equalization elements within the chipsets on the units! Running anything completely reliant on the 5v HDMI signal bus is a definite no no in the eyes of any professional working with HDMI.

My hunch is that the Marantz is a little fussy as to what HDMI extenders it works worth.

You may well be better in the end to opt for the octava extenders from Joe at TMF, the more expensive units will tend to keep the signal integrity at the level that higher end devices insist on due to their superior chipsets.

I have definitely come round to idea with HDMI over Cat5 products that it is a case of buy cheap pay twice, and incidentally so have the management at HDCable. We're in the process of stocking much better (more expensive) devices for the HDMI over Cat5 part of our catalogue for reliability reasons.

[lapino]

Thx for the info Jamie. I'll definitely check out whatever you guys come up with in a few weeks. Octava for now is just too expensive for me. I ordered one of those repeaters (cheap at 30 euro) just to try them. If that doesn't work, I can always try two new CAT6 cables which is pretty cheap too. As a final resort (when I rule out it's not the cables or signal strength), I'll go with expensive extenders.

[Gadgetcity]

Originally Posted by lapino

I also tried connecting the included power brick to the output-part of the extender but this makes no difference at all (what are these power supplies supposed to do then?).

Jamie S is right. It is not signal strength that is the problem. It is signal distortion. The correction is done at the receiving end to accurately reconstruct the digital signal, so it is always worth using the power supply on the receiving end. That is where the 'magic' is performed.

[lapino]

I understand that, but there seems to be no difference at all with or without the power supply. I'll connect it anyway, not that it costs me extra to do so. This is what printed on the CAT6 cables I'm using: "DIGITUS UTP CAT.6 23AWGx4P ISE/IEC 11801 Ed.2 EW S0288 TIE/EIA-568-B.2-11". Does this tell anything about the cable being up to the task or not?

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Lapino

Have you tried taking any of the 'problem' sources direct to the CATx Transmitter (Tx) and avoid the AV Amp?

There are many reasons why a low cost/quality design of HDMI over twisted pair Tx/Rx extender wont work - not all of them are solvable by user intervention.

On a two cable system the video line is usually the most critical line - try swapping over your CATx cables (at both ends) just in case one is slightly more tolerant than the other.

Joe

[lapino]

Swapping cables I already tried, same result (although I got more static compared to original pair). I'll try connecting to the sources directly this evening and get back with results here.