hiding my system

[seadad]

I have 3 little ones and I want to put all my components out of reach from them. A friend told me about RF and I could use this to have my TV over the fireplace and the componets hidden. I need to know what sytem to get and is it hard to hook up.

Also are there any cables running to the back of the TV?

I have been looking for a form like this for a while. I have a bunch of questions. This will not be my last post.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Yes, to the back of the TV you will need to run all the cabling and power as required for your specific setup. RF is what is used to control the gear, but signals are still sent over traditional wiring. Typically this is done by using a professional installer who will run the cabling behind your walls, then you will need to patch the walls from a few holes and repaint a few areas. Not a minor project, but it can mostly be done in a few days. Power is often one of the more difficult things to put in place, but really shouldn't be much harder than the other wiring.

The speakers, if you are going for surround, will require additional wiring.

Then you get a RF equipped universal remote like the higher end Harmony or Universal Remote Controls (MX-850 or similar) to control everything.

I have 2 kids and keep the majority of my gear in the basement where it feeds the rest of the house.

 

[willylama]

Thanks

So the RF part is only for the remote. The tv still has all the cables in the back of it. So I could buy a cabniet and lock the componets in it right where I have the wires already coming through and have the coiax going through to the tv.

Here is my current compents.
Sony TRINTRON TV (wainting for fathers day for the upgreade)
HTR 5550 Yamaya reciever
DVR from Direct tv
Sony DVD Player
playstation 2

Now I should be able to hook all this up directly through my reciver and just have one coiax running to the back of my set right?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Not that simple.

Let's start with the basics...

1. You can't simply put a bunch of heated electronic gear into a cabinet and shut the door. It will suffocate the gear and it will promptly die. No, I'm not kidding. In my time in AV the number one killer of consumer electronics is heat related due to poor cabinetry. You must use a cabinet with vented face, back, and/or sides and properly space out your gear inside the cabinet. If you have that cabinet... then yes!

2. One coax going to the TV will happily not deliver HDTV to it, only modulated video or standard composite video. The two worst forms of video possible. Typically, to a modern TV setup, I recommend at least the following cables be run: 1 HDMI cable, 1 component video cable, and 1 composite video cable. If speakers on the TV are to be used, then run audio cables as well. The receiver you have may convert all incoming video to component video output, so you may be able to just use component video to the TV... Which is fine to use if you are not talking about the setup above the fireplace.

3. In any permanent install, like over a fireplace, don't be cheap. That is, do it once, and do it right. Run every cable you will need now, or in the forseeable future. This may include VGA, HDMI, component, s-video, and composite. Perhaps CAT-5 for later networkability (cheap)... maybe two pieces. Perhaps conduit to allow for future cable runs... maybe.

If you just use composite video, or worse, RF, then you will only get the lowest possible video quality available to you. This is not at all recommended.

 

[willylama]

Thanks

So this may not be a do it yourself project? The space from one side of the room to the other is only 14.5 feet. Will it be a big job, and what materials will I need? I'm pretty good with that sort of stuff. I just need to understand how to hook up things so I can no what I have to run.

I do not have HD as of yet. Notice the yet part. So if I do it or get somone else to do it I should set it up for the HD IN THE FUTURE. Understand

The part about the cabinet I will either go with one you suggested or just put them on shelves away from little hands like in the corner.


Thanks for the help that you are giving also.

 

[MDS]

Running wires through walls can be a problem in some cases so you might want to get an a/v installer to do it for you or at least start on the project and then if you encounter any difficulties call an installer.

BMXTRIX gave you suggestions for the minimum number of cables to run but I would also make a list of what you currently have and what you think you might have in the future and then plan accordingly.

An RF remote is useful even if you don't have things hidden. You can control things from pretty much anywhere in the house. My suggestion though would be the MX-350 + MRF-200 basestation. That combo would set you back less than half of the cost of the MX-850 alone and is sufficient unless you have more than 10 devices to control.

 

[willylama]

BMXTRIX? Maybe I missed it what exactly is this.

 

[AVRat]

What is "willylama"?