4k Signal Dropout - Boosters, any good?

[scoobster999]

Hi, hope someone can help? There are a few similar posts but most are pre 2018 so perhaps tech has moved on?

I've got SKY Q going through a Denon amp to an OLED TV which is 4k compatible. When we moved into the house as a new build, we tasked a local AV installer to wall mount the TV and supply/chase in the various HDMI and speaker cables. From the offset we have been plagued with issues, unreliable connectivity, flashing black screen, inability to set the resolution above 2160i without losing the picture.

We asked the installers to return and investigate (having decorated the room etc), then when covid and lockdowns kicked in, I put it on the back burner. As it transpires the company have since ceased trading so we are stuck with what we have got.

Another local firm has checked and determined that the cables aren't suitable for the length of run, circa 10/11 metres and therefore we need to replace with an active cable. Obviously this will involve removing skirtings, redecorating etc so am exploring plan B first as to whether an HDMI booster would work, and if so any recommendations. The best solution would be cable but having spent a chunk of money on the initial install and decoration wanted to explore other solutions.

Has anyone had success with a 4k booster in similar circumstances and if so any recommendations as to the kit?

[FunkyGibbon]

Before you spend any money, can you post up the model numbers of the amp and TV?

I presume you are connecting an Sky Q main box and not a mini?

[scoobster999]

FunkyGibbon said:

Before you spend any money, can you post up the model numbers of the amp and TV?

I presume you are connecting an Sky Q main box and not a mini?

Thanks for the reply

It's an LG 55B7V OLED screen with a Denon AVR-X3500 Amp, with Sky Q 2TB main box. Get very occasional flickering with 1080i setting, but with 4K enabled on the Sky Q box, either no picture at all, or long periods of flashing black screen and no picture.

[FunkyGibbon]

A couple of things you could try before it gets expensive.

I presume at the moment you have:

Sky Q -> HDMI -> Denon HDMI input -> Denon HDMI Out -> TV HDMI input?

And yet you get poor HD and no UHD from Sky Q.

Can you try Sky Q -> HDMI direct to TV HDMI input ? Just to test picture and sound via TV? That should eliminate the cable.

To add: how many HDMI cables did the AV chap chase through for you?

To also add my be worth checking out AV Forums for issues with Denon and Sky Q passing UHD...

e,g this one:

https://www.avforums.com/threads/denon-avrx3500h-s...

I doubt it will be the cables.

https://www.avforums.com/threads/denon-avrx3500h-s...

https://www.avforums.com/threads/denon-handshake-i...

Edited by FunkyGibbon on Wednesday 16th March 17:23

[VEX]

10m is pushing the technical boundarys of HDMI, 7m is the spec limit, although alot go further, indeed mine do, but i backed them up with cat6 as a backup.

I would do what has been mentioned before, check the quality of the direct link first and any other HDMI combos you may have in the wall before you start ripping out and starting again. Just becuase one doesnt perform well doesnt mean the others will be the same.

It could be damaged, running close to power or all sorts of things that effect individual runs differently.

I woukd also argue that 4k on a 55" tv is boardline not worth it and see if you could live with / get 1080p working with no additional cost.