Any set top box and all DVD players I've seen have component outputs. If the client is not planning on running computer outputs to a TV, what is the reason for running RGBHV?

You can always use three of the wires for component and the other two for stereo audio (or one for digital coax).

CJ

I always find it best not to think ahead. Working with too many wires is just a hassle... And think about it... WHen the customer changes his mind in the future or upgrades his TV, you can tell him that he didnt think about the future when he had us do the prewire and now we need to cut a bunch of holes and run new wire! Think of the repeat business!

OK, OK... a bit over the top I know, but is there really such a thing as too much wire? ANy Potential HDTV Display location I do I always recomend RGBHV(Usually dual Component Video runs even), Stereo Audio, Dual COAX, Phone, and 2 Cat-5's. Its not long before TV's wil have built in Etherner jacks, Control is always a concern, and who know what components someone will want to put where someday.

Wire and labor is cheap during prewire...... Retro not so good..........

I was at a service call tonight where the idiot who installed the system ran ONE video feed to a plasma. This was about eight months ago!

I run cables for the display, with hardly any exceptions. For one Sony plasma, I ran video and two VGA cables, as VGA and Component inputs both came into the plasma on a 15-pin computer video connector.

Usually I run two component cables or one RGBHV and a separate video. Either way, these break down to:
Component, three wires
S-video, two wires (S to two BNC adaptors used at each end)
Video, one wire

And I just realized that I have not connected ANY S-video outputs in a system for over six months.

Plus a CAT-5 for remote control, although the state of IR pickups near plasmas is so dismal that I don't do that any more -- I use Marantz remotes in the RF mode.

If the Cat 5 doesnt work for an IR receiver, its always there to integrate into a control system for and IR Emmitter or RS-232 control as well.......

No RGBHV, No video scaling....Bad,bad,bad. Need to maximize these plasmas for all they are worth. The very least we should be running is a future pipe to these locations for expansion.HDMI/DVI/VGA/ethernet. You see where I'm going with this.

I always run (2) sets of 5 RG59 by MIT comp plus audio, 3 cat5E for DVI or HDMI breakouts, plus the typlical CATV, POTS, Ethernet. PLUS a 2" Carlon conduit. Just add it to the bill - IMHO

off the subject a little, but has anyone used these HDMI extenders from Gefen that will send a HDMI signal over CAT-5?

I was hoping someone would come up with one to send HDMI over RGBHV, as that's what we all seem to have in older installs. I told tributaries that they should start working on it, as I think everyone here could find a use.

Funny I should be bragging yesterday. A client called me up this morning and asked if I could come over and install a new piece he just bought. A combo DVD and VCR. Yeccch, but I'll do it.

Just as I was figuring out how difficult it would be to run a second component cable to the projector, because there was no component switching in the system, I realized I should look at my earlier work. There, sitting pretty in the projector, was the component connection that I remembered...and an RGBHV connection that I had not remembered.

So instead of a big hassle, I just had to reach up and pull down the not-yet-used cable.

Let me modify my advice a little, then: run a cable to every input on the monitor. This was a projector in a lift, so adding a cable would have been a MAJOR PAIN, and I don't know if I would have added a VGA cable if there had been one more input, but that still looks like the way I work, and it paid off today wonderfully. I did not get paid more to run the cable, but the client thinks I am wonderful and I didn't have to hassle in the attic or with the lift.

I used to think that Cat 5 would be the answer for HD AV throughout the home, but coax has untapped bandwidth. Looks like IP over coax will be huge later this year.

Moto, Scientific Atlanta, Moxi and others plan on using Multimedia Over Coax technology to send HD PVR signals, and control codes throughout a home with 3-5 simultaneous HD data streams.

Cool stuff!

http://www.mocalliance.org/

[Link: twice.com]

[Link: twice.com]

Has anyone considered just running 2" conduit?