What are the Pros and Cons of an HDBaseT Extender?

4 min read
05 July 2023

About HDBaseT extender

In the AV installation area, extenders can be categorized according to the different mediums utilized for the transmission. So what is special about HDBaseT extenders? 

In fact, we have previously discussed a lot about HDBaseT and HDBaseT extenders. These articles below may help you get on board easily and understand the technology behind it, the strengths of an HDBT kit, and the hot sellers that may very likely meet your needs. 

In this post, we will dive deeper to see what are the advantages of using an HDBaseT extender in practical AV installation and the disadvantages you may wanna know beforehand.

HDBaseT and the 5Play

What is 5Play? HDBaseT extenders transmit 5 types of data over one single Ethernet cable. 5Play explains what data can be consolidated via HDBaseT tech.

hdbaset extender

Ultra-HD Video

HDBaseT technology supports fully uncompressed ultra-HD up to 4K@60hz 4:4:4 video transmission and all HDMI formats plus HDCP. The transmission distance can go up to 100m/328ft. The transmission length will be enough for most family and business uses.  

Digital Audio

HDBaseT can support various types of audio data, including Dolby Digital, Dolby True HD, DTS, and HD-master audio. Some HDBaseT extenders enable audio de-embedding to extract HDMI audio to coaxial or stereo output. HDBaseT also enables Audio Return Channel (ARC) and Enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) (like this ARC HDMI extender with S/PDIF Audio Extraction).

Control Signals

HDBaseT supports various control signals transmission, such as IR, RS232, CEC pass-through, and EDID management. This HDBaseT extender supports bi-directional IR and RS232 pass-through. This 4KEX100-H2 HDBaseT model supports CEC and auto EDID management as well.

Power over Cable

HDBaseT enables electric power communication via a CATx cable. An HDBaseT kit that supports PoE/PoC/PoH allows electricity from one end with power to fuel another end of the box without a power adapter. There are differences between one-way PoE and two-way PoE. 

Ethernet

HDBaseT supports 1Gbps Ethernet transmission via the Ethernet cable. This feature brings flexibility to the connectivity of devices that require an Internet connection. 

HDBaseT Extenders in AV Installation

Advantages

Besides the 5 strengths listed in this post – reasonable cost, good enough transmission distance, rich supported features, easy installation, and compatibility, there is some specific convenience an HDBaseT extender could bring to the AV installation.

  • HDBaseT via ethernet can more easily blend into your existing wiring system. Ethernet sockets nearby would significantly streamline the installation process.
  • The PoH functionality requires only a power source at one end of the installation. This brings great flexibility to where the receiver could settle. 
  • Connection via rather cost-efficient CAT cables and saving extra AC outlets would help bring down the total installation cost.

Disadvantages

There may be some shortcomings of the HDBaseT standard. If your scenarios have some special requirements that an HDBaseT extender may not satisfy.

  • Transmission length over 120 meters. When the distance goes over 120 meters, a single ethernet cable may not be able to convey the signals in a reliable manner. The transmission may get glitchy and intermittent. You may search for a fiber HDMI extender instead.
  • Wireless setup required. Even though an HDBaseT extender has already reduced the clutter of cables, the connection is still wire-required. If you need a wireless connection, wireless extenders are the only solution. However, wireless solutions are very likely less stable than the proper wired solution.

Scalable connection and matrix use. This is the con of all solution that supports only point-to-point connection. This kind of connection unlike AV over IP solutions supports only one-to-one connectivity. If you want to have a matrix that enables one-to-many or many-to-many connections, IP is the way out.

 
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Cecilia 274
Joined: 11 months ago
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