mySky with HDMI extender

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icepicknz

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Topic # 25449 21-Aug-2008 16:30

Wondering if anyone has had luck with using an HDMI extender (about 25 meters) over cat5E.

I ran 2 cat5E cables from my Amplifier through the roof and to the projector mounted on the roof, I then purchased a Unitek HDMI extender (http://www.cdlnz.com/index.html?do=viewproduct&code=HDMIC5ET&ID=296296) and tried things out and had no luck. I should probably mention that the unit allows for up to 60m cat5E and supports HDCP which is what SKY requires.

I removed the HDMI extender blocks, moved them to my bedroom where I have a 32" Philips screen, tested the scenario again using half meter and longer cables with only sometimes getting a picture. Many times it said no HDCP compatable device in the sky menu but had a lot of dots all over the picture, sometimes it picked up the HDCP part fine and was showing a picture for 30 mins, but again specles and picture came and went 2 or 3 times a minute.

Has anyone been lucky with such a setup and if so what gear did you use?

thanks
Barry

Barry Murphy
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Reply # 158742 21-Aug-2008 16:49

I'd be looking at the connections first. Did you terminate the cat5 yourself? I haven't used Baluns but imagine it would be important to get a high quality termination. What receiver are you using?

Are you saying you've tested with short cat5 as well?

The symtoms, no signal sometimes sparklies looks like signaling, cable issue.

icepicknz

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Reply # 158743 21-Aug-2008 16:56

Yea as mentioned I've tried the cables which are in the roof (personally crimped and cable tested) and also short (0.30, 0.5, 1m, 2m & 10m) cables which were purchased from Computer Dynamics so all crimped at factory.

The receiver is a brand new panasonic projector (long distance cat53), however also tested with a philips (short distance cat5e).
Both devices have no problem with a direct HDMI cable between the SKY and the receiver.

I've replaced cables, HDMI cables, etc, all with no luck.

b

Barry Murphy
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stuzzo

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Reply # 158747 21-Aug-2008 17:15

If your Amp/AV receiver is HDMI 1.3 or later it probably has a bit of cable EQ (equalization) built in which might help...hence that question.

HDMI doesn't like hotplugging sometimes but unlikely to be the issue here. You could try to setting the HDi to 576i as a test, lower signaling frequency.

We haven't had a lot of feedback on Baluns on the forum so will be interesting to get replies....you may have to go back to the supplier I guess.

icepicknz

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Reply # 158759 21-Aug-2008 17:40

I dont see any settings on the sky where I can change the HD value from 1080 etc, where is this located?

It's going like this

|MySky HDi| ---HDMI --- |Extender| --- ethernet ---|Extender| --- |Projector|
\--- ethernet ---/

One of the ethernets are for video and the other DVI, I think HDCP runs over the DVI source.

Cheers
Barry

Barry Murphy
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stuzzo

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Reply # 158769 21-Aug-2008 18:01

icepicknz: I dont see any settings on the sky where I can change the HD value from 1080 etc, where is this located?

It's going like this

|MySky HDi| ---HDMI --- |Extender| --- ethernet ---|Extender| --- |Projector|
\--- ethernet ---/

One of the ethernets are for video and the other DVI, I think HDCP runs over the DVI source.

Cheers
Barry

You can change the resolution settings in the My Sky setup menu under video settings the then high definition settings.

I imagine one cat5 will map the 3 TMDS(video data) and clock lines and the other will do the rest including the DDC which I think does the HDCP handshake.

Not sure how important length matching is for the cables but then you've covered that likely with the short cable testing.

icepicknz

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Reply # 158793 21-Aug-2008 19:50

I managed to find another HDMI cable in a box here at home, I've re-run the short test and was able to get picture every time with good sound, just a problem with a bit of specles in the picture, when plugging in the external power source to the HDMI extender it didnt do anything. What's difficult is I'm not sure if power is going to the unit or the remote unit (PoE) as there are no LED's on them.

I then tried across the longer (~25m) run and got nothing, so I suspect perhaps there is a problem with power on these units.

I will swap the unit next week with another and test again, i'll report back.

cheers
barry

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richms

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Subscriber

Reply # 158813 21-Aug-2008 21:37

Are your cables shielded? Most that I have seen require one shielded at least.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 158838 22-Aug-2008 00:02

I don't have any HDCP video or MySky but I have just installed the same Unitek HDMI extender.
I am running from a Yamaha receiver to a 1080p Toshiba TV over 2 CAT5e UTP cables which are approx 15m long (Fitted off by me.) Each end has a 1M HDMI cable as well.
Had a problem at first then realised I had the CAT5e cables in opposite sockets on each unit (Video & DDC I think they say on them)
Switched one end around and picture comes through perfectly. Didn't have to turn anything off and on again either.
The TV says it is getting a 1080i picture when playing a DVD on an upscaling Yamaha DVD player.
Picture looks great!

