Signal Types

Video Signal

// Some have embedded audio capabilities, but these signal types are primarily for video

HDBaseT is good and usually cheap. Some carry USB and network, too, so you only need to run one cable for all things. Max run is 100m. Some projectors receive HDBaseT natively, which means you don’t need an RX box. Flow example: Computer → 5’ HDMI → HDBase TX → Cat up to 100m → HDBase RX → 5’ HDMI → Projector. Network cable (cat) is cheap and can be abused.

HDMI is good for short runs <25’. Avoid longer cables with in-line boosters. They fail regularly and are super finicky.

3G SDI (1920x1080) is allegedly good up to 100m. Some projectors take this natively. I find SDI to be a pain.

12G SDI (3840x2160) is allegedly good up to 100m. Some projectors take this natively. I find SDI to be a pain.

Optical HDMI is good for runs <100m. This is a unidirectional optical cable with HDMI ends. Supports up to 4k60. Fragile. No right angles in the cable. Keep it to curves. The price is right. Can recommend.

Optical Displayport is good for runs <100m. This is a unidirectional optical cable with DP ends. Supports up to 8k(?) Fragile. No right angles in the cable. Keep it to curves. The price is right. Still need to test these bad boys, but I’m guessing they are just like their HDMI cousins, but with better EDID.

Fiber is good for super long runs >100m but it is very expensive. You need a TX (transmitter) and an RX (receiver) and the fiber cable itself. Flow example: Computer → 5’ HDMI → Fiber TX → Fiber up to 1000m → Fiber RX → 5’ HDMI → Projector. Very fragile. Keep it to curves.

VGA Lol sorry

DVI Man I wish LED drivers and rack-mountable display drawers would stop using this.

Audio Signal

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