4K over cat 6A

[Adam.]

Just finished a big renovation including total rewire so have run cat 6A everywhere including multiple sockets behind TVs. I also ran HDMI cables from AV cupboard to two TV points as I was told these would handle the primary Sky Q feed if someone ever wanted the Q box in a room. The HDMI cables were long (20m and 30m and are 8K rated.

https://amzn.eu/d/4e3i3Br

I am now being told “Cat6A handles 4K by coverting hdmi using a device for both ends.
the Hdmi lead already there can't handle it”

Does this sound right? Perhaps naively I thought the 6A from rack to TV would do be all I needed!

[Mr Pointy]

Have a look at HDBaseT devices:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDBaseT

I'd say 30m of 8K over HDMI is rather optimistic but I may be wrong - the 30m version is a fibre so maybe it will work. Lindy have active 20m & 30m cables but they only go up to 4K.

https://www.lindy.co.uk/cables-adapters-c1/audio-v...

[Adam.]

Dumb question - I only need 4k not 8, so is 4 over that length OK

The HDMI is a bit of a red herring anyway as the Q box is in the AV cupboard so I thought we could just use the Cat 6A to carry a 4K signal

[Mr Pointy]

Adam. said:

Dumb question - I only need 4k not 8, so is 4 over that length OK

The HDMI is a bit of a red herring anyway as the Q box is in the AV cupboard so I thought we could just use the Cat 6A to carry a 4K signal

You'll have to try the cable with equipment you intend to use at either end to find out ifit will work. As for sending HDMI over the CAT6a cable, you'll need a piece of equipment at each end to interface the signal to the cable. A HDMI cable has 19 wires in it & a CAT6a only 8 so it will never be a direct connection.

[Adam.]

Mr Pointy said:

As for sending HDMI over the CAT6a cable, you'll need a piece of equipment at each end to interface the signal to the cable. A HDMI cable has 19 wires in it & a CAT6a only 8 so it will never be a direct connection.

yes thats what he is doing, I am just checking I am not being fed a load of BS because they have messed up the wiring

[Adam.]

Anyone recommend the baluns I need for HDMI to Cat 6A, prices seem to vary wildly

[TheRainMaker]

Look at the Kramer stuff.

4.2.0 will be fine for TV.

Receiver

https://www1.kramerav.com/Product/TP-789R

Transmitter

https://www1.kramerav.com/Product/TP-580T

Those HDMI cables you listed were never going to work.

CYP is another option.

http://www.cypeurope.com/store/store/app/browse/ca...

[Adam.]

Jesus - £450 just to send a 4K signal from one room to another!?!?

TheRainMaker said:

Those HDMI cables you listed were never going to work.

Out of curiosity please explain why

[TheRainMaker]

Adam. said:

Out of curiosity please explain why

It's all to do with data speeds, the higher the resolution, the more data you transmit.

Have a read-up here; 4 K with a passive HDMI cable would probably give you 7-10 meters.

https://tripplite.eaton.com/products/hdmi-cable-ty...

I don't know anything about Sky boxes, but can you lower the resolution to 1080? But even then, I don't think I've ever seen a 30-meter HDMI cable used.

[Mr Pointy]

There's a lot of information over on AVForums:
https://www.avforums.com/forums/cables-switches.12...

AV isn't really my area but I've often used Lindy kit & it usually works.
https://www.lindy.co.uk/audio-video-c2/extenders-c...

[Adam.]

TheRainMaker said:

I don't know anything about Sky boxes, but can you lower the resolution to 1080?

Yes watching that now, fine over the cable alone it seems.

[megaphone]

HD Anywhere kit is very good, UK company, https://hdanywhere.com/products/xtnd/pages/xtnd4k4...

[JEA1K]

Adam. said:

Anyone recommend the baluns I need for HDMI to Cat 6A, prices seem to vary wildly

Blustream. Great product, our go to HDMI product for baluns when we need them. They also have IR pass through for control of the Skybox etc

HD Anywhere also good for baluns ... we also use theur active HDMI fibre cables for long runs. Anything over 10m we will only use fibre/active HDMI's.

[VEX]

As others have mentioned, Bluestream for Baluns (HDMI over Cat6/6a)

And who ever told you 20/30m HDMI's for 4K and didnt confirm Fibre flavour only, needs shooting.

[Adam.]

I think the best solution might be to relocate the main Q box next to one of the TVs, plug that into the local ethernet socket and into TV, and run others over Sky minis

Would that work?

[megaphone]

Adam. said:

I think the best solution might be to relocate the main Q box next to one of the TVs, plug that into the local ethernet socket and into TV, and run others over Sky minis

Would that work?

Yes. That's what is expected. As long as you have a place for the main Sky box, and a route up to the TV for the HDMI. You have run twin co-ax to the TV positions where the main Q will go? The Minis can sit down the back of a TV if there's a big enough gap .

Remember only two Sky minis can be watched simultaneously with a main Q box. You can connect up to four minis.

Did yuo run TV aerial to each TV position?

Edited by megaphone on Friday 30th June 08:38

Edited by megaphone on Friday 30th June 08:38

Edited by megaphone on Friday 30th June 08:40

[Adam.]

megaphone said:

Did yuo run TV aerial to each TV position?

wasnt sure whether it was worth it these days but I did yes

[megaphone]

Adam. said:

megaphone said:

Did yuo run TV aerial to each TV position?

wasnt sure whether it was worth it these days but I did yes

Good to have normal Freeview. Also you can use an HD modulator to send Sky down the coax, gives you another option for the 'lesser' TVs. Remote control can be an issue, also they do induce a small delay in the signal.

[595Heaven]

Adam. said:

I think the best solution might be to relocate the main Q box next to one of the TVs, plug that into the local ethernet socket and into TV, and run others over Sky minis

Would that work?

I’m pretty sure that Sky Mini boxes don’t support 4K.

[Adam.]

595Heaven said:

I’m pretty sure that Sky Mini boxes don’t support 4K.

yes 4k just to main TV is OK for now