I flew up to an install that was having problems with Chinese made extenders using standard Silicon Image based HDMI technology. I brought a pair of SoloCAT HD HDMI over HDBaseT extenders to see if it could fix the problems. It did. The install was with Michael Hall at Whole House Digital (whdigital here on RC and IP) He and I filmed another segment of our new series for YouTube, "On-site with the Pros" episodes. I know, I know - the 'Pro' part is debatable with respect to yours truly... I spruced it up with a little music and such and it's loaded to Zektor's YouTube channel below:



From Michael: FYI - This is an install where I had put in a "competing" brand HDMI extender AND used EZ-45 for the CAT5e connectors (some of you will know where this is headed!). It worked for a the better part of a year, but then started dropping sync. Traditional termination (standard, non-passthrough connectors) on a spare CAT5e run got the picture back, but only if direct from 1 source - NOT through the AVR. I even thought maybe something was up with the HDMI switch of the amp.

Jeff wanted to see how their new SoloCAT HDBaseT extenders would deal with the "bad" cable and the results were most interesting.... AVR was fine after all and the SoloCATS didn't seem to care what kind of termination we used!

Disclaimers:
1) The name of the "other" brand is not revealed to protect the (not so) innocent.
2) Best method and practice for CAT5/6 terminations for extenders is still probably standard connectors - even though the Zektor piece worked around it OK.
3) Neither Zektor, nor Whole House Digital, advocate placing fake palm trees anywhere near the image line of a projected image. (watch the video and you'll know what I'm talking about)

The HDBaseT technology is pretty cool stuff.

Jeff

Jeff,
I added the video to the IntegrationPros facebook page as well as my own personal page.

I love it when vendors are willing to show REAL WORLD results.
Demonstrating real world successes beats paper promises and marketing pitches every time.

Jeff,
I sent you an email via the contact form on your website regarding the Translator.
When is that expected to start shipping?

Thanks Rick.

I don't want to appear to be a nit picker given the content of some of the threads I see here but is there another purpose to this thread besides to advertise Zektor? If there is I'm missing it. I suppose it could be appropriate for the "What did you do today thread", but it really does look like an ad. Sort of a written infomercial maybe.

As a manufacturer and individual, I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of new friends and clients through a couple of the forums we participate in. I have always done my best to maintain a neutral stance.

In direct response by the Dr.'s post, given that 2nd Rick and White Van Lifestyle, both super members here on Remote Central, and neither of which currently do business with Zektor, have no issues with the post, I am a bit surprised that you do.

Furthermore, we aren't advertising a $.99 cent sale. What this post clearly states is a real world example of how HDBaseT technology addressed and solved a problem in the field. More than one integrator here on the forum has spent hours of their own time dealing with one HDMI problem or another. CAT5 extenders are a VERY common product from many manufacturers and therefore a wide array of problems occur. The video depicted a product that solved a problem with newer technology. Yes, Michael did mention our name a number of times and it was shown on the video. He was beyond thrilled that finally his project was stable.

Additionally, this is an area of the forum where integrators and manufacturers alike will post examples of things that work, issues they are having in the field and what products might help address a problem. We were asked by our integrator and friend, Michael Hall at Whole House Digital, to provide a pair of extenders for his install that was having constant problems. If you chose to watch the video, you would see that our product did solve the problem.

If you consider that to be advertising for Zektor so be it. More importantly IMHO, it shows an example of a newer technology that solved a problem which was our goal and yes, we get a little mileage out of it. Long before you became a member here, i also organized an HDBaseT webinar for the education of the members that wanted to understand the technology in better detail. I had the US representative for Valens Semiconductor, who owns the HDBaseT technology, present the technology of the product. Our logo was at the beginning and at the end. Not one person thought it was Zektor advertising although you might have. The feedback was great and everyone who attended learned what they needed. Again, this was for the purpose of helping introduce the TECHNOLOGY to the members here on RC and IP. Maybe the next time a problem arises in someone else's install involving standard HDMI extenders, they might consider using HDBaseT technology from us or their favorite vendor of choice.

