HDBaseT Matrix and Wall Plates

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cza

27 posts

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#180680 17-Sep-2015 18:41

Hey there I have a question around the use of an HDMI to HDBaseT matrix with wall plates.

I am looking at doing a new house build and I am pretty keen to run video over HDBaseT to the bedrooms and lounge - so that I can have all video sources in a cabinet in the garage (sky, roku/apple tv, media server etc).

Now the question is that I have read articles where some people say that you shouldn't have wall plates (and for that matter a patch panel) in between the Matrix and the receiver but some people say that as long as the installer does a decent job it shouldn't matter, is this the case?

This is what the plan is:

HDMI to HDBaseT Matrix plugs into appropriate port in patch panel > Patch panel to wall outlet > Plug the receiver into the wall outlet and then into the TV.

So in that scenario there are two separations/terminations between the Matrix and the Receiver which, depending on what I have read is a double no go.

I would rather not have cables run right through the house and then hang out of the wall because it doesn't seem tidy. Also it means that they are basically tied into one use where as if I go with normal cabling (patch panel to wall outlet) then I can make the port a normal network port or plug it into the matrix if I want to put a TV there (this probably more applies to the rooms).

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?

Keen to hear peoples thoughts on the HDMI to HDBaseT matrix's full stop really because I have no experience with it at all.

This is the sort of thing I am thinking of getting here

Something like this would be awesome but I dont think I can justify the extra price for 4k to the CFO

Thanks

Jase2985

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#1389243 17-Sep-2015 18:54

why is the receiver not with the rest of the sources in the garage?

cza

27 posts

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#1389249 17-Sep-2015 19:16

So the matrix/switcher will be in the garage with the other sources, but to convert the signal back to HDMI you need a receiver by the tv which converts back to HDMI to go into the TV.

gumboot19

52 posts

Master Geek

#1389273 17-Sep-2015 20:03

Is HDMI to Cat 6 an option?
Converters are commonly available from wholesalers like Coreys, so are wall plates.
The motorhomes we convert have boxes with 1 HDMI input in (2D or 3D) and 8 Cat6 outlets out.
It is just re-converted at the other end.
One box does Satellite TV and the other box does DVD/ Blue-ray.
They go to different zones and are re-converted to HDMI,
Basically one HDMI input is say sky TV and the other is DVD/ Blue-ray.
Just a thought?

Jase2985

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#1389274 17-Sep-2015 20:07

by receiver i mean home theater receiver, maybe i miss understood your setup

cables come out of walls behind things, so you dont see them, they do make tidy flush boxes for them.

what sort of distance is it from the garage to where everything else is? and as its a new build could you not place the video sources closer to everything else?

cza

27 posts

Geek

#1389285 17-Sep-2015 20:19

HDMI to Cat 6 is the plan using an HDMI to HDBaseT which runs across cat 6 (or I think 5e) cable.

The switcher and receiver are not really the issue because there are a number of solutions it is more whether or not having the wall outlet and patch panel in between will cause any issues.

And differing idea of receiver, by receiver I was meaning the little HDBaseT receiver that converts back to HDMI rather than a home theatre receiver.

The plan is to centralise equipment so it could be closer, but distance isnt really the issue (i would say it would be max 15 m from garage to locations), it is just finding an alternative solution to running video to multiple sources without running HDMI cable since Cat 6 cable is more flexible (e.g. video or data or whatever).

The HDBaseT Matrix Switches link in the link I posted above are perfect because you can have up to four sources output to any of the four tv's simultaneously

LennonNZ

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#1389290 17-Sep-2015 20:22

I have a number of HDBaseT convertors and I can run 4K over them with no problems at all with my existing structured cabling in the house with Wall Plates.

Computer.. HDMI...HDBASe-T ..Wall Plate (upstairs).. to Garage ..Patch Panel..Short ethernet Cable to Another port in Patch Panel.. to Output By TV.. Wall Plate.. HDBase-T.. HDMI.. TV

Maybe with houses with Bad Ethernet Wiring have had problems..

cza

27 posts

Geek

#1389296 17-Sep-2015 20:33

LennonNZ: I have a number of HDBaseT convertors and I can run 4K over them with no problems at all with my existing structured cabling in the house with Wall Plates.

Computer.. HDMI...HDBASe-T ..Wall Plate (upstairs).. to Garage ..Patch Panel..Short ethernet Cable to Another port in Patch Panel.. to Output By TV.. Wall Plate.. HDBase-T.. HDMI.. TV

Maybe with houses with Bad Ethernet Wiring have had problems..

