Unidirectional HDMI

  • 18 June 2023
  • 8 replies
  • 268 views
J
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I am planning on running a 75 foot Fiber Optic HDMI cable between my patio TV’s ARC input and my Sonos Amp inside.  The cable I bought is unidirectional and so the side you hook up to what is important.  My electrician will be running this through the walls so don’t want to make a mistake.

 

I have 2 sides, one says “Source” and one says “Display”.  In my case, I am not passing video so I am a bit confused as the TV can be the source and the display.

 

I believe the “Display” side should be the TV in this case but want to triple check with anyone who has run this sort of configuration before

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8 replies

UKMedia
Userlevel 7
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Edit:

Sorry just reread your post! 😣

Ques 1/ Can you confirm that your goal here is to output the Amp audio to your TV Arc?

I would suggest that the Source is the input and the Display is the output.  If that is the case and the answer to Ques 1 is Yes, then the Source would connect to the Amp and the Display/Output would connect to the TV Arc input.

Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
controlav
Userlevel 7
Badge +23

I don’t think this will work, but I’ve never heard of a unidirectional HDMI cable.

ARC passes data both ways: audio goes from the TV to the audio device, but CEC goes both ways as a part of the connection/codec negotiations. ARC can’t work without CEC. (Now eARC CAN theoretcially work without CEC if the Ethernet-over-hdmi is supported by both ends and the cable, but again that is bidirectional).

I would certainly test this cable with the devices in a pile on the floor next to each other before wiring it into a wall.

Author of the leading independent Sonos app for Windows, the only Sonos app for Xbox, and a Sonos app for iOS
J
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Edit:

Sorry just reread your post! 😣

Ques 1/ Can you confirm that your goal here is to output the Amp audio to your TV Arc?

I would suggest that the Source is the input and the Display is the output.  If that is the case and the answer to Ques 1 is Yes, then the Source would connect to the Amp and the Display/Output would connect to the TV Arc input.

My goal is to connect a Roku to an outdoor TV via HDMI, run an HDMI cable from TV outside to Sonos Amp inside to be able to pass the audio back from the TV/Roku to the Sonos Amp and listen to the TV over my outdoor speakings in the ceiling of my covered patio.  The reason I am using a directional / fiber optic HDMI is bc the run is prob 50-75 feet and a standard HDMI isn’t great at handling that distance

J
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I don’t think this will work, but I’ve never heard of a unidirectional HDMI cable.

ARC passes data both ways: audio goes from the TV to the audio device, but CEC goes both ways as a part of the connection/codec negotiations. ARC can’t work without CEC. (Now eARC CAN theoretcially work without CEC if the Ethernet-over-hdmi is supported by both ends and the cable, but again that is bidirectional).

I would certainly test this cable with the devices in a pile on the floor next to each other before wiring it into a wall.

 

I unfortunately can’t test this as everything is being built at the moment and I don’t have the Sonos Amp or the speakers.  I suppose I can waste some $ and have the installer run two of these cables, one in each direction so it’s foolproof.

 

For reference, this is the cable I purchased and intended to use: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZXQJHYN/ref=dp_iou_view_item?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

My other option would be to use an HDMI Balun and send the ARC over Ethernet / Cat6 but I was trying to avoid introducing another fail point into the equation

UKMedia
Userlevel 7
Badge +20

Great comments from @controlav 

I would recommend using HDMI Ethernet connectors. https://www.cabledepot.co.uk/30m-hdmi-extender-over-ethernet-cable-cat5-cat6-p-636.html?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1rqkBhCTARIsAAHz7K3O5eMEshsnnCYl9Jtmv7CHc5vJ3zpbaiJfPiCAv0OPbeCGGsTfYswaAoOjEALw_wcB

No restrictions and proven.

Remember: Sometimes Red Wine helps :)
J
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Great comments from @controlav 

I would recommend using HDMI Ethernet connectors. https://www.cabledepot.co.uk/30m-hdmi-extender-over-ethernet-cable-cat5-cat6-p-636.html?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1rqkBhCTARIsAAHz7K3O5eMEshsnnCYl9Jtmv7CHc5vJ3zpbaiJfPiCAv0OPbeCGGsTfYswaAoOjEALw_wcB

No restrictions and proven.

Ok so maybe back to square 1 which is what my original idea was. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HH1212W?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_ZWA4P5K5C992YPV102VS_3

J
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And if I do end up using an HDBaseT to send the audio signal back will I be able to control the Roku / TV volume using the Roku remote and it will send the volume control back to the amp to increase / lower the volume?

I’ve seen this solution but don’t have access to purchase as I am not a dealer: https://www.snapav.com/shop/en/snapav/binary-audio-return-extender-for-hdmi-arc-and-spdif-b-260-arc-a

buzz

The unit that you found on Amazon should work. Full disclosure: I have no experience with this type of unit.

HDMI-ARC over CAT-6 is a relatively new development. At this point very few devices support this.

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