I'm building a new house and I plan on installing a large HDTV in my great room but all the components driving this will be located in another room or closet. (DVR, Audio, DVD). Using an IR remote.

With the walls open, what wires should I run to the TV location from the component rack?

Run at least one of each that you plan to use, HDMI, Component, Composite, S-Video, and a cable for your IR system, etc. But I would also run a backup HDMI and maybe Component just in case. Test your cables BEFORE closing up your walls.

In2,

Can I just run raw cable now and put the appropriate heads on later? Or do I have to buy custom lengths of all the cables you mentioned? The distance is about 40-50 feet. Custom cable lengths sounds mucho expensive.

What kind of cable do I need for the IR system? Cat5e?

In2,

Can I just run raw cable now and put the appropriate heads on later? Or do I have to buy custom lengths of all the cables you mentioned? The distance is about 40-50 feet. Custom cable lengths sounds mucho expensive.

What kind of cable do I need for the IR system? Cat5e?

Preterminated cables are not too pricey from places like monoprice.com. My 50' in-wall HDMI was only like $58. 50' component was like $25 or $30.

For the IR Cat5e would likely be fine but check with the type of system you have to make sure. Hopefully some others can chime in for the IR as that is something I have little experience with.

You can skip the IR and go with an RF system as well. Less wires.

cat5 is fine for IR and all sort of things.

But to be sure, also pull CONDUIT! That will make sure that anything you inevitably change or add or have forgotten that you want, you can easily pull what you need later once the room is finished.

Sure if you have the tools to terminate the cables, that's cheaper usually. You can't terminate HDMI though.

Chris,

What sorts of things? Should I run Cat5 for the speakers? For the IR? For the composite video? For the S-Video? C'mon, I'm a newbie. I need help.

The house is a ranch house with an unfinished basement. I'm going to run a plastic tube in the wall, but even if I mess up the location, getting another cable into the wall won't be difficult at all.

So far I've been told to run a 2 HDMI cables. Beyond that should I just run a few cat5's or do I need other cables?

I need help from you experts? Don't assume I have any knowledge

2 hdmi's, 2 cat5's (IR and actual internet for the tv [like the new samsungs]), 6 rg6 (component+audio or for composite +coax for ant)

thats what I would do.

Aaronlinkous,

Does your note say 6 RG6's? I can see one for the antenna (or raw cable feed), but are you suggesting I run the component video and all of the audio over separate RG6 cables?

Aaronlinkous,

Does your note say 6 RG6's? I can see one for the antenna (or raw cable feed), but are you suggesting I run the component video and all of the audio over separate RG6 cables?

Yes. Component takes 3 seperate RG6 cables by itself. 2 more for stereo audio and one for "cable".

I still can't get past 6 RG6's. Obviously I'm a neophyte.

So, if RG6 was for component video, why aren't the component cables used from the DVR to the TV made of RG6? Shouldn't I use the typical wire component cable? I don't even know how I would terminate the RG6 cables so I could use them in a component video mode?

With your experience, you probably won't want to mess around terminating your own ends. For the component cable, the stuff you're used to probably isn't in-wall rated. Get CL2 rated, maybe something like this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10235

If you want to splurge a little, get these:

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/component/index.htm

You'll notice that Monoprice has a cable with 5 connections on each end for component and left-right audio.

You can also get in-wall rated HDMI cables at these two places.

If you're going to use your receiver to switch your video sources, you might only need the HDMI, otherwise, run wires for composite and s-video use also.

CAT5 cable is good for low voltage use, like IR remote and trigger cables. Run a few just in case; it's cheap. For speaker wire, you'll probably run from your receiver to your speakers; nothing to do with your TV.

eskay,

This is exactly what I needed. The links are perfect.

Thanks!

For the record I plan on purchasing:
Qty (2) - PREMIUM 50FT 5-RCA Component Video/Audio Coaxial RG-6 18AWG 75Ohm CL2 Rated Cable (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10235&cs_id=1023501&p_id=2776&seq=1&format=2)

Qty (2) - HDMI Tin-Plated Copper CL2 Rated (For In-Wall Installation) Cable (22AWG) - 50ft (Gold Plated Connectors) (http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&cs_id=1024002&p_id=2804&seq=1&format=2)

And I'll make sure to run a 1 1/2 PVC conduit to the wall behind the TV.

If you need to have any turns in your conduit, use sweeping turns. This is standard practice for the gray electrical conduit. The white PVC is for plumbing and you might have trouble pulling wire through the normal elbows.

Also, if you can run anything larger than 1.5", do it. Size matters.