cat5 hdmi extenders - anyone used them?
cat5 hdmi extenders - anyone used them?
Author
Discussion

heisthegaffer

Original Poster:

4,048 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
As per the title, has anyone used the above at all? I want to get some but need to know if they work via home network adaptors and do you usually get one or two in a pack?

bristolracer

5,870 posts

171 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
Are these the ones that use the mains?
If so they work best when on the same mains circuit
You will not get very good results if you have more than one fusebox

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

267 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
bristolracer said:
Are these the ones that use the mains?
If so they work best when on the same mains circuit
You will not get very good results if you have more than one fusebox
Erm...????

Cat5 is not mains.



bristolracer

5,870 posts

171 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
RedLeicester said:
Erm...????

Cat5 is not mains.
http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/category.php?terms=powerline&gclid=CMeQlvmby6wCFQRP4Qod6ylzqQ

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

267 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Thankyou TN.

In general OP, you get what you pay for, and as TN says, check the baluns will give you the spec you want in terms of features / distance and so on. In principle they work veryt well, but like all such things, as they have become more popular, some cheapies have popped up on the scene which can muddy the waters a little bit - fine for shorter runs or limited spec, but not up to the job they should be.

Mr Bristol - Ethernet is a data transmission format. Cat5 is a cable. The OP is asking about baluns to convert HDMi combined A/V digital signals and push them down Cat5e cable and then remux them at the other end.




bristolracer

5,870 posts

171 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
bangheadsilly

Didnt fully read the title (didnt see the bit about HDMI) ! Thought op wanted to extend a cat 5 cable

Yes ive used them should get all you need in the kit.

pete

1,626 posts

306 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
I use a set of Octava baluns to send 1080i Sky HD to my bedroom TV. They also work fine for 1080p when I tested using the PS3. They use two runs of cat5, and I have a conventional aerial cable to send remote signals back to the Sky box.

My recommendation would be to make sure your cat5 cabling is in very good order, and ideally use shielded cat5e. Mine is unshielded, and although it's good enough for gigabit Ethernet, I get split second HDMI drop outs when things like the microwave or cheap low voltage lights are switched on.

Cheers,
Pete

heisthegaffer

Original Poster:

4,048 posts

220 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks all, the signal only needs to go from the lounge to the kitchen so not far.

Just to clarify though, i assume if i buy a pack i'll get each end i.e from virgin box end then tv end?

Thanks again

pete

1,626 posts

306 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2011
quotequote all
Just a clarification - they will not work over power line Ethernet e.g. Homeplug or similar. You need two physical cat5 connections between each adaptor.

Pete

heisthegaffer

Original Poster:

4,048 posts

220 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the info Pete.

VEX

5,259 posts

268 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
quotequote all
pete said:
Just a clarification - they will not work over power line Ethernet e.g. Homeplug or similar. You need two physical cat5 connections between each adaptor.

Pete
Agree with this, the OP is getting slightly (and it is very common) confused. Just because it uses the CAt5/6 cable does not mean it is converted to a true network/ethernet signal. The vast majority do not. It is just the Cat5/6 cable is very useful as it has 8 individual cables in it which we can use to send signals other than Computer Network.

There is a product called Just-Add-Power, and a couple of copies, that will convert HDMI into an Ethernet signal, but they are costly and not garanteed over PowerLine.

V.

heisthegaffer

Original Poster:

4,048 posts

220 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
quotequote all
VEX said:
pete said:
Just a clarification - they will not work over power line Ethernet e.g. Homeplug or similar. You need two physical cat5 connections between each adaptor.

Pete
Agree with this, the OP is getting slightly (and it is very common) confused. Just because it uses the CAt5/6 cable does not mean it is converted to a true network/ethernet signal. The vast majority do not. It is just the Cat5/6 cable is very useful as it has 8 individual cables in it which we can use to send signals other than Computer Network.

There is a product called Just-Add-Power, and a couple of copies, that will convert HDMI into an Ethernet signal, but they are costly and not garanteed over PowerLine.

V.
Thanks again all for your input. I'll have to find some other means of getting a TV signal into the kitchen.

Output Flange

17,009 posts

233 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2011
quotequote all
To add:

I use baluns at home, and have two different brands. Both brands work over a single Cat5e run, and one of them (Smart-e) will also relay IR.