If you need to connect a device farther away, like in another room or across the house, a regular HDMI cable may not be sufficient for some setups. Since standard HDMI cables have a limited reach, with the max cable length of 49ft (15 m), which means you’ll need to find a way to extend the connection.

Fortunately, there are several ways to extend HDMI connections, among which HDMI over fiber extenders are a perfect alternative if you need to connect a device from a father distance.

In this article, I will focus on HDMI over fiber extenders and also explore other useful ways to extend HDMI. After reading this article, you won’t be limited by the distance of where you want to connect your devices to a display.

What is an HDMI Over Fiber Extender?

HDMI over fiber extenders leverage standard single mode or multimode fiber to transmit audio, video and associated signals (such as control and network depending on the extender model). Basically, they are like twisted pair extenders that rely on optical fiber instead of copper.

HDMI over fiber extenders eliminate the typically limited range of standard HDMI cables. When connected, the picture quality will look the same as if you had your device (PC, game console, or similar) connected close by your display.

Advantages of HDMI over Fiber Extenders

  • Extremely long transmission distances — signals can be extended up to 6 miles or more depending on the model.
  • Integration of IR, RS232 and Ethernet signal extension over the same fiber.
  • Compatibility with standard single mode or multimode fiber terminated with LC connectors — basically the same cable used for networking.
  • Complete immunity to interference, static electricity, surges and other environmental factors that affect twisted pair extenders.
  • Extremely high signal bandwidth support, including uncompressed HDMI transmission.

Uses of HDMI Over Fiber Extenders

Since fiber cables are made of glass, which eliminates extra electrical interference, such as electricity from lightning, power surges, and static electricity, HDMI over fiber is best for in-wall installations or for extending the connection far further than the other solutions can go.

You may run the cable through the walls or underground, for instance, if you wanted to extend from a building’s top or to another house. If you like, you may still use HDMI over fiber for shorter extensions, despite they’re designed for longer extensions.

While there are other ways to extend HDMI connections, the best choice for long distances is still HDMI over fiber.

Other Ways to Extend HDMI

There are other options available to extend an HDMI connection, such as an HDMI repeater, fiber optic HDMI cable, HDMI over IP extender, HDMI over HDBaseT extender, or an HDMI balun. Each solution has its limits, so it’s best to pick the best type for your situation.

Below, I give more details about each solution:

  • HDMI Repeater. An HDMI repeater extends the connection by connecting two HDMI cables and amplifies the signals for better transmission. It is best for shorter ranges of 60 to 100ft for 4K displays. Not recommended to go through walls.
  • Fiber Optic HDMI Cable. Designed to extend farther distances up to 164ft (50m) for 4K@60 Hz, fiber optic HDMI cables are like standard HDMI cables but made with optical fiber inside the cable. They aren’t meant to be used with an extender, repeater, or switch and should be used alone.
  • HDMI over IP Extender. It uses an existing ethernet infrastructure to distribute HD video signals from one source to an unlimited number of screens. Video signals can be switched from any source to any screen, overcoming distance limitations of traditional CATx video extenders.
  • HDMI over HDBaseT Extender. A global standard that transmits ultra-high-definition video and audio, Ethernet, controls, USB, and up to 100W of power over a single long-distance cable. Because HDBaseT eliminates cable clutter without affecting performance or high quality, it is widely used in many industries.
  • HDMI Balun over Cat cable. Baluns allow you to send ultra high resolution signals, such as DVI and HDMI, longer distances. Twisted pair cable is smaller and easier to pull/hide than traditional cable. Baluns help eliminate ground loops and RF interference.

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About AV Access

AV Access is an experienced manufacturer that produces quality HDMI extenders, KVM extenders, wireless presentation systems, etc. and we also offer AV over IP solutions for scalable uses. These products — HDBaseT extender, and 4K HDMI extender — are among our best-sellers.

Are you a newbie? AV Access blog helps beginners to get on board easily (visit and learn about KVM extenders, USB extenders, and more).

Original Copy: https://www.avaccess.com/blogs/guides/hdmi-over-fiber-extender-for-hdmi-extension/