Distributing HR-20 HD?

[sNEIRBO]

I landed one of the Target $199 LCD HDTV w/ DVD on Friday as a replacement for my bedroom TV. Now I want it to be feed HD programming.

Is anyone successfully distributing their HD output from an HR20? If so, how?

My current setup on the HR20 is this -
HDMI out to my 65" Sony HDTV
RCA 1 out to a wireless AV sender to the under cabinet TV in the Kitchen

My HD DVD player is hooked up to the Sony via HDMI as well.

I found a 2x1 Component switcher online for $99.
I can get 100' of Component cable for $85 online.

I could run components out of the HR20 and my HD DVD player into the switch, then run a component into the bedroom to connect to the new HDTV. I would need around 85' of component to get from the entertainment center to the bedroom. Would there be drastic signal loss/degradation via component over that distance?

I'm not concerned about both TVs having to watch the same thing, so this set up would be about $100 cheaper than a second HR20, plus another $5/month ($120 over 2 years) cheaper since I could return my R15 and save that mirror fee.

Any help/insight/experiences would be appreciated.

[Stuart Sweet]

I have no experience with this but I would think distributing HDMI over a distance like that would be better than distributing component. You'd get audio and video in one wire and the signal loss would be less significant with a digital signal, I'd think.

Check monoprice.com for longer HDMI cables.

[sNEIRBO]

I have no experience with this but I would think distributing HDMI over a distance like that would be better than distributing component. You'd get audio and video in one wire and the signal loss would be less significant with a digital signal, I'd think.

Check monoprice.com for longer HDMI cables.

Gotta stick with the Component for the bedroom - I pass the HDMIs through the Yamaha AVR for the HD DVD Dolby 7.1 TrueHD, and NO HDMI on the back of the new LCD.

[texasbrit]

I have no experience with this but I would think distributing HDMI over a distance like that would be better than distributing component. You'd get audio and video in one wire and the signal loss would be less significant with a digital signal, I'd think.

Check monoprice.com for longer HDMI cables.

HDMI over long distances is actually more of a problem than component, because the HDMI standard was not really designed for long distances - the digital signals lose their integrity. Some HDMI cables will deliver decent signals at 100ft, depending on the quality of the signals output from the DirecTV receiver, but you usually need to use a repeater (equalizer). Component video will nearly always be OK at 100ft with the right cable.

[Stuart Sweet]

Thanks, texasbrit! Always nice to learn something new on a Monday morning.

[jwasilko]

Intelix makes baluns that let you run audio/video over cat-5 cable. I've never used them for HD, but I have used them for svideo and digital audio.

They can get component video and digital audio over 1 4-pr cat-5 cable:

I tried to post the URL for the balun, but the forums won't let me. If you google for:

site:intelix.com hd balun

you'll find the right thing.

-jeff

[captdusty]

I'm sending HD component video over about 80' of CAT5 using a pair of the intellix baluns. It feeds my HR20 to a 20" LCD in my kitchen. It works surprisingly well with no noticeable degradation. But you'll need a second run of CAT5 and additional baluns for audio. It all starts to add up a bit, price-wise.

[holtzd]

Will the HR20 output via the HDMI and component at the same time? Some devices won't. Would need this if you used the HDMI for the TV in the living room and feed the TV in the bedroom with component.

[davring]

All outputs are active at the same time.

[sNEIRBO]

Baluns might be the way to go. I've found a couple of sites that have them for around $35 each, $70 for a pair for the component video. The RCA stereo audio baluns are going from $25 to $44 each. I'm looking at around $120 for baluns plus 200' of Cat5e (relatively cheap) and an afternoon of wiring.

Then I can cancel one of the other 2 DVRs I have, saving at least the cost of the baluns over the next 2 years in mirroring fees.

[spartanstew]

I'm sending HD component video over about 80' of CAT5 using a pair of the intellix baluns. It feeds my HR20 to a 20" LCD in my kitchen. It works surprisingly well with no noticeable degradation. But you'll need a second run of CAT5 and additional baluns for audio. It all starts to add up a bit, price-wise.

Doesn't the AVO-V3AD-F carry audio and video on the same CAT5 line?

[sNEIRBO]

Doesn't the AVO-V3AD-F carry audio and video on the same CAT5 line?

Yes, but it's digital audio. I did find a balun that carried Component and Analog audio (R/W) but it was over $200 for the pair. Just cheaper to use a Component Video and an Analog Audio balun and pull the second run of Cat5.

