EX-165C Overview and Use Cases – OREI

What Is the EX-165C?

The OREI EX-165C is a 1080p HDMI extender kit that sends an HDMI signal up to 50m / 165ft over a single CAT 6 / CAT 7 cable.

The kit includes a Transmitter and Receiver. The HDMI source connects to the Transmitter, the display connects to the Receiver, and a CAT cable connects the Transmitter to the Receiver.

The EX-165C supports HDMI 1.3 and HDCP 1.4, with a video bandwidth of 4.95Gbps. It supports video resolutions up to 1080p@60Hz and 1920x1200@60Hz, bi-directional IR control, HDMI loop out on the Transmitter, Power over Cable, and HDMI audio formats including LPCM 2.0 / 5.1 / 7.1CH, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master.

The EX-165C is useful for home theater, classrooms, conference rooms, retail displays, offices, security monitoring rooms, and residential or commercial AV setups where an HDMI source needs to be extended to a display over CAT cable.

IMPORTANT — EX-165C Supports 1080p, Not 4K

The EX-165C supports video resolutions up to 1080p@60Hz and 1920x1200@60Hz.

It does not support 4K, 4K@60Hz, 8K, or 4K@120Hz.

For 4K setups, use an HDMI extender that specifically supports 4K resolution.

IMPORTANT — Use a Direct CAT Cable Connection

The EX-165C must be connected directly from the Transmitter to the Receiver using a CAT cable.

Do not connect the EX-165C through:

Network switch
Router
Ethernet wall network system
Internet network
LAN switch

This product is not an IP/network extender. It uses CAT cable as a direct signal extension cable.

IMPORTANT — Use CAT 6 / CAT 6a / CAT 7 Cable

The EX-165C extends HDMI up to 50m / 164ft for 1080p@60Hz over CAT 6 / CAT 6a cable.

For best performance, use a high-quality shielded CAT 6 cable.

Poor-quality CAT cable may cause:

No video on the Receiver
Flickering
Black screen
Signal dropouts
Audio issues
IR control issues

For troubleshooting, replace the CAT cable and test with a shorter cable.

IMPORTANT — Only One Power Adapter Is Required

The EX-165C supports Power over Cable.

This means only one power adapter is required at the Transmitter end.

The Receiver receives power through the CAT cable connection.

If the Receiver does not power on, check the CAT cable connection between the Transmitter and Receiver.

IMPORTANT — HDMI Loop Out Is on the Transmitter

The Transmitter includes an HDMI OUT port.

This HDMI OUT port is used to connect a local display near the source device.

For example, if the Blu-ray player or media device is near the Transmitter, you can connect a nearby TV or monitor to the Transmitter HDMI OUT while also sending the signal to the remote Receiver display.

IMPORTANT — Bi-Directional IR Control Is Supported

The EX-165C supports bi-directional IR control.

This means IR can be used in both directions:

Control the source device from the Receiver/display side
Control the display from the Transmitter/source side

The kit includes:

IR wideband blaster cable
IR wideband receiver cable

Make sure the IR receiver and IR blaster are connected to the correct IR IN and IR OUT ports.

IMPORTANT — No Drivers Are Required

The EX-165C is plug-and-play.

No software or drivers are required.

Connect the HDMI source, HDMI display, CAT cable, IR cables if needed, and the included power adapter.

Ports and Panel Layout

Port / LED	Unit	Function
CAT OUT	Transmitter	Connects to the Receiver using CAT 6 / CAT 7 cable
IR IN	Transmitter	Connects the IR Receiver cable
IR OUT	Transmitter	Connects the IR Blaster cable
HDMI IN	Transmitter	Connects HDMI source device such as Blu-ray player, streaming device, or media player
HDMI OUT	Transmitter	Connects a local display near the source
Power LED	Transmitter	Green LED lights up when the Transmitter is powered on
DC 5V	Transmitter	Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter
CAT IN	Receiver	Connects to the Transmitter using CAT 6 / CAT 7 cable
IR OUT	Receiver	Connects the IR Blaster cable
IR IN	Receiver	Connects the IR Receiver cable
HDMI OUT	Receiver	Connects the remote display
Power LED	Receiver	Green LED lights up when the Receiver is powered on

