Structured Cabling for New House Build - Sky TV, HDMI, Phone, Lan, IR

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cyril7

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#551778 30-Nov-2011 12:55

Hi,

firstly if the box of cat5 is more than 7-8yrs old then its most likely cat5 not cat5e, I strongly recommend you dont install cat5 but cat5e. GPO = General Power Outlet, ie power socket.

A single cat5e/6 run can be used for Fastethernet plus phone or GigE and no other service, ie there are 4 pairs, two for fast ethernet or 4 for GigE, if only use fastethernet then the one other can be used for phone. I strongly recommend that you simply wire all sockets as full 4pair (8wire) and use external splitters should you decide to run phone and data, that way you can revert it to GigE at a moments notice and no tools.

I cannot feel that you have overcooked it slightly, I am still not a strong believer in the need for HDMI to everywhere, its a major waste for minor bedrooms etc, my preference is to simply distribute FreeView UHF to TVs and a UHF modulated run of whats on the Sky box. I know many reel at the thought of distributing the Sky via UHF but I have provided both UHF and HDMI solutions to clients in the past and at first install they just go with the UHF and say come back once we have settled in and sort the HDMI solution, after a few months they typically ring back and say dont bother as the pic on their 26" bdroom TVs is just fine. dont forget the FreeView is still in HD for TV1,2,3 etc.

Therefore in a your minor bedrooms I would go,

1x cat5e, 1x RG6 and GPO behind wall mounted TV, the cat5e is to feed the builtin media client, the RG6 to supply UHF FreeView and a analog UHF feed from Sky box.

Below TV I would consider 1x RG6 for optional extra Sky Box and a single cat5e for data and/or phone, also provide an HDMI to the TV above. Also run a single cat5e beside the bed for data and/or phone, to have more data in a bedroom (unless its a study also) is a waste in my view, ymmv.

This general layout can be used in most non major AV locations, but in the location of the major AV where the prime sky box goes I recommend 3x RG6 plus 2 or 3 cat5e (down low), 1xRG6 and 1xcat5 to the TV on the wall above, at least 2xHDMI between the two, I think this is a bit more efficient than you design. Obviously I have not included any HDMI.

I suggest you read the HDBaseT standard I linked, this will take over from HDMI distribution and uses a single cat5e to distribute all that a HDMI carries plus FastEthernet and remote control, so that cat5e behind the TV is important.

Cyril

mrhaboobi

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#551804 30-Nov-2011 13:22

Hey Cyril,

Thanks again.. some more questions

cyril7:
A single cat5e/6 run can be used for Fastethernet plus phone or GigE and no other service, ie there are 4 pairs, two for fast ethernet or 4 for GigE, if only use fastethernet then the one other can be used for phone. I strongly recommend that you simply wire all sockets as full 4pair (8wire) and use external splitters should you decide to run phone and data, that way you can revert it to GigE at a moments notice and no tools.

Could you point me towards the adaptors i would need for this

cyril7:
I cannot feel that you have overcooked it slightly, I am still not a strong believer in the need for HDMI to everywhere, its a major waste for minor bedrooms etc, my preference is to simply distribute FreeView UHF to TVs and a UHF modulated run of whats on the Sky box. I know many reel at the thought of distributing the Sky via UHF but I have provided both UHF and HDMI solutions to clients in the past and at first install they just go with the UHF and say come back once we have settled in and sort the HDMI solution, after a few months they typically ring back and say dont bother as the pic on their 26" bdroom TVs is just fine. dont forget the FreeView is still in HD for TV1,2,3 etc.

yup i currently have RF distributed throughout the house, and while its fine for study and smaller tvs, i would really not enjoy it on the 2 larger tvs, so i will need to get HDMI in the lounge and the living area, so i figure i could use a long HDMI cable for that as you suggest, or in that single instance should i use cat5e and some extenders on each end? I can install the HDMI cables not a problem as the walls will be bare, so hopefully there are decent cables about 10M - 20m long that wont kill the bank budget, HIFI stores have told me you need special high quality cable for long runs like this, lies or some truth? Id LIKE hdmi in the master bed room, i guess i can run another long HDMI if need be.

cyril7:

Therefore in a your minor bedrooms I would go,

1x cat5e, 1x RG6 and GPO behind wall mounted TV, the cat5e is to feed the builtin media client, the RG6 to supply UHF FreeView and a analog UHF feed from Sky box.

