[ajbowman]

I always thought that HDMI was too big to fit into a standard keystone jack... but I found this:

http://www.vpi.us/keystone-inserts.html


Is this for real? If I can do HDMI into a keystone I would much rather do that than the "decora" plates... I want to squeeze as much as I can into one single gang wall plate.


Will this work?

 

[JohnBurger]

Too good to be true? Possibly.

HDMI has VERY strict impedence rules, and a coupler like that may very well break them.

Plus, of course, you'll need two of them: one to get into the wall cavity, and then again to get out again. I guess that's why the Decora plates are so expensive - they impedence match very well (and I like their 90-degree back-plate!)


However, for $7.50 each, it's probably worth the experiment. I'd buy them, but connect them outside of the walls first, using the three cables you were going to use between the source and TV/projector. Check for HDMI "sparklies" - if you don't know what they are, you'll know as soon as you experience them!


The best thing about these? You don't need to wire to fussy panel connectors.

The worst thing? Pulling ready-made $200+ cables throiugh walls, trying not to stretch them, let alone break them!

 

[eq_shadimar]

I have just purchased 2 of these HDMI Keystone Jacks:

http://www.trianglecables.com/hdmi-key.html


Here is the link for a Carlon SC300PRB Recessed Dual Voltage 3 Gang Old Work Plate
Along with this old work 3 gang box for behind my plasma

 

[Lee L]

Please do let us know. I am getting ready to install a plasma in the next 2-3 weeks and would love to go ahead and run 3 HDMI cables terminated like this. That recessed box is teh win!

 

[the_Brayn]

I'm very interested in finding out how these work as well. The Keystone inserts seem to be a much better price than the decora plates that I have seen.

 

[Maverickster2]

Crap! If these work, I'm gonna be irritated. I spent a week planning how to piece this together and a lot of my problem was that my two-port HDMI decora plate took up a whole slot (incidentally, Brayn, check out Monoprice for the decora plate, they're pretty cheap)! This would have been A LOT easier if I'd have been able to throw it in a keystone.

--Mav

 

[eq_shadimar]

OK well I got the inserts and tested them last night. Here are the results:


1) Do they fit a keystone insert? Yes. The HDMI port will be this way | not - when mounted in a normal wall plate orientation.


2) I connected my two HDMI devices (HD DVD and HD Cable) to my plasma out of the wall for testing - Monoprice port saver -> 30' Monoprice CL2 rated HDMI cable -> HDMI keystone insert -> 3' Monoprice HDMI cable


When I first looked at the picture it was blocking all over the place and the sound was dropping in and out. I thought to myself..oh crap they suck. However my keen troubleshooting skills found out that the issue was that the coax cable going into the HD cable box was loose (this only took 40 min

). Anyway I am happy to report that with the fixed coax cable everything is fine. I have no picture quality issues with either the HD DVD or HD cable using the hookups I listed above. I will post a picture of my mockup this weekend.


If anyone has any questions let me know and I will try and answer them.


EDIT -


I am only running at 1080i resolution not 1080p or 720p. I don't know if that makes a difference or not but I wanted to be clear exactly what was tested.


Laters,

Jeff

 

[the_Brayn]

Yeah, the Monoprice ones aren't too bad but I was actually looking at staying away from the flexible extension cables. I've been trying to find cheaper outlets that have the 90 degree exit port. I've heard of some picture quality loss sometimes with those flexible extension cables which I would like to avoid if possible.


Jeff, that sounds great. I may have to try these out.

 

[eq_shadimar]

Okies time to bump this up with some pictures

As promised here are the pictures of everything, including the super neat recessed panel:

Laters,

Jeff

 

[Lee L]

I am building mine up this weekend and will post some pictures also. I ordered my HDMI keystones from the VPI inc link and they are not quite as nice looking as the ones you used from Triangle Cables. The VPI units are open in the front as opposed to having a piece of plastic the close it off. Not really a huge deal since they are going to be behind equipment and never seen, but I am anal I guess.

Also, I found a source for a double gang 12 port plate in one piece, so it will be interesting to see the differences. http://www.stayonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=5169

EDIT: They stopped carrying it. Looks like the same place at Parts express: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=151-196


The same place also has the power inlet part of the powerbridge for $10 plus shipping if anyone is interested. http://www.stayonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=4421


I am so happy you posted the link for the wall box though. That thing is the ultimate flat panel wall plate IMO.

 

[eq_shadimar]

I looked at those 12 port plates as well but I already had the speaker wall plate. I just decided to heck with it and made it all match with the Decora style. The one thing I do like about the double gang plates is that the connectors are spaced out more and the whole thing is a bit more sturdy.


