[zbtmarshall]

Guys:


Since video standards evolve as does everything else, I feel inclined to ask the pros...


Of the video types it seems running coax lines to send vid signals around the house and terminating them with RCAs for component video is the best option given the current technology status...but...the most sense it seems would be made from running cat6 instead, which can be linked on both ends to a unit that outputs whatever standard desired, and as a result, any future standards that develop. Component seems disadvantaged in this way.


HDMI isnt cost effective, keeps changing versions, has handshake issues, etc...so it doesnt seem smart to even think about that as an option.


Whats the best bet? Coax/component runs, or CAT6 through the house and using appropriate conversion units...


Thanks!

 

[Buzz Goddard]

Best is conduit.


Next I would pull a bundle of 2 coax/2 Cat5e (or cat6 if you like)

 

[GreyWiz]

I just build a new house. I ran conduit in my home theatre to all speaker locations, projector location, etc....


The rest of the house ......it was too big to run conduit through and be able to pull anything, so I ran 2 RG6 and 2 Cat5e to nearly all rooms. The office I ran more Cat5e.


With wireless HDMI coming A/V distribution will probably be wireless. As for network, I could have also run fiber but I personally didn't.


If you really want futureproof....run 2" conduit everywhere.

 

[stickyfingers]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Buzz Goddard /forum/post/12926900


Best is conduit.


Next I would pull a bundle of 2 coax/2 Cat5e (or cat6 if you like)

If _I'm_ pulling 2 coax, I'm pulling three (for component video), but maybe that's just me.


That said, I'm doing a new project where I'm pulling 5 conductor minicoax because my space is pretty tight, and if that works out well, that'll be my recommendation going forward (but I'm just a DIY'er)...

Quote:
Originally Posted by GreyWiz /forum/post/12927161


...With wireless HDMI coming A/V distribution will probably be wireless.

Do you believe in unicorns too..?

Seriously though, I'll believe QUALITY wireless HD distribution when I see it (and we've been hearing about it for _years_ now). HDMI w/all its HDCP hassles is, IMO, barely a reasonable alternative for _wired_ installations at this point.

Quote:
If you really want futureproof....run 2" conduit everywhere.

True dat.

Cheers.

 

[Fatkinson]

Mini Coax is great. It takes two CAt5e to to Balun HDMI. One to do Component and Dig audio. Happy pulling!

 

[the rick]

I would do a minimum of 3 cat5e or cat6 runs to each tv. Two can be turned into just about anything so far down the road and one is left over for things like IR control, another video source etc. Two only is a limited run IMO.


One structured wiring company catalog I had at work had a single cable with 5xcat5e in it, seems like a great option to me (liberty wiring)

 

[bigpapa]

Wireless HDMI? Wireless HD isn't really an option yet.


Component can easily run HD resolutions (as long as you consider length/gauge ratios). Why not component? No adapters. You could run extra CAT6's for HDMI baluns if you want, there's nothing wrong with that. But most HD Media does not need HDMI to run it's full res.


BTW, coax HDMI baluns are coming out very soon. They will probably outperform UTP baluns in distance.


If it were my house, I'd pull good RGBHVC bundle with 3 CAT5e's or CAT6's and 2 RG6's. You're ass is covered six ways to Sunday and the copper dealers will love you.


Conduit is a good option, but you have to manage it properly. You cannot have more than 270 degrees of turn in a run or you might not be able to pull the cable through. Otherwise, you need JBoxes in line to pull from.

 

[Kevinsh]

Yeah, I think conduit is best but as mentioned, hard to do. We normally run the (2)RG6Q+(2)Cat5e solution PLUS 4 Cat5es to critical video areas (known TV spots). The 4 cats will cover most everything as mentioned above. However, not everything. The best solution we've been using in these big houses is running a 3" piece of PVC in both ends and the middle of these houses (3 runs total) from attic to basement/crawl. these runs might be 25' long but more than once we have gone back to a house to pull new wiring and the PVC runs save hours of work..

 

[jbw]

Any suggestions on where to find an RGBHVC bundle with three CAT5e's and 2 RG6's?

 

[bigpapa]

Check fire code on running PVC conduits from attic to basements, it could be a fire chase. It's surely a benefit to have there, but it would be a bummer to install all these chases and have a building inspector tell you to rip them out.


As for bundling: I wouldn't want a bundle with an RGBHVC, 3 CAT5's, and two RG6's. In fact, why would I want one with two RG6's and 2 CAT5's? It just adds cost to the system and makes wiring more difficult, not less. The RGBHVC is a snake in an of itself, and that's fine.

 

[[/quote]]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bigpapa /forum/post/12946797


But most HD Media does not need HDMI to run it's full res.

I thought you needed HDMI since component won't give you 1080p nor will it allow upconversion of SD DVDs?

 

[bigpapa]



Quote:
Originally Posted by

/forum/post/12950228


I thought you needed HDMI since component won't give you 1080p nor will it allow upconversion of SD DVDs?
[/QUOTE]


BR and HDDVD are the only source materials running 1080P. Upconverting a SD DVD may not look any better on 1080P than 1080i or 720p. Component could run 1080p, but there is no native 1080p material that readily plays on component due to HDCP.

 

[[/quote]]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bigpapa /forum/post/12951152


BR and HDDVD are the only source materials running 1080P. Upconverting a SD DVD may not look any better on 1080P than 1080i or 720p. Component could run 1080p, but there is no native 1080p material that readily plays on component due to HDCP.

I thought you couldn't upconvert SD DVDs to any resolution unless you are using HDMI?



Since he is looking to "future-proof", why not run HDMI cables so he could take advantage of todays full high def as well as the future?

 

[stickyfingers]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bigpapa /forum/post/12951152


;12950228']...BR and HDDVD are the only source materials running 1080P. Upconverting a SD DVD may not look any better on 1080P than 1080i or 720p. Component could run 1080p, but there is no native 1080p material that readily plays on component due to HDCP.

I think there a handful of XB 360 _games_ which run in 1080p over component.


To me, games are "source material," but I your point is well-advised, just a bit of nit-picking on my part.

(...and you can upconvert that 480p DVD all you want, and it's not going to be anything near true 1080p....)


Cheers.

 

[stickyfingers]



Quote:
Originally Posted by

/forum/post/12951432


I thought you couldn't upconvert SD DVDs to any resolution unless you are using HDMI?
[/QUOTE]


(Most) all (qualilty) DVD players nowadays (actually, for years - is there an Oppo in the room..?) upconvert SD DVDs (which is why they all have component out on 'em).

 

[bigpapa]

I'd not consider an XBox a centralized device. The material is 1080p, yes, but do you need a distribution platform for it?


My point is merely that everybody assumes they have to have 1080p since it's 'better.' You can future proof for it all you want, but the cost/benefit ratio may not be there when you consider that most source material is not 1080p. I'm not saying don't do 1080p, I'm saying don't assume that you have to have it. You can matrix component and run 540p to all your smaller displays (from HD DVD's on component) easily. An upscaling DVD player is not playing true 1080p anyway, and it can send that signal on component.