Would you upspec a little to 2 cat5e?, would allow both gige and phone?

cyril7:

Below TV I would consider 1x RG6 for optional extra Sky Box and a single cat5e for data and/or phone, also provide an HDMI to the TV above. Also run a single cat5e beside the bed for data and/or phone, to have more data in a bedroom (unless its a study also) is a waste in my view, ymmv.

This general layout can be used in most non major AV locations, but in the location of the major AV where the prime sky box goes I recommend 3x RG6 plus 2 or 3 cat5e (down low), 1xRG6 and 1xcat5 to the TV on the wall above, at least 2xHDMI between the two, I think this is a bit more efficient than you design. Obviously I have not included any HDMI.

Yup ok makes sense :) and you owuld potentially put this into two spot in the lounge or so you think we need to get furniture correct in one go :P do you normally allow for two key spots?

cyril7:
I suggest you read the HDBaseT standard I linked, this will take over from HDMI distribution and uses a single cat5e to distribute all that a HDMI carries plus FastEthernet and remote control, so that cat5e behind the TV is important.

Cyril

That sounds like something i should look into, whats the timelines for it being leveraged?

Also whats the deal with IR worth looking into? can i use the PS3 or 360 controllers with those or is it limited to tv remotes etc?

cyril7

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#551813 30-Nov-2011 13:37

Hi,

HDMI cables do not need to cost an arm and a leg, 20m is about the max without amplification

http://www.cablesdirect.co.nz/catalog/entry?entry=430

As for the adaptors, http://www.cablesdirect.co.nz/catalog/entry?entry=334

Do you really need GigE in a bedroom?, and do you really need a wired phone anywhere (except an office) a good multihandset DECT setup is far more flexible as it offers PABX/Intercom features.

As for IR, check out BlueEye.

Cyril

sectech

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#551830 30-Nov-2011 14:27

hi there, thought i'd throw my 2 cents in......

electrical regs state minimum clearances between low voltage (this is any single phase mains) and extra low voltage, comms or other services. (typically 150mm unless a permanent physical barrier is in place)

branz recommends no more than 2 25mm holes be drilled in standard dwangs between studs or one 32mm hole.

if you're going through timber i wouldn't worry about hassle of conduit..imho

just a word of warning the non powered cat 5e to hdmi are limited to around 30m and watch your bending radius's and terminations. i found this site good as a reference to some of the options available

http://www.hdmiovercat5.net/top-10-hdmi-over-cat5-extenders/

Jaxson

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#551847 30-Nov-2011 15:04

sectech: the non powered cat 5e to hdmi are limited to around 30m

Which sounds a long way, but could be exceeded if you're going all the way back to a patch panel and then back to a TV/TVs somewhere else.

Re hdmi adapters, can you patch the one source to multiple receive adaptors, or do they only work in pairs?
ie how do you farm 1x hdmi source to say 2x TV's in other locations? Do you run a hdmi splitter on the source device output and farm each hdmi output to the TV's over Cat cable, or do you take the 1 hdmi output and farm it to multiple receive modules etc. Hope that sort of makes sense?!...

cyril7

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#551850 30-Nov-2011 15:07

Hi Jaxson, the HDMI baluns are simply wire extentions, so yes you still need a splitter or if you have multiple devices a matrix switch, quickly adds up to an expensive exercise.

Cyril

Jaxson

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#551856 30-Nov-2011 15:13

cyril7: Hi Jaxson, the HDMI baluns are simply wire extentions, so yes you still need a splitter or if you have multiple devices a matrix switch, quickly adds up to an expensive exercise.

Cyril

Yup, in that case you're talking 2 runs per hdmi connection and it all starts getting a bit messy if you want to send it to your main lounge TV, possibly a projector (if you're lucky), and another TV or 2 around the house. Also need to think about where a splitter is going to be located, ensuring any devices are HDCP compliant, and then there's 3D in the mix too I guess.

Many ways to skin a cat as they say.....

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