Distributing from DVD to 5 Tv's - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

dabell · 2007-10-18, 06:12 PM

I need to setup a system with DVD (and maybe other video in future) to distribute to 5 or 6 LCD screens in a large store. The TV's will all be approx 50-75 feet as the cables run from a central point, which will be approx 50-75 feet from the Video source.

I am considering long composite cable runs or coax. What I would like is a hardware/network solution with a box at each tv to play the streaming video. Any solutions/suggestions our there?

Darcy

JKL1960 · 2007-10-18, 06:29 PM

Video distribution amplifier. Like the ones at this link. A composite one will be cheaper and so will wiring for composite. Composite will work fine unless you want best video quality then you might go component. Component triples the wire needs.

RG6 coax will happily handle composite video.

i hate tv · 2007-10-18, 08:17 PM

Go component
Just in case you decide to get a HD STB from your cable co, or sat co
It will increase you cost due to the extra wiring, but it is worth it
Say 75' to each tv
5 lines x 75'= 375' x 6 LCD's = 2250'
3 boxes of quality rg6 cable will be more than sufficient, and you will only be buying 1 extra box of cable, seeing as running composite would require 1350'
Good luck, and be sure to show off the final product!

JKL1960 · 2007-10-19, 02:34 PM

I think that math is a little off there. I interpret the OP as needing at most 7 runs of 75' or less. That's only 525'.

On deciding between composite or component I would consider some things.

Material to be displayed. Is it going to be movies or HD sports or some promo videos? You might want better quality for the movies or sports.

The location of the monitors. Will they be near eye level and can people get quite close or will the be high on a wall? You won't gain much from higher quality if they are high on a wall or will mostly be viewed from a distance.

Budget. Composite is obviously cheaper.

Is audio required? Does the store have a PA system?

I would actually drop in to a locally owned AV store and ask if they have any old composite distribution amps. Stores that sold TVs used to use these but now have to use component or digital because you can't sell 50" 1080p Plasmas with a composite signal. Maybe you can get one as part of the deal on the monitors.

dabell · 2007-10-19, 02:42 PM

The TV's will be mounted 6-8 feet off the floor - all are 42" LCD screens. I believe the primary feed will be promo DVD material, although this may change. Luckily running the cabling will be fairly simple - easy access through the ceiling, only negative is it is about 15 feet off the floor. I am debating between buying boxed cable or pre-made 100 ft cables. Monoprice has 100ft for 40 or 80 depending on "premium" or not.

This isn't my $$ being spent, I will just be doing the installation. I think when adding the cost relative to the cost of each TV, $100 per connection is not bad.

i hate tv · 2007-10-19, 04:16 PM

I was suggesting running audio to these tvs just in case in the future, he decides to change what he is displaying on them (DVD on 1, HD Cable on another, HTPC on another....)
Buying a box of cable at 1000', would be the route I would go
You don't have to run audio wires if you dont want to
I don't know how to use 7 rg6 cables to 6 tvs to provide a decent signal
If you are spending the $$$ to buy decent tvs, and then go cheap on the cable, it will show
Spend a few extra $$$ (Not that much when you do it yourself, running the rg6 cable) and have component, instead of composite

JKL1960 · 2007-10-19, 05:01 PM

42" screens 6' to 8' off the floor playing promo DVDs. I think I would go component.

I got away with seven wires by running source to distribution amp then amp to each display with composite (barely decent

). That would be the bare minimum and would not carry audio and all monitors would display the same image.

I hate tv is right, if you want component and L/R audio you need 5 wires to each set. That would be the best setup. Mine is the cheapest. RG6 works fine and is pretty inexpensive by the box. Add in the cost of ends and a crimp tool and you'll still be ahead.

Kaoru · 2007-10-19, 11:32 PM

You can't run component video long distances. I can't remember off hand the distance but it's all dependent on the cable. I'd check the specs before anything else. My suggestion would be to use some cat-5e video repeaters or even a network attached bare-bones PC mounted in the ceiling. PCs are cheap these days and so is cat-5. Good shielded cable is VERY expensive... ie. 100' cat-5 @ .39 per foot and a $400 PC is cheap ($439 total) than 3 runs of 100' RG6 shielded cable @1.79 per foot ($537 total). Grain of salt, those are retail prices. However, PCs don't require amps/distribution, connectors, etc. needed for video distribution. The PC route is simple, it's a network and has flexibility besides DVD (i.e. slide show, dynamic content, etc.).

Cheers,
Kaoru

dabell · 2007-10-20, 11:19 AM

Do you know of any good suppliers for the Cat 5 Video ? I found a couple pages, prices are certainly alot more and most are using VGA to the TV as the final connection. The wiring is definately cheaper and more flexible, but the transmitters and recievers look like they could run around $1000 for the 5 systems.

