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What Is Wireless HDMI? Is It Worth Buying vs. Cables?

Learn what wireless HDMI transmitters are and if they are worth getting for your home or office. Also, find out if Wireless HDMI is better than wired HDMI extension methods.

What Is Wireless HDMI? Is It Worth Buying vs. Cables? Brandon Jones / TechReviewer

Last Updated: March 18, 2023

Written by Brandon Jones

If you're looking for ways to extend your HDMI connection, wireless HDMI transmitters may be a good solution. In this article, I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of HDMI.

If wireless HDMI isn't a good fit for your setup, I also give some other options for expanding the reach of a wired HDMI connection.

What Is Wireless HDMI?

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Wireless HDMI is a way to connect a device to a display wirelessly using an HDMI transmitter. For wireless HDMI, you will still connect the wireless transmitters to your display and device with a standard HDMI cable, but the area between devices is entirely wireless.

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Wireless HDMI is capable of extending your HDMI connection up to 50 to 650 ft (15 to 200 m), depending on the type of HDMI transmitters and conditions (is there a direct line of sight or walls obstructing the signal).

Uses for Wireless HDMI

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Wireless HDMI is best for areas where you can't run a cable or don't want to add clutter, especially in large areas where a display is across the room or in another room.

You can use Wireless HDMI for mounting a TV easier without having an extra cable running down a wall. It could also be helpful if you have a projector on the ceiling and want to connect a device like your laptop, PC, or console to it. You wouldn't have to worry about figuring out where to run a wire to connect the two devices.

Limitations of Wireless HDMI

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While wireless HDMI is a great option, it has its limitations. Most wireless HDMI transmitters only support a maximum of 1080p resolution due to the wireless connection not having the same bandwidth speed as a standard HDMI cable. If you want a higher resolution, check out my other solutions for extending an HDMI connection below.

Wireless HDMI may also not work the best if there are many walls or other obstructions in the way between the HDMI transmitter. Having a direct line of sight between the two HDMI transmitters will give you the best signal quality.

Since wireless HDMI depends on the quality of the signal that it transfers, other wireless signals may cause interference with the connection. It's also best not to have multiple wireless HDMI transmitters in the same location since that can cause interference.

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Other Ways to Extend an HDMI Connection

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Wireless HDMI is a great way to extend an HDMI connection. Still, other options may better fit your situation if you want a more reliable connection or support for higher resolutions. Wired HDMI extension methods are available, like an HDMI repeater, fiber optic HDMI cable, or an HDMI over Ethernet or fiber-optic extenders. Each solution has its limits, so it's best to pick the best type for your situation.

For example, if you need to extend an HDMI cable across a room, an HDMI repeater would be good enough. If you wanted to extend the connection from your top floor to the basement, you could use an HDMI to fiber or Ethernet extender.

Below are the recommended ranges and devices, along with more details about each solution:

HDMI Repeater

An HDMI repeater extends the connection for shorter runs by connecting two HDMI cables and amplifies the signals for better transmission.

Determining the max length when using a repeater depends on the HDMI repeater and the HDMI cable type, but I give the average ranges below. Remember that HDMI repeaters are directional, so be sure to use the device's correct input/output sides.

HDMI Repeater Range
Resolution Length
4K @ 60 Hz 60–100 ft (18–30 m)
4K @ 30 Hz 100–130 ft (30–40 m)
1080p @ 60 Hz 135–195 ft (40–60 m)

To be safe, assume a repeater can reach only the shorter end of those ranges.

Fiber Optic HDMI Cable

Fiber optic HDMI cables are like standard HDMI cables but made with optical fiber inside the cable and meant for farther distances up to 164 ft (50 m) for 4K @ 60 Hz.

These cables aren't meant to be used with an extender, repeater, or switch and should be used alone. They also must be installed in the correct direction, with the output/display label connecting to the side with the display.

Learn more about fiber optic HDMI cables in my article: What Is a Fiber Optic HDMI Cable and Is It Worth Getting?.

HDMI Over Ethernet Extender

The HDMI over Ethernet extender is similar to an HDMI over fiber optic extender but uses an Ethernet cable for a shorter extension. An HDMI over Ethernet extender can extend the connection up to 130 ft (40 m) for 4K @ 60 Hz or 230 ft (70 m) for 1080p.

Learn more about HDMI over Ethernet in my article: HDMI Over Ethernet - How to Extend HDMI With Cat 5e/6a.

HDMI Over Fiber Extender

An HDMI over Fiber extender uses an optical fiber cable to transmit the data to reach a much farther distance. You could use an HDMI over Fiber extender to extend the connection up 1,000 to 3,300 ft (300 to 1000 meters) for 4K @ 60 Hz.

Learn more about HDMI over fiber in my article: HDMI Over Fiber - How to Extend HDMI With Fiber-Optic Cable.

Learn About TVs

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Want to learn more about TVs? Check out the articles in my TV series:

Learn About HDMI

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Find answers to your HDMI questions by checking out the articles in my HDMI series: