Using a hub as a CAT5 / UTP video distribution amplifier?

Hello,

Has anyone used a regular 100baseT hub (not a switch, I know a switch won't work!) as an amplified splitter for video-over-CAT5 baluns?

I've seen a plethora of component-over-cat5 and HDMI-over-cat5 baluns, as well as component- and hdmi-to-multiple-cat5 splitters. Unfortunately, none of these products really work for what I'd like to do.

I'm working with a multi-story house that has CAT5 "Home Run" wiring from every room down to a small wiring closet in the garage. Every room has 2 CAT5 drops. I'd like to preserve one CAT5 drop in each room for networking use.

So, the idea is to use a component-to-CAT5 (or HDMI-to-CAT5) balun at my video source in the living room, send the CAT5 signal down into the wiring closet, then, in the wiring closet, split it into 3 or 4 signals that get sent up to CAT5 drops in the bedrooms, etc.

The problem is, for the life of me, I can't find a video distribution amp that takes an already-converted CAT5 signal as an input - all the distribution amps take "native" component, VGA or HDMI, leaving me with 8 outputs in the living room, where they don't do me any good.

So, if anyone has used a hub to split a video signal, or can recommend either a generic UTP distribution amp, or a system with a component or HDMI sender, UTP splitter, and receivers, that would be fantastic.

Anything that works with VGA should, theoretically, work with component... If it just takes the simple route of simply amplifying every wire, then it should work with ANY component video balun.

It's an intriguing option, and I haven't seen it before. I'll have to give it a shot.

You, sir, are a GENIUS.

I went to Minicom's website and found the brochure for the Video Display System ( http://www.minicomdigitalsignage.com/pdf/vds.pdf )

Turns out that they have a companion line of senders, receivers and LINE SPLITTERS that include audio capabilities - the Audio Video Display system ( http://www.minicomdigitalsignage.com/av_avds.htm )

So, all I really need is a transmitter unit (0VS22038A), the AVDS series line splitter (0VS22015A - 3 higher than the unit you pointed out originally) and the powered UTP-compatible remote unit (0VS22036A).

The transmitter unit seems a wee bit overpriced compared to other "consumer" level component-over-CAT5 baluns, but it would be worthwhile to experiment with third party baluns and the 0VS22015A splitter

So, thank you again

According to http://www.minicomdigitalsignage.com/av_avds.htm, the AVDS units support 1080P..

The HDMI over IP solution, though, sounds really awesome. Do the senders and receivers actually receive IP addresses from a router? Can they coexist on the same switch as my regular data network, or do they require their own switch?

Off to do more research, I guess