affordable route to distributing HD

[v1rtu0s1ty]

hey guys, can someone please share to me how to distribute HD signals from central location(basement) to different rooms? I want to place my HD set top box in central location. Having the same picture on all rooms is ok. I think, component cable switching is needed? Or is there any man-in-the-middle device that can distribute the signal at the same time to all rooms? I think, I may need to put another gang box for the infrared if I want to control the HD set top box in the basement if I'm in the room, right?

 

[DavidL]

You can use a HD matrix switcher like the VideoStorm:
http://www.cinemaronline.com/hdtv_switches_crm84.html

Then you can use baluns to run the HD over Cat5 wire:
http://www.cinemaronline.com/products.500050.html

Not sure about sending same to all points.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

You can use a HD matrix switcher like the VideoStorm:
http://www.cinemaronline.com/hdtv_switches_crm84.html

Then you can use baluns to run the HD over Cat5 wire:
http://www.cinemaronline.com/products.500050.html

Not sure about sending same to all points.

Actually, I was just reading this product, http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/9870.html

CAT5E for High Definition? Isn't that gonna affect picture quality?

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

You can use a HD matrix switcher like the VideoStorm:
http://www.cinemaronline.com/hdtv_switches_crm84.html

Then you can use baluns to run the HD over Cat5 wire:
http://www.cinemaronline.com/products.500050.html

Not sure about sending same to all points.

That's a very cool product but output is too many for what I really require Do they have smaller version? I was also looking at the back panel image. I'm assuming that input is one of the ports there right?

EDIT: saw the smaller version

From the switcher itself, I think a balun is needed too right? It's because, output of switcher is YPbPr but we need CAT5E heading towards each room. Then for each room, you need another balun to convert CAT5 to YPbPr

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I'm really liking the Audio Authority product, http://www.audioauthority.com/9870wn.php

What's your call on that product guys? The problem I'm seeing right now on this product is that, I won't be able to distribute DVD player output too. It only has one input.

 

[Herdfan]

I'm really liking the Audio Authority product, http://www.audioauthority.com/9870wn.php

I am using the Audio Authority DTV985 component amp. It can take optical in and send it as coax out. I am using Belden 1694A cable to distribute. I have 1 100'+ run and PQ is great. Using Nile IR repeater system.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Cool. I was also reading IVB's thread because I remember he mentioned to me about video distribution. I saw that he's planning to use AutoPatch 4YDM. I googled for it but couldn't find any good article/topic on how it is used. I'm confused because all inputs/outputs ports are BNC connectors. Most DVD players and HD set top boxes are Component output.

 

[Mike]

A cheaper way to do that which I started but have not finished yet (and after starting to run more wire for it, the cabling aspect may be harder)

1. Use the Audio Authority component distribution panels ($20-$40 each on ebay) to duplicate component feeds
2. Use a component video switcher that has IR inputs to select which one is active (I was looking at avtoolbox I think it was and each was around $120-$150 new).
3. Feed an output from each of four (for example) AA distribution panels to four component video switches.

This gives us 4 component sources being duplicated, which feed out to four component video switchers.

Then use an IR distribution system (I had a multi-zone xantech setup) to control the switches. In theory you get zero loss (from the distributin amp) and multi-source component video distribution.

Now, cabling takes 5 coax per run, which is the hard part, plus IR distribution and anything else already going to the end point. After starting to go through this, I am questioning how worth it it is, and replacing the cabling with baluns might be worth it (or using the solution you referenced). I haven't installed the other tv's upstairs yet so this wound up going on hold for awhile so it only got used for one source so avoided the distribution amps and switcher.

That being said, the product you mentioned might be augmented by using the component video switcher concept with IR distribution to give you multiple sources, but with the clean solution that the component over cat5 solution gives you. It should work, as you are messing with the signal before it goes into the cat5 distribution.

Too tired right now, hopefully this is not too much babbling...

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I'll try to grab as much juice from your post. Thanks for the ideas.

Actually, while I was doing this post, many things popped my head. I told myself that DVD should also be distributed. Basiscally what I want to happen is that, put all the sources in single location, have a room watch a show from DVD source while the other room is watching an HD show from Comcast HD set top box.

And my current plans are going to use, 4 RG6 runs, 3 CAT5E for rooms with local receiver. And for rooms without receiver, it's going to use 4 run of RG6, 3 runs of CAT5E and 1 run of 16/4. Do you think this is sufficient for video/audio distribution? This way, I should not worry now for the switcher hardware.

 

[IVB]

Based on which HA automation package you go with, see what it supports. It'll make your life much simpler. Definitely get one with RS232 support, you'll love the 2-way communication.

I'll probably go with either the Autopatch 4YDM or the Neothings. Don't sweat the BNC - all that is really is an alternate connector for an RG6 cable. You can get an RCA->BNC adapter pretty cheap @RadioShack/etc, that's how you'd hook it up.

Here's all the switchers CQC supports:
AutoPatch 1YDM
AutoPatch 4YDM
Neothings Avalon
DVI LInk DS-41R
Extron SW* Switchers
Extron System 8+
Extron System 10+
Key Digital KD-SW4x1
Kramer 2053
Zektor HDS4.2

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Does AutoPatch allow us to watch from a DVD source on bedroom 2 while watching an HD show on master bedroom?

 

[IVB]

Do you mean watch 2 different sources in 2 different rooms?

Let me get ellisr63 to answer definitively - he's using them in production now.

BTW, one thing I just read about the Extron switchers [which are more $$] is that they can upconvert, so you can collect various different input types and just have the one component output. It is more $$, not sure if this is an issue for you or not.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Do you mean watch 2 different sources in 2 different rooms?

Yes.

Let me get ellisr63 to answer definitively - he's using them in production now.

BTW, one thing I just read about the Extron switchers [which are more $$] is that they can upconvert, so you can collect various different input types and just have the one component output. It is more $$, not sure if this is an issue for you or not.

The reason I was asking about this is to help me decide how many runs I need to put and what type of wires to run. Hardware will be decided in the future.

 

[IVB]

I posted this on your avs thread, but just to state my opinion here: I vote to punt decisions as late as needed, run both the CAT5 and 3RG6. You'll definitely need one or the other, as it's new construction I can't imagine running both would be that much more $$.

 

[ellisr63]

Does AutoPatch allow us to watch from a DVD source on bedroom 2 while watching an HD show on master bedroom?

I have the 4YDM (32x32)... Mine is setup to where each card is an input or an output.... there are 8 cards for input and another 8 for output.

Each card has 4 BNC connectors (you can get adapter to convert to RCA for less than $1 each... I made my own cables and just put a RCA on one end and a BNC on the other).

Each one of the cards has 4 BNC connectors which i use as follows..... 1 BNC for digital coaxial and the other 3 for Component Video.

With the 4YDM you can send any or all inputs to any or all outputs.,,,8 sources to eight zones if desired or 1 source to all zones.
Does this help?
Ron