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DMC

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Reply # 159247 24-Aug-2008 09:08

Hi

I have a set-up which has four HDMI devices going into a matrix switcher and from the switcher one output goes into an adjacent receiver and the other output goes through an HDMI extender for about 25 to 30m run to a bedroom LCD.

My experiences were as follows:

First tried the Uniden one just like yours. Appaeared to work fine then discovered that most times somebody turned a light or an electric blanker on in the house the screen in bedroom would blank out for one to two seconds, and then return. I then tried a grandbeing unit and had exactly the same problem. So decided at that point I would go back to the original and put up with it

Then about a week and a half ago I stumbled across a cyp unit that runs over cat6 - is speced for a longer run and interestingly both the receiver and the transmitter draw power (on the other units only the receiver did and one of them did not even need the power so must have been drawing from the HDMI connection?). Anyway that seemed to solve all my problems (have only lost the screen once in about a week)

Have noticed that on occassions the myskyhd has sound and a green screen, cyclying the power on the myskyhd fixes it straight away - not sure whether its the switcher or the extender but no big deal.

stuzzo

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Reply # 159269 24-Aug-2008 11:08

DMC: Then about a week and a half ago I stumbled across a cyp unit that runs over cat6 - is speced for a longer run and interestingly both the receiver and the transmitter draw power (on the other units only the receiver did and one of them did not even need the power so must have been drawing from the HDMI connection?). Anyway that seemed to solve all my problems (have only lost the screen once in about a week)

What may be happenening here is that the cat6 system doen't have ground lines so the switching noise may no longer interfere with the link.

DMC:

Have noticed that on occassions the myskyhd has sound and a green screen, cyclying the power on the myskyhd fixes it straight away - not sure whether its the switcher or the extender but no big deal.

I have noticed exactly the same problem which occurs consistently on one of my displays, a panasonic (unfortunately the one I use most).

My view is that the issue is with the My Sky HDi as I have 8 other HDMI devices including one of the first ones that were released and none of them exhibit any handshaking problems.

I find it a big hassle because when you switch to other hdmi devices, for internet etc you lose pause play when switching the HDi on and off to get a sync.

Have e-mailed Sky without reply yet.

icepicknz

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Reply # 159869 26-Aug-2008 13:25

DMC, where did you get the cyp unit and how much was it?
Secondly I ran CAT5e cable through already, would I need to upgrade to cat6 or are you running on cat5?
Lastly, are you ruinng straight through cable or cross over?

Like i mentioned, my unitek works ok with a 1m or shorter cable, but still specles, I think the unit may be a dud, though I'm not sure as the picture is the same with or without the power on the receiver.

I wish the power was on the transmitter as I don't have a power socket up by my projector at the moment, it's hard wired in the roof using a jbox, I now think I should have got a power point put in :(

Barry Murphy
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stuzzo

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Reply # 159879 26-Aug-2008 13:42

icepicknz:
I wish the power was on the transmitter as I don't have a power socket up by my projector at the moment, it's hard wired in the roof using a jbox, I now think I should have got a power point put in :(

Not sure if this is just a typo but the transmitter should be at the source end and the receiver at the display (projector) end.

DMC

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Master Geek

Reply # 160017 26-Aug-2008 23:41

I got the units from acquilitech. They were $115+ gst each for the transmitter and the receiver

http://www.aquilatech.co.nz/

Product code hdmic6r and hdmic6t - note ignore the pictures as they are wrong - do a search for cyp and you will find the manufacturer website with proper pictures

They are available at some other NZ on-line stores but more expensive

In terms of cables the electrician put them in, I believe it was straight-through cable, don;t imagine they would do cross-over unless I specified and I didn't.

My cables were cat6, whilst I originally was going for a cat5 extender I took a view that given the relatively small incremental cost I would install cat6 as I have done through out the house - glad I did.

In respect of power as noted above both units draw power so you will need plugs at both ends - if you projector had a USB port that might provide sufficient power to drive the receiver? I tried the receiver without power and got a blank screen

FYI I am running the extender over about 25 to 30 metres.

Regards
David

icepicknz

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Reply # 160018 26-Aug-2008 23:46

thats the same brand I have, though mine is HDMI on both ends and cat5e extended.

Is CYP just composit (3 colours) on one end and HDMI the other end?

I think my unit may be a dud, maybe thats why i dont get a picture, no power going to it.

Thanks
B

Barry Murphy
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Vibe Communications LTD - Business ISP and Wholesale Carrier

Any comments made by myself don't reflect the views of my employer, they are mine and mine alone

DMC

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Master Geek

Reply # 160019 26-Aug-2008 23:52

To confirm these are the two are bought, see the bottom two products on this page

http://www.cablesdirect.co.nz/catalog/search?quickfind_needle=&brand_selector=CYP

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