StarTech ST12MHDLANU HDMI over Cat5e/6 Extender with USB 2.0 and PoE

Overview

The StarTech ST12MHDLANU is an HDMI and USB 2.0 extender kit that pushes full 1920x1200 @60Hz video plus four USB 2.0 ports up to 100 meters (328 ft) over a single Cat5e UTP run or better — no dedicated cabling infrastructure required beyond what most commercial buildings already have in their walls. Whether you're driving a digital signage display from a remote media player or extending an interactive kiosk workstation across a floor, this unit handles both the display signal and the peripherals over a single structured cable pull.

The transmitter side accepts one HDMI input and one USB-B connection from your source device, plus an RJ-45 for the Cat5e run. The receiver delivers one HDMI output to the display and four USB 2.0 Type-A ports at 480Mbps each for local peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse, touch controller, or USB storage. Power is handled via 802.3af/at PoE from the network infrastructure — no wall wart at the remote end — or via the included 12V DC power supply if PoE is not available at that drop.

Key Features

• 100m reach over Cat5e UTP: A single Cat5e or Cat6 run covers the full 100m (328 ft) — enough to span a large retail floor, a warehouse bay, or a multi-room AV installation without rerouting dedicated AV cabling. If your building is already cabled for Ethernet, you may be able to reuse an existing run.
• 1920x1200 @60Hz maximum resolution: That's slightly wider than 1080p — useful if your digital signage player or source device outputs 1920x1200 WUXGA rather than standard 16:9. Standard 1080p (1920x1080) is supported without any adaptation needed.
• Four USB 2.0 ports at the remote receiver: 480Mbps per port is sufficient for HID devices, barcode scanners, USB audio, or a touch overlay controller. Having four ports locally at the display eliminates the need for a separate USB hub at the remote end.
• 802.3af/at PoE on the receiver: The remote receiver can draw power directly from a PoE-capable switch at 802.3af or 802.3at levels, eliminating the need for an AC outlet at the display location. This is the feature that simplifies ceiling and high-wall signage installs the most.
• Stereo audio over the link: Audio travels with the HDMI signal and arrives at the receiver intact — no separate audio extractor or balun needed if your display has integrated speakers or a connected sound bar.
• Aluminum enclosure, 18W consumption: The all-aluminum housing dissipates heat passively; total system draw stays at 18W, well within what a standard 802.3at PoE port (30W budget) can supply. Both units measure 5.2 × 5.2 × 1.1 in and weigh 2.7 lb combined — small enough to mount behind a display or inside a ceiling tile space.
• Wide input voltage range (100–240V AC): The included power supply works on any standard AC circuit worldwide, which matters for international deployments or facilities with mixed electrical standards.
• Operating temperature 0°C to 40°C: Rated for standard indoor commercial environments. Not rated for outdoor or uncontrolled-temperature spaces — plan accordingly in mechanical rooms or loading dock enclosures that exceed 40°C in summer.

Integration and Compatibility

The ST12MHDLANU uses standard Cat5e UTP or better — no shielded cable is required, though STP can help in high-EMI environments like factory floors near variable-frequency drives. The transmitter's USB-B input connects to any host via a standard USB-A-to-B cable (verify your source device has a USB-A host port). The four USB 2.0 Type-A ports on the receiver support standard HID enumeration, making it compatible with most plug-and-play peripherals without driver installation on the host. For AV distribution systems or digital signage networks where multiple displays need the same content, pair this unit with an HDMI splitter or matrix switch upstream at the source — the ST12MHDLANU handles point-to-point extension, not one-to-many splitting. Consult your structured cabling plan before reusing existing runs; patch panel connections and keystone couplers each introduce signal loss that can reduce reliable reach below the 100m rated maximum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What cable type does the ST12MHDLANU require between transmitter and receiver?

A: Cat5e UTP or better. Cat6 or Cat6A will also work and may provide marginally better performance in high-EMI environments, but shielded cable is not required under normal commercial conditions.

Q: Does the receiver need a separate power supply, or can it run on PoE?

A: The receiver supports 802.3af/at PoE, so it can draw power directly from a compatible PoE switch port — no AC outlet needed at the remote end. A 12V DC power supply is also included for use where PoE is not available.

Q: What is the maximum resolution supported by the ST12MHDLANU?

A: 1920x1200 at 60Hz (WUXGA). Standard 1080p (1920x1080) is also supported.

Q: How many USB devices can be connected at the receiver end?

A: Four USB 2.0 Type-A ports are available on the receiver, each running at up to 480Mbps — enough for a keyboard, mouse, touch controller, and one additional device simultaneously.

Q: What is the warranty on the ST12MHDLANU?

A: StarTech provides a 2-year manufacturer warranty on the ST12MHDLANU.

Q: Is the ST12MHDLANU suitable for outdoor signage installations?

A: No. The operating temperature range is 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) and there is no ingress protection rating. Both units must be installed in climate-controlled indoor enclosures.

Eden Phillips

The ST12MHDLANU solves a very specific problem cleanly: you have a media player or PC in a back room and a display on the other side of a floor, and you need to extend not just the HDMI signal but also USB peripherals — all over the Cat5e run that's already in the wall. The PoE receiver is the detail that makes this practical in commercial signage installs; running a new AC circuit to a high-wall or ceiling display mount adds cost and timeline that a 802.3af/at PoE drop from an existing switch avoids entirely.

Technical Highlights:

• 100m Cat5e reach: Covers the full run in one pass — no repeaters, no signal boosters, no additional power injection mid-run. That's enough distance for most single-floor retail or corporate lobby deployments.
• 1920x1200 @60Hz: Slightly wider than standard 1080p, which matters if your content player outputs WUXGA natively. No need to force the source down to 1080p to use this extender.
• Four USB 2.0 ports at 480Mbps each on the receiver: Handles a full interactive kiosk peripheral set — touch overlay, keyboard, barcode reader, and USB audio — without a separate hub at the display. That's one less device to power and manage remotely.

Deployment Considerations:

• Patch panel junctions and keystone couplers in the cable run each add signal degradation. In buildings with heavily patched structured cabling, test the run end-to-end before committing to 100m — real-world reach may be shorter depending on cable quality and connector count.
• Operating temperature tops out at 40°C. Mechanical rooms, kitchen back-of-house, and loading dock areas that exceed this in summer need either active cooling of the enclosure or a different solution entirely — this unit is not rated for thermal extremes.

Best fit for corporate lobby signage, retail floor interactive kiosks, and conference room AV deployments where the source device is locked in an IT closet or AV rack and the display is more than 15 meters away with existing Cat5e in the walls.