Inexpensive but long HDMI lead required

[Pete Shields]

I currently run Sky HD in my front room to my 42" Panasonic Viera TV

I have just moved house and are having a full rewire and in the process am setting up a 50" panasonic with Freesat and a Panasonic Bluray player in the rear room, some 10m away.

My sparkes first suggested that I could link up the rear TV with the front room sky HD box using the old fashioned TV aerial cable technique. This will all be hidden under the floorboards.He then suggested that I could get a long HDMI lead and a splitter, and I could have HD Sky HD transmissions in the back room as well. Good idea, but I'd only watch the odd match, so it would be cost prohibitive if I went for a decent cable. He then produced a thick catalogue with 10m long HDMI cables coming in at £15 and switching boxes under £30. Am I wasting my time with this cheap option, or will I be able to get a half decent HD in the back room?

 

[professorhat]

Can you try one out before they bury it under the floor? Personally, I'd be dubious. The QED HDMI-P cable isn't too expensive at long lengths - over £100 but not bad considering other cables prices.

 

[Pete Shields]

I,ve got a deep floor void with a bolt hole for access, and floorboards in the house, so it's easy to lay the cable/unlay it. For the cost, I'll probably take the risk on giving the cheaper option a try.

 

[Anonymous]

Before you proceed it's worth reading here: http://www.hdmi.org/

and here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI

as you may need to use an extender.

 

[professorhat]

Ahh, as long as it's easy to undo if you need to, then it can't hurt to try it out!

 

[Anonymous]

You have another option.

You could use one of these from Keene electronics to send the HDMI over Cat5 network cable. Much cheaper than a high quality HDMI setup and good for up to 50m.

But then you have to consider the lack of control, so Keene also make an Infrared repeater. You can also get this over Cat5. So you could set up a receiver panel in your distant room and place the Infrared repeater in front of you Sky Box and bingo you can change channels in a different room!

http://www.keene.co.uk/electronic/keene-electronics/ir-wide-band-receiver-flush-wall-plate/IRSPW.html
http://www.keene.co.uk/electronic/keene-electronics/keene-ir-distribution-amp-kit-(inc-std-receiver)/IRBKITS.html
http://www.keene.co.uk/multi.php?mycode=KA175