Step-by-Step Setup

Connect the HDMI source device to the HDMI IN port on the Transmitter.
Examples include a Blu-ray player, DVD player, streaming device, cable box, laptop, media player, or Nvidia Shield.
Connect a local display to the HDMI OUT port on the Transmitter if needed.
Connect the Receiver HDMI OUT port to the remote TV, monitor, or projector.
Connect a CAT 6 / CAT 6a / CAT 7 cable from CAT OUT on the Transmitter to CAT IN on the Receiver.
Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter to the DC 5V port on the Transmitter.
Power on the HDMI source device and displays.
Confirm that the green power LEDs are on.
If using IR control, connect the IR Receiver cable to IR IN and the IR Blaster cable to IR OUT as needed.
Test video, audio, and IR control.

CAT Cable Requirement — Critical

For best performance, use a high-quality shielded CAT 6 / CAT 6a / CAT 7 cable.

The manual lists support up to:

Resolution	Cable Type	Distance
1080p@60Hz	CAT 6 / CAT 6a	50m / 164ft

Poor-quality or damaged CAT cable may cause:

No video on Receiver
No signal
Flickering
Black screen
Intermittent signal
Audio dropouts
IR control not working

Do not connect the CAT cable through a network switch or router.

HDMI Cable Requirement — Critical

Use good-quality HDMI cables for the source, local display, and remote display.

Poor HDMI cables may cause:

No picture
Flickering
Audio dropouts
HDCP handshake issues
No signal on local or remote display

For troubleshooting, test the HDMI source directly with the display before using the extender.

Understanding the Transmitter

The Transmitter is installed near the HDMI source device.

It has:

HDMI IN for the source
HDMI OUT for a local display
CAT OUT to send signal to the Receiver
IR IN / IR OUT for bi-directional IR
DC 5V power input

The Transmitter must be powered using the included 5V/1A power adapter.

Understanding the Receiver

The Receiver is installed near the remote display.

It has:

CAT IN from the Transmitter
HDMI OUT to the remote display
IR IN / IR OUT for bi-directional IR

The Receiver does not need its own power adapter because it receives power through the CAT cable from the Transmitter.

Understanding HDMI Loop Out

The HDMI OUT port on the Transmitter is a loop output.

This allows a local display to be connected near the source.

Example setup:

Location	Device
Source side	Blu-ray player connected to Transmitter HDMI IN
Source side	Local TV connected to Transmitter HDMI OUT
Remote side	Remote TV connected to Receiver HDMI OUT

This is useful when the user wants one display near the source and another display far away.

Understanding Bi-Directional IR

Bi-directional IR allows remote control signals to travel both ways between the Transmitter and Receiver.

Example 1: Control source from the remote display location

Place the IR Receiver near the remote TV
Connect it to IR IN on the Receiver
Place the IR Blaster near the HDMI source
Connect it to IR OUT on the Transmitter

Example 2: Control display from the source location

Place the IR Receiver near the source location
Connect it to IR IN on the Transmitter
Place the IR Blaster near the remote display
Connect it to IR OUT on the Receiver

Understanding IR Cable Placement

The IR Receiver receives commands from the remote control.

The IR Blaster sends commands to the device being controlled.

IR Cable	Purpose
IR Receiver	Receives remote control signal
IR Blaster	Emits IR signal to the source device or display

For reliable IR control:

Place the IR Receiver where the remote can see it
Place the IR Blaster near the IR window of the device being controlled
Confirm the IR Receiver and IR Blaster are not reversed

Supported Video and Audio

The EX-165C supports video resolutions up to:

Supported Resolution

1080p@60Hz

1920x1200@60Hz

Supported audio formats include:

Audio Format

LPCM 2.0

LPCM 5.1

LPCM 7.1

Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital+

DTS

Dolby TrueHD

DTS-HD Master

The connected source and display/audio device must also support the selected audio format.