2007-10-18, 06:12 PM	#1
dabell Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sooke,BC Posts: 631	Distributing from DVD to 5 Tv's I need to setup a system with DVD (and maybe other video in future) to distribute to 5 or 6 LCD screens in a large store. The TV's will all be approx 50-75 feet as the cables run from a central point, which will be approx 50-75 feet from the Video source. I am considering long composite cable runs or coax. What I would like is a hardware/network solution with a box at each tv to play the streaming video. Any solutions/suggestions our there? Darcy

2007-10-19, 11:32 PM	#8
Kaoru Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 276	You can't run component video long distances. I can't remember off hand the distance but it's all dependent on the cable. I'd check the specs before anything else. My suggestion would be to use some cat-5e video repeaters or even a network attached bare-bones PC mounted in the ceiling. PCs are cheap these days and so is cat-5. Good shielded cable is VERY expensive... ie. 100' cat-5 @ .39 per foot and a $400 PC is cheap ($439 total) than 3 runs of 100' RG6 shielded cable @1.79 per foot ($537 total). Grain of salt, those are retail prices. However, PCs don't require amps/distribution, connectors, etc. needed for video distribution. The PC route is simple, it's a network and has flexibility besides DVD (i.e. slide show, dynamic content, etc.). Cheers, Kaoru __________________ Black Ice Theatre Construction Thread Last edited by Kaoru; 2007-10-19 at 11:55 PM. Reason: Correction

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2007-10-18, 06:29 PM	#2
JKL1960 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 68	Video distribution amplifier. Like the ones at this link. A composite one will be cheaper and so will wiring for composite. Composite will work fine unless you want best video quality then you might go component. Component triples the wire needs. RG6 coax will happily handle composite video.

2007-10-18, 08:17 PM	#3
i hate tv Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,317	Go component Just in case you decide to get a HD STB from your cable co, or sat co It will increase you cost due to the extra wiring, but it is worth it Say 75' to each tv 5 lines x 75'= 375' x 6 LCD's = 2250' 3 boxes of quality rg6 cable will be more than sufficient, and you will only be buying 1 extra box of cable, seeing as running composite would require 1350' Good luck, and be sure to show off the final product!

2007-10-19, 02:34 PM	#4
JKL1960 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 68	I think that math is a little off there. I interpret the OP as needing at most 7 runs of 75' or less. That's only 525'. On deciding between composite or component I would consider some things. Material to be displayed. Is it going to be movies or HD sports or some promo videos? You might want better quality for the movies or sports. The location of the monitors. Will they be near eye level and can people get quite close or will the be high on a wall? You won't gain much from higher quality if they are high on a wall or will mostly be viewed from a distance. Budget. Composite is obviously cheaper. Is audio required? Does the store have a PA system? I would actually drop in to a locally owned AV store and ask if they have any old composite distribution amps. Stores that sold TVs used to use these but now have to use component or digital because you can't sell 50" 1080p Plasmas with a composite signal. Maybe you can get one as part of the deal on the monitors.

2007-10-19, 02:42 PM	#5
dabell Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sooke,BC Posts: 631	The TV's will be mounted 6-8 feet off the floor - all are 42" LCD screens. I believe the primary feed will be promo DVD material, although this may change. Luckily running the cabling will be fairly simple - easy access through the ceiling, only negative is it is about 15 feet off the floor. I am debating between buying boxed cable or pre-made 100 ft cables. Monoprice has 100ft for 40 or 80 depending on "premium" or not. This isn't my $$ being spent, I will just be doing the installation. I think when adding the cost relative to the cost of each TV, $100 per connection is not bad.

2007-10-19, 04:16 PM	#6
i hate tv Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,317	I was suggesting running audio to these tvs just in case in the future, he decides to change what he is displaying on them (DVD on 1, HD Cable on another, HTPC on another....) Buying a box of cable at 1000', would be the route I would go You don't have to run audio wires if you dont want to I don't know how to use 7 rg6 cables to 6 tvs to provide a decent signal If you are spending the $$$ to buy decent tvs, and then go cheap on the cable, it will show Spend a few extra $$$ (Not that much when you do it yourself, running the rg6 cable) and have component, instead of composite

2007-10-19, 05:01 PM	#7
JKL1960 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 68	42" screens 6' to 8' off the floor playing promo DVDs. I think I would go component. I got away with seven wires by running source to distribution amp then amp to each display with composite (barely decent ). That would be the bare minimum and would not carry audio and all monitors would display the same image. I hate tv is right, if you want component and L/R audio you need 5 wires to each set. That would be the best setup. Mine is the cheapest. RG6 works fine and is pretty inexpensive by the box. Add in the cost of ends and a crimp tool and you'll still be ahead.

2007-10-20, 11:19 AM	#9
dabell Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sooke,BC Posts: 631	Do you know of any good suppliers for the Cat 5 Video ? I found a couple pages, prices are certainly alot more and most are using VGA to the TV as the final connection. The wiring is definately cheaper and more flexible, but the transmitters and recievers look like they could run around $1000 for the 5 systems.