[mrverve]

I've got Sky+ HD in the bedroom.

I want to watch it downstairs in the lounge without multi-room.

I'm aware that I can only watch the one channel at a time on the two tv's.

How do I go about doing this. I want a HD feed from upstairs to downstairs so I can watch the HD programs.

Is this at all possible? and if so how do I go about this?

Thanks

[Magic Torch]

Cheapest way to get the HD feed to another room would be via a HDMI splitter & a long HDMI lead to the other room. However, this is not always viable, if, like me, you don't want cables trailing through the house or up/across external walls.

The more discreet options, such as Wireless HDMI or HDMI are too expensive for me at the moment (it would probably be cheaper to just get a 2nd HD box and pay the multi-room subscription).

Until pricing for Wireless HDMI or HDMI via coax drops considerably, I will be sticking to getting Sky to the bedroom via the existing coax that is buried in my walls, with Magic Eye to change channels...the output is not HD quality, but I still get to view the HD channels in SD...the picture quality is still pretty good, if not excellent, plus, for a 19" TV, the benefit of HD would be negligible.

Oh, forgot to mention HDMI via Cat5 - not too expensive, but again, not ideal if you don't want to start running cables through the house.

[mrverve]

Thanks for the reply.

How would the HDMI splitter and long HDMI lead work? Wouldn't you need a multipoint distribution amp also?

[chrisjr]

An HDMI splitter as the name suggests takes one HDMI input and spits out two HDMI outputs. In effect it is a two way distribution amplifier. For example

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tv...ter-2-way.html

The problem is that the HDMI signal can degrade quite seriously over long distances so you have to be a bit careful over the cable you use. And of course it depends on whether you can in fact cable between the two locations easily.

[c4rv]

HDMI over cat5 should be fine for 10's of meters.

Be careful with HDMI splitters to ensure that you get one that is compatible with DHCP on both outbound connections.

[yesat22]

ive got 4 hdtv,s fed from my sky hd box so 4 hdtv,s in 4 different rooms all recieving a 1080i picture with avsolutely no signal degradation,the furthest tv away from the hd box is about 14 metres away
my set up is as follows-sky hd box -1 input 2 output splitter-output 1 to first tv-output 2 to input on a second 1 input 2 outut splitter-output1 to 2nd tv-output2 to input on 3rd 1input 2output splitter-output1 to 3rd tv-output2 to input on 4th hdmi splitter-output1 to 4th tv-output2 left empty in case ii need to add 5th tv
so basically 4 splitters daisy chained together and it works great
if your 2nd tv is awfully a long way away you can add a repeater for about £25

[mrverve]

So, I would need to get the HDMI splitter (one input two output) then run the HDMI through CAT5 to the downstairs tv.

One question about CAT5. Are they seperate joiners? eg. if my Sky box is say 30m from where my TV is , would I have to join up the different CAT5 joiners with say three lots of 10m HDMI leads until its gets to the tv. Or does the CAT5 have its own lead with me having to just input the HDMI at the start and then to output the HDMI at the end to plug into my TV downstairs? I dont really understandsnd how the CAT5 works!

If that makes any sense?

[chrisjr]

CAT5 is bog standard ethernet networking cable. As used all over the world to connect computers to routers. Though it does have other uses.

In this instance you would run a length of CAt5 cable from the Sky box to the TV you want to view it on. Then at the Sky box you have a short HDMI lead to a transmit box that plugs into the CAT5 cable.

At the TV a receive box also plugs into the CAT5 cable and another short HDMI lead connects to the telly.

The advantage of using CAT 5 is that you may already have your home wired up with network cables all over the place for your home computer network (or not ). But CAT5 may be able to carry the signals further than raw HDMI.

Also if you need to drill holes in walls or door frames to run the cable it is a hell of a lot easier to terminate a RJ45 plug on to the end of a bit of CAT 5 cable than it is to terminate a HDMI plug!

[c4rv]

I think yesat is saying he is using HDMI cables, not cat5. There is a limit to lenth of HDMI cable, supposedly around 10m though it could be further. You can get something called a repeater which allows you to join two cables together to allow longer cable runs.

Cat5 is the cabling used for computer networking. Most office buildings and some houses have it installed otherwise you will need to install it. So HDMI cable goes into a convertor (about £30 or so), you then plug 2 cat5 cables in the other side which carry the signal to your other TV. You then have a second convertor into which you plug your HDMI cable for the TV. Advantage are cable run length for cat5 can be quite long without the need for a repeater (50 meters or more) and useful if your house is already wired with cat5 and its a lot easier to lay then hdmi.

[mrverve]

Ok so CAT5 isnt just a piece of wire where at either end you have a extender (one which goes into Sky box then at other end into tv). Like this:

Sky box-------HDMI cable ------HDMI splitter----------HDMI cable-----------Converter-------------(CAT5 wire)-------------------------------Converter--------------HDMI cable--------------T.V downstairs???

[chrisjr]

Was that "isn't" a typo as that is exactly what CAT5 is in this context. A long run of cable (or more properly two runs) connecting the sender box at the Sky box to the receiver box at the TV.

So your diagram is essentially correct.

