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The right cable installation

post #1 of 8
7/1/09 at 6:06am
Thread Starter 
This is from a previous post that I'd like some additional info on:

Re: Cheap component cable from Monoprice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Tu
There are no "standard-def only" component cables. These are all similar size, construction, materials, they are going to perform similarly. It's simply not possible to have cables this similar yet have one have 10x more bandwith than the other. Standard-def is running nowhere close to the bandwidth limits of the cable, and neither is high-def. These cables can carry HUNDREDS of megahertz worth of normal TV. It is not until you are closer to the gigahertz range, satellite dish signals & such, that bandwidth starts to be an issue & you want to go to RG-6 instead of RG-59.
 

Your explanations are compelling and seem very logical to me (I am not at all educated on this topic). However, I have a follow up Q:
Why do all the suppliers seem to offer "Standard" and "Premium" and some times "Super Premium" options for cable? For example:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10235
Note the "Premium" component cable options

I am building a custom home and must choose which cable to run from location to location (HD DVR Boxes to multiple TVs across various rooms). Based on my basic understanding, I have decided on Component as opposed to HDMI due to the long runs involved. However, I want to ensure I use adequately rated cable while not wasting money on unnecessary "upgrades" that may be meaningless.

I appreciate your insight.
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post #2 of 8
7/1/09 at 10:49am
It says it right there in the description.  The standard cables use RG-59 coax while the premium uses RG-6 coax.  The premium is also CL-2 rated so you can run it inside walls.  Depending on the number of runs you want to make, it can be cheaper to make your own cables.  Besides the video cable you will also have to run right/left audio.  That makes a total of 5 individual runs per location.  A couple of years ago I bought a 1,000ft roll of RG-59 that is CL-2 rated as well as 200 RCA connectors.  I was able to make 4 sets of component video/analog audio cable 50ft each for under $100.

-Robert
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post #3 of 8
7/1/09 at 2:52pm
A couple of different issues here:

1. "Premium" vs. non-premium.
For a reasonable cable supplier like monoprice, the premium is for stuff like the in-wall rating (related to fire-safety related insulation materials), thicker gauges for longer runs, sometimes gold vs. tin connectors.

For "boutique" cable makers like Monster, the premium is mainly ripping you off a ton vs. only ripping you off a lot :).

2. What cable to run.

For HD-DVR, I don't know that what you are proposing makes sense.  You want to stack a bunch of HD-DVRs in a single location and then run long component video + audio to the rooms?  For a new home, I personally would run RG-6 to all rooms (home-runs to a central location where you will feed it from either cable or a satellite multi-switch).  What provider are you planning on using, and which DVR?
Then put the HD-DVR in the actual room with the TV and just run a short HDMI.  I would also definitely run gigabit ethernet everywhere.

Whether or not you want to run component video/analog audio or HDMI everywhere depends on what your goals are.  Does it really make sense to have one Blu-ray player shared by everyone in the house, or should each TV get its own disc player?  Maybe a network based solution with PCs/media center extenders/ slingcatcher-type devices makes more sense.  How many rooms, how many people watching what kind of sources independently from one another?


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post #4 of 8
7/2/09 at 7:34pm
I have 3 HD DVR's stacked on top of each other in my equipment rack in my theater.  I also feed them to the HDTV in the living room via component cables.  I record the big 3 networks on DVR1; Fox, UPN and cable channels on DVR2; OTA HD sports and all other shows on DVR3.  Both rooms are controlled with Harmony 880 remotes so my wife can pick up a remote in either room and not have to figure things out.  Same buttons on the different remotes do the same thing.

-Robert
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post #5 of 8
7/6/09 at 6:52am
Thread Starter 
Sorry I was not altogether clear....  Here's the details.
First of all, we will have four Direct TV HD DVRs at four locations with homeruns going back to the main panel for which we are running 3 RG6 each.  AND Since our broadband is through Cox, we also have free "expanded cable" for which we will run 1 RG6 each AND, we are running 1 CAT5e to each just because we should.  These are the 4 locations:
Great (living room)
Game room
Master Bedroom
Den


Here's where it gets tricky...
The Great room's DVR (and DVD) will feed 3 TVs:

1) Just above the DVR (6')
2) Across the Great room in to kitchen (~80')
3) Outside bar (~50')

The Den's DVR will also feed 3 TVs
1) Just above the DVR (6')
2) Master bathtub (~60')
3) Patio fireplace area (~30')

The game room and master BR will only feed one TV each - no issues.

So, based on my research, we are planning to run 1 Component w/ R&L audio, 1 RG6 and 1 CAT5e to each of the TVs allowing for an HD signal from the shared DVR and DVD + the RG6 for the Cox cable signal and the Cat5e for whatever (IR, networking, i dunno).

Based on the run lengths, sharing aspects and $$$, I understand that the Component is better than HDMI.  And after I read the cable descriptions closer, I realized that at Monoprice, the difference between standard and Premium is RG59 versus RG6 and CL-2 rating - DUH!

Anyhow, for clean, effortless pulls, I was leaning toward buying the Component cabling pre-made as opposed to running 5 RG59 and having to install the ends to each (hassle and potential problems). 

Finally, do you think a municipality like the City of Scottsdale, AZ will require this "CL-2 rating" in their inspection or will they be too ignorant to know the difference?  And is the CL-2 rating and the RG6 size needed for these applications (eg. Premium v. standard Component)?

 

THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

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post #6 of 8
7/8/09 at 3:41am
Thread Starter 
bump - anyone have anything to ad?
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post #7 of 8
7/8/09 at 3:42am
Thread Starter 
bump - anyone have anything to ad?
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post #8 of 8
7/8/09 at 6:14am
Louis, bumping isn't permitted at HTF. See Rule 14.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/wiki/terms-of-service

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