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Cat6A or Cat6 Shielded for extenders? What are you using?
This thread has 11 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Sunday May 31, 2020 at 14:40
PSS
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Getting a bid together and looking at AVPro Edge wiring specs and see they recommending Cat6A (or fiber) for their extenders.
What cable are you currently using for extenders? Besides running a conduit to cover yourself.
Post 2 made on Sunday May 31, 2020 at 17:56
Brentm
Ethereal Home Theater
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Cat/6, but usually not a fan of shielded (it can create its own problems).
Brent McCall
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Ethereal (386) 846-7264 Cell
OP | Post 3 made on Sunday May 31, 2020 at 19:07
PSS
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On May 31, 2020 at 17:56, Brentm said...
Cat/6, but usually not a fan of shielded (it can create its own problems).

Cat6 or Cat6A? I see from a mfg of extenders recommends Cat6A
Post 4 made on Sunday May 31, 2020 at 20:49
iform
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Cat6.
We haven't ever had issues with AV Pro with either cat5e or cat6
Post 5 made on Monday June 1, 2020 at 09:13
Fred Harding
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fiber.
On the West Coast of Wisconsin
Post 6 made on Monday June 1, 2020 at 10:23
Mr. Brad
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Crestron DM8G or Ultra.
Post 7 made on Monday June 1, 2020 at 10:52
ericspencer
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Superior Essex, Berktek and others are manufacturing "discontinuous shield" Cat6A cable with HDBaseT in mind. Eliminates many of the common issues using a regular shielded cable. Fiber is the best choice in my opinion.
Not my circus, not my monkeys
Post 8 made on Monday June 1, 2020 at 14:08
Brentm
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On June 1, 2020 at 09:13, Fred Harding said...
fiber.

What the Old(er) Man said.
Brent McCall
Paid Endorser for;
Ethereal (386) 846-7264 Cell
Post 9 made on Tuesday June 2, 2020 at 02:53
Ernie Gilman
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On May 31, 2020 at 17:56, Brentm said...
Cat/6, but usually not a fan of shielded (it can create its own problems).

Brent has said this before.

One thing is, if the manufacturer says to use shielded, use shielded.

Actually, regardless of what it is, the manufacturer should be consulted.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 10 made on Tuesday June 2, 2020 at 06:42
crosen
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On May 31, 2020 at 17:56, Brentm said...
Cat/6, but usually not a fan of shielded (it can create its own problems).

Can you elaborate on the problems that shielding can create? I have a lot of extenders out there running over shielded cat6 and would like to know what pitfalls to consider when troubleshooting. (In case it's relevant, all cables are homerunned direct from TX to RX without patch cables.)

UPDATE: I just read instructions for using shielded cable with Control4 HDMI gear. They say to terminate one side "normally" (i.e. without connecting the shield or ground wire) and to terminate the other side such that the ground wire is connected to earth ground. It doesn't matter which side you choose to ground.

Last edited by crosen on June 2, 2020 12:10.
If it's not simple, it's not sufficiently advanced.
Post 11 made on Tuesday June 2, 2020 at 06:49
crosen
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I've generally use shielded cat6, but am looking to switch over to cat6a.

On one job many years ago, even though we ran shielded cat6 to a particular TV, we wound up using an unshielded cat6 for the extender. Lo and behold, the client reported occasional dropouts, which I believe were linked to the HVAC system kicking on. We then switched over to the shielded cat6, and the problem went away.

I know that's just one data point, and we've run extenders over plain cat6 without issue many times, but the story stayed with me.
If it's not simple, it's not sufficiently advanced.
Post 12 made on Tuesday June 2, 2020 at 09:01
Fred Harding
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On June 1, 2020 at 14:08, Brentm said...
What the Old(er) Man said.

Thanks, Brent. I make the recommendation because I'm a facts kind of guy. I look at the bandwidth required to deliver a 4K signal with HDR. I look at what even the fanciest twisted pair can deliver. I look at what fiber can deliver.

I then ponder how manufacturers can make claims about products, and realize there has to be some sort of processing involved to achieve 4K with twisted pair.

And I think that installers should give their customers the option of higher quality delivery systems... And if the customer chooses twisted pair, the installer at least has done the right thing.
On the West Coast of Wisconsin


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