The HDMI cable is a useful and essential part of our lives, but it can frustrate to use. Running long cables from your laptop to your TV is not only annoying, having long cables running all over the floor isn’t exactly what you’d call “decorating.” That’s where HDMI extenders come in.
HDMI extenders are great for the home, but they can also be a godsend in the office. Especially for presentations in the boardroom. No one likes to call the IT department to get screen sharing working in a meeting. HDMI extenders can simplify the process without requiring interaction with IT.
How do HDMI extenders work?
HDMI extenders use a signal transmitter and receiver to send the audio and video signal wirelessly, without having to use a long HDMI cable from the source to the TV. Think of it like using a wireless mouse with a USB dongle connected to your laptop - it’s the same concept.
There are two types of transmitters: plug-and-play options and those that require a local network. The plug-and-play options typically use IR signals to send the audio and video signal from the transmitter to the receiver and are best suited for home use. This good thing is that you don’t need an extra LAN cable for your wireless router - it’s truly plug-and-play. The downside is that these options typically have a shorter wireless range and are more expensive.
HDMI extenders that use a LAN cable to connect to your wireless router have a much longer signal distribution when sending the signal over your wireless network. And these extenders are usually cheaper than plug-and-play options. Of course, the downside is buying and connecting LAN cables to your network. These options are best suited for offices and presentations like town halls or keynote speeches.
What are the best HDMI extenders for sale?
There are a variety of options for home or office use. We recommend opting for a plug-and-play HDMI extender for the home for ease of use. In the office, LAN-style extenders, with longer transmission lengths, are more beneficial.
Once you decide on home or office use, below is a great HDMI extender to suit your needs:
1. BenQ InstaShow WDC10
IDEAL FOR CONFERENCE ROOMS
What’s great about this HDMI extender is that it comes with two connectivity devices to switch between users. This is great for meetings where your team can attempt to share information with the group without having to have one member of your team do the entire presentation. Plus, it can connect up to 16 adapters at once (go team!). It has a range of about 30 feet, making it ideal for offices, and it’s practically plug-and-play, so there’s no need for IT.
Buy : BenQ InstaShow WDC10 $994.13
2. J-Tech Digital HDMI Extender
200 ft RANGE
It’s never fun to run long HDMI cables from a device, like a laptop, to a TV or projector. Plus, having long cables running all over the floor is just plain ugly. The J-Tech Digital HDMI Extender can send your HDMI signal wirelessly up to 200 feet, which is ideal for home theaters or even conference rooms for presentations. We recommend it to use a Cat6/Cat7 LAN cable for optimal signal sending without lag.
Buy : J-Tech Digital HDMI Extender $54.99
3. IOGEAR Wireless HD Plug and Play HDMI Extender
PLUG AND PLAY
For a simple home setup, just plug one transmitter into your device and the other into your TV and Voila, wireless screen sharing. It can transmit audio and video up to 150 feet. It comes with two 3-foot HDMI cables, so all you have to do is plug and play.
Buy: IOGEAR Wireless HD Plug and Play HDMI Extender $272.00
4. 196 feet HDMI extender
EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY
If you’re on a tight budget, whether for home or office, you can’t afford to shell out over $900 for a BenQ HDMI extender. Fortunately, you can still get this HDMI extender for nine times less, and be able to project the signal nearly 200 feet. It requires a Cat6 LAN cable, but considering it’s only $29, it’s definitely worth it.
Buy: 196-foot HDMI extender $28.99
5. OREI HDMI Extender
IDEAL FOR THE OFFICE
The HDMI extender on the Cat5/6 LAN, and also affordable, the Orie HDMI Extender provides up to 160 feet of extension without breaking your small business bank account. No software is required, and it provides a latency-free signal.
Buy: OREI HDMI Extender $39.99
6. Gofanco Wireless HDMI Extender
LONG RANGE PLUG AND PLAY
If you’re willing to pay a little more, you get up to 328 feet of long-range signal transmission with the Gofranco Wireless HDMI Extender. No LAN cable required, no software installation - plug it in, pair it up and you’re ready to go. There’s a 200ms latency because of data compression, so it’s not recommended for PC gaming, but for everything else, it’s a golden option for easy, long-range signal transmission.
Buy: Gofanco Wireless HDMI Extender $169.99
7. Expert Connect 4K HDMI Extender
LONG RANGE LOCAL AREA NETWORK
Offering the ability to transmit a 400-foot signal, the Expert Connect is a great option for extensive areas like conference rooms for town hall-style meetings. While the transmission is spectacular, the price remains relatively low, around $75. It requires a Cat5/6/7 LAN cable, but it does support 4K video.
Buy: Expert Connect 4K HDMI Extender $74.99
8. Pway HDMI Extender
THE LONGEST RANGE
Using a Cat6/7 cable, you can transmit an HDMI signal up to 500 feet, which is ideal for extensive areas or when there’s no LAN input near your presentation area. It also has a local output for connecting with an additional monitor. All things considered, it comes in at a generous price of $66.
Buy: Pway HDMI Extender $65.99
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