I've got an TX-SR606b. We're doing new home construction.
We have a media closet. I'm having issues with HDMI output.
The 606b has a HDMI v1.3a repeater built in.

Basically, I have the following:
606B -> 15' HDMI cable -> monoprice HDMI repeater -> 50' cable -> TV

When I connect in this fashion, basically my source to the hdmi input source and the HDMI output of the 606b to the 15' cable, I get sound, but my TV cannot sync to a video source (audio is not passed, by design)

If I by-pass the 606B, IE, go from the source directly to the 15' HDMI cable, I have good audio and video signals.

The repeater I'm using is from monoprice:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10419&cs_id=1041907&p_id=2849&seq=1&format=4#feedback

Any ideas?

The structured wiring in this house isn't very easily replaced or changed - we've got foam insulation.

The repeater should go at the end of the 50' cable right before the TV. It equalizes the high frequency roll-off of long cables.

The repeater should go at the end of the 50' cable right before the TV. It equalizes the high frequency roll-off of long cables.

The repeater shouldn't "push"?

I've tried what you suggested, I get a good signal at the TV with the repeater at the end of the chain without the 606 receiver, basically by directly using the HDMI source?

The receiver is HDMI 1.3a.. I believe my repeaters are 1.3b... Are there compatibility issues? I'd assume 1.3b would be backward compatible.

The repeater shouldn't "push"?

I've tried what you suggested, I get a good signal at the TV with the repeater at the end of the chain without the 606 receiver, basically by directly using the HDMI source?

The receiver is HDMI 1.3a.. I believe my repeaters are 1.3b... Are there compatibility issues? I'd assume 1.3b would be backward compatible.
No, that's a common misconception. A repeater (more correctly called an equalizer) does not push, you might say it pulls. The high frequency equalizing circuit can not tell what compensation is needed or provide it properly from the beginning of the cable, thus it needs to be at the end. I would assume the operating instructions for the repeater would tell you that. For more info look at the data sheet for the circuit used in the repeater at http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/4444.

There should be no problem between 1.3a and 1.3b. The differences mainly related to protocol and high frequency signal limits.

So have you tried it with the repeater at the end of the chain using the 606 receiver?

No, that's a common misconception. A repeater (more correctly called an equalizer) does not push, you might say it pulls. The high frequency equalizing circuit can not tell what compensation is needed or provide it properly from the beginning of the cable, thus it needs to be at the end. I would assume the operating instructions for the repeater would tell you that. For more info look at the data sheet for the circuit used in the repeater at http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/4444.

There should be no problem between 1.3a and 1.3b. The differences mainly related to protocol and high frequency signal limits.

So have you tried it with the repeater at the end of the chain using the 606 receiver?


Monoprice didn't have any instructions for the "use" of the repeater. I actually have two different repeater types - neither includes any instructions on proper use.

I've tried using the repeater at the end of the 50' cable run w/o the 606b. It works fine using an XBOX 360 source. Add the 606b receiver to the mix and I get "no input" at the TV. I've confirmed with the 606b owners that there isn't an odd output setting I'm missing on the receiver.

I've ordered a small monitor I can use for some additional testing, over lugging around a 50" plasma.

I'll try various configurations of repeaters...


Note, I have cable "breaks" at about 15' from the media room... Should I use an EQ/repeater at the 15' to 50' junction?

You can use a repeater at the 15' to 50' junction also, but the preferred location for just one repeater would be at the end of the 50' cable.

It could be that the 606 has some sort of HDMI handshake problem with the repeater. Try the connection from the 606 without the repeater and see if that works.

Although I haven't seen it for the sr606 (and others for the matter), in my readings, there should be specification for cable distance (and type, 24g,28g,etc) wrt the hdmi output and input section. Welcome to the wonderful world of digital... coding, "eyes", handshakes... should keep alot more people employed in HT land with a lot of frustrated consumers... assuming they can afford it..... who think they can plug in "any cable" and any "component" and get results. As a former telcom person, digital was always "fun".

In addition, you may be running into HDCP issues with the repeater (in)compatibilities. Your idea of getting a smaller display unit to get closer to the HT receiver is good. You might also try moving the HT receiver next to the "master" display for a "temporary" test to eliminate cable length issues.

As for "repeaters" and this coming from past com. experience, repeaters normally have circuit equalizers on receive circuits and amps on send circuits.... so it is likely (hopefully) that your onkyo HT unit is "reshaping" / "equalizing" on the inputs to the HDMI switch (into the unit) and then "amping up" the signal going out... but again its design dependent and I haven't seen anything in the "glossy spec." to support this. Perhaps the "amping out" is not there.... just "normal levels" which might not be able to "push" the length / gauge that you are expecting / using.

Additional testing:
I bought a Samsung 22" monitor with DVI input.

Xbox -> 3' HDMI -> SR606B -> 15' HDMI/DVI -> Samsung (works fine)

Xbox -> 3' HDMI -> SR606B -> 6' HDMI -> Repeater -> 15' HDMI/DVI (no output)

The net is that I believe that I have an incompatibility between the Onkyo 606b and my monoprice repeater/amplifier.

