Frequently Asked Questions

HDMI - High Definition Multimedia Interface
EDID - Extended Display Identification Data
HDCP - High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection
TMDS - Transition Minimized Different Setting
Cat5eⁱ - Category 5 enhanced
RS232 - Recommended Standard 232 control protocol
DTS - Digital Theatre System
THX - derived from Tomlinson Holmon's experiment (the 'X' is for 'crossover') and George Lucas's first movie in 1971 'THX-1138'
1080i/p - 1080 horizontal lines on the screen made up of 540 odd and even rows of pixels.  In 1080i, or 'interlaced', each frame is displayed by alternating between odd and even rows every 30/1 second.  In 1080p, or 'progressive', the rows of each frame are displayed at the same time - progressively - resulting in a smotther looking image with less motion artifacts and jagged edges.  As a result 1080p requires greater bandwidth due to its higher quality.
DIP (as in DIP switch) - Dual In-line Package
CEC - Consumer Electronics Control
SDI - Serial Digital Interface
DDC - Display Data Channel (refers to pins 17 and 18 in an HDMI plug that handle EDID and CEC)
UTP - Unsheilded Twisted Pair

AV receivers can be tricky pieces of equipment.  Check to ensure that yourss isn’t adding CEC (HDMI Control Protocol) to the outgoing signal, this can sometimes have an effect on the HDMI signal.

You may need to check through your AV receiver settings to make sure they are compatible with the source and the display.  Settings from the sources, the matrix, the AVR and the display must all match or the transmission will fail.  For example, if your AV receiver is trying to pass 7.1 channel audio but the system has detected a maximum capability of 5.1, the signal will have difficulty negotiating the transmission. 

Consult the AV reciever manual and the Wyrestorm product manual before installation to ensure compatibility.

Firstly, ensure that the source is outputting 1080p and that the TV is Full HD 1080p screen.  If this is the case then the receiver Cat5eⁱ 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.

We advise you to consult the instruction manual that came with your Wyrestorm product, or download it from this website.  The manual includes details on DIP switch settings and a handy troubleshooting checklist to refer to if you are encountering installation difficulties.  If neither of those get you moving, please contact our tech support, who will be only too pleased to help.

HDCP (High Definition Copyright Protection) is a feature built in to HDMI devices to prevent theft of or illegal distribution of HD content.
 
Unlike some manufacturers products that try to block or bypass HDCP, itself an infringement of copyright regulations, Wyrestorm Matrix switches are completely legal and fully 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.

When sending a signal point to point a TV will digitally communicate it’s capabilities to the source, with the source then responding by outputting compatible signal to be received bt the TV, such as 1080p and stereo audio, for example. 
 
The use of displays with different capabilities, such as picture resolution and audio, in the same installation can be problematic as each source can only send one signal at a time, even when using a matrix switch to mediate the signal.  A signal that tries to force its way onto a display that is incapable of receiving it will typically result in transmission failure.  
 
To avoid such a situation, the system will typically output for the display with lowest capabilities, so if the matrix installation includes 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.  Successful signal transmission is the objective.

HDMI 1.3 and 1.4 refers to an extensive list of “features” that a device is capable of supporting.  In terms of HD distribution products, the features of 1.4 include Ethernet channel, return audio channel, 3D etc.
 
HDMI distribution equipment in general has no need to be totally 1.4 compliant as many features covered by it will never need to be used.  As we don't believe in wasting resources, Wyrestorm equipment instead supports all relevant features required by modern HD distribution such as full 3D, Ethernet passthrough, audio return etc. 

Using the conventional TMDS transmission method, as found on our PRO range, the video and audio signals are sent along cable number 2 of the Cat5eⁱ/6/7.  IR signals and HDCP data is sent along cable number 1. 
 
When selecting single cable mode on a TMDS dual cable set up, IR signals are dropped and the HDCP data is transmitted along cable number 2 along with the video and audo signals, thereby negating the need for cable number 1.
 
However, if IR is required, this can be acheived by using our HDBaseT and HDBaseT Lite products, which make it possible to send audio (up to DTS Master), full HD video (up to 4k resolution), Ethernet connectivity for internet access (10/100), and wide band control (RS232 & two-way IR) down a single Cat 5e/6/7 cable.  Furthermore, HDBaseT and HDBT Lite technologies also benefit from longer transmission distances and signal stability, with distribution far less susceptible to exterior influences such as electrical interference, which can impact on transmission.

Indeed you do.  Our HD display adaptors/receivers require a 5v power supply at the TV end to operate.  (On some models 12v is needed to maintain power necessary for longer signal transmission) 
 
It’s important that these are powered locally, at the display end, and do not receive remote power from the rack as there can be issues resulting from voltage drop along the length of cable.
 
As there are USB sockets at the rear of most modern TVs, we thought one way of getting round the necessity of an electrical mains power supply behind the TV is by using the TV itself as a power source.  Our useful USB to 5v power cables are inexpensive means of powering the recievers locally without a mains supply.  Not only does this provide a constant power source from the USB port on the display, it also makes for a neater installation and as the receiver is only powered when the TV is on, it's more energy efficient as well.  See product listing.

Virtually all 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 wideband IR, which means it is compatible with any third party IR device currently available on the market.
 
Both our PRO and HDBaseT Matrix ranges have IR pass-through over Cat5eⁱ/6/7 from each of the outputs and has discrete IR outputs at the switch end.  This makes it possible to have have multiple identical sources, each with individual IR routed to the applicable source only.

All of our matrix switches and the vast majority of our receiver, extender, splitter, switcher and scaler products products will pass-through a 3D Blu-ray signal, known as 'frame sequential' in tech-speak. 
 
The Coax, DVI and 30m Cat5eⁱ extender sets do not support frame sequential 3D (Blu-ray), but will still pass-through 3D as used in Satellite broadcasts, known as 'interlaced stereo-scopic'. 
 
Check the product listings if you are unsure which Wyrestorm product to choose, or alternatively you can contact our tech supprt, who will be only to happy to advise you.

It depends on the method of distibution you choose.  Under perfect transmission conditions our HD receivers will operate at 30, 50, 100m or even 120m (@1080p) depending on the model.
 
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 or HDBaseT Lite technology.  See product listing for details.

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 and HDbaseT Lite transmission; all of the twin cable features are supported with the added benefit of Ethernet and RS232 control.

While our equipment is tested and graded to Cat 5e cable standard; tests have shown that even better results are achieved when using Cat6 cable, with the lower gauge and thicker copper cores of Cat6 ensuring a 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.

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