I've got a new client with an older installation (new house for him). The original installation included a Fujitsu PDS4221 plasma (c.2001), Niles Intellicontrol, and an equipment rack located about 25-30 feet from the plasma. There are no options available to run new wires from the rack to the plasma, and the original installers ran one Cat5 (not "e") and one dual-coax S-video. So up 'til now, everyting (DVD and a VCR as a tuner) was S-video into the plasma, which does have a component input.
The Cat5 was used for IR, a 12Vdc power status back to the Intellicontrol, and a "rigged" LED to indicate the multizone system was power on.

So, I'm proposing we replace the Intellicontrol with RTI T2C and RP6, and add HD cable. My thought was to use RS232 control, but with the limited cabling I'm thinking I'll need the Cat5 for Component baluns and then use one of the coax's for an IR signal. I've already tested some discrete power commands with success, and since the plasma is strictly a monitor, not much else is needed, maybe and input command or macro.

I'm just wondering if anyone sees any options here that I'm not aware of.
Thanks for any advice.
Scott

In a situation like this, back up and forget the functions done by the present wiring and just look at the capability of the wiring itself.

Component can go over CAT5, so that's the approach to use. Since it's not CAT5E, you should check it with a test disc to see if you lose detail on the CAT5 versus a shielded cable that you bring and run over the floor to the TV. If you lose detail, you can tell the client, or not, but if it's really bad, you and the client will have to reevaluate what is meant by "no options available to run new wires." For instance, if he had just a single RG59 and a two-pair phone wire for a sensor at the TV, would you then give up?

The S-video has two hots and two grounds. RS232 is typically one hot send, one hot receive, and one ground. It should be a piece of cake to use the two shielded wires and two grounds of an S cable for RS232.

You might consider the new Gefen HDMI over coax, but who knows if, when or how much.

Liberty Cable also has a HDMI over coax solution coming out. That's assuming it's a good quality coax.

Thanks for the suggestions. I thinks I'll test the CAT5 with Component baluns. This is an older plasma, so no HDMI, and the client is content to keep it awhile.