Using ARC with HDMI Over CAT6

[Autopilot]

I've finally had a bit of time to start playing around with my home AV install and stumbled in to an issue. All my devices are squirreled away under the stairs. Speaker cables are built in to the walls and have a plate with banana plugs at the speaker end and under the stairs I have a small AV rack where everything terminates to (Network sockets in to a CAT6 Patch Panel, 24 Port Network and speaker cable in to an Audio Patch).

I'm using some CYP HDMI over CAT6 units and it appears to work. I can see the AV receiver menus on the TV and now I've plugged a UHD DVD Playing in under the stairs, I can confirm I get picture and sound. The issue I have is that I cannot get sound from the TV back to the AV Receiver using the ARC channel.

Things I've checked:

1 - The HDMI at the TV end is definitely plugged in to the HDMI that uses ARC.
2 - Having poked about with the TV options, ARC seems to be switchable and is switched on.
3 - The AV Receiver allows for ARC to be switched on and off and is definitely set to be switched on.
4 - When testing it, the AV Receiver is set to the input channel that has the HDMI over CAT6 unit plugged in to it (It has 2 HDMI out sockets and it is in the one marked ARC

All in all, I think I've checked most of the obvious stuff, everything is switched on, seemingly configured correctly but I can't get sound from the TV (ARC) back to the receiver.

I have previously used ARC on the AV Receiver on my old TV with just an HDMI between the two and that worked fine. I guess I can hook the TV to the Av Receiver with just an HDMI to test it but that means taking loads of things apart so would rather try a few other things first before I go to those lengths.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[hoegaardenruls]

Do you know if the HDMI extenders even support ARC, as there are normally a transmitter and receiver so may not support an audio signal coming back in the opposite direction?

A quick google only shows the CYP units I've found supporting HDMI v1.3, which does not support ARC

[Autopilot]

That’s a very good point! I honestly don’t know but I’d say your quick check on google has very probably answered my question!

I’ll check the model in a moment, but pretty sure you’re right!

Thank you!

[VEX]

You can get ARC spec’ed HDBT kits, so well worth checking.

V.

[Autopilot]

Thanks Vex. I did have a look around and found a Bluestream device that looks to be exactly what I need, thanks. I found a couple of devices on Amazon which had quite a few good reviews, but every few reviews was a REALLY bad one such as the devices not working at all or running so hot that it did actually catch fire so have assumed it's cheap tat! Some of the reviews also said the devices didn't work and they were returned, but customer service was good so still got a 4 or 5 start rating so not sure I trust the reviews to be honest as I wouldn't rate that high after that experience.

I've opted for the Bluestream stuff even though it's quite expensive as I just want it to work properly all the time!

[dhutch]

Let us know how it goes. Do all of these devised need Cat6 or will Cat5e suffice?

[TonyRPH]

Autopilot said:

<snip>
....but every few reviews was a REALLY bad one such as the devices not working at all or running so hot that it did actually catch fire....
<snip>

I think part of the problem with overheating is that a lot of people want these devices to be out of the way, so they tend to cram them in the tightest of spaces, leaving no room for ventilation.

Inadequate ventilation is something I've seen time and time again - with A/V receivers, set top boxes etc. and then folk wonder why these things fail prematurely.

You'll probably find that if they are given adequate ventilation, they'll be absolutely fine.

[VEX]

dhutch said:

Let us know how it goes. Do all of these devised need Cat6 or will Cat5e suffice?

CAT5e will suffice, but you are running close to the headroom (capabilities) of the cable, meaning it is potentially closer to not linking, especially in 4k than you would be with CAT6.

If your running traditional data, not difference at all - HDBT Signals are different.

HTH

V.

PS. several of us here can help with kit if needed.

[FarmyardPants]

On my setup, ARC requires CEC to be enabled, but CEC doesn’t play nicely with my HDBT matrix, so I can’t use it, and I’ve run out of optical inputs on my AV receiver (I have to run stereo audio to all displays so use optical for some 5.1 sources)