HDMI over CAT6 - ARC Issue with AV Receiver
Discussion
I have an issue with my setup in my living room which is a bit frustrating. I have remotely installed my AV Gear as I didn't want it on display so am using some HDMI over CAT6 converters to pass the signal about. The devices I have were bought specifically because they have the ARC function which I needed as I wanted the ability to run Netflix etc from the TV App and push the sound back to the receiver.
Everything works so to speak but I get some drop out with the sound every now and again but the picture is unaffected. It's a bit frustrating as although it's only a tiny blip every now and again, if it's during a noisy scene in a film, then it is of course very noticeable as the sound drops out for a second.
I have spoken with the company who manufacture and supply the HDMI over CAT6 boxes and they gave me a few things to try including using optical and none of it made any difference. When I did the install, I replaced my AV Receiver (from an older AV 1080 (I think) to a newer AV 3080 with Dolby Atmos), so have set my old receiver up in my office with a different TV, and moved the HDMI over CAT6 devices in there. I don't get any drop out at all so have assumed the TV (or the apps on the TV) may be the issue.
I've tested the kit downstairs again but with a different TV (I have another OLED screen hanging out) and I get the same problem. I will try the screen from my office which didn't have any issues and try that also, but the evidence so far suggests that I'll possibly get the same issue when I try the TV from the office in the mix as it looks like the issue may be with the AV Receiver.
Has anyone experience a similar issue with ARC and HDMI over CAT6 and is there a way I can diagnose / fix the issue with the AV Receiver? I've tried a few of the various sound settings etc but get the same result so wondered if there were any tricks I can try to remove additional processing to see if / why the Receiver drops out every now and again. Just to confirm, this only ever happens when running ARC from the TV back to the Receiver and never happens any other time.
Thanks
Everything works so to speak but I get some drop out with the sound every now and again but the picture is unaffected. It's a bit frustrating as although it's only a tiny blip every now and again, if it's during a noisy scene in a film, then it is of course very noticeable as the sound drops out for a second.
I have spoken with the company who manufacture and supply the HDMI over CAT6 boxes and they gave me a few things to try including using optical and none of it made any difference. When I did the install, I replaced my AV Receiver (from an older AV 1080 (I think) to a newer AV 3080 with Dolby Atmos), so have set my old receiver up in my office with a different TV, and moved the HDMI over CAT6 devices in there. I don't get any drop out at all so have assumed the TV (or the apps on the TV) may be the issue.
I've tested the kit downstairs again but with a different TV (I have another OLED screen hanging out) and I get the same problem. I will try the screen from my office which didn't have any issues and try that also, but the evidence so far suggests that I'll possibly get the same issue when I try the TV from the office in the mix as it looks like the issue may be with the AV Receiver.
Has anyone experience a similar issue with ARC and HDMI over CAT6 and is there a way I can diagnose / fix the issue with the AV Receiver? I've tried a few of the various sound settings etc but get the same result so wondered if there were any tricks I can try to remove additional processing to see if / why the Receiver drops out every now and again. Just to confirm, this only ever happens when running ARC from the TV back to the Receiver and never happens any other time.
Thanks
Issues like this can be painful to diagnose but if the drop out happens with another tv then you have a couple of places to look - the AVR and the HDMI to Cat 6 converter. I'd put money on the converter being the issue.
What cabling do you have in use? Cat 6 I guess but is it shielded? Is it terminated properly (including the shield if present)?
What cabling do you have in use? Cat 6 I guess but is it shielded? Is it terminated properly (including the shield if present)?
I think I'm feeling that pain already 
As I get the issue when trying two different TV's in the living room, I guess the next test will be to try the TV I used in controlled conditions which did work and see what happens when I use that one in conjunction with the same cables and AVR where the other two have had shown this issue.
The company I got the HDMI over CAT6 devices from have replaced them already and run my old kit in their test lab and didn't experience any drop out at all, so think the issue is more likely to be at the new AVR end of business but very hard to tell.
It's all shielded CAT6 and have installed it in separate runs away from power etc. Everything terminates in to a patch panel in a 12U rack under the stairs and had a little device plugged in to test everything so believe the cabling to be good. I'm edging towards the new AVR being the issue but I guess until I test the other TV, it could be any of the components.
As I get the issue when trying two different TV's in the living room, I guess the next test will be to try the TV I used in controlled conditions which did work and see what happens when I use that one in conjunction with the same cables and AVR where the other two have had shown this issue.
The company I got the HDMI over CAT6 devices from have replaced them already and run my old kit in their test lab and didn't experience any drop out at all, so think the issue is more likely to be at the new AVR end of business but very hard to tell.
