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Cables in the ceiling!
rts
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Quick question for you folks, hopefully someone has some experience with this. I just had an electrician out to look at my studio and figure out some lighting, but I am also going to have him run some HDMI cables, an ethernet cable, and a DVI cable through the ceiling to make my house a little more media friendly.
I think most of the cables will be pretty easy to put through the ceiling but the DVI cable is going to be a problem. Would it be possible to cut-off the head of the cable and reattach it at the other end?
I would also like to run a usb cable through the ceiling so I can control my computer from downstairs, but they have a pretty limited length. I was thinking of just chaining 3 of these guys together to get the job done (they will need to travel about 50ft. Does anyone have experience chaining these usb active cables? Is it something you would recommend?
Any advice is appreciated!
I think most of the cables will be pretty easy to put through the ceiling but the DVI cable is going to be a problem. Would it be possible to cut-off the head of the cable and reattach it at the other end?
I would also like to run a usb cable through the ceiling so I can control my computer from downstairs, but they have a pretty limited length. I was thinking of just chaining 3 of these guys together to get the job done (they will need to travel about 50ft. Does anyone have experience chaining these usb active cables? Is it something you would recommend?
Any advice is appreciated!
skype: rtschutter
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No personal experience with the USB, but the limit is either 3m or 5m. (See http://www.usb.org/about/faq/ans5) I imagine you "could" use powered hubs to help extend, but you would not want to do that inside the wall.
HDMI/DVI cables are not like your traditional coax/twisted-pair/ethernet cables where it is simple to manufacture with a little know-how. Give the second post in this thread a look: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-640545.html
As far as being able to control your computer from downstairs. I suggest finding the cheapest netbook you can, and using a remote desktop utility (most OSes have a flavor built in, unless you are using Vista, then things get difficult) or using VNC or other remote software. With a netbook and a wifi-connection you can control your Media PC from anywhere in the house.
Also, I can count to "boat".
No.
USB 1 & 2 max length is about 15 feet. I doubt 50' would work unless you put powered USB hubs every 15 feet to act as repeaters.
Advice - run way more Cat5/6 cables than you think you need. only need one? Run 4. Minimal extra cost compared to a cable break or the need to add connectivity.
Also, http://www.logmein.com is free remote desktop software, we've been using it at work for 2 years, saved me more trips back and forth from home to work than I can count.
But can I run my computer off of a dvi to hdmi cable? I have been reading about people having a ton of trouble trying to do that. I suppose if I can find a way to try it before he comes out I should. But I think most of what I have been reading says that people cannot get their computer to recognize their display through dvi to hdmi.
By Cat5/6 do you just mean the ethernet cables? I may have him run two just in case I suppose. I am already having him run something like 6 or 7 cables so I am a little concerned about adding too many more.
For the USB cable, these extenders run using a signal booster (like a hub) but they draw all of their power from the power already running through the USB cable. Do you still think they will be a problem? I see in the reviews that they work as a chain.
Yes, ethernet. And get at least one extra run. Should be Cat6 or cat5e cables. It's trivial to run two or more at the same time as once cable using the same pull. And it's cheap - ~$75 for a 100meter box. There shouldn't be much extra expense.
Never used one of these so I can't comment. Sounds like it should work, but you may be able to use something like this USB/Ethernet converter. Then you'd get to run standard cat5e/6 cables.
If these things work they will be ideal. Does it matter whether I get CAT5 or CAT6? Is CAT6 actually better or just different?
CAT-6 is rated to a higher speed. If there is no appreciable difference in price, I would use it. CAT-6e is even better.
its that simple
Also, I'll second the netbook idea/wifi remote idea. Or if you MUST have a usb outlet that runs to your other machine, you can get an old laptop, tablet or w/e that you can plug into and use USB over ethernet.
Man, that isn't just a sheet of drywall.
Long HDMI/DVI runs can be a problem. The signal drop can play havoc with equipment, ESPECIALLY if it's requiring HDCP. HDCP can also be an issue with the DVI - HDMI converters, that's what causes issues moreso than anything else. DVI and HDMI (video wise) are almost the exact same thing. I'd talk with a real AV pro type to see options for this. The quality of cable for HDMI/DVI usually doesn't matter much... but it may very well have bearing on a longer run if it is going to be over 16 feet or so.
