Longer 4k HDMI Cable with full 18gbps bandwidth

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Longer 4k HDMI Cable with full 18gbps bandwidth

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#242495 31-Oct-2018 09:27

I need a longer HDMI 4k 18gbps cable (15m+).

I understand the only viable option is to use an active cable.

Like this....

https://www.unitek-products.com/search?view=product&id=284

Unitek Y-C1031BK 30m Ultrapro HDMI 2.0 Fiber Active Optic Cable

The specs look OK, but has anyone used this or a similar cable?

trig42

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#2117263 31-Oct-2018 09:43

Could you use Baluns and Cat-5/6 cable?

I'm not sure of the price differences, but it is another option - Cat6 Cable is pretty cheap. Not sure if they do 4K though?

D.W

726 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2117273 31-Oct-2018 10:11

I've got one of these lying around, I've sent you a PM: https://web.archive.org/web/20170710072731/http://cdlnz.com/cables/av067/C-HDMI20-20

geekiegeek

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#2117326 31-Oct-2018 11:33

I went with a 20 meter optical cable and have never looked back, 4K with Dolby Vision from an Apple TV to a Sony A8F OLED.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#2117339 31-Oct-2018 12:24

geekiegeek:

I went with a 20 meter optical cable and have never looked back, 4K with Dolby Vision from an Apple TV to a Sony A8F OLED.

Have you tested out a full 4k 60p HDR signal (should use the full 18gbps bandwidth).

If so, what was the cable model/code?

Thanks

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#2117340 31-Oct-2018 12:26

trig42:

Could you use Baluns and Cat-5/6 cable?

I'm not sure of the price differences, but it is another option - Cat6 Cable is pretty cheap. Not sure if they do 4K though?

Yes, i already have the cabling in place for that too-- but HDbaseT extenders are hideously expensive compared to active hdmi cables. eg, $800 vs $200 (for active hdmi).

networkn

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#2117380 31-Oct-2018 13:32

YEs I have used one of those CDLNZ cables for 4K 60FPS HDR no issues.

Make sure that absoloutely everything in the chain includes this certification or you may have issues. I know I did when the installer for my projector re-used an older cable instead of the one that I supplied.

surfisup1000

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#2117395 31-Oct-2018 14:03

networkn:

YEs I have used one of those CDLNZ cables for 4K 60FPS HDR no issues.

Make sure that absoloutely everything in the chain includes this certification or you may have issues. I know I did when the installer for my projector re-used an older cable instead of the one that I supplied.

Thanks, good to know. PB tech sell it but they suck on returns, even on goods not working as advertised (will charge restock fee) so good to have confirmation.

The end-to-end chain is good, i tested with a short cable and that was OK.

Things are a mess just now, have got the new projector sitting on a table as the old JVC mount does not fit the new jvc projector (doh!!). I'm pretty sure the old in-wall cable will not support the highest 18gbps signals , although can't test it just yet as the pj is too heavy to hold up by hand. The old cable is very thick (shielded) so maybe i will get lucky as I have used a 4k 30p signal on it previously.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

networkn

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#2117398 31-Oct-2018 14:13

What Projector did you buy?

surfisup1000

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#2117400 31-Oct-2018 14:20

networkn:

What Projector did you buy?

JVC 7900.

networkn

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#2117403 31-Oct-2018 14:25

Ah right, yeah I seriously considered that, and went with the Sony's Native 4K instead. The Contrast on those JVC's is breath taking and the Faux 4K from JVC is truly exceptional. About 95% of the time, I couldn't discern a difference.

Helped I got the Sony for a price that would make a grown man cry.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#2117499 31-Oct-2018 17:44

networkn:

Ah right, yeah I seriously considered that, and went with the Sony's Native 4K instead. The Contrast on those JVC's is breath taking and the Faux 4K from JVC is truly exceptional. About 95% of the time, I couldn't discern a difference.

Helped I got the Sony for a price that would make a grown man cry.

I almost went for the Sony too. Both are awesome machines. Pricing is falling for 4k as it becomes standard.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#2117597 31-Oct-2018 21:28

A couple of quick tidbits...

1: HDBaseT isn't capable of achieving a native 18GB, it's limited to around 10GB due to the constraints around Cat6 cable.

Some HDBaseT products are claiming a far higher figure, but they're compressing the signal to get down the 10GB pipe... the compression process (they hate using that word) does lose content though. Oh yeah, they're not Dolby Vision compatible either! Not that I've seen any projectors that are capable of DV...

2: There's 2 x types of cable to achieve content beyond UHD Blu-ray:

a) Active HDMI cables with advanced chipsets in the heads of the cable.

b) Fibre / copper hybrid cables.

a) Some of these can be very successful, however there have historically been issues with chipset incompatibilities between receivers and projectors / TV's... this sucks to discover.

b) The best tech I've used to date. Fibre for the signal and copper for the CEC connectivity.The better cables feature a micro-USB port at the source end to ensure the HDMI handshake maintains its 5 volt signal to allow a successful HDCP handshake. I believe the tech will come down in price over time... however HDBaseT will also improve - so it could make a comeback.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#2117767 1-Nov-2018 11:32

Dunnersfella:

2: There's 2 x types of cable to achieve content beyond UHD Blu-ray:

a) Active HDMI cables with advanced chipsets in the heads of the cable.

b) Fibre / copper hybrid cables.

Interesting, I think I'll try option 2a.... Those fiber copper hybrid cables don't seem to be available in NZ.

PB Tech seems the most cost effective place to buy an active HDMI cable, but, if it does not work they sometimes give you grief in returning faulty product (is HDMI incompatibility a fault?).

littlehead

214 posts

Master Geek

#2117812 1-Nov-2018 12:59

surfisup1000:

Interesting, I think I'll try option 2a.... Those fiber copper hybrid cables don't seem to be available in NZ.

Rapallo AV have those cables. 15m one here.