It's all shielded CAT6 and have installed it in separate runs away from power etc. Everything terminates in to a patch panel in a 12U rack under the stairs and had a little device plugged in to test everything so believe the cabling to be good. I'm edging towards the new AVR being the issue but I guess until I test the other TV, it could be any of the components.
Do the transmitter and receiver have an optical connection as well just for audio? I have an AV Access HDMI extender lying around that worked perfectly when I tested it at home but failed to check the already chased in “CAT5E” previously used for an access point actually had 8 cores....
This has HDMI ARC and optical options, not sure whether optical would be any more reliable though. What type do you have?
Edited to add: have you tried changing the HDMI cables? Can sometimes help and don’t need to be overly expensive....
This has HDMI ARC and optical options, not sure whether optical would be any more reliable though. What type do you have?
Edited to add: have you tried changing the HDMI cables? Can sometimes help and don’t need to be overly expensive....
Edited by soggybiscuit on Tuesday 8th June 17:25
Autopilot said:
I think I'm feeling that pain already
As I get the issue when trying two different TV's in the living room, I guess the next test will be to try the TV I used in controlled conditions which did work and see what happens when I use that one in conjunction with the same cables and AVR where the other two have had shown this issue.
The company I got the HDMI over CAT6 devices from have replaced them already and run my old kit in their test lab and didn't experience any drop out at all, so think the issue is more likely to be at the new AVR end of business but very hard to tell.
It's all shielded CAT6 and have installed it in separate runs away from power etc. Everything terminates in to a patch panel in a 12U rack under the stairs and had a little device plugged in to test everything so believe the cabling to be good. I'm edging towards the new AVR being the issue but I guess until I test the other TV, it could be any of the components.
Is the shield on your Cat6 terminated too? It can cause an issue if not, it can be worse than unshielded when installed badly. As I get the issue when trying two different TV's in the living room, I guess the next test will be to try the TV I used in controlled conditions which did work and see what happens when I use that one in conjunction with the same cables and AVR where the other two have had shown this issue.
The company I got the HDMI over CAT6 devices from have replaced them already and run my old kit in their test lab and didn't experience any drop out at all, so think the issue is more likely to be at the new AVR end of business but very hard to tell.
It's all shielded CAT6 and have installed it in separate runs away from power etc. Everything terminates in to a patch panel in a 12U rack under the stairs and had a little device plugged in to test everything so believe the cabling to be good. I'm edging towards the new AVR being the issue but I guess until I test the other TV, it could be any of the components.
Other than that - as the chap above says - try new hdmi leads too
Are the TVs Samsung?
We've found that 2017-19 models can be unusually sensitive with ARC over Baluns. We've got one at home that I had to swap out for a client that likes to drop out after about 30 minutes, unless youve changed chanel or volume during that time in which case it's ok.
As others have said, make 100% sure that the cat 6 is terminated correctly. I'd go further to suggest removing the additional break point of having it go into a patch panel and wire directly into the balun at the rack end.
We've found that 2017-19 models can be unusually sensitive with ARC over Baluns. We've got one at home that I had to swap out for a client that likes to drop out after about 30 minutes, unless youve changed chanel or volume during that time in which case it's ok.
As others have said, make 100% sure that the cat 6 is terminated correctly. I'd go further to suggest removing the additional break point of having it go into a patch panel and wire directly into the balun at the rack end.
Is there any way you can remove the connection to the patch panel and run direct?
Less connections the better.
Also, sling a different piece of cable across the house between the baluns to see if that cures it.
I had a customer that tried five different brands of HDMI baluns, before getting the system to work.
(I would probably decline a job, if HDMI / ARC over balun was insisted upon)
As this is not effecting the image, if I were you, I’d just order an Apple TV or similar device that contains the apps you want to run. Generally better than the ones in the TV anyway.
The source is then at the hub, so problem gone.
I’ve seen systems where people have swapped every item in turn, only for the problem to persist.
One person had a cheap TV in the kitchen, a long way through the house, which after 30 man-hours of diagnosis, was discovered to be causing the issue. Unplugged it and the HDMI issue in the cinema was cured!
Less connections the better.
Also, sling a different piece of cable across the house between the baluns to see if that cures it.
I had a customer that tried five different brands of HDMI baluns, before getting the system to work.
(I would probably decline a job, if HDMI / ARC over balun was insisted upon)
As this is not effecting the image, if I were you, I’d just order an Apple TV or similar device that contains the apps you want to run. Generally better than the ones in the TV anyway.
The source is then at the hub, so problem gone.
I’ve seen systems where people have swapped every item in turn, only for the problem to persist.
One person had a cheap TV in the kitchen, a long way through the house, which after 30 man-hours of diagnosis, was discovered to be causing the issue. Unplugged it and the HDMI issue in the cinema was cured!
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