As I have been a member here for over three years, I am well versed on how to manage our participation. If we were using this solely as an advertising medium without buying a banner, I'm sure we would have had our account deleted or flamed out by the members long ago. Especially, Founding Members, Super Members and Regular Members alike.

Very best regards,

Jeff Haynes

Jeff,


Don't let some "newbie" bother you.

The video was a bit "dry" for my tastes, but I found it good to know that some "no name" product could have the potential to cause problems down the road. and that there are good reasons to use the better known brands.


I don't remember if it was mentioned whether the Cat5 was using the EZ connectors or not, or if that could have been a part of the problem. I understand that this can be an issue with the HDMI extenders.

Wondering if sealing the ends of the EZ RJ45's with nail polish would be a simple fix for that issue?


Ever try it?

So?

This guy has started trouble in other threads. Don't let him bother you. I have not purchased anything from Zektor yet, mainly cause I haven't had a need yet. However, I KNOW who they are, and how they conduct themselves because of this site. I am very happy to have them be a part of this community and welcome their posts. They offer a lot to our industry while others want to pretend they are the arrogant TV character they have chosen to name themselves after.

I havent purchased from them or watched the video but I welcome their participation. Hell other than Snap and Audio Authority no other manufacturer has a solid presence. Autonomic pops up once and a while. I would prefer to here from those that really service our industry.

:)

Exactly. I do buy from Snap and when I have had a few questions that I posted here, they were very quick to respond, especially G Paul. It will be nice to know that another manufacturer will be on here when the time comes that I might need to ask them a question. I love having them on here.

Great way to go, i assume that continual canning of all imported competitors product is part of that Neutral stance. Nice work not identifying the brand being replaced as it allows you to lump all competition into the same basket.


Jeff, although i choose not to reveal my alter ego, I can assure you that i have been around here for years longer than yourself, am well respected and have many times the number of posts that you do. I can't speak for 2nd rick or Whitevan but I'm guessing they would agree that it's an ad and that there are rules for ads even if they don't object to this particular one because it is yours and might let it slide.


I think it's safe to say that we have all had our issues with HDMI particularly when sending over distance and all appreciate a product that works. But how would we feel if every time a manufacturer or distributor came up with a product that worked in a given situation, they came into the custom installers lounge and posted an infomercial about it. Think of all the brands out there and all the development that is constantly going on.



I did watch the video and correct me if I'm wrong but that system had worked for some time with the previous devices before it failed. You have pretty much declared success and years of reliability the same day as you got the system going and before the equipment has had a chance to fail or adapt to changing conditions. After all we have all had occasions where we thought we had a problem beat but then had to go back out 2 weeks later due to the problem coming back.



Sorry, but i do.


I have no problem at all with you organizing a webinar to educate the masses on the technology, or in fact if you made people aware of it here as it was an alert to a new technologyand a chance for people to learn. It was not an outright sales tool to promote Zektor products in an inappropriate forum.


Again i'm not objecting to introducing people to new technology and I'd have no problem with it if you weren't waving the Zektor flag and canning other products at the same time. If you don't think i'm being fair then perhaps you'd care to name the other US made equivalent (HDBaseT) products seeing as you canned all imported products purely for being imported.



However you have dressed it up, this is clearly an ad for Zektor product and not just the technology.
I have absolutely no problem with you advertising your product in an appropriate way, but that way is not here in my opinion. Telling you this thread in this forum is ok, is the same as telling every manufacturer out there that this is the shortcut to making your product known if installers might use it.

This is obviously going down the rabbit hole. I guess we will agree to disagree.

Vincent Delpino, is that you? Did you choose a new TV character? Idunno, some of the style sounds very similar, and being that you have taken a lot of flack after spamming the site with your hatred for URC, it wouldn't surprise me if you signed up for a new name.