What Is the UHD-EX165EA-K?
The OREI UHD-EX165EA-K is a 4K HDMI extender kit designed to send uncompressed HDMI video and audio over a single CAT6/6a cable across long distances, up to 165 feet (50 meters), without loss of quality or added delay.
It is useful for setups where the source devices and the display are far apart and a single HDMI cable cannot reach, such as a media closet on one side of a room or building and a TV or projector on the other. Instead of running long, unreliable HDMI cables, the UHD-EX165EA-K uses a Transmitter and a Receiver connected by one CAT6/6a cable to carry the signal.
The kit includes two units that work as a pair:
- Transmitter: placed near your source devices and audio amplifier or AVR
- Receiver: placed near your TV, projector, or display
The UHD-EX165EA-K transmits 4K at 60Hz video with 4:4:4 chroma sampling and full 18Gbps bandwidth, and supports advanced HDR formats including Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It also handles high-resolution eARC audio such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, along with ARC/SPDIF audio such as Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 for legacy systems. Bi-directional IR control, CEC pass-through, and advanced EDID management are also supported.
IMPORTANT — The UHD-EX165EA-K Is a Transmitter and Receiver Kit
The UHD-EX165EA-K is sold and used as a matched pair. The Transmitter and the Receiver are connected to each other using a single CAT6/6a cable.
This is especially useful when:
- Your source devices are in a different room or location than your display
- A standard HDMI cable cannot reach between the source and the display
- You want a clean, single-cable run between two locations
- You need to keep an AVR or amplifier near the sources while the TV is far away
Both the Transmitter and the Receiver must be powered using the included power adapters for the kit to work.
IMPORTANT — Full eARC Audio Requires eARC on Both the TV and the Audio Device
The UHD-EX165EA-K supports both ARC and eARC connections.
However, the audio format depends on the weakest device in the chain. To get full eARC audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, both the connected TV and the connected AVR, amplifier, or soundbar must support eARC.
If the TV or the audio device only supports ARC, the audio will be limited to ARC-supported formats such as Dolby Digital or DTS 5.1.
The UHD-EX165EA-K does not upgrade an ARC-only TV or audio device into eARC.
IMPORTANT — Use the Correct Audio Mode on the Receiver
The Receiver has an eARC / S/PDIF dial switch that selects how audio is extracted from the TV.
- Set the switch to eARC mode (x1) when your TV supports ARC/eARC and you are using the OUT (eARC) port to extract audio.
- Set the switch to S/PDIF mode (x0) when your TV does not support ARC/eARC, and connect the TV optical output to the S/PDIF IN port on the Receiver to extract audio.
The “x” represents the first dial position and can be either 0 or 1.
Ports and Panel Layout
The UHD-EX165EA-K kit has two units. The Transmitter sits near your sources and audio device, and the Receiver sits near your TV or display.
Transmitter
| Port / LED / Button | Location | Function |
| CAT OUT | Transmitter | Connect a CAT6/6a cable. The other end connects to the Receiver |
| Link Status Indicator (Green) | Transmitter | Lights up when the connection to the Receiver is established. Off when no connection is established |
| Signal Indicator (Yellow) | Transmitter | On when an HDMI signal is transmitting with HDCP. Flashing when transmitting without HDCP. Off when no signal is transmitting |
| IR IN | Transmitter | Connect the included IR Receiver cable |
| IR OUT | Transmitter | Connect the included IR Blaster cable |
| Power LED | Transmitter | Lights up green when the Transmitter is powered on |
| DC 5V | Transmitter | Connect the included power adapter |
| SERVICE | Transmitter | USB-C port used for firmware upgrades |
| IN (eARC) | Transmitter | Connect an ARC/eARC supporting AVR or amplifier. The port carries ARC/eARC audio returned from the Receiver |
| S/PDIF OUT | Transmitter | Connect an audio device such as a soundbar or AVR for optical audio output |