USB over long runs isn't worth it. As mentioned you will need a bunch of powered hubs or repeaters for that length, and the reliability will really be suspect. USB over ethernet I have not tried... but if it works that's fine, I doubt any latency introoduced would bother you too much.
Ethernet runs are the simplest of the bunch. As mentioned by others... run at least one extra line, you will thank yourself later.
The HDMI cables are all coming together in a 4x4 HDMI switch which should allow me to mix and match inputs/outputs among all of the sources and displays. Should be awesome when my buddies bring their xboxes over. They will be able to just hook them all up to the hdmi adapter in the main entertainment center and then just play at whatever tv they choose.
One more question for you guys though...the cat5/dvi adapters seem to only work when using a single cable (no extending the cable) so a standard walljack wont work. I can't seem to find a wall plate online that allows you to snake a cable out of it. Is there a special name for this? Or should I just leave them coming out of holes in the wall with no plates.
These look kinda like what you would need. Not sure about the company, but just did a quick google.
Dude, when the question is "cables", the answer is "Monoprice". You want the recessed plates (or you could just run HDMI cable for the DVI connections, then use HDMI/DVI adaptors, since HDMI uses DVI for the digital video stream.) I'd also advise looking up everything else you're looking for there, as their prices are...well, hard to beat.
Also, what exactly are you trying to do with your computer downstairs? If you're just planning on using it to serve up media, there are several solutions allowing you to send media from the computer to consoles.
I am aware of the console solutions but I would rather be able to access the computer directly. I am using monoprice for the 4x4 hdmi switch but I have been purchasing the cables on amazon because I have a prime membership there which allows me to have them shipped super quick super cheap. I will probably pick up a few general wall plates just in case the electrician doesn't have the kind we need.
This may help.
If you're just planning on using it to run a media server, excellent. But keep in mind if you're doing regular surfing, Bluetooth keyboards are really easy to sniff out and snoop on. Ridiculously easy, Google it. If you have nearby neighbours or room mates, they could grab user names and passwords with ease.
Maybe I'm paranoid, just keep it in mind.
The electrician is coming on Tuesday, and I am entering the final phases of getting everything prepped and ready to go into the walls. I ended up moving all of my consoles off to a corner of my living room that is nowhere near my primary display so that the whole thing doesn't look as cluttered, and also so we have to run fewer cables.
As the situation stands though, there will be 3 xboxes setup and I don't know how close to each other they can be. Ideally I would be able to just stand them all up and sit them right next to each other. Will this be a problem? They are sitting on the bottom shelf of a bookshelf, and I can cut a number of holes into the back of the shelf for running cables and ventilation. Is having the three of them next to each other like that going to be a major problem?
And another question that hopefully someone in this thread can answer. I am using a logitech harmony/xbox universal remote to control everything, and I am a little concerned that when I press power it is going to turn on all three xboxes instead of just the one. Is there a way to disable IR response in the other two xboxes?
I recently ran two Cat6 and one coax cables to each bedroom and the living room and I kinda wish we ran more. Our fireplace is in a terrible terrible place and our TV is kinda behind it (the fireplace acts as a wall between rooms, its kinda hard to explain but its a terrible design) and I have to run an additional two Cat6 cables because the wireless signal is terrible there and I have a PS3 and an HTPC/server hooked up to the TV and want/need them to have internet. If I did this when I was originally running the cable I wouldnt have to go back into that dungeon.
These are behind the main component area.
This is behind my main downstairs TV.
This is under my computer desk in my room upstairs.
Unfortunately, when I plugged everything in the hdmi jacks were not working. The ethernet jacks were working fine, the usb thing worked fine, and the stereo jack was working fine. But the hdmi jacks weren't giving a signal or they were giving really distorted or discolored images. I removed them all from the walls and cleaned them to the best of my ability, and while it helped some...they were still pretty bad. So I tried pulling the long 50ft cables out of the wall a bit and plugging them in directly, and the image was perfect. So the problem definitely lies in the walljacks themselves. Easily fixable if I can find some better walljacks.
So my question now is whether anyone has any they recommend?