Octava unveils HDMI over Ethernet extender

If slinging HDMI signals over Ethernet sounds appealing to you, look no further than Octava's newest box. The HDMI over Ethernet extender enables users to transmit 1080p HDMI signals up to 150-feet over Ethernet (300-feet for 1080i), and while CAT6 is recommended, CAT5 should do the trick in a pinch. Of note, two Ethernet cables are necessary in order to carry audio / video as well as HDCP data, and both the receiver and transmitter are bundled with dedicated power supplies to ensure maximum performance. Expect the kit to ship next week for $199.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2008 9:23PM]

This isn't an ethernet device, it simply uses two 4 pair CAT5 cables to run longer distances.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2008 10:45AM]

Basically correct. I hate when people see Cat 5 cables and go "ooh, Ethernet!"

Cat 5 can be used for other things, people!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2008 11:34AM]

Engadget keeps repeating this mistake. Hopefully one day they'll realize that the type of cable is not wedded to the signals carried over it. Maybe they could try a little experiment: Wire this device to into a gigabit ETHERNET router and try to send HDMI across it. The result would obviously be complete failure.

With that said, I still think these are pretty slick little devices. Maybe one day I'll get around to that multiroom distribution I'd like to have.

[Roberini Posted Jul 13th 2008 9:37PM]

So, if it wasn't for the needless HDCP crap, it could probably run using one Cat5e/Cat6 cable, right?

[Xyzzy Posted Jul 13th 2008 10:14PM]

Is there any way to send just the video and skip the audio using a single cat5 cable?

I doubt it, bu t that'd be nice for a projector setup...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2008 10:46AM]

No, in HDMI the video and audio are contained in one signal. This doesn't work that way.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 13th 2008 11:17PM]

What...would this be used for? I'm not seeing any use for this at all right now..

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2008 12:19AM]

i work for a digital signage company and we use CATx video extensions all the time to send PC video input to displays. Sometimes these displays are hundreds of feet from the source, hence the need for products like this. Usually we use the DSub15 (VGA) port, but sometimes we have a need for HDMI.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 15th 2008 7:07AM]

Projection where the projector is ~20m from the source, much easier to run two CAT5/6s than a HDMI especially if its being retrofitted

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2008 10:07AM]

Have you seen the difference in price between very long CAT5 cables and HDMI cables? I'm not sure it justifies the price tag but if you're going to run HD over a long distance I'm sure this is cheaper.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 14th 2008 12:07PM]

I can buy a pair of TrendMicro media changers that convert CAT to multimode optical (and back) for under $200. Why cannot they use these same optio-electric to do this for HDMI?

[nathanh Posted Jul 14th 2008 1:27PM]

I have seen ONE HDMI over CAT5 balanced connection solution that uses a single CAT 5 cable, instead of two. That seems much easier.