[sNEIRBO]

Well I just made the mistake of connecting the 19" LCD to my HR20 via a small Component Cable I had lying around - just to check to see how good the picture looked . . . now I want to scratch my eyes out when I see it connected to the TiVo!!!!!

I just order 100' of 5 in 1 Component Cable - I'll be running that this weekend to connect the new TV to the HR-20!!!

[stiffi]

I've done a similar thing with my HR20.

I ran 100 feet of component cable with (2 extra composite heads for audio) to my smaller TV. I don't have digital audio on the smaller TV, but the cable was all in 1 piece, and only about $25 from monoprice.

[sNEIRBO]

I've done a similar thing with my HR20.

I ran 100 feet of component cable with (2 extra composite heads for audio) to my smaller TV. I don't have digital audio on the smaller TV, but the cable was all in 1 piece, and only about $25 from monoprice.

I got 100' of the 5 in 1 RCA Component Cable for $35 online this afternoon. I had to pay $14 to get it delivered FedEX 2nd Day Air so it will be here by the weekend - but I think $50 instead of $300 for a second HR20 is well worth the investment!!

You said you're running 100' also . . . do you have any signal loss issues?? Is the picture just as good as if it was sitting right next to the HR20?

I'm definitely going to hook the cable up across the floors to check the PQ before I bother running it through the chase in the basement. No sense doing all the work then finding out the PQ stinks over that length of a wire run.

The place I bought from says on their site that the component they sell is rated up to 250' with "minimal signal loss" and up to 500' with "acceptable signal loss". I'm hoping I'll be good with the 100' run.

[Mike728]

I landed one of the Target $199 LCD HDTV w/ DVD on Friday as a replacement for my bedroom TV.

WTH did I miss? :confused:


I have an HR20 hooked up to my HDTV in the Living Room - that is the ONLY HDTV I ever intend to buy, regardless of how much content gets converted to HD. I will NEVER put an HDTV in my bedroom, my daughter's room, behind my bar nor in the basement. Those 4 TVs will always be SDTVs, and are currently hooked up to either the R15 or my DirecTiVo. Those TVs may get replaced as they age, but they will never be upgraded to HDTVs.

[sNEIRBO]

WTH did I miss? :confused:

Yeah, yeah, I know :rolleyes:

I said I would never put an HDTV in my bedroom BUT . . . when I was looking at paying $320 for a 20" LCD SDTV widescreen w/ DVD or getting a 19" LCD HDTV w/ DVD for $199 the choice to NOT put an HDTV in my bedroom didn't make sense. It wasn't about the technology, it was about the wallet at that point.

I'll eat the crow now . . . but I'll do it while watching my new HDTV!! :new_smili

[Stuart Sweet]

sNEIRBO, I grant you a pass on eating that crow, because you made the right call in moving to HDTV. Just because you didn't expect it to be the right call financially doesn't mean you'll have to suffer.

[Milominderbinder2]

I am now buying all of my cables from monoprice. Here are their Component Cables:

Video Cable - RCA Component (http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10235)

Many have had success with 75 and even 100'.

Here is more on this from the HD DVR FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=76617):

How can I watch my HD DVR on more than one TV? In another room?
→ Connecting Multiple TVs to the HD DVR+ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=888299#post888299)

- Craig

[sNEIRBO]

sNEIRBO, I grant you a pass on eating that crow, because you made the right call in moving to HDTV. Just because you didn't expect it to be the right call financially doesn't mean you'll have to suffer.

I'll gladly take that pass! I'm sick of fowl after all the damned Turkey that had to be eaten this past weekend! :lol:

[stiffi]

I got 100' of the 5 in 1 RCA Component Cable for $35 online this afternoon. I had to pay $14 to get it delivered FedEX 2nd Day Air so it will be here by the weekend - but I think $50 instead of $300 for a second HR20 is well worth the investment!!

You said you're running 100' also . . . do you have any signal loss issues?? Is the picture just as good as if it was sitting right next to the HR20?

I'm definitely going to hook the cable up across the floors to check the PQ before I bother running it through the chase in the basement. No sense doing all the work then finding out the PQ stinks over that length of a wire run.

The place I bought from says on their site that the component they sell is rated up to 250' with "minimal signal loss" and up to 500' with "acceptable signal loss". I'm hoping I'll be good with the 100' run.


Sorry for the delay, I forgot to check back in. As for signal loss, it's difficult for me to say, as my 2nd TV is only an EDTV at 480p. It looks darn good, though, and I can say for sure there is no audio loss. The EDTV is in my kitchen, so I frequently have both TVs on at the same time, and I can hear the audio from both, so I know there is no loss there.

