baluns
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Honeywell intros HDMI over CAT5 in-wall baluns
We've griped about HDMI before, but it's not a standard that's going to go away anytime soon and it does make for a convenient, all-in-one A/V connection. But non-captive plugs aside, cable lengths beyond about 50-feet are a dicey proposition without resorting to extra hardware. Enter Honeywell's new HDMI-to-CAT5 baluns, which enable you to distribute your HDMI whole-house stye in a package that's more decor-friendly than other solutions. The single gang wall plate style devices allow you to pipe 1080p signals up to 125-feet over CAT5 cable, and 200-feet if you've pulled CAT6 through the walls. The baluns have Honeywell's CURxE "self-healing" technology, so corrupted EDID or HDCP data is restored at the receiving end and troubleshooting of other signal issues is available. If you're building a new home or pulling new wires through old walls, look for these in mid-December (hey, that's now -- start looking!).
Key Digital's FatCATs distribute HDMI over Ethernet
For those trying to transmit HDMI signals over Ethernet, Key Digital's FatCATs look to be the perfect solution. These baluns reportedly support video resolutions up to 1080p, meet the HDMI 1.3 standards, and are able to convert HDMI signals for transmission over vanilla CAT5 / CAT6 cabling. Moreover, the firm offers up an extender to pass along the digital signals for unusually long distances, and both the transmitting and receiving unit of the Digital FatCAT series are available in either freestanding or wall plate versions -- the latter of which includes an additional coaxial digital audio port. Of course, enabling you to use your pre-installed Ethernet to sling HDMI signals around won't come without a premium, as the transmitters and receivers ring up at $300 to $325 apiece, while a duo of extenders range from $250 to $300.
