HDMI over CAT*, any experience with HDBaseT products?

[voodooless]

Recently I changed my TV setup to hide basically all equipment and a sub in an Ikea cabinet. For now, that excluded the AV receiver, which I didn't use at the time. After however, my pi setup died for the 4th time (tried various distro's.. none of them seem to be stable, most of them suck), I'm done with it, and I'll bring back the AV receiver, and will also be adding some surround stuff again, for which I already layed some groundwork as well.

However, the AV receiver does not fit in the cabinet. Luckily I have two CAT 7 cables to the basement. The idea is to use one of them to bring HDMI from the basement to the TV, and the other to bring line-level audio for L+R+C+SUB back to feed some amps. Possibly I could cram in the two Atmos height channels as well..

So it seems the best option to do HDMI over CAT is some HDBaseT extender. The trouble is that there are so many products, with so many different specs, often conflicting, and most of them are very unclear. Almost never is it stated if compression is used, which in itself is not an issue in itself, as long as it's good enough. Also, it should do 4K@50Hz, and support HDR (for future use), so 18 Gbps bandwidth is needed. Prices also vary widely, often without a clear reason for the more expensive product. I don't care about 8K, gaming and high or variable refresh rates.

So the question: do any of you have any experience with these products?

 

[bloodshoteyed]

not really sure about end-user commercial availability on this stuff, especially with 18gbps bandwith (most i've seen were 10.2 only)

we had Aten's wallplates with extenders mounted in a conference room for a 55-60m hdmi cable run, but we only needed 4k@30hz(4:4:4), it does fine over a cat5e cable

edit:
just checked their homepage, Aten only has 10.2gbps support

 

[abdo123]

you're better off with an optical HDMI cable instead of HDMI over CAT, 18Gbps is impossible over CAT AFAIK.

 

[bloodshoteyed]

i guess when in doubt, turn to the germans:
https://oneav.eu/en/signal-extender...t-extender-set-with-vlc-arc-and-scaler?c=2297
for pricing (since they only have a b2b portal) https://www.amazon.com/PureTools-HDBT-210-HDBaseT-Extension-Technology/dp/B07PY2NGYR
manual: https://www.belram.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/PT-HDBT-210_Manual_V1_2.pdf

 

[voodooless]

you're better off with an optical HDMI cable instead of HDMI over CAT, 18Gbps is impossible over CAT AFAIK.

How do I get the connectors through the walls? HDBaseT 3.0 claims full 18 Gbps over CAT5e or better.. Sound like magic for sure.. That's why I'd like some experience before spending hundreds of Euros on something that won't work.

 

[JSmith]

compression

No... the HDBaseT standard is designed to deliver uncompressed video;

https://hdbaset.org/what-is-hdbaset/

...a method to reliably transmit uncompressed high definition video, audio, power, networking, USB, and control signals over regular network cable with a standard RJ45 connector.

You may want to get a product that is certified by the HDBaseT Alliance;

https://products.hdbaset.org/avcat/ctl18927/index.cfm

Something along these lines may fit the bill, however these are at Aus stores but just an example of what you are after;

https://www.ezyhd.com.au/product/hdmi-splitter-extender-hdbaset-4k-1080p/

https://www.spacehifi.com.au/av-distribution/hdmi-extenders/hdbaset-hdmi-extender-4k-60hz-18gbps-70m



JSmith

 

[abdo123]

How do I get the connectors through the walls?

well that's for you to figure out, an Optical HDMI cable is like a regular HDMI cable, except that the copper inside is only used for power not for data transmission.

 

[voodooless]

No... the HDBaseT standard is designed to deliver uncompressed video;

https://hdbaset.org/what-is-hdbaset/

Only from version 3, it can do 4K@60Hz 4:4:4 uncompressed. Otherwise, the fallback is to use a light compression that they say is imperceptible. I'm generally okay with that.

You may want to get a product that is certified by the HDBaseT Alliance;

https://products.hdbaset.org/avcat/ctl18927/index.cfm

Tried that: The ones that matched the 4k@60Hz filter I cannot buy locally or are way to expensive.

