Update on Monoprice HDMI-Over-Cat6 distribution Amps...
Because some of you asked, here is a copy of the review I posted at Monoprice.com concerning their HDMI-over-Cat6 distribution amp (model 8160)...
Pros:
?
- Works as advertised if HDCP, EDID, and a full moon don't blacken the screen first
- Much cheaper than a similar $2000 Gefen unit
Cons:
- Not very sturdily built
- No rack mountable hardware available, even though there are holes drilled in the unit for this
Review:
I initially purchase two of these units for a home communications wiring upgrade. They were not put into service until about two months after purchase and then, with only half the ports used as the project progressed. It was a simple plug and play with Cat6 cabling. I distributed the audio/video of two DishTV tuners throughout my home and all worked really well (max Cat6 length was 131 feet). A few months later and all eight ports on both units were connected. I was so impressed that I bought another unit to distribute security cameras. That's where I started loosing hair and having to bum Prozac from my neighbor.
This model does not like to play well with the HDMI signal of a Mac Mini. I tried three Macs in my testing and really found no constancy in the ability for a signal to reach a monitor. What worked one minute, fizzled the next, then would reappear the next day. I used all high-speed 24 AWG HDMI cables, cleaned the connections, tweaked the source video configuration, and more invasive troubleshooting to no avail. I eventually abandoned the idea until another Mac model becomes available. The unit was temporarily used to distribute the signal of a blu-ray player.
I also discovered that a low budget HDTV that I purchased from WalMart would only accept a signal from this product about 70% of the time. Once again, no constancy in the troubleshooting. This was most likely due to the sweatshop kid assembled HDTV and not the Monoprice unit, but buyer should be ware regardless.
Now, after 18 months, ALL THREE units have eventually began to come up with port failures. The only consistency I found with this is that port #8 on all models failed first, then only one unit had two other ports fail. I might say that there was some electrical spike issue that damaged them, but each unit was on a separate circuit and with it's own high quality surge protector. I might also be concerned about heat buildup running 24/7, but I had external fans attached specifically to keep things such components cool. No other device in the chain showed any problems. I have returned one of the units for store credit and purchased another two via my credit card extended warranty program.
Monoprice has cheap prices for a reason; they are the Harbor Freight of electronics. Some of their products work really well, while others just don't last the test of a true geek like me. The only reason that I purchased another two units is because it was basically free with my warranty extension and, well, I am a delusional optimist. Besides, I am not willing to gamble $4000 on two similar Gefen units and risk having the same thing happen. Monoprice has it's place sometimes in my arsenal of microchips.
"Technological change is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal." (Albert Einstein, 1941),
Dr. Z.