Simple, basic Tv connection.

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Simple, basic Tv connection.

kate113

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#106602 27-Jul-2012 10:44

Hi, I asked previously about connecting tv's home theatre ect, but costs mount up in a new house build and at the moment I just want to know what basics I can get away with.
I've bought a panasonic ST50 , we would like to be able to use the skype and youtube ability. At the moment we have 2 rg6coax and 2 cat5 cables running to the point where the tv is going on the wall, and power obviously. We want any freeview box ect to go in the hall cupboard which is about 4 mtrs away.
So, what are the basic connections we need to be able to connect this tv and use all its apps ect.
HDMI cable? Xray remote? Any help gratefully received!

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#662833 27-Jul-2012 10:54

kate113: Hi, I asked previously about connecting tv's home theatre ect, but costs mount up in a new house build and at the moment I just want to know what basics I can get away with.
I've bought a panasonic ST50 , we would like to be able to use the skype and youtube ability. At the moment we have 2 rg6coax and 2 cat5 cables running to the point where the tv is going on the wall, and power obviously. We want any freeview box ect to go in the hall cupboard which is about 4 mtrs away.
So, what are the basic connections we need to be able to connect this tv and use all its apps ect.
HDMI cable? Xray remote? Any help gratefully received!

The TV has a built in Freeview decoder, all you need is to connect it to a UHF antenna.

In terms of the Youtube/Skype functionality you need to connect the TV to your home internet - it has WiFi built in, which is probably more than adequate for your needs. If you don't have a WiFi-enabled router, then you need to connect the TV via the CAT5 cable.

kate113

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#662835 27-Jul-2012 10:57

Sorry, should have added built in freeview doesn't work in this area, we will need a dish. I do have a wifi router, but have been told wired would be better.

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#662842 27-Jul-2012 11:11

You'll need to purchase a Freeview Satellite box - presumably your dish hookup will be in the hall closet. I'm also assuming your patch panel (where the CAT5 connectors end up) is also in that closet.

You can connect your TV to the satellite box with an HDMI extender/converter:

http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/hdmi-processing/hdmi-extenders-over-cat56/pigtail-hdmi-extender.html is well priced and doesn't require external power but will use both CAT5 connectors meaning you have to use WiFi for the TV internet features (which is no big deal).

http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AC1681 uses only one CAT5 connector, but requires mains power and costs a bit more.

You will also need a remote control extender of some sort - e.g. http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AR1817 so you can control the freeview box from the room where the TV is.

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#662847 27-Jul-2012 11:16

An alternative for your remote control is this kit - http://www.rapalloav.co.nz/x-ray-remote-control-extender.html which is more expensive, but has very good reviews. It uses a special battery in your remote control, so you don't need a visible receiver in the room where the TV is (and also supports additional devices in case you decide to add more equipment in the future e.g. DVD/Blu-Ray)

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#662848 27-Jul-2012 11:18

personally i would put

- 2 usb (if you decide in the future to get xbox kinect or another device you want to hide away that needs usb, camera, remote sensor etc, it handy to have these)
- 2x cat6 (you can run hdmi over 1 cat6 line, you need 2 cat5e lines to do this, so spend the extra $10 on the cable).
- IR repeater is an option, but you can get a logitech RF remote that can send a signal to a IR transmitter in the cupboard to control your IR devices, so not a biggy. Esp with HDMI CEC now where in theory your tv should be able to control any HDMI connected device.
- optical, a lot of tvs have optical out, and you may want to feed this to your receiver for some reason
- 2x power plugs (one for the tv, one for another device you might want to hide behind the tv, eg appletv2 or something, handy to have a second.
- 3x HDMI (better to have one extra just incase)
- 1x component, in case you want to hookup some old equipment
- 1x composite, in case you want to hookup some really old equipment...

im in a similar boat, but buying a house and im going to rip up walls do fit this stuff.

only want the TV visible on the wall, nothing beneath it, have a raspberrypi straped to the back of the tv, a receiver, xbox in the cupboard and wall mount/ceiling mount speakers.

also you can get custom wallplates made to cover all those inputs

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#662860 27-Jul-2012 11:35

4m is nothing for hdmi, it will work from a sat box easily up to say 10m before you'll need to invest in some 'meatier' cables.

Yes, if you are going to the trouble of laying new cables for any reason you should get a wired ethernet connection to the new TV location.

Remember that you'll need a power outlet socket near the TV if it is to be wall mounted.

bfginger

1267 posts

Uber Geek

#663782 29-Jul-2012 23:31

A plain satellite receiver isn't going to give you much recording capability. You could get the MyFreeview DishTV S7090PVR for under $400 which lets you record two channels at once. Hook up via HDMI and not composite as the quality will be much better. Many satellite receivers don't support HDMI.

If there is anything on the Optus D2 satellite you like you could ask the installer for a secondary LNB to receive it. A 75cm dish is only a few dollars more expensive than a smaller dish.
http://www.lyngsat.com/Optus-D2.html

Turn overscan off in your plasma as SD is low resolution enough as it is. If the satellite receiver you buy supports upscaling try switching between 576i, 1080i and 1080p to see which looks best.