Well it is possible with the right equipment to extend your HDMI up for up to 60 meters. Although for the realms of this explanation we will stick with normal home sizes! For the average user CAT5 / CAT6 is probably the cheapest, easiest and most secure method of extending HDMI. This is the same technology that is used to connect computers together and as such is very affordable.

To extend your HDMI through Ethernet technology you will need a HDMI transmitter, a HDMI receiver, and up to 2 CAT5 / CAT6 cables depending on the quality and speed required. Alternatively you can buy a HDMI extender kit. These transmitters & receivers allow for the manipulation and transmission of HDMI over CAT5 / CAT6 Ethernet cables. You will also need 2 HDMI Leads to connect your source and display. Standard HDMI Cables are fine for this, however if you prefer premium cable we would recommend something like a Monster HDMI Cable.

The basic process to extend HDMI cables through a CAT5 / CAT6 connection goes something like this:

-        The HD source connects to a HDMI transceiver using a standard HDMI lead the transmitter and the receiver are connected by 1 or 2 CAT5 or CAT 6 cables, dependant on the quality and speed required. The signal will then be broadcast between the transmitter and receiver. The HDMI transmitter & receiver acts as a ‘repeater’ for the signal from the source to the display. The receiver is then connected to the display device, again with a standard HDMI cable.

Well there you have it, the basics on how to extend HDMI over CAT 5. As you can see from the outside it may look like a complicated topic, but in reality it’s not as tricky as you may have thought. And should you get stuck you could always give us a call one of our technicians could talk you through it.

Product Range Updated!

We now have HDMI over SINGLE CAT5 / Cat 6 Extenders available. These make installations even easier as you only have to install 1 single CAT5 or CAT 6 Network Cable to acheive a HD connection between the sender and receiver. A single CAT6 Network cable, will then allow up to 1080p resolutions over a 50 metre distance.

Cables & Leads

Converting a USB port to allow a connection through a HDMI cable to a HD ready display is easily achievable; although at first glance it can seem a little complex, fortunately you can get a USB to HDMI Kit to help make the whole process a lot easier to do. By doing this you can use two displays on your PC or laptop this can be used to duplicate what is showing on your initial display or as a extra screen so for example you can be writing a document / surfing the web while watching movies or videos on the other. I am sure you can appreciate the benefits of both. But how can it be done and what do I need in a USB to HDMI Kit.

As USB is not designed to transmit video signals that your display can read then you need to do a little bit of manipulating, converting the connection first to DVI and then out through a HDMI lead to the display. To make this operation easier there are kits available that give you everything you need,

A USB to DVI converter that plugs in to a spare USB slot on your PC or laptop, this then makes the operating system see the USB slot as a new display port.

Click Here to Buy a USB to HDMI Kit

A DVI to HDMI converter that allows the connection of a HDMI lead to your high definition display for you to do whatever you want with it.

A set of audio leads RCA type, as both DVI HDMI can transfer both audio and video channels at the same time your USB ports will not allow this so it is necessary to use separate cables for the audio channels.

The idea of the USB to HDMI Kit is to help utilise existing equipment in different ways, having two displays for your computer can have many benefits including watching modern internet based media through your high quality TV display etc…

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Cables & Leads

CES 2010 is abuzz with stories about the impending arrival of 3D HDTV, but what does that really mean for consumers? Do you need a new TV? A new Blu-ray player? What about new cables?

HDMI has become the standard interface for delivering high-quality audio and video content to HDTVs. TheHDMI consortium just released new guidelines for 3D certification. The 3D requirements in the v1.4 spec requires that displays support all mandatory 3D formats and that source material must support at least one of the mandatory 3D formats.

PCMag had the chance to ask what this all means to Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, before he headed off to CES this year. Here’s his insider’s take on where this technology is heading.

How big will 3D TV and peripheral sales be this year?
As HDMI Licensing, LLC is just in charge of licensing the HDMI specification; we are not privy to the product plans of our adopters. However, we certainly do receive first-hand information about the types of features that Adopters are excited about. From those conversations, it is clear to us that 2010 will be the first real year that 3D is launched into the home in a mainstream manner. While we don’t have specific sales forecasts, all of the major brands of HDTV manufacturers are launching 3D sets this year.

