Hi to all, I need an experts’ help for problem with my HDMI connection.
I bought an Octava HDMI switch 4:1 with Toslink, to connect my video sources (DVD player, Skybox HD sat decoder and DVD/HDD recorder) to my LCD projector, using one HDMI cable of 18 mt (about 60 ft). After connected all the stuff, this was the result: perfect vision from DVD player and from SKY decoder, no signal from DVD/HDD recorder.
Just to check the recorder’s HDMI connector, I moved the recorder close to the projector, and I connected the two devices with a 2 mt (6 ft) HDMI cable: everything worked fine. Having realized that the problem was the cable length (even if I still don’t understand why 2 devices out of 3 are working fine with this cable), I bought also an Octava HDMI extender, and yesterday I connect everything, keeping the 18 mt cable at the Input of the extender, and a 2 mt cable from the Output to the projector. The result? Nothing: still “no signal” from the projector when I connect the DVD/HDD recorder (and still fine with the other sources).
Now I am asking your help: is there some way to understand if the extender is working (apart from the blue light that is on)? Just to check if the device is broken (maybe it could be possible in 1 case out of 1.000, but just to check…)
Have you ever heard of some problem like this? The DVD/HDD recorder is a LG RH-277H, and the projector is a Panasonic PT-AE700
And finally: have you some hint?
Thank you in advance for your help!

One reason why the DVD/HDD recorder does not work at long distance is that all HDMI transmitters are not "equal", some put out a "stronger" signal than others. Putting the extender at the end of 18m just tries to "extend" (amplify I guess) a corrupt or non-existent signal. You need to try the extender in between 2 9m cables. Or, since you have the 2 cables now, put the 2m cable first, then the extender, and then the 18m cable. Worth a try. :)

larry

Thank you Larry, I'll try and then report what happens. Let's cross our fingers! ;)

Sorry to come back on this, but before try to implement your suggestion, I've checked the Install Guide of the Octava HDMI Extender, and I found this warning: "The Extender should be installed so the long HDMI cable is at the Input and the short HDMI cable is between the HDMI output of the Extender and your Display". Does this make any sense to you?
By the way the specs of the extender give "100 ft" as the maximum cable length reachable with this device... :confused:

A lot depends on what the extender does, I'd still try it. 18m and 2m is an extreme difference in length as opposed to 10m and 5m, for example.

larry

Hi,
during the weekend I've tried to invert the configuration, putting the 2m cable at the input of the extender and the 18m cable between the extender and the display, but still no signal. In the meantime I've also received some explanation from Octava tech support, here's the quote: "We belive the problem may be the HDCP. The extender will extend the video signal, but is the HDCP ( I2C) may be the signal that needs to be "extended".
And again: "The Extender should be placed as close to the TV as possible ( so short cable from HDMI extender to TV). The reason is that the Extender "equalizes" out the long cable".
Now I am thinking that the extender can "treat" in some way (equalize, amplify, who knows?) the video signal in the HDMI connection, but can't do anything at all for HDCP. So, if it is the HDCP signal that is too low (or maybe corrupted from interference or ISI along the cable), the extender cannot recover the end-to-end connection.
And now a question: if the display receive correctly the video signal from HDMI but doesn't receive the HDCP signal, is it correct that it shows a "No signal" message? Or in this case it should show the video, but with an overlap message of "Failed authentication"?
I am getting more and more confused... :confused:

Sorry to come back on this, but before try to implement your suggestion, I've checked the Install Guide of the Octava HDMI Extender, and I found this warning: "The Extender should be installed so the long HDMI cable is at the Input and the short HDMI cable is between the HDMI output of the Extender and your Display". Does this make any sense to you?
By the way the specs of the extender give "100 ft" as the maximum cable length reachable with this device... :confused:

My guess of why the instructions state this is because the box uses HDMI receiver chips with a fixed equalizer value. Some of the better chips out there have an automatic equalizer that will adjust the equalizer's anti-attenuation values by doing analyzing the video signal, and automatically select he proper amount of equalization. Some of the older chips require the device to select a value, and in this case, perhaps the manufacturer selected a value to assume a very long cable with massive losses. The danger of this is that using a short cable with a highly equalized setting will also cause the chip to fail to lock onto the signal.