I have 2 HDTVs 50 ft apart. Will be installing Dish network with 722 HD-DVR. It can output to both component and HDMI at same time, so I want to place the 722 with 1 HDTV and run the cable to the other HDTV.

Which is better for 50 ft distance, HDMI or component?

At 50', component will work and HDMI should work equally well with a good cable. My buddy bought the 24 AWG HDMI and it wouldn't work, even with a booster. He got a 22 AWG cable (I believe, possibly 20 AWG) and it works perfectly. Running 50' of component plus audio is a pretty fat cable. A 50' HDMI isn't small either, but significantly smaller than component. My buddy got his cables at monoprice, spend around $60 for the better HDMI, and something like $45 for the 24 AWG.

Miner

That is such a:
1. Depends on the quality of each cable and
2. How it looks to your own eyeballs.

The rule-of-thumb is 15 meters for HDMI cable. Posters share that they have used lower quality HDMI cables at 50 ft length with great results.

I bought a 30 foot HDMI cable online for under $35 and the screen image looks really good so I am glad a didn't buy the Monster 6 ft cable for $70.

Component and HDMI can transport digital HD signal so you pays your money and decides what looks best to you.

Now if you want to send up converted dvd to one or both of your sets you need HDMI (or DVI).

You can also buy a HDMI 4 to 2 switch and then have HDMI to both sets.
goodluck

Component signals hold up much better than HDMI over longer distances, but 50ft should be OK for HDMI with the right gauge cable (22 AWG). Try monoprice or solidsignal for longer HDMI cables, great cables at excellent prices.

Component signals hold up much better than HDMI over longer distances, but 50ft should be OK for HDMI with the right gauge cable (22 AWG). Try monoprice or solidsignal for longer HDMI cables, great cables at excellent prices.
I run a 75ft HDMI cable from MonoPrice being driven by a HDMI switch followed by a 1 to 4 active splitter. It works great.

I went to HDMI from long component cables because the reflections in the cable caused a small but noticeable ghost. If you have the choice, always go with HDMI to eliminate any possible reflection in analog component cables.

I run a 75ft HDMI cable from MonoPrice being driven by a HDMI switch followed by a 1 to 4 active splitter. It works great.

I went to HDMI from long component cables because the reflections in the cable caused a small but noticeable ghost. If you have the choice, always go with HDMI to eliminate any possible reflection in analog component cables.

My neighbor has 80ft or so component cables without any problems. One of my other friends had "sparklies" at 50 ft with the "correct" gauge of HDMI cable. I think the problem is that at longer distances you are more dependent on the quality of the driving and receiving circuitry as well. With poor quality pulses from the HDMI board, these will degrade to "unacceptable" over a shorter distance than pulses with a good shape and with tight relative timing. Similarly with component, if the receive circuitry is not the best you are more likely to get reflections. Component signals can potentially be degraded by interference, HDMI less so (in the sense that being digital they are either there or not).
I think with long cable runs you just have to be aware of the potential problems. And make sure you buy cables from a reliable but also inexpensive source like some of the specialist online suppliers that have been mentioned. I've bought from both Monoprice and bluejeanscable and can recommend them both.