There aren't many consumers who pay much attention to design when choosing an HDMI extender over a twisted pair network cable. But it can be quite important in some cases. What if you choose a compact type of extender?

If you remember, an extension kit includes a transmitter and a receiver.

If you conduct a Google search, you will see a wide variety of HDMI extenders available on the market. All the extenders have HDMI inputs and outputs, as well as RJ45 twisted pair network cable ports. Some models have additional ports such as an IR, RS232, and others, which provide the devices with advanced features.

But you can also find devices that are smaller in size than others. The transmitters and receivers of such devices normally include built-in HDMI plugs.

Such an extender can seem like a good choice at first glance. A compact size, lower price, and no need for additional HDMI cables. So many advantages – you might be compelled to order one right now! However, in practice, this type of HDMI extender is not suitable for every use case.

Let's take a look at an example. I have put the Lenkeng LKV372S extender to the test. It has a compact size and built-in HDMI plugs. It is powered by a USB port, with a USB to micro-USB cable included. For example, the transmitter can be powered using an available USB port on a laptop. And the receiver, in turn, can be powered using special USB+ port on a TV.

More often than not a laptop's HDMI and USB ports can be located very close to one other. In such cases, the transmitter unit will block the adjacent ports. This limits the usability of such a kit to a great extent.

The same situation can also happen with the TV and receiver unit.

Another important factor to consider is the flexibility of the twisted pair network cable. Usually, it is less flexible than a short HDMI cable. With the implementation of compact HDMI extender, you will not be able to freely move the laptop around on the surface of the table. Therefore, such a solution would be more suitable for connecting to a desktop computer.