InfoComm 2018 sees FIBBR debut the Ultra Pro series fibre optic flexible HDMI solutions, capable of sending signals from 50m to 200m with 18Gbps certification by the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF).
The cables provide uninterrupted signal transmission, and use what the company calls BendRobust technology allowing one to bend the fibre by 180 degrees. The cables are also 60% lighter than traditional copper cabling, and use AC power coupling to eliminate the need for external power on the receiving end. It also means there is no need for extra power adapters or patch cables.
Described by the company as the first fibre-based long reach 4K interconnect solution with THX certification, PXLGLASS delivers 100% uncompressed 4K signals and the full HDMI feature set. To do so it uses a unique copper/fibre hybrid cable implementation, with optical fibres carrying high-speed TMDS signals while copper-based wires carry critical low-speed communication signals such as HDCP 2.2 and CEC 2.0.
The upgrade comes through a slight increase in wire gauge-- from stranded 36AWG to solid 32WG. This allows the UHDS cables to passively support 18Gbps from 0.5m through 2m while maintaining a slim, flexible design. Tributaries says passive cables are preferable to active, since they are bi-directional and voltage agnostic, making installations simpler and more stable.
The Covid HDMI cable line gets a pair of additions-- the locking HDMI cable (HDLK) and right-angle HDMI cable (HD-RA), both designed to tackle common HDMI cabling issues.
As a rule, passive HDMI cables are preferred over active. Active cables pose incompatibility issues with other electronics and are directional. The active end of the cable must be connected to the display, and requires power to supply the on-board electronics. This is typically harvested from unused TMDS voltages, and works well so long the source driving the 5V line has adequate output. Should the source voltage be too low it will draw down the vital 5V line.