My cable runs are too long to go without an amp/repeater.

Suggestions - assuming I can go straight from source? Do I split at the source and go into the receiver and then to a repeater - again, I'd be taking a compatibility chance... Any other suggestions?

Sorry, guys, I don't have the GA of cable info - and honestly, at this point unless I'm pulling drywall, it doesn't really matter as those cables are buried in foam insulation.

You could use a HDMI splitter to go to the receiver and to the TV. But if you have more then one source you would need to go to some type of matrix switch or a dual output switch such as http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110&cs_id=1011002&p_id=4920&seq=1&format=2.

You might try a different repeater to see if it's compatible with the Onkyo. For example Firefold sells Gefen repeaters (apparently good but rather expensive) at http://www.firefold.com/Gefen-HDMI-Super-Booster-Plus-Extender-P4375.aspx and there own brand http://www.firefold.com/HDMI-ExtenderRepeater-40m130Ft-P1425.aspx.

Good luck.

Thanks, Carl. I should note that I also have cat5e in all of the walls (including behind my 50" TV) - rather than spend $211 on a repeater... Perhaps it might be a bit better to transmit over the cat5e?

Certainly, HDMI over cat5e is a viable alternative.

Do you have one cat5e cable or two? Most cat5e-HDMI extenders require two cables, although a few (naturally more expensive) only require one cable, such as http://www.hdtvsupply.com/hdmi-to-single-cat5.html.

To the TV location, a single cat 5e.

To the TV location, a single cat 5e.So obviously you'll need to use those converters that only require one cable.

Looking this evening, I actually was... well.. .I can't claim to be smart enough - say lucky enough to install two cat5e cables, about 14" apart on the wall...
I'll consider the HDMI over cat5e option...

I just wish there was an easy way to test for HDMI compatibility over switches, repeaters, and equalizers..

I just wish there was an easy way to test for HDMI compatibility over switches, repeaters, and equalizers..You and me both. Right now there's no way of knowing until you try it, thanks to the paranoia of the entertainment industry and the cursed digital rights management system they forced on us.

Perhaps someday they will actually determine how to make all the HDMI components compatible with each other and we can just plug and play (instead of plug and pray).

I'm not using a repeater. My setup is an Onkyo SR606. Inputs are from a DirecTV HR20 DVR and a Samsung BDP1500 Blu Ray player. The receiver outputs to a front projector (BenQ 8700) using the DVI input. I notice that when I use the receiver to switch from the Blu-Ray to the HR20 (or vice versa), that the HDMI almost never syncs to display the picture on the projector. No problem with the sound. In order to get it to sync, I usually end up shutting off the receiver and/or the input devices and turning them back on. When the receiver comes back on, I get a picture.

Any ideas on where the problem might be?

Your "and / or" doesn't help. You should try to eliminate one or the other. So if you only power down / power up your sources (without depowering your receiver), does your system sync? Odds are your problem is "all of them"... as in "they don't want to play together nicely". Further, what distances are you working with along with gauges of cables.... these may have an impact on things.... but most likely your components don't like each other as in some "small" specification / implementation "disagreement". I think there is a "sticky" on this forum about different components and hdmi "stuff"... onkyo is in there...IIRC.

Your "and / or" doesn't help. You should try to eliminate one or the other. So if you only power down / power up your sources (without depowering your receiver), does your system sync? Odds are your problem is "all of them"... as in "they don't want to play together nicely". Further, what distances are you working with along with gauges of cables.... these may have an impact on things.... but most likely your components don't like each other as in some "small" specification / implementation "disagreement". I think there is a "sticky" on this forum about different components and hdmi "stuff"... onkyo is in there...IIRC.


The HDMI cables are less than 6 feet since the Onkyo Receiver and Blu-Ray are all mounted on the same rack. And to clarify, switching the receiver to the input, then shutting it off and back on seems to solve the sync issue. I will look for the sticky. Thanks.

Note, I found another thread here:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/onkyo-owners-forum/798626-onkyo-606-hdmi-splitters.html

Apparently Onkyo isn't very compatible with splitters and extenders....

One other thought on using the CAT5, if you only need to send video (no audio to the TV - thought I read that earlier) then you can likely use the cheaper Baluns for HDMI over CAT5 as they use one cat5 for video and one for the audio - but you may want to research this more to be sure.

I might go for that, but I've found references to other posts indicating that they've got problems with Onkyo and Cat5e extenders also... Here are a few references that I've found:
1) Onkyo seems to have a fair number of compatibility issues with any sort of after-the-amp repeater, extender or switch. References:
a) http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1131843
b) http://www.avforums.com/forums/onkyo-owners-forum/798626-onkyo-606-hdmi-splitters.html
c) http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AFGAKAMO65W5Y/ref=cm_pdp_rev_title_1?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview#R1HQRZNCHR3Q2C