Will 3D displays essentially require HDMI? Is there any other way to send that much information?
No.3D can be done through other interfaces such as DisplayPort, DVI or analogue. However, each manufacturer will likely have to create proprietary 3D communication structures/meta-data structures that would be specific to each manufacturer or technology vendor. HDMI is the first interface to define a common 3D communication structure to enable 3D interoperability. HDMI has given manufacturers assurance that 3D devices will work together.

What will consumers need to buy to get a real 3D experience? A new set top box? A new HDTV? A new cable?
They will need new devices that support 3D. Some devices, such as the [set top box], may be software upgradable depending on the service provider and (the STB) hardware combination. Upgradability is determined by the service providers. Consumers will [also] need an HDTV that is HDMI 3D capable. Consumers will not need a new cable as long as their cable is a high-speed HDMI cable capable of supporting the full 10.2 Gbps bandwidth of HDMI.

What exactly are the 3D requirements within HDMI 1.4?
We have divided up the specification into two formats: mandatory and informative. We have done this because the market is still nascent, and there are many competing formats that many manufacturers are working with. Thus, we have stated that HDMI requires certain mandatory formats that anyone who implements 3D over HDMI must use. Therefore, manufacturers are free to use any or all of the “informative” formats that are contained within the specification. This way, the HDMI Consortium allows a variety of formats, but ensures that devices that implement 3D over HDMI will interoperate.

Article Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2357710,00.asp

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It really isn’t that difficult to do; in fact a lot of modern pc equipment particularly laptops come complete with the necessary cables. Although many times the cables you get may not be the best they will be enough to get you started then you can upgrade as and when you deem fit.

So what do you need to get your TV and computer connected?

You need to get a cable with the right type of connectors or adapters, one end to connect to the TV and the other to connect to your computer. For this you will need to look at your PC and see what connection options you have, also do the same with your TV.
So what are the popular options for connecting them?

Over the years there have been a number of different connections devised to allow people to connect devices together. While some are now too slow to be of any use nowadays, there are some which have stuck around and are still good to use.

S-Video cable consists of either a 4-pin connector or a 7-pin. Since most computers nowadays usually support only a 7-pin, you will find it difficult to connect a PC to a television if your TV only supports 4-pin S-Video. This connection method is as simple as connecting the cable from your computer to the television. There are various types of converter available which allow the connection of S-Video to other types of socket on your TV.

VGA cable. These are more commonly associated with high definition televisions, and are probably the better choice for a computer to TV connection if you don’t want to lose any video quality. Normal televisions will usually be equipped with an S-Video port, so don’t expect to find a VGA connection on anything other than a hi-def television.

DVI and HDMI Leads are another great way to ensure that the quality stays between the transfer of data between the computer and the TV. High definition televisions can support DVI cables, but they definitely aren’t cheap to purchase. However, the level of display that a DVI cable can support is stunning. HDMI, by far being the best quality, is not supported by PC’s at the moment, although there is a solution by purchasing a DVI to HDMI converter which runs through a USB port from the computer.

Hopefully now you know what you are looking for you should find connecting your computer to your TV a much less daunting task. If you have any doubts then it would be wise to talk to a good supplier who would offer you advise on what your options are.

With the move to the digital age the amount of data that is needed to be transferred has increased massively between digital devices. This has been due to the fast moving pace of updates in modern home entertainment systems and the needs of their users. Due to these increased demands cable technology has also had to be improved to transfer this vast amount of data without loss of quality.

There was DVI which now struggles to keep up next came HDMI which can handle more than enough data for any current digital devices and those in the foreseeable future, future proofing yourself, or should I say as future proof as we can be.

When someone mentions HDMI cables many people believe that they are really expensive. While you can spend a large amount of money on a HDMI cable it is perfectly feasible to get a functional cable on a smaller budget. These cables will do exactly the same job as a more expensive one and will offer the same performance. The only thing that a more expensive cable will do is potentially last longer than a cheaper alternative. For most home users they will do the job just fine. Even though there is no real big urgency for a home user to have a more expensive cable they can be an investment as they will last you a long time and offer reliable performance.

For the more advanced user and equipment that is used for public performances then the higher priced cables may be worth more than a second look.

There is no reason not to use the high definition quality of your equipment for the lack of a cable, use the one that came with it or get hold of a cheap one for now and then look at getting a more expensive cable in the future if price is a problem.