Awesome that is what I was looking for because that is exactly the sort of solution I am going for. Do you use a Matrix switcher or just the single coverter to receiver (the ones where you connect a single source to a converter and run that to a receiver? Also did you get the 4k specific ones?

I suspect you are right that with poor termination at the wall or on the patch panel that could easily cause issues but I guess if they are terminated properly it should be reasonably close to the same as running 1 cable. Also a tidier more flexible solution than having cables with rj45 connectors in the wall (even though you can hide them)

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Jase2985

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#1389297 17-Sep-2015 20:37

LennonNZ, what ones are you using?

Jase2985

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#1389299 17-Sep-2015 20:39

but as its a new house you dont have to be as flexible, you can just run another couple of Ethernet runs to where you need them.

im in a similar boat to you, looking to renovate (gut most of the house) and put in a media cupboard with everything in there and run a splitter/matrix switch in there and distribute it to all the rooms. but im really considering spending the money on HDMI cables as the runs like yours would be under 15m so its still doable with just the cables and no converters. im still weighing up the options as its not happening for a little while yet

Dunnersfella

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#1389305 17-Sep-2015 20:51

Talking to numerous manufacturers and installers... they say you can lose up to 15 meters every time you terminate the cable at a patch panel / wall plate.
For other people, they hate terminating cables more often than absolutely needed as it introduces potential issues that simply don't need to be there.
There's some pretty nice brush-plates out there with semi-circles that snap together and make everything look pretty slick.

chevrolux

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#1389316 17-Sep-2015 21:15

Dunnersfella: Talking to numerous manufacturers and installers... they say you can lose up to 15 meters every time you terminate the cable at a patch panel / wall plate.
For other people, they hate terminating cables more often than absolutely needed as it introduces potential issues that simply don't need to be there.
There's some pretty nice brush-plates out there with semi-circles that snap together and make everything look pretty slick.

A Cat 6 Permanent link tested to Aus/NZ Class E can be up to 90m. And that includes patch panel at one end and jack at the other.

A Cat 6 Channel measurement can be up to 100m. As in 5m patch lead, patch panel, cable, jack, 5m patch lead.

The termination does not matter if it is done correctly. If installers are 'losing' 15m each time they terminate a cable then they're doing it wrong.

cza

27 posts

Geek

#1389513 18-Sep-2015 08:49

Jase2985: but as its a new house you dont have to be as flexible, you can just run another couple of Ethernet runs to where you need them.

im in a similar boat to you, looking to renovate (gut most of the house) and put in a media cupboard with everything in there and run a splitter/matrix switch in there and distribute it to all the rooms. but im really considering spending the money on HDMI cables as the runs like yours would be under 15m so its still doable with just the cables and no converters. im still weighing up the options as its not happening for a little while yet

What is the thinking around running HDMI?

Fair to say I am not really across the video side of technology but I just saw using Cat cable as a more flexible option than HDMI cable e.g. can have the video signal and the IR signal on one cable. What are you planning to do for IR? I assume you will be running HDMI 2.0 cable what is the difference in price for a roll vs cat cable?

From memory the house plan we are looking at also has 2 x RG6 runs to a couple of locations so I was planning on leaving those there as a backstop or for the next owners who may prefer that option.

Jase2985

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#1389524 18-Sep-2015 09:05

you dont buy HDMI in a roll, you buy it premade in the length you want.

Dunnersfella

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#1389578 18-Sep-2015 10:16

chevrolux:
Dunnersfella: Talking to numerous manufacturers and installers... they say you can lose up to 15 meters every time you terminate the cable at a patch panel / wall plate.
For other people, they hate terminating cables more often than absolutely needed as it introduces potential issues that simply don't need to be there.
There's some pretty nice brush-plates out there with semi-circles that snap together and make everything look pretty slick.

A Cat 6 Permanent link tested to Aus/NZ Class E can be up to 90m. And that includes patch panel at one end and jack at the other.

A Cat 6 Channel measurement can be up to 100m. As in 5m patch lead, patch panel, cable, jack, 5m patch lead.

The termination does not matter if it is done correctly. If installers are 'losing' 15m each time they terminate a cable then they're doing it wrong.

I've talked to manufacturers who say otherwise...
Heck, I've seen enough 'professional installers' who are still attempting to terminate it A/B and blowing the HDBaseT units when implementing POE... so if you want to promote multiple joins, good luck to you.

cza

27 posts

Geek

#1392947 23-Sep-2015 18:14

Jase2985: LennonNZ, what ones are you using?

I am also interested in this, and also where did you get them from - NZ or Overseas?