HDMI cables come with a built-in limitation on length. If you exceed the length for HDMI compliance, you’ll get significant distortion or even lose the signal altogether. The HDMI extender was designed to overcome this problem. Several types are available, including a wireless extender and cat 5e Ethernet extender.

How Does the Extender Work?
With an HDMI over LAN kit, you’ll receive a receiver and transmitter capable of pushing an HDMI signal to a maximum of 400 meters. An HDMI cable carries the signal to the transmitter. A category 5e cable carries this signal to one or more receivers, which then convert the signal for delivery to the viewing device(s). The range of a dedicated network compares favorably to wireless ranges, which can’t exceed 200 feet.

Of course, a signal booster can carry wireless HDMI signals even further, but you’ll get nowhere near the distance of a HDMI over LAN kit couple with an Ethernet hub. The hub makes it possible to run audio and 1080p to a maximum of just under 800 meters. Most users won’t need this kind of length, but some situations demand it. Airports, call centers, hospitals and other applications benefit from an HDMI extender.