HD Cables

[suzannew]

I currently have the R-15 and have reached my limit with it's malfunctions. We are considering switching to the HR-20 but I'm not sure it's possible to get HD and wanted to check with the experts on this forum.

We do have the HD dish and an HD TV. However, the cables run from the dish to a multiswitch in an AV cabinet and then from the cabinet to the TV. The cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV were installed when we built the house 8 years ago. It is impossible to reach them without tearing out the ceiling (we have no attic). We have been told by the local Best Buy that unless the cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV are HD, then we won't be able to get HD. I doubt that they are HD cables since they were installed so long ago.

Can anyone please verify what the Best Buy salesperson told us? Also, any suggestions other than tearing up the ceiling?

Thanks!

[carl6]

Where will the HD receiver be located, in the AV cabinet, or at the TV set?

If you have coax cable running from the cabinet to the TV, and your R15 is at the TV set, then you have no problem.

If your R15 is in the AV cabinet, and you have either s-video or composite video cables running from it to the TV set, then you would have a problem.

Carl

[dave29]

how far is the cabinet from the tv.
it sounds like you just have rg6 from your cabinet to the tv, if thats the case then no you could not broadcast a hd signal to you tv from your hr20, there is no f connector on the back of the hr20 anyway for video out. why cant you just mount you hr20 by your tv? then you could hook it up via hdmi

[harsh]

The cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV were installed when we built the house 8 years ago. It is impossible to reach them without tearing out the ceiling (we have no attic).Depending on the cabling, you might be able to make something happen. If you have three RCA cables, you might be able to use a component connection and forfeit sound to the TV.

You're probably going to have to replace or add cables to be happy. Unless the existing cables are stapled in or run through tiny holes in studs, this shouldn't be a big deal. Use existing cables to drag in new cabling.

Another possibility would be to surface mount the necessary cabling in a small cable raceway. Professional installers can offer all sorts of solutions for situations like yours.

[leww37334]

I currently have the R-15 and have reached my limit with it's malfunctions. We are considering switching to the HR-20 but I'm not sure it's possible to get HD and wanted to check with the experts on this forum.

We do have the HD dish and an HD TV. However, the cables run from the dish to a multiswitch in an AV cabinet and then from the cabinet to the TV. The cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV were installed when we built the house 8 years ago. It is impossible to reach them without tearing out the ceiling (we have no attic). We have been told by the local Best Buy that unless the cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV are HD, then we won't be able to get HD. I doubt that they are HD cables since they were installed so long ago.

Can anyone please verify what the Best Buy salesperson told us? Also, any suggestions other than tearing up the ceiling?

Thanks!

What type are the cables that run from the AV cabinet?
S video ( 1 4 pin din and a red/white audio pair) or
composite (1 yellow RCA plug and audio pair) or
component ( 3 rca connectors, red/green/blue, and a red/white audio pair).

To have HD you need either the component setup or HDMI cables, the others won't work.

IF you have the wrong cables, is it possible to take an HDMI cable and SECURELY fasten it to one of the existing cables and pull the HDMi cable through the ceiling. Or try to run a fish tape from the cabinet to the TV?

wow, three answers while I was typing, I've got to learn to type faster.

[suzannew]

I currently have the R-15 and have reached my limit with it's malfunctions. We are considering switching to the HR-20 but I'm not sure it's possible to get HD and wanted to check with the experts on this forum.

We do have the HD dish and an HD TV. However, the cables run from the dish to a multiswitch in an AV cabinet and then from the cabinet to the TV. The cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV were installed when we built the house 8 years ago. It is impossible to reach them without tearing out the ceiling (we have no attic). We have been told by the local Best Buy that unless the cables that run from the AV cabinet to the TV are HD, then we won't be able to get HD. I doubt that they are HD cables since they were installed so long ago.

Can anyone please verify what the Best Buy salesperson told us? Also, any suggestions other than tearing up the ceiling?

Thanks!

Thanks, guys, for being so quick to respond. We have the S cable with the red and white caps so I think we're stuck. Also, we can't move it by the TV because it needs to route through the receiver to utilize the surround sound. My husband wanted to try the "pulling the cable through the ceiling" trick so maybe we'll try that first. One question - since I'm so fed up with the R-15 and want a change we may go ahead with the HR-20 anyway. Will we see [I]any [I] difference in the picture if we install it with the old cables? Or, God forbid, will it make it worse?
Thanks again!

