Comcast to Dish 722, want HD on 2 TV's (TV1)

[GolfDad]

I used Dish for years before moving to my new house 4 years ago. Been using Comcast. Built an addition and new roofline can get line-of sight SE to Dish satellites.

I have two Panasonic Plasmas (Living Room and Uptairs Gym). There is no conflict with needing to watch different shows on each TV as I am the only viewer. I just want to be able to go upstairs and work out and continue watching whatever show I was watching (or another one). So running in Single mode is fine (although I probably will have the installer run the coax for TV2 upstairs anyway).
I have been reading your threads and have a few questions about wiring the upstairs TV (45 to 50 foot cable run) from TV1:

1) Should I run HDMI or component? Why one over the other?
2) How do you go through plaster walls or floors with HDMI cable (the ends are large!)? Do I just cut a hole large enough for the cable end connectors (component or cable)?
3) Any suggestions on source and/or mfg of the long cable (HDMI or component)?
4) If I have to run component, I am assuming 5 wires (three for video and 2 for audio). Is that correct?

5) If the installation includes the installer running coax from Living Room (722 location), it would seem to make sense that I could have the longer cables ready (HDMI or component) and have them fed thru the wall/floor holes and chimney (old, not used) flue at the same time as he feeds the coax (I would be there to assist). Is that a good idea?

Thanks, GolfDad

[BattleZone]

1) Should I run HDMI or component? Why one over the other?

That's up to you. Running one HDMI is easier than 5 RG59 lines (which is what good component cables are made from), but there could be other considerations.

2) How do you go through plaster walls or floors with HDMI cable (the ends are large!)? Do I just cut a hole large enough for the cable end connectors (component or cable)?

Yes, you have to cut a hole big enough to fit the connector, at least. If you must minimize the size of the hole, there are (costly) ways to accomplish this.

Rapid Run
http://www.rapidrun.com

Tripp-Lite Easy Pull
http://www.tripplite.com/shared/literature/Flyer/952906.pdf


3) Any suggestions on source and/or mfg of the long cable (HDMI or component)?

Dozens of people will recommend Monoprice (http://www.monoprice.com), and often I'd agree, but if you're going to retrofit cables that may be difficult to pull and/or won't be easy to replace, I recommend spending a little more and getting your cables from Blue Jeans Cable (http://www.bluejeanscable.com), who are also a site sponsor. IMO, Monoprice cables are great as long as you can easily replace them if necessary, but the Blue Jeans cables are made tougher and better and can handle more abuse, and abuse is common during a retrofit install.

4) If I have to run component, I am assuming 5 wires (three for video and 2 for audio). Is that correct?

Yup.

5) If the installation includes the installer running coax from Living Room (722 location), it would seem to make sense that I could have the longer cables ready (HDMI or component) and have them fed thru the wall/floor holes and chimney (old, not used) flue at the same time as he feeds the coax (I would be there to assist). Is that a good idea?

Expect to be charged custom labor for this; it isn't part of a standard install. And, depending, the installer may or may not be able to do this work; not all techs are prepared for or experienced doing this type of work, and may not have time in their schedule to do so. If the tech can't do it himself, he may be able to refer you to another installer, or may be able to come back after work hours or on another day.

What I'm getting at is: don't have the expectation that the installer will be able to run those cables for you, especially on a busy day, because you don't want to be disappointed. It could be quick and simple, or much more involved than you realize, and I have no way to know without seeing it, but that's why custom is custom.

Good luck!

[olguy]

Following upon BZ's comments if you know who the installer will be call and ask them about doing the job. If they don't or want a boatload of money I'm sure there are network installers in Little Rock that can do the job. If you aren't planning on doing it yourself.

[Yoda-DBSguy]

1080P can be achieved from hdmi; where as component can only handle upto 1080i.

There are converters that allow a single CAT5 cable to be used for HDMI. This method eliviates you from having to drill to compensate for the normal connector ends associated with a store purchased premade cable. It also allows for extended runs well in excess of 100' without the need for additional HDMI amplification. :D

[GolfDad]

The upstairs TV is 720p. The run from the basement to the attic is thru a 4" PVC pipe "chute", so running the component is no problem. The living room is 1080i. Also, a Blu-ray DVD is downstairs with 1080i and will not be used upstairs at all.

It seems like my options are:
1) 50' Component upstairs to 720p ($40), existing HDMI cabling downstairs to 1080i
2) 50' HDMI upstairs to 720p($40), existing spare set of component cable to 1080i (blu-ray will remain HDMI to 1080i)
3) 50' HDMI upstairs to 720p($40), existing HDMI cabling downstairs to 1080i, HDMI splitter ($10 to $70
???which one)

What would you recommend? Also, would you use wall plates to "cleanup" the installation? Do the extra connections at the wall plate degrade the signal?

Thanks to everyone!!!
GolfDad


The 50' premium component on MONO was $37, about the same price as MONO's premium HDMI (24AWG). The HDMI would require a splitter