On November 30, 2017, following HDMI 2.0b, HDMI Forum, the governing body that specializes in setting standards for HDMI cables, officially announced the HDMI 2.1 technical standard. The new standard targets future video output and can support lossless video at resolutions and refresh rates such as 4K/120Hz, 8K/60Hz, 10K, and also supports dynamic HDR. Compared with HDMI 2.0, HDMI 2.1 has increased a lot in terms of bandwidth, with a maximum of 48Gbps.

In terms of transmission distance, HDMI is more restricted, and can only transmit about 15 meters.

In actual deployment, due to the influence of site layout and device volume, the line distance often exceeds 15 meters, and this article introduces several ways to extend the HDMI transmission distance.

First, the use of HDMI optical fiber line

HDMI optical fiber cable is: HDMI AOC (Active Optical Cable, active optical cable), which is a kind of HDMI cable that uses optical fiber to make HDMI signal transmission line, and integrates its photoelectric conversion line at the interface.

Long transmission distance: using optical fiber transmission medium, the attenuation of long-distance signal transmission can be basically ignored, and the longest transmission distance can reach more than 150m, without adding active amplification equipment.

When using optical fiber HDMI cables, you need to pay attention to protection, do not fold and use them extensively, and be especially careful when decorating and embedding them.

Due to its transmission mode, the optical fiber HDMI cable is different from the copper wire, which can be plugged in at will at both ends, the optical fiber HDMI cable is directional, and the transmitter and receiver cannot be reversed, so you must pay attention to it when wiring.

2. Wireless HDMI extension

Wireless HDMI extender is a wireless transmission device that transmits audio and video signals from the signal source (computer and high-definition playback equipment) to the remote HDTV or high-definition projector, which can achieve lossless and delay-free transmission of 1080P/60 and 3D, without installing software, plug and play, and extend the distance up to 100 meters without blocking.

It has the ability to penetrate walls and other obstacles, and has a wide range of signal radiation. The device is equipped with a transmitter and receiver like previous extenders. Compatible with a wide range of sources, such as computers, game consoles, set-top boxes, DVDs or DVRs for any high-definition digital TV, LCD and projector can be used as a signal source. As a result, HDMI wireless extenders can be created without lengthy signal lines and cables, resulting in a clean and tidy environment.

3. Use an HDMI extender

3.1 Network Conversion Extenders

The extender converts the HDMI signal into the TCP/IP protocol, which can be connected directly through the network cable or transmitted with the help of routers, switches, and other devices.

It can realize one transmitter and multiple receivers, one in and multiple out.

3.2 HDMI Fiber Extender

HDMI fiber extender is a transmission device used to extend the signal, solve the problem that HDMI audio and video signals cannot be transmitted over long distances, and ensure the quality of signal transmission. The extender is generally divided into the transmitter and the receiver, the HDMI optical fiber extender adopts 10-bit digital uncompressed technology, and the transmitter is responsible for the acquisition of the signal, which is generally transmitted through optical fiber over a long distance, up to 20KM.