hdmi over rg6

[relaxandreflect]

i have seen some discussion about this, but need some more advice. i currently have 3 rg6 cables run from a closet to the wall for component hd. before i hang the lcd, i want to make sure this is as future proof as possible. i was thinking of pulling these out and putting a conduit up the wall.

then running either 2x cat5E or cat6 and 2 rg6
or
1x cat5E or cat6 and 3x rg6.

i was thinking i could use either the 3 rg6 or 1 cat5 for component for now over baluns, then use cat5 for hdmi later when i upgrade in a few years.

but.....
if in the future i could run hdmi over rg6 just as easily, then leave it as is.

would the cat5E or cat6 have a larger bandwidth than 1 or 3 rg6 cables? theoretically, it seems that cat6 tops out at 250mhz while most rg6 can do 1ghz, is this correct?

also, if the fcc shuts down the analog signal running into my house after 2010, could i still run analog WITHIN my house after the signal is converted? (reason is, i just don't see everyone switching away from component so easily.

i would rather do this now than later, but don't want to if i don't have to. any suggestions?

ps-i have all the cabling and conduit to do this if i need, so that is not an issue

[Icon]

well first off i would go with cat5e insted of cat6 because it is standerdized and cat6 is not. secondly unless you are running a very long distance i would just put the cables you need in, plus maybe a hdmi for future use. i know it would be nice to have one calbe that could meet all your needs that you never had to fuss with again, and you could with a cat5e cable or 2... however the converters to go back and forth are expensive enough that it would be much more economical to switch out a wire ever now and then.

here are some nice converters
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/htextenders.jsp

just for an example of the prices

[Duffinator]

I'm not sure about HDMI over RG 6 but that's a good question. I think the bandwidth is not an issue. The issue will be terminations, do they make RG 6 to HDMI terminations?

If you have an LCD now I'm guessing it doesn't have HDMI otherwise you would just do that. So does it have DVI? If so I'd do the HDMI now and use a HDMI to DVI conversion adaptor.

But it never hurts to have an extra RG 6 and Cat 5 cable in the wall.

[loudsubz]

good article

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html

[loudsubz]

IMO i would just stick with RG6

we have run DVI cables 25 feet in HT installs and the same with component video and have not noticed any difference in picture quality at all.

[pioneernut]

I'd save the money on cables and put in conduit, run only the wires you need now, plus add a nylon pull string or two in the conduit. Inevitably, they'll change the type of cable and connector used in 5 years. So if you only have the wires you need now installed in a 3/4 or 1 inch conduit running, it should be easy in the future to pull a new cable through.

.... Just don't overfill the conduit, wires won't pull through if its to full of wires.

- Mike