Long run HDMI cable question

[1233user]

I need to run a couple of HDMI cables that are 75' long. I want to make sure I buy the right cable for this long of a run so the signal quality is good, and I don't have to upgrade for new technology in a couple years.

I checked on Monoprice and Amazon, and there are quite a few options. They have standard HDMI, Commercial series HDMI, Ultra Active high speed HDMI, HDMI with a built in repeater, HDMI with Ethernet, HDMI with built in equalizer, HDMI with built in signal booster, HDMI that supports 3D and channel return.

So, I am confused as to which one would be the best for that long of a run? This will be used to go from a cable box, DVD, Roku box, A/V receiver, etc. to a TV mounted 75 feet away.

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[starquestMM]

I can't speak to 75', but I'm doing the same thing with 50' (receiver to remote tv) and just used a basic HDMI cable. A lot of that stuff is hype, either it'll work or it wont.

I'd also suggest running two runs of cat5 along with the HDMI as it gives you some options in the future.

 

[dw1]

I put a covered porch on the back or our house last year (at the time) I think the longest I could find was 60' which was just long enough for me. Mine runs from my tv, down the wall thru basement up to catv box, I ran the hdmi, cat 5 and a coax for just in case, its all sealed up now. I put a HDMI splitter box in, I can turn the tv/cable box on in family room and then also watch it outside, didnt want to pay for another hi-def cable box, besides, if we are outisde, no one is usually inside to watch tv unless a big ball game and then both tvs are on same channel anyway. (I used standard HDMI cable)

 

[Richie Rich]

Use an HDMI extender (balun). They utilize cat5-cat6 to send HDMI between a transmitter and a receiver. Many will allow other things (IR, Network) to occupy the same cable. Look for HDBase-t extenders, those are the most reliable way to send HDMI.

Long (50'+) HDMI cables are hit and miss at best. Not only that, they are easily damaged in a construction environment and more difficult to run then network cable.
My standard video location pull is one coax (cable wire) and 2-3 cat6 cables. Unless it is a straight up/down run (display on the wall with equipment directly below), I don't even bother running HDMI cables anymore.

 

[Chrysis]

I'd use HDMI over cat 5e or cat 6 extenders
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?p_...YWb-pKxKP1PHAqrvehFFGLcvvxP1m4dumEaAkgQ8P8HAQ

straight HDMI can work, but once you get over 45' you will start having issues with 1080p signals. Less so with 480p.

 

[ltusler]

Look at the Quicktron Rapid Run Fiber cable and adapters. They should be a cables to go.

 

[theoldwizard1]

From Wikipedia

Although no maximum length for an HDMI cable is specified, signal attenuation (dependent on the cable's construction quality and conducting materials) limits usable lengths in practice. HDMI 1.3 defines two cable categories: Category 1-certified cables, which have been tested at 74.5 MHz (which would include resolutions such as 720p60 and 1080i60), and Category 2-certified cables, which have been tested at 340 MHz (which would include resolutions such as 1080p60 and 2160p30). Category 1 HDMI cables are marketed as "Standard" and Category 2 HDMI cables as "High Speed".[4] This labeling guideline for HDMI cables went into effect on October 17, 2008. Category 1 and 2 cables can either meet the required parameter specifications for interpair skew, far-end crosstalk, attenuation and differential impedance, or they can meet the required nonequalized/equalized eye diagram requirements.[109] A cable of about 5 meters (16 feet) can be manufactured to Category 1 specifications easily and inexpensively by using 28 AWG (0.081 mm²) conductors. With better quality construction and materials, including 24 AWG (0.205 mm²) conductors, an HDMI cable can reach lengths of up to 15 meters (49 feet). Many HDMI cables under 5 meters of length that were made before the HDMI 1.3 specification can work as Category 2 cables, but only Category 2-tested cables are guaranteed to work for Category 2 purposes
As of the HDMI 1.4 specification, the following cable types are defined for HDMI in general:

• Standard HDMI Cable – up to 1080i and 720p
• Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet
• Automotive HDMI Cable
• High Speed HDMI Cable – 1080p, 4K, 3D and deep color
• High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet

An HDMI cable is usually composed of four shielded twisted pairs, with impedance of the order of 100 Ω, plus several separate conductors.

Use 24 AWG cable. Despite what it says above, some people have gone 100' with no boosters.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Aren't the redmere hdmi cables made for long lengths?

 

[1233user]

Thanks for all the replies! I did run coax and 2 cat 6a cables to each jack, but I would also like to put in the HDMI before I close up the walls. It would be nice to just plug in the HDMI cable and have everything work without any adapters or extra components. I just want to get the best cable for my application.

