Home Entertainment Wiring Guru Needed

Instigator · Sep 23, 2010

So who here is the Home Entertainment Wiring Guru? I am looking to purchase some missing components for a house we bought and the old owner took some of the needed parts.
I am most interested in HMDI Extenders with IR Transmitters over Cat 5 Cable.

muxlab 500405

Anyone knows about this stuff or know where to buy it?

Racey · Sep 23, 2010

DaveH

Instigator · Sep 23, 2010

Thanks, I'll send him a PM

Tom Brown · Sep 23, 2010

What's to wire? It sounds like the Cat5e is already there. Those media converters should be plug and play.

Am I missing something? If you need help in the Cat5e space, I'll try to help. I know my way around EIA568a and b pretty well.

Instigator · Sep 23, 2010

Tom Brown said:
What's to wire? It sounds like the Cat5e is already there. Those media converters should be plug and play.

Am I missing something? If you need help in the Cat5e space, I'll try to help. I know my way around EIA568a and b pretty well.

Where can I buy them and do they Support 1080P with the IR Controls over 2 cat 5 cables?

Tom Brown · Sep 23, 2010

Instigator said:
Where can I buy them and do they Support 1080P with the IR Controls over 2 cat 5 cables?

Answer 1: dunno
Answer 2: Yes but only to 150' on Cat5e (90' with deep color), according to that link you posted

From Google (I didn't shop for the best price):

http://www.markertek.com/CATV-Heade...DMI-Over-CAT5-Systems/MuxLab-Inc/500405.xhtml

If you care about price and aren't married to Muxlab, here's what I found on PriceGrabber.com:

http://computers.pricegrabber.com/c...l/search=hdmi+ir+extender/st=product/sv=image

Tom Brown · Sep 23, 2010

That Siig product has been discontinued. It might be OK. I'm not familiar with it.

I'm not familiar with this product, either:

http://www.siig.com/ViewProduct.aspx?pn=CE-H20F11-S1

You can look at the specs to see if it's what you want. It works with a single Cat5e. You can use the second for IR repeaters. IR repeaters are extremely cheap and simple to hook up.

Lots of options.

Seamonkeys · Sep 23, 2010

Is is HDMI 1.2 or 1.3 and what is the distance you are trying to extend?

Instigator · Sep 23, 2010

What is the difference between Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 ? I think that my house is wired with Cat5 or Cat5e. Do you know the Difference between Active Baluns and Passive Baluns?
I'm trying to learn about all this stuff so I can put it all back together. The house has a Structured Media Panel in the office and a Seperate Media Component Rack in a seperate room. Each room has (2) Coax Cables and (2) Cat 5 cables at 2 locations in each room and a seperate single gang box with an On-Q controller for Audio and speaker volume and IR Remote control.

The house seems to be wired for alot of different options but I have to figure out how it all works together before I start buying Baluns at 300.00 a pair considering I would need 10 or more.

Seamonkeys · Sep 23, 2010

Instigator said:
Where can I buy them and do they Support 1080P with the IR Controls over 2 cat 5 cables?

I can get you an extender for HDMI 1.3 for $225.00. Uses 2 cat5 for 1080P for 130 feet.

Just let me know.

Gary

Instigator · Sep 23, 2010

Seamonkeys said:
Is is HDMI 1.2 or 1.3 and what is the distance you are trying to extend?

I don't know. Is it the Plasma TV's or the Sat. Reciever that determines 1.2 or 1.3 and what are the differences?
As far as the distances, I really can only guess as I can't see how the cabling is ran behind the walls or thru the ceiling as it is a Territorial Style house with Flat Roof and no attic space but my gues would be no more than 150 feet per run.

Racey · Sep 23, 2010

Instigator said:
What is the difference between Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 ? I think that my house is wired with Cat5 or Cat5e. Do you know the Difference between Active Baluns and Passive Baluns?
I'm trying to learn about all this stuff so I can put it all back together. The house has a Structured Media Panel in the office and a Seperate Media Component Rack in a seperate room. Each room has (2) Coax Cables and (2) Cat 5 cables at 2 locations in each room and a seperate single gang box with an On-Q controller for Audio and speaker volume and IR Remote control.

The house seems to be wired for alot of different options but I have to figure out how it all works together before I start buying Baluns at 300.00 a pair considering I would need 10 or more.

When i was fresh outta school i worked for a surveillance company, we used to use Baluns to convert coax video signal so it could run over twisted pair. I would imagine that active baluns require a power supply, passive ones don't... Not sure as to the benefits of active ones except maybe an extended range?

DaveH · Sep 23, 2010

PM sent

What is the difference between Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6

that is a bsic ethernet standard. general rule of thumb is cat 5 is good for 100mb/sec up to a certain distance, cat6 is for gigE (1000mb/sec). I forget what the rating is for 5e.

there are many various hdmi converters/extenders. It boils down to what cable you have, the lenght and the resoltion you want. to go full 1080 it gets pricey. maybe now you see why the guy took them all with him.

Instigator · Sep 23, 2010

DaveH said:
PM sent

that is a bsic ethernet standard. general rule of thumb is cat 5 is good for 100mb/sec up to a certain distance, cat6 is for gigE (1000mb/sec). I forget what the rating is for 5e.

there are many various hdmi converters/extenders. It boils down to what cable you have, the lenght and the resoltion you want. to go full 1080 it gets pricey. maybe now you see why the guy took them all with him.

I am quickly figuring that out. 1080 is pretty expensive but the Stereo A/V ( red, Yellow, White ) dealio isn't too bad.

TomD · Sep 24, 2010

The cable will be labled from the factory as to what type it is (cat 5, cat 5e ect). It will also have the legnth printed on it every 2 feet. Hopifully someone marked the cables (1 and 2).

DaveH · Sep 24, 2010

It will also have the legnth printed on it every 2 feet. Hopifully someone marked the cables (1 and 2).

not all cable is marked for length. not to worry, you can buy cable testers that will identify cable length and also check for shorts or crossed pairs or whatever. actually almost a must have tool if you are going to be doing this yourslef.

TomD · Sep 24, 2010

DaveH said:
not all cable is marked for length. not to worry, you can buy cable testers that will identify cable length and also check for shorts or crossed pairs or whatever. actually almost a must have tool if you are going to be doing this yourslef.

OK I'll repharse, any cable WORTH A DAMM!

skav · Sep 24, 2010

I would use active bauns. Gefen and Key Digital both make quality pieces. I use them all the time w/o issue

Home Entertainment Wiring Guru Needed

Instigator

Just Livin up to My Name

Racey

Maxwell Smart-Ass

Instigator

Just Livin up to My Name

Tom Brown

Epsilon contributor

Instigator

Just Livin up to My Name

Tom Brown

Epsilon contributor

Tom Brown

Epsilon contributor

Seamonkeys

Active Member

Instigator

Just Livin up to My Name

Seamonkeys

Active Member

Instigator

Just Livin up to My Name

Racey

Maxwell Smart-Ass

DaveH

Well-Known Member

Instigator

Just Livin up to My Name

TomD

Breathing Member

DaveH

Well-Known Member

TomD

Breathing Member

skav

Well-Known Member