HDMI over Ethernet

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › HDMI over Ethernet

Rickles

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#225449 19-Nov-2017 18:51

I have been experimenting with a pair of TX/RX HDMI/RJ45 adapters.

Using a laptop, the adapters, and 2 metres of CATe5 I can get picture and sound to a big TV.

When I try to get the signal over another network cable of about 5 metres and a wall patch panel, the TV recognises that an HDMI cable is attached, but no picture/sound.

I'm thinking that the extra length and connector is depleting the signal strength, so wondering if powered HDMI extenders would do the trick?

Views or opinions please.

RunningMan

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#1904181 19-Nov-2017 18:57

Tried cat6?

DarthKermit

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#1904182 19-Nov-2017 19:00

Pretty sure that HDMI to ethernet requires either two * Cat5E connections or one Cat6 to work properly.

Rickles

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#1904184 19-Nov-2017 19:21

>Tried cat6?<

No, the CAT5 is already strung under the house and there lurk dragons and spiders .

>Pretty sure that HDMI to ethernet requires either two * Cat5E connections or one Cat6 to work properly.<

Some devices work that way, but latest, powered ones utilise a single cable.

richms

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#1904196 19-Nov-2017 19:49

What devices you have? are they hdmi over ethernet or just hdmi over cat5/6 cable?

Richard rich.ms

Jase2985

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#1904199 19-Nov-2017 20:27

Rickles:

>Tried cat6?<

No, the CAT5 is already strung under the house and there lurk dragons and spiders .

>Pretty sure that HDMI to ethernet requires either two * Cat5E connections or one Cat6 to work properly.<

Some devices work that way, but latest, powered ones utilise a single cable.

there is quiet a difference between cat5e and cat6 for this type of data

sbiddle

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#1904204 19-Nov-2017 20:42

There are really two questions here -

Firstly is it a HDMI over Ethernet adapter or just a HDMI over cat5/cat6 adapter? They are two very different things.

Assuming it's just a HDMI over cat5/cat6 adapter then while some of these will work over cat5, cat6 is recommended due to it's higher MHz rating. The fact this isn't working for you would likely indicate poor cabling.

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Rickles

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#1904206 19-Nov-2017 20:53

Thanks all ...

The current adapters are, I believe, simply HDMI extenders, so HDMI over CAT5/6. I understand that the powered units actually do full HDMI over Ethernet.

I will experiment further using a long run of CAT6, and see if anything different happens .... if still no go, then I guess the next step after that is to try the powered devices.

Dunnersfella

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#1904213 19-Nov-2017 20:58

Is there power at both ends?

Or does it utilise Power over Ethernet?

If it does, please make sure that the Cat cable is terminated A to A or (preferably) B to B.

If you use POE and the cable is terminated differently at each end then you run the very real risk of blowing up the product and taking out anything that's attached.

If this isn't the issue, I believe the wall plate will be the problem.

Try circumnavigating it and you may see success.

Also, there's a massive variance in the reliability of these sorts of solutions, from old school (PITA) baluns to HD BaseT, to non-certified versions of the prior... right through to HDMI over IP - many people aren't even sure of what they're using.

So yeah, make sure the cable is correctly terminated, if you're not 100% confident in this find a tech who is.

richms

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#1904215 19-Nov-2017 21:00

These are also sensitive to pair polarity which ethernet isnt most of the time, so you may have for example white/blue and solid blue swapped around on the cable, will get link OK for most ethernet stuff but not work on things that care about polarity.

Richard rich.ms

Rickles

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#1904667 20-Nov-2017 15:16

UPDATE: Some experiments using HDMI adapters over CAT5e ...

Connected TX adapter to computer HDMI output, then connected CAT5 cable from it to patch panel. Connected RX adapter to TV and connected other end of CAT5 cable ... result was sound and vision of computer screen! Good result

Next, took TX adapter out of computer and connected it to satellite box HDMI output ...result was (a) as before, the TV's HDMI option was available, (b) the screen this time showed the STB splash screen and then turned bright blue, but no sound & vision.

Q: Why computer HDMI output all OK, but STB output not?

geocom

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#1904672 20-Nov-2017 15:45

Do the HDMI extenders support HDCP(Copy Protection)?

Your computer will allow a non HDCP stream but some apps may not work itunes for example will stop DRM videos from playing on non HDCP monitors. The sat box will likely just say no.

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Rickles

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#1904695 20-Nov-2017 16:56

>Do the HDMI extenders support HDCP(Copy Protection)?<

Probably not ... good point.

Brunzy

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#1904723 20-Nov-2017 18:29

If that's your problem a cheap 2 way splitter should cure that

Rickles

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#1904727 20-Nov-2017 18:49

>If that's your problem a cheap 2 way splitter should cure that <

Yep, so I have been reading ... I should have picked up on this sooner when I tried a basic HDMI splitter (so that I'd get the pic on computer screen and TV at same time) and the screen went blank as soon as I inserted the HDMI adapter into the second HDMI outlet. I'm also going to try using the STB AV outputs as that too should obviate the HDCP problem.

Rickles

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#1920618 16-Dec-2017 17:49

UPDATE: To overcome any form of Copy Protection, I connected a small AV-to-HDMI device, viz. set top box composite/audio out to the conversion device, then HDMI dongle to Ethernet. Ethernet cable to another HDMI dongle at other end and into TV.

Result is now a great picture, but very loud buzzing over the audio.

One problem solved but why the buzzing?