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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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.

HDMI (High Defininition Multimedia Interface) has grown in popularity since its first release in 2003; nowadays it is the choice of professionals and high end digital equipment. This is due to the speed and accuracy that the data is transferred with good quality HDMI cables transferring data at up to 5gigabits per second, this is twice as fast as the recognised standards for digital products.

What makes it shine above many other connection options is that HDMI can transfer audio aswell as video data and does so securely without data loss by using High Definition Data Protection. Making it a very popular choice with high end home entertainment systems surround sound TV’s, gaming consoles etc..

A standard HDMI has two types of wire – ‘Type A’, utilizing 19 wires, and ‘Type B’, which holds 29 wires. Many professionals and enthusiasts will always go for the 29 wire HDMI cable as in theory these can have more accurate data throughput. Allowing for better sound and display, this in reality is negligible for most enthusiasts and home users.

So what kind of products come with HDMI capabilities?

HDMI cable

As was said above the HDMI standard is fast becoming the connection of choice for both professionals and home users alike. The boom in people updating there home entertainment systems   to the new digital age as seen the uptake of HDMI taking off allowing the transfer of high quality digital without the need for a lot of cables running around the area.

Such things as Blue ray devices, high end dvd players, gaming consoles are to name but a few. With the advent of more types of communication needed by more and more digital devices HDMI technology will become common place in our homes in the not so distant future.

Visit the Cables & Leads store to buy HDMI Leads