How Can I Run My HDMI Cables Over Longer Distances

Michael asks;

My existing HDMI cable is to short to reach my wall mounted TV from my Sky box. My existing cable is built into the wall so I need to extend it. Is it the HDMI splitter cable I need? From your image both ends seem the same, I need female one end & a male connection on the other. How much to you charge for delivery?

Our answer;

This is a pretty common problem. The issue really being that unlike with satellite cable or CAT5 it is not possible to extend or shorten a HDMI lead (especially when it is built into the wall). At FreeTV.ie we provide a range of HMDI Products from HDMI Leads, HMDI Splitters, HMDI couplers & HMDI Repeaters, HDMI to CAT5 convertors.

So lets look at the possible options:

HDMI Cables: Could you just replace the HDMI Cable with one that is the correct length?
- the range of sizes are 1m, 1.8m, 3m, 5m, 10m, 15m & 20m (20m is the maximum length you can have without serious signal loss). Of course the problem with this solution is 2 fold: it is most likely not practical to replace the cable which is already in the wall & secondly perhaps none of the cable lengths above exactly match your requirements.
HDMI Splitters: Do you need to split the signal as well as extend it ?
- if so then a HMDI splitter could be an ideal solution as it will serve 2 purposes. Firstly to split the signal to more than 1 TV (they come in 2, 4, 8 way splitters) and secondly they also boost the signal. Again this is really only an option if the splitter (and the excess cable) can be hidden in cupboard or attic.
HMDI Coupler & HDMI repeater: simply join together 2 HMDI cables to achieve the required length?
- Over short runs (less than 10 or 15m) the HDMI coupler is a very goods solution, as it is compact, easy to install, low cost and does not require an external power source. Over Longer runs 20m or more HDMI repeaters are ideal as they boost the signal, extend the length of the cable but do require an external power source.
HMDI over CAT5 extenders: is CAT5 a better option for you ?
- An increasingly popular option is to run HDMI signal down a CAT5 cable using HMDI to CAT5 converter. This has the advantage of allowing you to cut the cable to the exact length you require, allows you to run cable up to 50m, allows for the remote control of the satellite receiver through IR (sky eye), can handle v1.4 (3D picture). The draw back is the cost and also the need to have 2 * CAT5 cables.