Monster Powered HDMI cable - unidirectional

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post #1 of 7

11/22/12 at 1:15pm

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My friend bought a Monster "Powered" HDMI cable that supports Ethernet to be installed in-wall. The cable is labelled "Display" at one end and "Source" at the other. Unfortunately, whoever laid in the cable put it the wrong way so now the "Display" end sticks near the entertainment center and the "Source" end sticks where the projector is supposed to be mounted on the ceiling. My friend tested the cable and it only seems to work one way, that is, if you connect a PS3 at the display end and a HDMI monitor at the source end, the monitor fails to find a signal source. Other way around, it works fine (as intended).

Both of us are perplexed about this unidirectional HDMI cable because I thought HDMI cables don't have any direction to them. Anyone know what's with this "Powered" HDMI cable? Is there an adapter or converter that can save the day so he can avoid laying a cable outside the walls?

Thanks!

post #2 of 7

11/22/12 at 1:23pm

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A passive HDMI cable should work either way. An active (powered) HDMI cable has equalization circuitry at the sink (display) end and only works one way.

post #3 of 7

11/22/12 at 1:25pm

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Afraid you're probably out of luck. These active cables have built in repeaters to work over longer distances. There is a transmit and receive end, so they don't work "the other way".

post #4 of 7

11/22/12 at 1:41pm

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jautor

Afraid you're probably out of luck. These active cables have built in repeaters to work over longer distances. There is a transmit and receive end, so they don't work "the other way".

So he can't even strip the ends and re-crimp new HDMI connectors on the cable?

I think it is only a 30ft cable.

post #5 of 7

11/22/12 at 1:47pm

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sjavs

So he can't even strip the ends and re-crimp new HDMI connectors on the cable?

I think it is only a 30ft cable.

1) The repeater chips are probably molded inside the plugs.

2) Unlike CAT5, D connectors, and most audio connectors, there are not HDMI plugs available a DIYer can install. In fact I believe HDMI plugs are only designed for mass automation installation.

post #6 of 7

11/23/12 at 6:37am