| EDID DIP switch | Transmitter | Sets EDID mode. Up is 1, down is 0. 11: copy EDID from Receiver HDMI output (factory default). 10: 4K60, 2.0CH. 01: 4K60, 5.1CH. 00: copy video from Receiver HDMI output and audio from Transmitter S/PDIF OUT |
Receiver
| Port / LED / Button | Location | Function |
| CAT IN | Receiver | Connect a CAT6/6a cable. The other end connects to the Transmitter |
| Link Status Indicator (Green) | Receiver | Lights up when the connection to the Transmitter is established. Off when no connection is established |
| Signal Indicator (Yellow) | Receiver | On when an HDMI signal is transmitting with HDCP. Flashing when transmitting without HDCP. Off when no signal is transmitting |
| IR IN | Receiver | Connect the included IR Receiver cable |
| IR OUT | Receiver | Connect the included IR Blaster cable |
| Power LED | Receiver | Lights up green when the Receiver is powered on |
| DC 5V | Receiver | Connect the included power adapter |
| SERVICE | Receiver | USB-C port used for firmware upgrades |
| OUT (eARC) | Receiver | Connect an ARC/eARC supporting TV. The port carries ARC/eARC audio returned to the Transmitter |
| S/PDIF IN | Receiver | Connect to the S/PDIF (optical) output on the TV. Used to extract audio from a TV that does not have ARC/eARC |
| eARC / S/PDIF dial switch | Receiver | Switches between eARC and S/PDIF audio modes. x1 enables eARC mode. x0 enables S/PDIF mode |
Step-by-Step Setup
- Place the Transmitter near your source devices and audio amplifier or AVR, and place the Receiver near your TV, projector, or display.
- Run a single CAT6/6a cable from the CAT OUT port on the Transmitter to the CAT IN port on the Receiver.
- On the Transmitter, connect your ARC/eARC AVR or amplifier to the IN (eARC) port. If you are using optical audio, connect your soundbar or AVR to the S/PDIF OUT port instead.
- On the Receiver, connect your TV to the OUT (eARC) port. If your TV does not support ARC/eARC, connect the TV optical output to the S/PDIF IN port.
- Set the eARC / S/PDIF dial switch on the Receiver to eARC mode (x1) for an ARC/eARC TV, or S/PDIF mode (x0) for a TV without ARC/eARC.
- If you want to use IR control, connect the included IR Receiver cable to the IR IN port and the IR Blaster cable to the IR OUT port on the appropriate unit.
- Connect the included power adapters to the DC 5V ports on both the Transmitter and the Receiver, then plug them into power outlets.
- Turn on your source devices, the TV or display, and the connected audio device.
- Enable ARC/eARC in the audio settings of your TV and AVR or soundbar, and select the correct audio output and format.
- Confirm that the green Link Status indicators are on at both ends and that video and audio are working correctly.
Note: To extract audio from the TV’s built-in apps, connect the TV’s ARC/eARC port to the OUT (eARC) port on the Receiver. The eARC LED on the unit will light up when it is connected to an ARC/eARC TV.
Cable Requirement — Important
For reliable 4K at 60Hz transmission across the full distance, use a solid copper CAT6 or CAT6a cable up to 165 feet (50 meters). Lower grade or copper-clad aluminum cables can cause signal dropouts or loss of resolution.
For best eARC performance with high-bitrate formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, use Ultra High Speed certified HDMI cables between the extender and your TV, AVR, or soundbar.
Understanding eARC and S/PDIF Audio Modes
The UHD-EX165EA-K supports two ways of extracting audio from the TV, selected by the eARC / S/PDIF dial switch on the Receiver.
In eARC mode (x1), audio is extracted from the TV through the OUT (eARC) port on the Receiver. This is the preferred mode when your TV supports ARC or eARC, because it allows high-resolution audio formats to pass through to a compatible AVR or amplifier connected to the Transmitter.
In S/PDIF mode (x0), audio is extracted from the TV through its optical output connected to the S/PDIF IN port on the Receiver. Use this mode when your TV does not support ARC or eARC. Optical audio is limited to formats supported over S/PDIF, such as PCM 2.0, Dolby 5.1, and DTS 5.1.
