HDTV Rough in Cable Selection

[heikie]

Hi,
I have no experience with the new style LCD / HDTV's.
My dad is building a retirement home and I said that I would do the rough in for his AV system. I a confident in wiring the distributed 2channel audio throughout the house and the surround in the main room.
My question is related to the cabling to a LCD HDTV. He has not purchased the tv or the amplifier yet. I know his current satellite reciever is not HDTV ready.
What is the recommended way of placing copper in the wall in preparation for, I would assume, RCA video, s-video, DVI? Any suggestions on connections and cable would be appreciated.
I was going to run the cables from the components into a closet in the basement and then run cable to the tv mounted to the wall.
The building is going to be spray foamed in 4 weeks so, it is going to be a challenge to re-wire if I put the wrong cabling in the wall.
I want to minimize the chance for my usual DIY goof.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks....

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi,
I have no experience with the new style LCD / HDTV's.
My dad is building a retirement home and I said that I would do the rough in for his AV system. I a confident in wiring the distributed 2channel audio throughout the house and the surround in the main room.
My question is related to the cabling to a LCD HDTV. He has not purchased the tv or the amplifier yet. I know his current satellite reciever is not HDTV ready.
What is the recommended way of placing copper in the wall in preparation for, I would assume, RCA video, s-video, DVI? Any suggestions on connections and cable would be appreciated.
I was going to run the cables from the components into a closet in the basement and then run cable to the tv mounted to the wall.
The building is going to be spray foamed in 4 weeks so, it is going to be a challenge to re-wire if I put the wrong cabling in the wall.
I want to minimize the chance for my usual DIY goof.
Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks....

A few questions and suggestions.

How far is the run from the basement panel to the TV or any audio gear? What is in the basement closet exactly? Planning on DVD player for movies?

One way to assure future access through that wall is to use several cable conduits. Audio and video cables can use that flexible plastic but use larger diameter as some of the plugs are good size. You cannot have too many conduits. Make sure you label them

 

[heikie]

Hi mtrycrafts,

Thanks for the reply.

I was going to run the Satellite, DVD, VCR into an A/V reciever to control the A/V source switching.

Then run the speaker cables from the reciever into a distribution panel in the basement to be run to various volume controls around the house. The surround cables will also run through this area in case the location of the reciever ever changes or if another source is added. The telephone distribution will also be located there.

The closet will be less than 15' from the built in cabinet where the reciever etc. will be kept. The run from the closet to the tv will require about 20' of cable. So, I guess the distance from the source to the TV will require about 35' of cable.

On my amplifier here, I send RCA and s-video signals from sources via the reciever to our tv. I am going to lend him my old Yamaha R-V1105 so, I assume that he would start with s-video cable from the reciever then when he buys his own reciever he would convert to whatever the digital cable configuration that his tv supports.

The HDTV/digital video source would always "live" in the same cabinet as the reciever.

I guess I could run a larger conduit for cable replacement would 2" be enough? I was told once that running oversized conduit is a grey area interms of the fire code here, the theory is that it acts like a chimney in the event of a fire. I'll ask the building inspector next week to see if it is an option.

If I have to run 1" conduit, is it possible to run something like the "Residential Composite Cable" http://www.broadbandutopia.com/composite.html to the tv then solder the ends on? An electrician told he ran 5 leads (i think it was 5) of RG6-U and then attached a digital connector...

I appreciate your thoughts....

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi mtrycrafts,

Thanks for the reply.

I was going to run the Satellite, DVD, VCR into an A/V reciever to control the A/V source switching.

Then run the speaker cables from the reciever into a distribution panel in the basement to be run to various volume controls around the house. The surround cables will also run through this area in case the location of the reciever ever changes or if another source is added. The telephone distribution will also be located there.

WOW. I think it is over complicated with long runs. If you move your receiver to another location, you won't have wires where you move it to, so that doesn't sound like a good reason to have that closet in the basement. HDMI cables for that 30+ft distance, high quality is what you need, 22ga wire, gets expensive. Svideo may be far too.

You don't need all the speaker wires to go to the closet, then back to the 5 speakers where the main viewing location is. Zone two wires could go to the closet, then to the various rooms where you have the volume controls, not in the closet.

The closet will be less than 15' from the built in cabinet where the reciever etc. will be kept. The run from the closet to the tv will require about 20' of cable. So, I guess the distance from the source to the TV will require about 35' of cable.


As above.

The HDTV/digital video source would always "live" in the same cabinet as the reciever.


That may help with HDMI signals, a shorter path.


I guess I could run a larger conduit for cable replacement would 2" be enough?

Oh, yes, if the building dept allow 2", that is plenty. Or, multiple 1" flex conduits.


If I have to run 1" conduit, is it possible to run something like the "Residential Composite Cable" http://www.broadbandutopia.com/composite.html to the tv then solder the ends on? An electrician told he ran 5 leads (i think it was 5) of RG6-U and then attached a digital connector...

I appreciate your thoughts....

The RG6 type is fine for component video, interconnect duty, sub cable duty, VHS audio cable. You need Svideo cable if you have that in the VHS, or composite video, one of the RG6 types.

I would try to run the surround sound speakers from the receiver.

 

[heikie]

Hi mtrycrafts,
Thanks again for the reply,
I guess i will talk to the building inspector and see if we can run 2" conduit.
I think that I will hard wire 5 leads of RG6 and put ends on them (cable is really cheap and I can mix an match what does what).
If I can a 2" conduit then I am all set (I think) for future cables.
If I can't run a 2" conduit, I assume a HDMI connector will fit in a 1" conduit so I will run 2 x 1" conduits, one for HDMI and one for S-video, these would allow for re-wiring if a new standard presented itself (as it always does 2 months after buying something).
Thanks again.....

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi mtrycrafts,
Thanks again for the reply,
I guess i will talk to the building inspector and see if we can run 2" conduit.
I think that I will hard wire 5 leads of RG6 and put ends on them (cable is really cheap and I can mix an match what does what).
If I can a 2" conduit then I am all set (I think) for future cables.
If I can't run a 2" conduit, I assume a HDMI connector will fit in a 1" conduit so I will run 2 x 1" conduits, one for HDMI and one for S-video, these would allow for re-wiring if a new standard presented itself (as it always does 2 months after buying something).
Thanks again.....

Yes, that 1" should pass the HDMI. I asked several makers and the plug is about 3/4" so pull that through first, then the other cables.

 

[heikie]

Thanks again mtrycrafts,
I really appreciate all the help!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Thanks again mtrycrafts,
I really appreciate all the help!

Come back and let us all know what you did, how it worked out.

On a side note, I think you will like that blown foam insulation, air infiltration will be next to nothing, sound transmission will decrease and heat transfer will be greatly reduced. Should have used staggered studs on the outside walls You would be in an anechoic chamber, almost

Are you also sealing the drywall on the outside walls and to the attic?