HDMI Over Cat 6

[jasonreg]

Hi all, my family room is located on the main level with a TV installed over the gas fireplace. There is an existing HDMI cable, coax cable and CAT6 cable run through the walls to this location from the lower level. There are in ceiling speakers installed also run to the lower level (Didn't design it - just moved in!). Previously we were getting decent 1080p over the HDMI cable. The CAT6 was used to transmit IR signals to the lower level to control the Receiver, DVD player and cable Box. COAX is unused. When we moved to an early 4K TV I had to install a signal booster but this seemed to work just fine. However we could not take advantage of ARC when watching Netflix or Prime off the FireStick.

We have just renovated the family room and I was able to fit a new Sony Smart TV XR75X90J into the budget (or at least snuck it in!). This allows me to remove the Prime FireStick. I also wanted to see if if could use an HDMI over CAT6 extender to replace the HDMI cable, and at the same time pass IR and ARC over the CAT6 Cable. I purchased an OREI UHD-EXB132AR-K unit from amazon which seemed to have these features and installed (note, ARC is done via Toslink from the TV to the receiver unit and then sending unit back to the receiver). Problem is there is no power to the sending unit (or at least the power LED is off) and no video is passed much less anything else. Strangely when I remove the CAT6 cable from the sending unit the Power LED comes on. Can't figure it out. I have used a cable tester to test the CAT6 and I get 8 lights on each end so I do not think it is the CAT cable.

The old method of using HDMI with a signal booster still works but I do not get any audio back to the Receiver from the TV. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[pete_c]

Here only use ARC (audio return cable) via HDMI cable.  Shorter runs here have the 4K TV on a low stand with the AVR below it.
 
There is one HDMI cable from the TV to the AVR and the AVR is configured for ARC.
 
In place today is a DTV satellite box / NVR which is plugged in to the TV now rather than the AVR and a 4K KODI box also with one HDMI cable to the TV and not the AVR these days. The Blue Ray player is connected to the AVR and rarely used these days.
 
The Roku TV menu shows the AVR, DTV and Kodi box.  I have the AVR, Roku TV and Kodi box connected to Gb Ethernet (no wireless).
 
Do you have a chase from the back of the TV to the sources.  Can you install more HDMI cables to the back of the TV?
 
I have made my Kodi boxes STB's that stream live video or NAS video / audio.  Sort of a one stop shop with a small footprint.

 

[picta]

Problem is there is no power to the sending unit (or at least the power LED is off) and no video is passed much less anything else. Strangely when I remove the CAT6 cable from the sending unit the Power LED comes on. Can't figure it out. I have used a cable tester to test the CAT6 and I get 8 lights on each end so I do not think it is the CAT cable.

 

Looks like the unit may be defective? Try the system with a short cable near the TV. If that does not work, replace the unit.

 

[jasonreg]

@picta - yes, I think this is where we are.  Shorter cable does not work at all - same issue.  I suspect I will return and try a different model.  Any recommendations?  
 
@pete_c - No chase unfortunately - makes life a bit more challenging to be sure.  Would much rather have everything central in the family room but this is not in the cards.