I look forward to your pictures. I like pictures

Laters,

Jeff

 

[Lee L]

I will have to post pictures later, one thing I will say is that with the 12 port plates, I had to use a utility knife and cut about 1/8" off each side of the opening in the box for it to fit. Nothing major, but the extra space you mentioned comes at a small price.

 

[BigJPDC]

I was just going to post this very same question about the HDMI inserts. The geniuses that did my a\\v wiring left me with very little slack so I am going to do two keystone plates now.


Anyways, is there any kind of preference regarding speaker connections - banana vs. binding post?


thank you,

jp

 

[ashug987]

Where you guys are getting the 6 port keystone decora style insert plate and 6 port decora style hole plate? I can't find them in my local homedepot/lowes/radioshack? Any online place where I can get it for cheap without paying much for the shipping?

 

[Lee L]

OK, here are some pics of mine.


Front before everything was in. My wife is a label freak and insisted on making them for me.

Back - Man, that F connector was kind of recessed.

OK, I promise the box is not crooked, I was snapping these shots pretty quickly as I was working.

I ended up doing 3 HDMI, the F connector for an antenna feed to the TV, The Toslink for digital out from the TV, S-Video for my Laserdisc player , Component and a couple of Cat 5 runs for whatever. I might end up putting a IR repeater at the top of the TV and I figured I could use une for that, plus I know some TV's already have Ethernet jacks and figure it will be more likely in the future.

Yes, more drunken camera work evidently.

I had to run it vertically due to framing constriants. Because this wall backs up to stairs the studs are close together at at irregular intervals due to extra framing to catch the landing. It was nice knowing I was hitting 4 studs with teh TV mount though.




Oh, this one shows how the 12 port plate does not quite fit in the box, problem was solved in 5 minutes using a utility knife.

 

[eq_shadimar]

Great pictures Lee! I still have not mounted my in the wall yet. I am waiting on the shelves for the equipment and one electrical circuit. GRRR! How are the HDMI inserts working for you? Any issues?


As to the question about the speaker connections. The ones I get can do both. I generally use the binding post option for the in wall side and the banana plug option for the speaker side.


I got my 6 port Decora plate from Smarthome along with some other items so I was not concerned about the shipping cost.


Laters,

Jeff

 

[Lee L]

So far, the HDMI are wrking perfectly with no issues, but I have only used a 1080i source. As soon as Panasonic gets off their rear and releases their new Profile 2.0 Blu Ray, I will let you know how 1080p does.


Of course, I have what seems like 50 pounds of cable hanging off the back there, even with only a 6 foot run for everything. I had to end up being pretty carefull about how I bundled it all so the cables fed out at the right places and I screwed a deck screw into the stud and tie wrapped the wire bundle to that to give me some strain relief.

 

[__Tango]

ARGH. That 3 gang old-work box and the hdmi keystones are exactly what i needed about 2 months ago when i hung my plasma. I wish i had seen this before.

 

[Erik Garci]

Has anyone found HDMI keystone inserts with a locking nut?


I found this module, but it only works for "Euromod" wall plates in the UK.
http://www.aldoussystems.co.uk/acata..._Module-1.html

This lets you use HDMI cables with a locking screw, such as these:
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/cables/hdmi_dvi.jsp#hdmil
http://www.lindy.co.uk/hdmi-connector-lock/37399.html
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=181-729

 

[Dave_n_debt]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Lee L /forum/post/13279405


So far, the HDMI are wrking perfectly with no issues, but I have only used a 1080i source. As soon as Panasonic gets off their rear and releases their new Profile 2.0 Blu Ray, I will let you know how 1080p does.


Of course, I have what seems like 50 pounds of cable hanging off the back there, even with only a 6 foot run for everything. I had to end up being pretty carefull about how I bundled it all so the cables fed out at the right places and I screwed a deck screw into the stud and tie wrapped the wire bundle to that to give me some strain relief.

Lee,


First thanks for pointing out the source. I used this setup for my ceiling mounted projector. I think the recessed jacks have a cleaner look than surface mounting everything.


I have a two and three meter cable with an inline booster in the middle. I found I needed the booster to get a reliable signal from my PS3 (even when hooking it up direct to the projector). I now use a Panny dmp-bd10 to watch movies and have both the PS3 and The Panny going through the switched circuit on my receiver over the 5 meters of cable with a booster in the middle and terminating with the HDMI keystone insert. I ordered a 1.5 foot cable from monoprice have no problems using 1080p.


Dave