[dave29]

you can hook it up by your tv via hdmi and then run the red and white from the audio out on your tv or dtv receiver back to your surround receiver. that would work fine. that way you would not have to run any new cables. sounds like a great solution to me!!!

[suzannew]

you can hook it up by your tv via hdmi and then run the red and white from the audio out on your tv or dtv receiver back to your surround receiver. that would work fine. that way you would not have to run any new cables. sounds like a great solution to me!!!

Okay - I'm a tech idiot - what is a hdmi?

[John4924]

Okay - I'm a tech idiot - what is a hdmi?

High Definition Multimedia Interface...it is the new standard for HD that includes video and audio. If you want to purchase one of these cables, and have time, order from

www.monoprice.com

They have the best prices, quality, and service. Do not be fooled into buying "Monster" anything from BB.

Cheers,
John

[Groundhog45]

High Definition Multimedia Interface...it is the new standard for HD that includes video and audio. If you want to purchase one of these cables, and have time, order from

www.monoprice.com

They have the best prices, quality, and service. Do not be fooled into buying "Monster" anything from BB.

Cheers,
John

+1 I second that. Everything I have purchased from Monoprice has be good quality and reasonably priced. Monster is greatly overrated.

[JFHughes08088]

+2. I purchased a 40 ft HDMI cable from monoprice and couldn't be happier. With HD, digital is digital. Either the signal get there or it doesn't. Let's see. A Moster cable, 40 ft. HDMI = $250 plus. Monprice = $55 approx. Works great, heavy gauge, rock solid. No brainer. Buy from monpprice - you won't be sorry

[leww37334]

I guess this is a stupid idea but would it be possible to take the HDMI cable under the floor from AV cabinet to TV?

[jes]

Okay - I'm a tech idiot - what is a hdmi?

This link might help elevate you to techno-geek... ;) HDMI is on the Multipurpose page.

A/V Connections from A to Z (http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/462/av-connections-from-a-to-z.html)

My favorite cable shop is AVCable (http://www.avcable.com)...

[suzannew]

Thanks for all the good suggestions (and the education!). And, just to answer the obvious question, we have slab floors so runnnig cables under the subfloor is not an option.

If I understand it correctly, you're suggesting that I place the HR20 by the TV and run the hdmi cable between it and the tv set. However, what I don't understand is if the cables that run from the dish to the AV cabinet and then through the ceiling over to the TV are not HD, does the hdmi convert it? And what do I do with the satellite cable that runs from the dish to the AV cabinet where the R-15 is now. What would that cable hook up to? Or is there a coupler (or some similar device) that connects it to the cable that now runs from the AV cabinet to the TV in the ceiling? And, just to ask one more complicating question - how would I hook our our DVD player - also have to move it near the TV?

Again, if we decide just to leave the cables as they are but order an HR-20, will the picture be better, the same, or worse?

Thanks!

[dave29]

Thanks for all the good suggestions (and the education!).

Again, if we decide just to leave the cables as they are but order an HR-20, will the picture be better, the same, or worse?

Thanks!

probably the same since you would be using the same cables

[suzannew]

probably the same since you would be using the same cables

Thanks - were my assumptions right about how to set up the hdmi cable?

[carl6]

Again, if we decide just to leave the cables as they are but order an HR-20, will the picture be better, the same, or worse?

Thanks!

My experience using both an R15 and an HR20 connected to the same HD TV was that I consistently got a better picture on standard def channels with the HR20 than I did with the R15 (using S-video connection). I would say as an absolute minimum you may want to go with the HR20 upgrade and if nothing else initially, put it in the AV cabinet and hook it up using your existing cabling.

Then, decide how you want to try and get the HD signal to your tv. A long HDMI cable is a good idea. There are options where you can hide it with moulding, or maybe a small cable channel along the base of the wall, or ????

Carl

[AlbertZeroK]

Also, if you decide to replace the existing cabling to the tv by pulling new wire, I'd pull more than you need. If you have two HDMI connections on your tv, pull two HDMI cables. I'd also pull atleast one video/sound RCA (the yellow/red/white cable) and an S-Video cable.