StarTech.com HDMI over CAT5e HDBaseT Extender - Power over Cable - Ultra HD 4K - TAA

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you’ve got a single HDMI run you want to extend reliably over existing CAT5e cabling, this StarTech HDBaset-style extender is a sensible, workmanlike choice. The “power over cable” part is the big practical win: you don’t end up hunting for extra sockets or trying to hide a second PSU in a cramped rack/AV cabinet. In day-to-day installs—meeting rooms, training spaces, small reception signage—it’s the kind of product that tends to “just work” because it’s meant for this specific job, not for hobbyist HDMI juggling.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you’re only extending a short distance where a normal HDMI cable would do, or if you’re expecting miracles on questionable cabling. Extenders like this are only as good as the CAT5e link: patchy terminations, inconsistent wiring, or long/poor-quality runs will show up as dropouts or image instability. For £185 ex-VAT, it’s only good value if you genuinely need the extension (and you’ve already got proper CAT5e runs in place). Who should buy: integrators, IT resellers, and IT teams doing repeat installs in offices—especially when you want clean power delivery over the same cable and fewer moving parts. Who should skip: environments with messy cabling you can’t control, or anyone who needs to extend beyond what the particular kit supports without testing first.