What Source Devices Is the EX-165C Compatible With?

The OREI EX-165C is compatible with HDMI source devices such as:

Blu-ray players
DVD players
Streaming devices
Nvidia Shield
Cable boxes
Satellite receivers
Set-top boxes
Media players
Laptops with HDMI output
Desktop PCs with HDMI output
DVRs
Game consoles with supported 1080p HDMI output

For best compatibility, set the source resolution to 1080p@60Hz or lower.

What Displays Is the EX-165C Compatible With?

The EX-165C can connect to HDMI displays such as:

TVs
Monitors
Projectors
Commercial displays
Security monitors
Classroom displays
Conference room displays

The connected display must support the selected source resolution.

For troubleshooting, set the source output to 1080p@60Hz.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the OREI EX-165C used for?
A: The EX-165C is used to extend an HDMI signal up to 50m / 165ft over a single CAT 6 / CAT 7 cable. It is useful when the HDMI source is far away from the display.

Q: Does the EX-165C support 4K?
A: No. The EX-165C supports up to 1080p@60Hz and 1920x1200@60Hz. It does not support 4K.

Q: Does the EX-165C support 1080p@60Hz?
A: Yes. It supports video resolutions up to 1080p@60Hz.

Q: How far can the EX-165C extend HDMI?
A: It can extend HDMI up to 50m / 164ft for 1080p@60Hz over CAT 6 / CAT 6a cable.

Q: What CAT cable should I use?
A: Use CAT 6, CAT 6a, or CAT 7 cable. For best results, use shielded CAT 6 cable.

Q: Can I connect the EX-165C through my home network?
A: No. The EX-165C requires a direct CAT cable connection between the Transmitter and Receiver. It cannot be connected through a network switch or router.

Q: Does the EX-165C need power on both ends?
A: No. Only the Transmitter needs the included 5V/1A power adapter. The Receiver is powered through the CAT cable.

Q: What is Power over Cable?
A: Power over Cable means the Transmitter sends power to the Receiver through the CAT cable, so the Receiver does not need a separate power adapter.

Q: Does the Transmitter have HDMI loop out?
A: Yes. The Transmitter has an HDMI OUT port for connecting a local display near the source.

Q: What is the HDMI loop out used for?
A: It lets you connect a local TV or monitor near the source while also extending the signal to the remote Receiver display.

Q: Does the EX-165C support IR control?
A: Yes. It supports bi-directional IR control.

Q: What does bi-directional IR mean?
A: It means IR control can work in both directions. You can control the source from the Receiver side or control the display from the Transmitter side.

Q: Which IR cable goes into IR IN?
A: The IR Receiver cable connects to IR IN.

Q: Which IR cable goes into IR OUT?
A: The IR Blaster cable connects to IR OUT.

Q: Does the EX-165C require drivers?
A: No. It is plug-and-play and does not require drivers.

Q: What HDMI version does the EX-165C support?
A: It supports HDMI 1.3.

Q: What HDCP version does it support?
A: It supports HDCP 1.4.

Q: What video bandwidth does it support?
A: The EX-165C supports 4.95Gbps video bandwidth.

Q: What audio formats are supported?
A: It supports LPCM 2.0 / 5.1 / 7.1CH, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master.

Q: What should I do if there is no video on the Receiver?
A: Check the green and yellow lights on the CAT ports, confirm the Transmitter HDMI OUT has signal, and try changing the CAT cable. Use shielded CAT 6 cable for best results.

Q: What should I do if video works but there is no audio?
A: Check whether the Transmitter HDMI OUT has the same audio issue. Also try changing the audio format from the source device.

Q: Can I use this with a network switch?
A: No. The Transmitter and Receiver must be connected directly by CAT cable.

Q: Does the EX-165C need external power?
A: Yes. Connect the included 5V/1A power adapter to the Transmitter. The Receiver is powered through the CAT cable.