Understanding EDID Management
The Transmitter includes an EDID DIP switch that controls how the kit reports supported video and audio formats to your source devices. Correct EDID settings help the source output a resolution and audio format that your display and audio system can handle.
- 11: Copy EDID from the Receiver HDMI output. This is the factory default and works best in most setups
- 10: Force 4K60 video with 2.0CH audio
- 01: Force 4K60 video with 5.1CH audio
- 00: Copy video from the Receiver HDMI output and audio from the Transmitter S/PDIF OUT
What TVs, Projectors, or Displays Is the UHD-EX165EA-K Compatible With?
The UHD-EX165EA-K is compatible with TVs, projectors, and displays that have a standard HDMI input. It supports resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz with HDR.
It can be used with:
- 4K and HDR TVs
- 4K projectors
- Standard HDMI monitors and displays
- TVs with ARC or eARC for audio extraction
- TVs without ARC or eARC, using the optical (S/PDIF) connection for audio
For full eARC audio formats, the connected TV and the connected audio device must both support eARC. If the TV only supports ARC, the audio will be limited to ARC-supported formats.
What Soundbars, AVRs, or Amplifiers Is the UHD-EX165EA-K Compatible With?
The UHD-EX165EA-K is compatible with ARC/eARC soundbars, AVRs, and amplifiers that receive audio through an HDMI ARC/eARC port, as well as audio devices that accept optical (S/PDIF) input.
It can be used with:
- eARC AVRs and amplifiers
- ARC AVRs and amplifiers
- eARC soundbars
- ARC soundbars
- Optical audio devices using the S/PDIF connection
If the connected audio device only supports ARC, the audio will be limited to ARC formats even if the TV supports eARC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the OREI UHD-EX165EA-K used for?
A: The UHD-EX165EA-K is used to send 4K HDMI video and audio over a single CAT6/6a cable across long distances up to 165 feet, using a matched Transmitter and Receiver. It is ideal when your source devices and your display are in different locations.
Q: How far can the UHD-EX165EA-K transmit a signal?
A: It can transmit 4K at 60Hz video up to 165 feet (50 meters) over a single solid copper CAT6 or CAT6a cable.
Q: Do I need to power both the Transmitter and the Receiver?
A: Yes. Both units require power from the included power adapters connected to their DC 5V ports for the kit to work.
Q: Can I use this with a TV that does not support ARC or eARC?
A: Yes. If your TV does not support ARC or eARC, connect the TV’s optical output to the S/PDIF IN port on the Receiver and set the dial switch to S/PDIF mode (x0) to extract audio.
Q: Can I get Dolby Atmos through the UHD-EX165EA-K?
A: Yes, if the connected TV and the connected AVR, amplifier, or soundbar both support eARC and the source is sending a compatible Dolby Atmos format. If either the TV or the audio device only supports ARC, Atmos support may be limited.
Q: Will this convert ARC to eARC?
A: No. The UHD-EX165EA-K does not upgrade an ARC-only TV or audio device to eARC. If a device only supports ARC, the audio format will be limited to ARC.
Q: Can I control my source devices with a remote from the TV location?
A: Yes. The UHD-EX165EA-K supports bi-directional IR control. Connect the included IR Receiver and IR Blaster cables to the IR IN and IR OUT ports so the remote signal can travel between the two locations.
Q: Why am I not getting video on my display?
A: Check that the green Link Status indicators are on at both ends. If the indicator does not light up, the CAT cable may be the issue, so try a solid copper CAT6/6a cable. You can also try lowering the source resolution or changing the HDMI cables.
Q: Why is my ARC/eARC audio not working?
A: Make sure ARC/eARC is enabled in both the TV and the AVR or soundbar settings, set the Receiver dial switch to eARC mode, select a compatible audio format in the TV settings, and use a high quality HDMI cable. Remember that the eARC AVR connects to the Transmitter end and the eARC TV connects to the Receiver end.
Q: What kind of cable do I need between the Transmitter and Receiver?
A: Use a solid copper CAT6 or CAT6a cable for runs up to 165 feet. Lower grade or copper-clad aluminum cables can cause dropouts or reduced resolution.
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