© 2010 Lumagen, Inc. page 1 of 5 Rev 1.1
Introduction:
The Lumagen HDMI 1.4 CAT-cable extender is designed to allow
more reliable real-world performance with longer cable lengths than
competing products. Some key features are:
-Maximum pixel clock rate up to 300 MHz (3 Gbps per channel)
-Active signal buffering for video and control (DDC) signals, at
both the transmitter and receiver, maximizes video, EDID, and
HDCP-encryption-key, signal integrity.
-Programmable cable equalization at both transmitter and
receiver provides lower cable jitter, and therefore longer cable
lengths, than dynamic-cable-equalization solutions.
-Power supplies at both transmitter and receiver eliminate power-
supply-current induced cable voltage-drop. This improves signal
integrity.
-Using CAT6 FTP or STP, with 24 AWG HDMI, cables supports
1080p60 for a total distance of over 60 meters, with up to 30
meters of HDMI 1.3 22 AWG HDMI cable plus up to 30 meters
of CAT6 STP cable, under nominal conditions.
-Supports all HDMI 1.4 3D formats and the HDMI 1.4 Audio-
Return-Channel (ARC). NOTICE:
Use of shielded CAT5e FTP or CAT6 FTP cable, or better, is
required to conform to electromagnetic interference regulations.
The Lumagen HDMI-CAT6 cable extender uses a HDMI repeater
chip in both the transmitter and receiver. Typically other products do
not have a repeater chip in the “transmitter.” Solutions lacking an
active video buffer in the transmitter cause discontinuities in the
impedance of the transmission line, reducing maximum cable length.
Both transmitter and receiver support long input cables. For example,
a system could have a 30-meter 22-AWG HDMI 1.3 cable driving the
transmitter, a 30-meter CAT6 FTP cable-pair to the receiver, and a 3-
meter HDMI cable from the receiver to the display/projector.
The transmitter and receiver have “static” input cable equalization
(Input-EQ). The Input-EQ for each is selected manually using an 8-
position rotary switch, based on its input cable length. Static cable-
EQ has less signal jitter than dynamic-cable-EQ solutions. This
translates into the ability to support longer cable lengths.
© 2010 Lumagen, Inc. page 2 of 5 Rev 1.1
When long cables, or cable extenders, have issues in a given system,
Lumagen has found that it is often due to problems with the DDC
signals. Since the DDC signals are needed for HDCP and EDID
communication, Lumagen uses active DDC buffers in both the
transmitter and receiver. Unfortunately, many other HDMI extender
manufacturers do not buffer these signals in their products. The three
cables involved (input HDMI, CAT, output HDMI) all contribute
cable capacitance losses. By having DDC buffers in both the
transmitter and receiver, losses for each of the three cables can be
isolated and corrected.
There is a separate power supply for the transmitter and the receiver.
This eliminates voltage-drop caused by powering the repeater chip
through the CAT cable. This is important for DDC signal integrity.
Lumagen has measured significant voltage drop in other products that
power their repeater chip through the CAT cable, which reduces their
signal integrity. Separate power supplies eliminate this issue.
Installation Instructions:
Lumagen specifies the use of shielded CAT5e FTP/STP or CAT6
FTP/STP cable to meet EMI regulations. Non-shielded (UTP) cable
will function, but will not meet EMI regulations. Another advantage
of FTP/STP cable is that it is less susceptible to crosstalk from other
cables in a cable-bundle environment. CAT6 FTP/STP cable supports
longer reliable cable lengths compared to CAT5e FTP/STP cable
because its electrical characteristics are better suited for video
applications.
Connection Block Diagram
CAT6 FTP/STP