[mrverve]

No it wasn't a typo I thought the diagram was how I thought it was.But not the right way. But its like the diagram then yes?? Im hopeless

[yesat22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrverve

Ok so CAT5 isnt just a piece of wire where at either end you have a extender (one which goes into Sky box then at other end into tv). Like this:

Sky box-------HDMI cable ------HDMI splitter----------HDMI cable-----------Extender-------------(CAT5 wire)-------------------------------Extender--------------HDMI cable--------------T.V downstairs???

im using hdmi cables not cat 5,if you wanted to do it with hdmi youd have a short hdmi cable from your sky box to a 1input 2output hdmi splitter then a hdmi cable from output1 to your first/main tv then a second cable from output2 to your second tv,if you second tv is for eg 30metres away youd have a 15mtr hdmi cabe from output2 to the input on a repeater and then another 15mtr cable from the output of the repeater to your 2nd tv if that makes sense
im pushing an hdmi signal about 13-14 mtrs without a repeater,they reckon the maximum length without needing a repeater is 15mtrs i think
diffrent brands of splitters quote different maximum lengths of run so if your splitter only quoted say a max length of 10 mtrs youd then go 10mtr from output2 to repeater another 10mtr from output of repeater to another repeater and then another 1omtr to tv if that makes sense,you can daisy chain them together just like ive daisy chained my splitters together so that i can use shorter cables from one room to another as opposed to all the cables going back to the main room[the starting point

[mrverve]

So I would need these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...24915&T=Module

http://www.hdcable.co.uk/hdmi-cat5-e...FQX92AodSWAZIg

What types of cables can I buy, just any old ethernet cable or does it have to be a specific one?

[c4rv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrverve

Ok so CAT5 isnt just a piece of wire where at either end you have a extender (one which goes into Sky box then at other end into tv). Like this:

Sky box-------HDMI cable ------HDMI splitter----------HDMI cable-----------Converter-------------(CAT5 wire)-------------------------------Converter--------------HDMI cable--------------T.V downstairs???

That is correct, as mentioned it will have to be two cat5 cables not one.

As you can see, HDMI in one side, 2xcat 5 the other side. One side will also need 5v power. Range claimed to 60m with full 1080p resolution.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Extender-Net...4722365&sr=8-4


BTW, there are other more expensive options which also carry back IR signal so you can change the channel from room where second TV is.

[mrverve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yesat22

im using hdmi cables not cat 5,if you wanted to do it with hdmi youd have a short hdmi cable from your sky box to a 1input 2output hdmi splitter then a hdmi cable from output1 to your first/main tv then a second cable from output2 to your second tv,if you second tv is for eg 30metres away youd have a 15mtr hdmi cabe from output2 to the input on a repeater and then another 15mtr cable from the output of the repeater to your 2nd tv if that makes sense
im pushing an hdmi signal about 13-14 mtrs without a repeater,they reckon the maximum length without needing a repeater is 15mtrs i think

Thanks for that mate.

[c4rv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrverve

So I would need these:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...24915&T=Module

http://www.hdcable.co.uk/hdmi-cat5-e...FQX92AodSWAZIg

What types of cables can I buy, just any old ethernet cable or does it have to be a specific one?

Yes those would do, though you can get them cheaper through ebay or amazon.

As previous poster mentioned, you can just use a long length of HDMI cable, there is no need to convert to CAT5 unless your second tv is really far away or you already have your house wired with cat5.

[mrverve]

Right thanks for the help guys.

A question to yesat22, can HDMI cables run on external walls or is recommended that its run in the actual house.

If I do decide to go for cat5 option (my downstairs TV is quiet a long way from my bedroom) what cables should I be looking for?

[yesat22]

the first time iset mine up i bought one brand of splitter and i couldnt get a picture at all on 1 of my tv,s so i returned them and tried another brand which did work brilliantly so it can be hit and miss,its to do with hdcp issues i think
the ones which worked for me were these and the company told me i could return them iif they didnt work and they were very helpful with advice etc when i phoned them before i ordered
here they are
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-S...4723461&sr=8-1
and this repeater should you need one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet%C2%AE-E...723552&sr=1-43
or heres their page if you need cables etc
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&se...=Neet%20Cables

[yesat22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrverve

Right thanks for the help guys.

A question to yesat22, can HDMI cables run on external walls or is recommended that its run in the actual house.

If I do decide to go for cat5 option (my downstairs TV is quiet a long way from my bedroom) what cables should I be looking for?

all my cables are rum inside the house and thru the loft etc no cables go outside
i dont know about cat5

[c4rv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by yesat22

all my cables are rum inside the house and thru the loft etc no cables go outside
i dont know about cat5

If you want to go down the cat5 route,

You can get shielded cat5e cables which you are supposed to use for running outside the house. However I use standard cat5 in my place, I have a patch panel in my loft and the rest of the house is flood wired with cat5e along outside wall (run the cable along side sat cable / drain pipe so it does not look untidy). I have also used it to wire my mates gaming room at the bottom of his garden and that run is around 50m ourside (cable runs along a wall, not buried).

100m reel should not cost more then £40 (giving run length of 50m). box of end connectors and a crimper is another tenner. I will warn you it is fiddly and you will most likely waste a bunch of connectors practicing. If you know somebody who can do computer network cabling it might be easier to get them to do it.

Alternativily you can get pre-made cable for a few quid off ebay.

[mrverve]

Thanks for the reply.

I think, if I go down that route, I'd get someone in to do it.

One more thing. If I dont get a converter that carries back an IR signal, is having a magic eye possible at all. Would it be hard to install?

[CRTHD]

Just a thought.

I don't suppose you have a Thompson box with the component outlets do you?

If so, that could open up a few more options.

[mrverve]

No its a Pace box.

[yesat22]

just rum a rf cable alongside your hdmi cable or cat 5 whatever you decide and plug your magic eye into one end of rf and other into rf2 on your box