Product guide

Cat 5e or 6?
While our equipment is tested and graded to Cat 5e cable
standard; tests have shown that better results are achieved
when using Cat6 cable. The lower gauge, thicker copper
cores ensure better signal transfer. Newly installed cabling
should always conform to Part P Regulation and BS 7671
(17th Edition), and should be terminated to 568B standard.
Can I use a single Cat 5e cable?
Although conventional transmission is considered to be two
Cat 5e cables, it is possible to send the signal down a single
cable if necessary. All of our pro-matrix switches and UTP
splitters support single UTP mode, however in this mode IR
control of sources and matrix switching is not possible.
However using HDBaseT transmission; all of the twin cable
features are supported with the added benet of Ethernet
and RS232 control.
How far can the signal travel?
Under perfect transmission conditions our HD receivers will
operate at 30, 50 or 100m (@1080p) depending on the model
used. Perfect conditions mean no electrical interference,
straight cable runs with no bends or kinks and no patch
panels or wall outlets. If some of the above are factors in
your installation then signal strength and bandwidth can be
compromised. If a cable run is reaching the upper limit of
the receivers’ capabilities, then the signal can be boosted by
way of an extender set (Rx-TX) or by simply using an in-line
repeater. Our transmission signals can be repeated up to 5
times (250m) using a conventional TMDS signal or 7 times
(700m) using HDBaseT technology.
What about 3D?
All of our matrix switches and most of our extender products
will pass-through a 3D Blu-ray signal. The 30m and Coax
extender sets do not support frame sequential 3D
(Blu-ray), but will still pass-through interlaced stereo-scopic
3D (Satellite etc.)
How do I control the sources?
Most of our HDMI distribution products support some kind of
IR pass-through from point-to-point extender sets to pro and
HDBaseT matrices. Most of the range now supports wide-
band IR meaning it is compatible with almost all IR devices
available on the market. Our Pro and HDBaseT matrix range
(Cat 5e) has IR pass-through from each of the outputs and
has discrete IR outputs at the switch end, meaning you can
have multiple identical sources yet the IR would be routed
only to the applicable source.
Do I need power at the TV end?
Yes. Our HD display adaptors require a 5v power supply at
the TV end to operate. It’s important that these are powered
locally and do not receive remote power from the rack as
there can be issues resulting from voltage drop along the
length of cable. Our new USB power cables overcome the
problem of having a second mains outlet behind the TV.
These useful leads draw the 5v from the USB socket on the
TV to power the receiver, this also means that the receiver
is only powered when the TV is on making the system more
environmentally friendly.
Why do I need to use 2 cables?
Using our conventional pro (TMDS) transmission method the
Video & Audio is sent along cable #2, IR and HDCP data
is sent along cable #1. Using our HDBaseT technology it’s
possible to send Audio (up to DTS Master), Video (up to 4k),
Ethernet (10/100), and control (RS232 & 2-way IR) down a
single Cat 5e cable.
Is your equipment compatible with
current HDMI standards and
features?
HDMI 1.4 refers to a list of “features” that a device is capable
of supporting. These features include Ethernet channel, return
audio channel, 3D etc. HDMI distribution equipment has no
need to be fully 1.4 compliant but instead supports all of the
relevant features such as 3D etc.
What happens about screens
with different resolution
capabilities?
When sending a signal point to point a TV will communicate
it’s capabilities to the source, then the source will output a
suitable signal that compatible (i.e. 1080p Stereo audio). If
you were to use a matrix switch with three 1080p screens
and one 1080i screen, the resultant image would be 1080i
across all screens. The matrix switches do not scale per
output but instead negotiate with the source a signal that all
screens are capable of supporting.
How does the Matrix cope with
HDCP?
HDCP (High Denition Copyright Protection) is a feature built
in to HDMI devices to prevent theft of or illegal distribution of
HD content. Unlike competing products, WyreStorm matrix
switches are legal and comply with HDCP regulations. They
do this by assigning a “key” to every display connected to
the switch. HDCP “keys” are assigned to a display when
connected to a HDMI device normally. This doesn’t change
when connected to a switch; it just assigns more of them.
I can get 1080i but not 1080p at a TV
location
Firstly ensure that both the source is outputting 1080p and
that the TV is Full HD 1080p screen. If this is the case then
the receiver Cat 5e or Coax may need setting up for long
cable mode using the DIP switches. This useful feature uses
an alternative Equalisation method to re-sync the signal over
longer distances.
I cannot get a signal out from my
A/V receiver along a Cat 5e
extender set
Check to ensure that the A/V Receiver isn’t adding CEC
(HDMI Control Protocol) to the outgoing signal, this can
sometimes have an effect on the HDMI signal.
FAQs
HDMI
High Denition
Multimedia Interface
EDID
Extended Display
Identication Data
HDCP
High Bandwidth
Digital Content
Protection
TMDS
Transition Minimized
Differential Signaling
Cat 5e
Category 5 enhanced
RS232
Recommended
Standard 232 control
protocol
DTS
Digital Theatre System
THX
Derived from
Tomlinson Holman’s
eXperiment and
George Lucas’ rst
movie in 1971:
THX-1138
1080i/p
1080 horizontal
lines scanned in
i (interlaced) or p
(progressive) format
DIP
(DIP switch)
Dual in-line package
CEC
Consumer electronics
Control
DVI
Digital Video Interface
SDI
Serial Digital Interface
DDC
Display Data Channel
(Referring to Pins 17 &
18 in a HDMI plug that
handle EDID & CEC)
UTP
Unshielded Twisted
Pair
28
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We’ve been busy
Spring sees several important launches for Wyrestorm, both in terms of new products and
information.
We thought the application of our company philosophy of talking with and listening to the
industry when developing a new product should naturally extend to our website.
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