 

[Tunajoe]

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/
Great article on hdmi cable lengths and very affordable cables they sell
When I built my house I did a couple of long run HDMI cables (75' no problem) and I also did baluns for a couple of runs over 100'.
Got the baluns from Amazon and to this day they have worked great.
Definitely second the concurrent runs of cat 5 or 6 with the HDMI.
I used the xantech dinky link for my if repeater and it's worked great too

 

[Tunajoe]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00G5...hdmi+balun&dpPl=1&dpID=41uger3xo8L&ref=plSrch
For baluns

 

[12vwiz]

Use an HDMI extender (balun). They utilize cat5-cat6 to send HDMI between a transmitter and a receiver. Many will allow other things (IR, Network) to occupy the same cable. Look for HDBase-t extenders, those are the most reliable way to send HDMI.

Long (50'+) HDMI cables are hit and miss at best. Not only that, they are easily damaged in a construction environment and more difficult to run then network cable.
My standard video location pull is one coax (cable wire) and 2-3 cat6 cables. Unless it is a straight up/down run (display on the wall with equipment directly below), I don't even bother running HDMI cables anymore.

+1
Over the years I've used several different brands of blauns with hit and miss reliability. I now swear by the brand Wyrestorm

 

[streetdaddy]

I just put in the fiberoptic hdmi cables from monoprice. Very thin and work great( 100 and 320 ft)

 

[Jim Dawson]

I just put in the fiberoptic hdmi cables from monoprice. Very thin and work great( 100 and 320 ft)

I have been looking at the monoprice web site and can't find fiber optic HDMI cables, maybe I don't know what to look for. Are they called something else?

 

[Jim Dawson]

I have been looking at the monoprice web site and can't find fiber optic HDMI cables, maybe I don't know what to look for. Are they called something else?

Never mind, I think I found them.

 

[MDSPHOTO]

Check out Bluejean cable for custom length Cables at rock bottom prices. I used them for all the extended runs in my high end home theater. Give them a call they will talk you through what you need and not try to up sell you.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I ran monoprice large gauge (18? 22?) HDMI + ethernet cables from behind my bar to my receiver, back out through an amplified splitter to my big screen and back a smaller TV behind the bar. It has to be 65-70' total to the bar tv. I use it for running my laptop behind the bar for home dj use or for tv when we have guests. Even though I see no appreciable signal loss, I would recommend baluns for ease of use and signal quality. If I had known about them I would have used them in the first place.

Tommy

 

[reader2580]

At work someone bought a 100 foot HDMI cable where we only needed 35 feet. I told them not to buy the 100 foot cable just for cost reasons. The 100 foot HDMI cable did not work at all. No signal on the projector. I tried a shorter HDMI cable and it worked fine.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I would do dual cat 5e or cat 6 HDMI extenders for a long run.

 

[Jawn]

I have some 100' HDMI cables with built-in repeaters. Those are directional unlike normal HDMI cables, so make sure you put 'em in the right way.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I would do dual cat 5e or cat 6 HDMI extenders for a long run.

By "dual" do you mean two sets of CAT6 wire ?

Got a brand you would recommend ?

 

[CadillacJack]

By "dual" do you mean to sets of CAT6 wire ?

Got a brand you would recommend ?

Two. Most of the HDMI extenders require two cables.

Cat6 is Cat6.

 

[bushmechanic]

BlueJeans Cable Series 1

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/hdmi-cables/hdmi-cable.htm

It's pretty much the best you can get, and I'd not make a long run without it. I just pulled 45 feet of this stuff over here, and I've used it before.

Many people don't seem to understand how finicky the HDMI standard can be. It's a royal pain in the ***, at times. One little hiccup and you'll start to see the effects playing havoc, or simply be denied a signal or forced into lower quality.

HDMI is not an "it's either there or it's not" technology. Nothing is. There is a lot of genuine guess-work going on in each device, and when the errors become too broad or too frequent, it starts to show.

Right after that happens, you're smacked on the wrist and denied something.

Blame Sony.

While you can convert it for long runs, there are loads of little issues at play that some people will encounter and some people may not. It all depends upon what you want to do. It also might be a bit much tinkering for the average bear.

That Series 1 cable has some nice tech behind it that genuinely encourages signal integrity over long, undesirable runs. It's not cheap, but if you're going to run an actual HDMI cable, rather than a conversion that you know will work for your application, this is your answer.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Yeah, dual as in 2 runs of cable.
As far as wire goes, I use General or Honeywell/Genesis mostly.

 

[miketyler]

I did exactly as you are intending to do. Bought pair of 75ft HDMI with built-in repeaters from Monoprice. They work great running uVerse and PS3 sources to a Panasonic 65" plasma. To future-proof I also ran two of those component runs with audio connectors as well. I also ran speaker cabling for in-wall speakers.

Since then I have purchased some of the Redmere type cables and they work well too. Funny though, they are small like a USB cable in diameter. So those internally are fiber optic?

 

[1233user]

Thanks for all the replies! I just ordered the cables from monoprice. I got the "active high speed" with the built in Cabernet chip set. Hopefully I made the right choice.

http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=12739

 

[Plump]

Just test it out right away so your return policy is intact. Had one bad cable, returned it and the next one worked like a dream. You should be just fine though. Let us know!