I also got my cabes from monoprice, and they seem to be great. I've had the 5 in 1 component for 6 months now, I just recently hooked them up to the HR20.

[homerdodge]

I have three HDTVs on our main HR20-700. I use Gefen HDMI splitters, and a Gefen 30' HDMI cable for one of the TVs and a WireWorld 15 meter Ultraviolet-5 cable for another. They all work fine. Of course, this was done about 3 years ago, and Gefen and other vendors have more options now like HDMI switches, if you need that, although multi-output switches are more expensive than simple splitters.

[d0ug]

Another option might be an ATSC modulator, if you can find one.

I am pretty sure they exist because it seems my local bestbuy is using one to feed all of the TVs in the store.

All of the TVs in the store are tuned to channel 52 I believe. I don’t know if the demo video they use in store is an HDDVD/BluRay or some kind of DVR or a satellite feed, but they must be taking whatever it is and running it though an ATSC modulator to distribute it via COAX throughout the store.

With ATSC being digital there would be no loss. An ATSC modulator, and simple RG6 with splitters would be a very easy lossless way to distribute video to all TVs in the house.

When I saw how bestbuy was distributing their in house demo video, I did a quick google search to see if such modulators existed, and how much they cost. I didn’t have any luck finding any though.

Does anyone here work for, or know someone that works for bestbuy? What are they using for their in house demo video distribution?

[su_A_ve]

If I could figure out an easy run between the 46" and the bedroom...

In the mean time, I have a 23" LCD HD (but only NTSC tuner) so for now, I have an old modulator that pushes up the signal via existing coax.

For a viewing distance of about 6-7 feet, you can't tell much on a semi small set. But I get all HD channels :)

Anyone with sources for the balons on sale appreciated...

The again, I'm so tempted on pulling out the solder iron... :)

[spartanstew]

How can I watch my HD DVR on more than one TV? In another room?
→ Connecting Multiple TVs to the HD DVR+ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=888299#post888299)

- Craig


But that's not HD (per the thread title).

[sNEIRBO]

YEEHAA! The FedEx mad delivered a 15 pound 100' long bundle of Component 5 in 1 joy this morning!!

I ran it across the floor just to make sure the PQ was acceptable - and it was OUTSTANDING! If there's any signal loss - I can't see it - and in retrospect probably shouldn't expect to see it on a 19" screen.

A half an hour of feeding the cable into the chase in the basement, then back up into the bedroom and VOILA - HD DVR in the bedroom for $50!!!!

[kjgarrison]

Another option might be an ATSC modulator, if you can find one.

I am pretty sure they exist because it seems my local bestbuy is using one to feed all of the TVs in the store.

All of the TVs in the store are tuned to channel 52 I believe. I don’t know if the demo video they use in store is an HDDVD/BluRay or some kind of DVR or a satellite feed, but they must be taking whatever it is and running it though an ATSC modulator to distribute it via COAX throughout the store.

With ATSC being digital there would be no loss. An ATSC modulator, and simple RG6 with splitters would be a very easy lossless way to distribute video to all TVs in the house.

When I saw how bestbuy was distributing their in house demo video, I did a quick google search to see if such modulators existed, and how much they cost. I didn’t have any luck finding any though.

Does anyone here work for, or know someone that works for bestbuy? What are they using for their in house demo video distribution?

I noticed in BB that when I had them change to a SD TV program on a set I was looking at. When they went back to their usual "feed" the set showed "OTA". Then I realized their proprietary and very high quality signal was getting broadcasted from someplace, probably within the store.

Have you found any info on ATSC modulators? Please post if you do.

[d0ug]

I noticed in BB that when I had them change to a SD TV program on a set I was looking at. When they went back to their usual "feed" the set showed "OTA". Then I realized their proprietary and very high quality signal was getting broadcasted from someplace, probably within the store.

Have you found any info on ATSC modulators? Please post if you do.

Interesting to know this must be common between all the stores.

I did find that dish network appears to have such a modulator for one of their boxes. http://www.coolstf.com/mpeg/HDTV/index.html
it outputs ATSC to channel 3 or 4

I would love to see a standalone box that takes component + optical/coax spdif, and or HDMI input and then output it to RF ATSC

This would be a great way to put HD from a single box onto as many TVs as you want within your home.

That addon for the dish box has a lot of data pins that goes to the box, I would assume it is some kind of digital bus connector. However if someone got ahold of one of those and found out that HDMI or analog component could be directly input on that Bus, it might be pretty easy to hack that to be used for any use.

I also found a few devices like this http://www.screen.it/encoding_5_e.html I bet something like that is going to set you back a few grand