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5. Thou shalt keep your cables away from power sources
Cables should be kept at a distance of at least 12 inches from power cables. In an environment prone to high
EMI, it is best to use shielded cables. Most Cat5e cables are unshielded, which makes them more flexible,
durable and inexpensive. But they are also more susceptible to EMI. If using unshielded cables, keep them
away from any source of EMI such as other cables, transformers and light fixtures. In high RF environments,
it is best to use shielded cables.
The same applies to shielded connectors. In a shielded connector, the signal pins are surrounded by a metal
shield and further reduce electromagnetic interference. Shielded connectors provide a better fit and therefore
better performance.
6. Thou shalt mind your distances carefully
HDBaseT delivers the 5Play feature set over 100m/328ft. One of the factors that affects distance is the quality
of the cable used, the working environment, and the video resolution expected. Higher quality cable will
keep the signal better than low quality cable over distances. A noise-free environment will deliver better
performance over the distance than a noisy or EMI-prone environment. Some HDBaseT equipment allows for
Long Reach connectivity -150m/492ft- for lower resolutions of 720p.
7. Thou shalt not use patch cords unnecessarily
If possible, avoid patch cords or cables altogether, as every connection introduces losses in the transmission.
If absolutely necessary, make sure to use less than two per cable run and keep each less than five meters
from the end.
8. Thou shalt terminate carefully
One of the advantages of HDBaseT’s using of LAN cables os that they are easily field terminated. That means
there is no need to pre-measure cables and bring all the set-up ready ahead of time, saving time & money.
Make sure to use proper equipment for termination, such as cable strippers, electrician scissors, and crimpers.
Alos, make sure that both ends of the cable are wired according to the same scheme, either T568A or T568B.
Never use both in the same installation. It is also recommended to check with HDBaseT manufacturers which
scheme their products are optimized and equalized for, to take full advantage of the expected performance.
9. Thou shalt be thorough and test, test, test
Testing is crucial to guarantee both cable quality and signal integrity. Pre-testing ca save hours and resources
from troubleshooting any issue ahead of time. During and after installation, a professional test equipment
will check connections and transmission of the installed infrastructure, beyond broken or mismatched wires,
but also any hidden issues that may cause interference or loss of signal. Make sure to test every cable as it is
installed and terminated, to identify individual problems as the installation goes.
10. Thou shalt be organized
Document and label all cabling components to facilitate any upgrades or expansions later, including
diagrams. Remove any abandoned cables to prevent accidents or fire hazards. Avoid routing cables through
pipes and holes, which may limit additional future cable runs.
10.2 HDBaseT™
