Question 1

What is the difference between an HDMI extender and an HDMI signal booster?

Accepted Answer

An HDMI signal booster amplifies a degraded signal over a single HDMI cable, typically extending reach from 5m to around 15–20m. An HDMI extender converts the signal to travel over a different medium — Cat6, Cat7, fibre optic, or wireless — and can cover distances from 60m to over 1km. Boosters are cheaper and simpler; extenders are what you need for any serious distance. If you're covering more than 15 metres, you need an extender, not a booster.

Question 2

Will an AV extender work with my Sky Q box or Netflix 4K?

Accepted Answer

Only if it supports HDCP 2.2 — full stop. Sky Q, Netflix 4K, Amazon Prime Video 4K, and 4K Blu-ray all use HDCP 2.2 encryption, and any extender that only supports HDCP 1.4 will either block the signal or force a downscale to 1080p. Always check the HDCP version in the product specifications before buying. This catches out a surprising number of buyers who assume '4K extender' means full compatibility.

Question 3

How far can a Cat6 HDMI extender actually reach?

Accepted Answer

A quality Cat6 HDBaseT extender reliably covers 70–100m at 4K@30Hz; some achieve 4K@60Hz at 70m with good cabling. Beyond 100m, signal integrity degrades and you'll need fibre. The cable quality matters as much as the extender — use Cat6 or Cat6a with proper terminations, avoid cheap unshielded cable in electrically noisy environments, and keep runs as straight as possible. Wireless extenders cap out at around 30m and are not a substitute for Cat6 over longer distances.

Question 4

Are wireless HDMI extenders reliable enough for a permanent installation?

Accepted Answer

Honestly, no — not for most permanent installations. Wireless extenders (Digitus, Manhattan) are excellent for flexible presentation spaces and hot-desking environments where running cable isn't practical. But they operate on 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands that are increasingly congested in office buildings, introduce 50–200ms of latency, and can be disrupted by walls, other wireless devices, or even microwave ovens. For a boardroom with a fixed display, run Cat6 — it's more reliable, lower latency, and cheaper over the long term.

Question 5

Do I need an extender with IR pass-through?

Accepted Answer

You need IR pass-through if you want to control a source device (Blu-ray player, media streamer, AV receiver) using a remote control from the display end of the extension. Without it, you'd have to walk back to the source to change inputs or adjust settings. For home cinema second-room setups and boardroom installations, IR pass-through is a genuine quality-of-life feature. For digital signage or unattended displays, it's irrelevant. RS232 pass-through is only relevant if you're integrating with a control system like Crestron or AMX.

Question 6

What's the risk of buying a cheap no-name HDMI extender?

Accepted Answer

The main risks are HDCP handshake failures, inconsistent 4K support, and early hardware failure. Many budget extenders advertise 4K but only deliver it under ideal conditions — short cable runs, no HDCP, no HDR. They also tend to run hot and fail within 12–18 months in permanent installations. Brands like Lindy, StarTech.com, and Digitus aren't glamorous, but they publish honest specifications, offer real warranties, and have UK support. For a one-off presentation, a cheap kit might be fine. For a permanent installation, the cost of a callback and replacement far exceeds the saving.

Question 7

Is a fibre optic AV extender worth it in 2026?

Accepted Answer

For distances beyond 100m or in environments with heavy electromagnetic interference, yes — fibre is the only sensible choice. StarTech.com's fibre kits cover 300m on multimode and over 1km on single-mode, with zero EMI vulnerability and no signal degradation over distance. The cabling is more expensive and harder to terminate than Cat6, and the extender kits themselves sit above 298 £. For a standard office or home installation under 100m, Cat6 HDBaseT is more practical and significantly cheaper. Fibre earns its cost in large venues, industrial sites, and campus-wide AV distribution.

AV Extenders Price Comparison

Vivolink VLHDMIEXTHDB2.0S AV extender

AV Extenders Price Comparison

AV Extenders price comparison UK

Vivolink VLHDMIEXTHDB2.0S AV extender