HDMI 2.1 — How can I have a long cord without handshake issues?

[Adrenalist]

Hey all!

 

I’ve handshake issues using a 24’ 2.1 HDMI going from a PS4 to 4K tv. Getting dropouts, mostly video, that happen intermittently for about half a second. 

 

Later, I am planning on relocating my PS4’s to one room in my house, and am thinking of going through the walls and attic with the wiring to the master bedroom and living area. The PS4’s get so hot and noisy, they deter from the playing experience. So, if I relocate them to a bedroom closet that isn’t in use, they will be out of sight, out of mind. 

 

What I’m wondering, is there something better than an HDMI, but uses HDMI ends, or it there anything I can do, so that I can use cords, possibly up to 50’ in length, that will not allow the signal to (degrade?) have handshake issues with the two components?

[sivispacem]

You can get HDMI signal boosters/repeaters which might help. 16.5' is supposed to be the useful maximum for an unboosted HMDI cable outputting 4K which probably explains the dropouts. 

DisplayPort is 50ft maximum but only for 1080p.

[Fozzy Fozborne]

Does your TV support HDR? Turning off HDR in the PS4 options may eliminate your problem.

In a similar vein lowering the encoding of HDR to 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 might solve your problem as well. 

This article, for example, specifically the HDCP section (7) and RBG range (9).

Also obvious things like making sure it's not run within a foot or so to house wiring, fluorescent lights, etc.

 

You will want an HDMI cable with Redmere technology when using HDR over about 15 feet (5 meters/16.4ft) with current cabling). 

I would recommend using this cable or one extremely similar. What you're looking for: Redmere technology, HDMI 2.0 or 2.0a/b or '2.1', 4K/60 support. and 18gbps.

Note that there is no cabling difference between 2.0, 2.0a/b, and 2.1 and using a 2.0 cable is as future-proof as practical. (The differences come down to the controllers in the devices themselves). 

 

Now the kicker is that your display needs to support MHL to support Redmere. Your port should say 'HDMI/MHL' (most 4K TVs support MHL).

It might be only on one port. It might be on 2 (usually the high-bandwidth HDR ports), or it might be on zero. The port should say, the manual should say, if you can't figure it out just post the model number and we can probably figure it out.

MHL supplies voltage over HDMI similar to PoE to support things like Chromecasts -without- the need for external power. Just plug it into the HDMI and you're good to go.

Redmere uses this power to boost the signal. You'll notice the 'Display' side of the cable is larger than the source, it's to accommodate the additional MHL power circuitry.   

 

If you can lower your length to 15 feet I'd recommend This Cable as it works perfectly with my Xbone X with HDR at 15 ft.

 

I used to recommend either HDMI over Ethernet for clients (that apparently maxes out at 4k/30 or 4k/24 or introduces latency at 4k/60) or signal repeaters but they often interfere with HDCP 2.2 (High-bandwidth Digital Copy Protection) and will produce a blank screen or they don't provide enough bandwidth for HDR support.

 

This was all so much easier in the 1080P days... or even the pre-HDR 4K days. 

Hope that helps.

[ṼirulenⱦEqừinox]

Also, have you tried a different cord?

 

I have my Gaming PC attached to my TV via 20 foot HDMI cord and I don't experience any issues at all after I switched from a cheapy HDMI cord I had originally purchased at the dollar store for like $3.

[DEALUX]

Using color compression as opposed to full RGB (4 4 4) will significantly degrade your picture quality though. Maybe find a way to keep your consoles closer to your TV. Isn't the PS4 Pro meant to be less noisy? My One X seems to be much quieter than my CPU fan but I bought a sh*tty CPU fan unfortunately and I'm too lazy to replace it.

[Adrenalist]

Thank you so much. I’ll start digging more, using your advice. So happy I’ve a place to start now!  

 

Sivi - I’ll be sure to purchase a few and see how they work! Thank you!

 

Fozzy - The current tv I’m playing with a 24’ cord length is at my work residence. The tv is a Sony A1E (i.e. A1) and being that it’s Sony’s reference television had me quickly eliminating the television itself as a root cause. The PS4 and A1E sync automatically, and I’ve not played with the settings. Looks like I will now! But more importantly, I will go through your reply in detail as I set up my home residence, which is of far greater importance. This just gives me some things to play with in the meantime. Absolutely thorough and awesome reply.  Thank you so much. 

 

Aira - Yes. I used a crappy one that had zero dropout issues, but didn’t have HD capability. When I switched to a 2.1 with HDR capability, the dropouts started. 

 

Dealux - Unfortunately, it sounds just as every bit of noisy to me as the reg PS4 when I’m pushing it a bit. Honestly, I’m waiting for it to take flight some day. Some people think I have a cord attached to it to give it power, but really it’s there to hold it down in case it decides it’s a carrier pigeon.

 

Thanks again, guys. I’ll update this thread as I work through this, but it will take quite some time as this will be woven in an extremely long (entire home) renovation project. Can’t thank you enough for giving me a place to start.

[Fozzy Fozborne]

Oh if you have an A1E then definitely don't compress your colors. You'd be a fool to enable that even on my X900E. 

I wish I could have afforded the A1E but it was 4x as expensive as mine at 65". Now that you can get the A1E for 3 grand I'd consider that for my next upgrade.

For lower-end TVs they might not even support full 4:4:4 or do exactly what you describe (handshake issues) so that's what I meant by trying it on, sorry if that wasn't clear.