I have run 2 cat 6 with Balums, but cannot get a constant picture / sound, and now get the Virgin Menu, select a programme and just get a black screen, any ideas?

Thanks

Stort

If you've inly just installed then it is most likely to be bad/incorrect termination and/or trapped/kinked/damaged cable. It could also be HDMI handshake issues.

Get two short CAT 6 fly leads. Wire up from your source to the TV above it and see if that works over a short distance. Gradually introduce other elements such as any distribution boxes.

P.S. while I think on, make sure you're using HDMI splitter/distribution amp rather than a HDMI switch installed the wrong way. You might want to list out all the gear (makes and model numbers), whose cable (is it pure copper or CCA. how you terminated and what you have done so far to trouble-shoot.

Did you run just a couple of lengths of cable and terminate the plugs yourself or use pre-terminated leads?

If you put the plugs on yourself double check they are done properly. I have terminated hundreds of RJ45 plugs and I can guarantee one or two will cock up. It is easy to get the order of the wires wrong as you try to insert them into the plug. Also I've had plugs where one or two of the terminals simply won't punch down to connect to the wire no matter how hard you squeeze the crimp tool. Worth getting a cheap cable tester if you haven't already got one to check the cable is properly terminated.

If you used ready made leads the same thing can apply. Just because someone else has done all the hard work does not mean all the wires are connected correctly. I've had more than one ready made cable fail on me straight out of the packet so not uncommon.

Ive tested every cable for polarity and all are good, the cat 6 is direct into sender and receiver with no patch cables. I have used neet 30m and 50m balums, the 30m gave picture and no sound, the 50m worked for 3 days and packed up and now 100m which picks the virgin menu, but when a channel is selected the screen remains blank with no sound

Cables don't need a break in the line to stop working properly. If they've been pulled incorrectly or stood on or trapped during the build phase then you can end up with a pinch that acts as a frequency notch.

The continuity test shows all cables are good, and I double up on the cat 6, and the same problem on both sets of cat6, plugs were bought from minitran so should be good.

Re-read this thread, then follow the advice. You haven't yet told us the makes and models of the rest of the gear you're using and what you have done to troubleshoot so far, nor whether you have tried what's been suggested in this thread. Your system isn't going to fix itself just by talking about it; you actually have to do stuff. Then you have to come back with information and results and tell us what happened because we are not mind readers.

Indeed - the Neet baluNs get varying reviews, such that I wouldn't use them in any of my installs....

I know many say "no power supply needed" as they tap the +5V from the HDMI, but in my experience they most certainly do!!

One other thing to check is the wiring layout. The four pairs in the CAT6 cable should be terminated in the correct order, especially noting that the green pair is split one wire either side of the blue pair. If the plugs are wired with each pair side by side they will buzz out on a continuity tester as OK but you can end up with signals split across pairs which might have an impact on performance.

So check the wiring layout against this image

http://www.westernet.net/Help/images/RJ45.gif

D'oh, if I had a quid for every time I've seen this....

Stort - temporarily use pre-made short patch cables to test your "baluns" THEN you can rule them out. Sounds like you've done bog all actual testing so far. Common fault factor here is the cables ("same problem on both sets of Cat6,") - you wired them.

rr

The TV has worked for days before loosing signal, the fault occurs after a while, the balums seem warm? All cat 6 have been tested and rested, the CAT 6 are in continuous solid conduits and are protected from kinks and damage by the building fabric. The CAT 6s are rewireable if needed. LAN is wired in Cat 6 with the same manufacture RJ45 plugs are all works fine. If anything I believe the fault is in the RJ45 sockets within the Balums are a bad fit.

I have made similar length cables and connected then to the Balums with the same result. I should add that I receive the the Virgin media menu but not programme when a selction is made ?

I refer you to my comment in post #8;

"the Neet baluNs get varying reviews, such that I wouldn't use them in any of my installs...."

Especially if you are relying on them being "self powered" via the incoming HDMI +5v. I'd be fitting power supplies for them, if someone had a gun to my head and forced me to use the Neet units that is....

The 100m balums are a different manufacture which I cant remember at the minute, and have their own power supply. I am convinced the balums are the problem despite the £120 price tag. What manufacture would you reccomend LCDMAN?

Sorry, had some time out. Would use CYP, Lenkeng or Gefen if on a domestic budget. Guess you don't want to pay £200+ each for receiver/transmitter...... (I imagine you won't be needing RS232 control/switching and other bells & whistles)

http://www.cypeurope.com/

http://www.lenkeng.net/

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproductlis...oductType=hdmi

Either way - don't rely on them being powered by the +5V from the HDMI, use a separate power supply for each end.