Is it possible to be able to watch any one of my 3 HD recievers on any of my 4 rooms

Try using the Search feature.....They're are dozens of these threads, probably 3 or 4 on this page alone. Key words: Matrix Switch, Component Distribution, Baluns....

You need a few things.

1st is a matrix switcher. While they are starting to come out with HDMI switchers I would plan on using a component video switcher. You'll need a 4 X 4, 8 X 4, or 8 X 8 which refers to inputs X outputs.

2nd is wiring. You could run a 5 mini coax cable (depending on the length), 5 RG59, or 5 RG6 Quad. You could also run 1 cat 5e and buy balun's with tends to be more expensive or just running the wire.

3rd is control. You need some way to turn on the equipment and make the appropriate changes. RF remote controls are the easiest. You could also install some type of Niles/Xantech/Others IR distribution.

Just make sure you set all the equipment to 1080i and use the component outputs to deliver HD throughout the house.. This is the switch I like to use http://www.neoprointegrator.com/products.php. It now is a dealer only product but there a many different brands out there.

Good luck!

It will be soon. At this weeks CEDIA show wireless HDMI links are being introduced.

You need two Cat5e's or five Coaxes. Yes, the Catx's are cheaper, but they won't carry component natively like Coax, so you will need active baluns at either end. They can run between $100 to $200 a pair depending on feature set, so add that into your cost evaluation.

R+G+B+left+right audio

Many use the CELabs RX/TX units:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=720744

http://www.buy.com/prod/ce-labs-cat5...202827692.html

http://www.buy.com/prod/ce-labs-cat5...202827691.html

You REALLY need to do some reading. At this point you are asking basic questions and expecting to be spoon fed the information. I'll answer your last two, but please try to do some research on your own. I'm not trying to slam you, but the answers to the questions you are asking have been asked/answered dozens of times here and a simple search and some reading on your part will help you a long way.

1) No, you cannot run HDMI 200' without additional amplification. Not only that, but HDMI switchers are notoriously problematic.

2) All the Cat5 baluns use Cat5 only between a transmitter and receiver. You have to have a unit at each end. The transmitter at the source end receives component/audio connections from your equipment. The receiver at the TV end has connections for component and audio to your TV. If you had read the link you posted above (which is not complete, BTW) you'll see where it says on the page in multiple places that you must pair this unit with the receiver unit at the TV. Also, these units that have component, audio and IR require TWO cat5 cables.

As with CAT5e, there is a distance limitation. Without amplification (a repeater or extender), HDMI can't go all that far without signal degradation. Low-end repeaters or extenders will push it up to, typically, about 100'. Higher-end ones double (or more) that.

Ah, Grasshopper....I've spent 8 years trying to figure it out, and still don't know 50% of it


Fair enough, but I guess if that's the case I was surprised that you didn't understand how the unit connects to the TV.


Not a whole lot, actually. With the issues of HDMI, Component distribution with or without baluns is still the majority of installs.


It certainly is, but it helps when those do some homework instead of asking the same questions that have been answered dozens of times. You will get far more help from the many knowledgeable people who peruse these forums. Especially from the professionals (of which I am not) who really have their finger on the ins/outs as they do it for a living. But you'll note that none have replied, because, in all likelyhood, they are tired of answering the same thing over and over.


Please provide a link to this system. As Ed concurs with my earlier statement, HDMI isn't very good beyond 50' without either A) some premium cables (that might extend it to 75') or B) some amplification. In the realm of HDMI there are some incremental advancements happening, so if you've found a system that's touting 200' I'd appreciate reading about them.


Of course, and as you understand more, you'll have more questions. It's the nature of this beast. And again, I'm not trying to dismiss you, otherwise I wouldn't have taken the time to respond at all. I'm just helping you understand that if you do some research and ask some not so basic questions, you'll get more answers from those that either A) have installed their own, or B) install them for a living.


When a link is posted of excessive characters this (as do most) forum truncates the alphanumeric characters, but leaves the underlying link intact. So, you'll note the link has '...' in it where the forum erased those characters. To copy the same link, you need to open it in your browser, then copy the link itself from the address bar of your browser and paste it into your post.

This distributor has a diagram located in the description of one of their products http://sewelldirect.com/Intelix-AVO-...udio-Balun.asp. Click on the diagram you can sort of see, and a larger diagram opens up. They even tell you that "baluns must be used in pairs."

As far as why there aren't more diagrams available, perhaps the majority of distributors feel that the description of their product is rather self-explanatory and a picture isn't needed. I mean, it says that they must be used in pairs. Each piece has either red/green/blue RCA jacks or red/green/blue cables with RCA connectors coming out of them. Some also have an RCA connector that is labeled "Audio." The description of the unit tells you whether it is single channel analog audio or digital audio. There is also an RJ-45 connector on each unit, and the description says that the 2 units are connected to each other via a CAT5 cable.

Where the ends are color-coded and there is just one cable that goes between the two units, does there really need to be a bunch of diagrams? There is only one way to hook them up, so all of the diagrams would be identical. It's not like there are several different ways to hook it all up.

Robert has been helping people on this forum for a long time. Don't take him wrong. There is a fountain of information there.

Sigh....

At no point, did I try to make you feel stupid. I only ask that you read a little bit of the info. I provided you links and key search words that would help you to that end. Ed's done the same, and he's right, that the info is right there. I don't know what else you want.

I apologize if you feel I belittled you. Good luck with your project.

Signing off this thread....

If you're going to hire a pro to hook it up, I'd hire a pro to wire it too - or at the very least, consult with the pro before you pull any wire.

Before you get too deep into this, consider how you plan on controlling those sources from the remote rooms. IR distribution is the next piece of the puzzle you'll need to think about.

Having had upwards of 10 different DirecTV receivers over the past 6 years, I'm hesitant to point this out because I know how hit or miss its been, but have you looked into RF? Most (but not all) of my DirecTV receivers can handle RF (or at least the remotes work via RF). If your media rack is in a central location, you might be able to buy a RF remote to control everything, rather than having a pro install an IR distribution system. I'm just a newbie like you, but I'm planning on doing the same thing in the next year once my basement is finished, and that's the first thing I'm going to try.

IMHO, run 5 x rg-6 quad ( video and audio ), 2 cat 6 ( if you ever do HDMI, which I would avoid ) and maybe a cat5e.

Really consider going RF. I like the URC MSC-400 as an RF base station; macros run on it,has sensors. has rs-232 output, can control a PC, has assignable IR outputs ( which you will need )

I have used signvideo 8x8 routers in the past. Support 1080i, and you can send spdif over one out the audio channels if you desire.

You can use more than one extender amp in a HDMI cable run so if you used an HDMI extender/equalizer amp at the end of every 50-75' or so, you should be able to go 200' or more (indefinitely long in theory). Each extender/equalizer basically restores the digital signal to near it's initial state (opens the eye in the eye diagram) so each length of cable sees a signal that looks much like the original. There's not a gradual cumulative degradation as you would get with an amplified analog signal.