Something along these lines may fit the bill, however these are at Aus stores but just an example of what you are after;

https://www.ezyhd.com.au/product/hdmi-splitter-extender-hdbaset-4k-1080p/

https://www.spacehifi.com.au/av-distribution/hdmi-extenders/hdbaset-hdmi-extender-4k-60hz-18gbps-70m

Yes, I've seen many of these as well, but none seem to be certified, non specify the HDBaseT version.

 

[voodooless]

well that's for you to figure out, an Optical HDMI cable is like a regular HDMI cable, except that the copper inside is only used for power not for data transmission.

I don't need optical if I can get the connectors though A normal longer HDMI cable would also work, and might actually be an alternative to the whole HDBaseT idea.

I'll check out how easy it is to fit the connectors myself..

 

[abdo123]

A normal longer HDMI cable would also work

how many meters are we talking about here? for 2.1 HDMI more than 3 meters is difficult, for 2.0 the limit is not that much longer.

 

[JSmith]

A normal longer HDMI cable would also work, and might actually be an alternative to the whole HDBaseT idea.

What length of run are we talking here? Anything much over 7m and I'd suggest optical HDMI.



JSmith

 

[voodooless]

What length of run are we talking here? Anything much over 7m and I'd suggest optical HDMI.

I guess I'd be heading towards 7 meters. Can DIY connectors on an optical HDMI cable? Looks to be quite complex..

Meanwhile, I found these HDBaseT products that might do the trick and are actually available:
- https://www.aten.com/global/en/products/professional-audiovideo/video-extenders/ve812t/
- https://www.purelink.de/en/signal-e...bps-hdmi-hdbaset-extender-set-with-vlc?c=2297

As a set, both should be about the same price, around € 400,-.

Another alternative is to use standard fiber and a set of these: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com...ords=hdmi+over+fiber+4k&qid=1626949798&sr=8-5

That would solve the connector problem at least..

 

[JSmith]

Can DIY connectors on an optical HDMI cable? Looks to be quite complex..

I wouldn't suggest doing that, it would be very complex!

This company makes quality 10m+ HDMI optical cables as an example;

https://www.ruipro.com/



JSmith

 

[raindance]

My company uses HDBaseT stuff every day. The success largely depends on cable and termination quality; we purchased expensive test gear to verify bandwidth.

I'll take a look at some ideas and update you later today.

 

[raindance]

Cables2go makes the RapidRun series of optical/copper hybrid cables that won't break the bank and work well. I'd suggest they might be more cost effective than a certified HDBaseT solution.

 

[voodooless]

I'd be all for the optical solution. Still not sure how to handle the through the wall aspect though. I have a 21 mm hole, with flexible PVC tubing. It takes 2 CAT7 cables with relative ease, but no way I get a connector through this...

 

[abdo123]

I'd be all for the optical solution. Still not sure how to handle the through the wall aspect though. I have a 21 mm hole, with flexible PVC tubing. It takes 2 CAT7 cables with relative ease, but no way I get a connector through this...

can you explain what you mean with a connector?

I’m confused because optical HDMI cables are exactly the same as regular cables.

 

[voodooless]

can you explain what you mean with a connector?

I’m confused because optical HDMI cables are exactly the same as regular cables.

That thing:

Anything not the cable is the connector That thing won't fit a 21mm hole, will it.. Some of those optical cables have an adapter to micro HDMI, which makes it a bit smaller, but I'm pretty sure that still won't fit.

 

[Music1969]

https://www.startech.com/en-us/cables/hd2mm10ma

10m certified active 4K UltraHD

Even 30m option

 

[apgood]

That thing:
View attachment 142935

Anything not the cable is the connector That thing won't fit a 21mm hole, will it.. Some of those optical cables have an adapter to micro HDMI, which makes it a bit smaller, but I'm pretty sure that still won't fit.

If a micro hdmi won't fit then an RJ45 connector on an Ethernet cable is going to be an issue too as they are about the same size.