TV in the garage tip for middle aged guys

[sammerdog]

Young runny nosed kids probably know all about this, but for us mature guys.....

.....one of my jobs found me mounting a new flat screen TV in a banquet room. We have cablevision into the building over by the bar, so no big deal, right? Ran up to Menard's, grabbed an old work box, outlet, some R6 coaxial for work, and figured as long as I was there, grabbed a 100' roll of R6 for my garage at home.

Hung the mounting bracket, borrowed some 110 from an underused circuit, chased my electrical and R6 down into the wall from above.

Got ready to hang up the TV. Friggin thing doesn't have a coaxial socket. HIDI, MIDI, and a bunch of other wacky openings, but NO normal run of the mill co-ax hook up. I'll deal with it again Monday and go to plan "B"..... not sure what plan "B" is right now, but I'll ni.... oops, er I mean Jerry-rig something.

....at the house though, I'm thinkin maybe I should run something other than coaxial out to my garage in case I ever grab a flat screen out there.

Full disclosure: I feel like an *** for not looking at the back of the TV before running co-ax, but it was labeled "Cable Ready! No Converter Needed!" Dang technology.

 

[bmwpower]

Get a stereo receiver with HDMI inputs. Coax into the receiver, HDMI to the TV.

 

[jmh21586]

....at the house though, I'm thinkin maybe I should run something other than coaxial out to my garage in case I ever grab a flat screen out there.

You still need the R6 coax. You have to get your cable or satellite signal into the gargae. From there it is converted to either S cable (picture only with seperate cords like led for sound), the other coax which is the red, white, blue (which is for picture and sound, old school way). Or the HDMI which is for HD sound and picture. Some HD TV's still have an R6 coax jack in back which is really old school and kind of a waste of most flat screen tv's capabilities.

So:
HDMI = sound and picture. High quality for HD tv's. Take full advantage of tv's capabilities.

red white blue coax= picture and sound, ok quality

s cabel= good picture, not for sound

and other ways.

Full disclosure: I feel like an *** for not looking at the back of the TV before running co-ax, but it was labeled "Cable Ready! No Converter Needed!" Dang technology.

Cable ready in this instance is diferent than the cable you're thinking of.

But don't worry, no matter what you do, it will be outdated and old technology by the time you do it.



Also what BMWpower said.

 

[2chipped]

I have a tissue for the runney noses.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I ran into this problem with my satellite box and a plasma that doesn't have a coax plug on the back.

The quick and dirty solution is this: any old VCR you have lying around will have coax-in and component RCA-out ports on the back.

But I wish there were a simple converter for this. Stupid to have to have a box there that I don't need.

 

[cronic]

Interesting and wrong info given here......

Your "tv" doesn't have a coaxial input due to it not having an internal tuner, which means its a monitor and not a television. Just use either a cable box and output video cables to the monitor (either composite (yellow-red-white), s-video, or component(red-green-blue). VCRs also have tuners in them that can be used. Good luck.

composite would be your best bet if you already have an RG6 pulled, just use it for the yellow video connection and add an audio cable (red and white) and you are good. This is only good for standard definition though.

 

[jmh21586]

Which info was wrong?

 

[lpigg]

I had the same problem and purchased a small RF modulater and it has a coax in and you can use RCA cables or or the S video out to the TV. I think like $20 a Wally World.

 

[Torque1st]

Some HD TV's still have an R6 coax jack in back which is really old school and kind of a waste of most flat screen tv's capabilities.

My brand new Vizio has a coax input. I use the same coax that feeds the HD DVR from the cable company. Coax carries all the cable signals which are converted to HDMI, S-video, RGB, Composite, or Component by various devices. Coax is not really old school. My house has fiber to the home but all the interior is fed with coax or Cat-5 for the broadband. Some day I may see fiber inside.

 

[nate379]

My brand new Samsung flat screen has a Co-Ax plug.

We have 4 42" Plasma monitors at work, one I use as a TV. It has no Coax on it, or speaker for that matter so we just ran it through one of those digital TV tuners and S video or RCA out.

 

[sstruckguy]

Interesting and wrong info given here......

Your "tv" doesn't have a coaxial input due to it not having an internal tuner, which means its a monitor and not a television. Just use either a cable box and output video cables to the monitor (either composite (yellow-red-white), s-video, or component(red-green-blue). VCRs also have tuners in them that can be used. Good luck.

composite would be your best bet if you already have an RG6 pulled, just use it for the yellow video connection and add an audio cable (red and white) and you are good. This is only good for standard definition though.

That pretty well sums it up

 

[jmh21586]

what I meant by old school is that the picture and sound quality (so I've been told) won't be as good if you only use a coax instead of the newer technology wires. But in a banquet hall or garage who'd care?

 

[Mystic195]

Better yet just run a piece of PVC into the wall then down to where your components are. When the technology changed its easier to pull the new cables etc. Thats what I did and it makes for a clean install.

 

[jake00]

Which info was wrong?

Whats Red White and Blue coax?


Are you talking about composite? (commonly Red White Yellow)

Or Component (Red Blue Green) May or may not have Red and White Audio cables with it.

 

[jmh21586]

Better yet just run a piece of PVC into the wall then down to where your components are. When the technology changed its easier to pull the new cables etc. Thats what I did and it makes for a clean install.

I'm going to finish off my basement in the next week or two and was planning on doing this but never talked to anybody that had done it. How big of pvc did you use?? Did you run a pull line in it?? How many twists and turns or is it pretty much a straight run? I'd have a minimum of 4 90 degree turns and was thinking that might be hard to get wires through. I want to put a tv, monitor, whatever on a wall and the components in a small nook on another wall. I want the best picture possible so....... well, I guess after what I've read I don't know what I need to run for wire anymore. Thought HDMI, but if I'm not going to use the tv speakers so maybe just an S cable?? My biggest fear is not running the right ones.
All I know is wire is expensive. Especially the longer lengths.

 

[jmh21586]

Whats Red White and Blue coax?


Are you talking about composite? (commonly Red White Yellow)

Yes. thats what I mean. But it's also refered to as digital coaxial.

Or Component (Red Blue Green) May or may not have Red and White Audio cables with it.

This is what I use for my DVD. Player. I'm still a little behind, my Reciever does not have video switching. So I'm stuck switching imputs on my TV.

Right now I use the S Cables for picture when watching satellite. Component for DVD, and composite for that thing some might still remember, a VCR. Sure is a mess of wires without video switching at the reciever. I'm sure there's a video switching unit I can buy but I'd rather just start over and update everything. Getting to be about time.

 

[jmh21586]

I was just looking at a few websites at Plasmas. I can't believe how much they've come down in price. When I bought my current HDTV ready TV, 55" rear projection samsung, it was close to $3000.00.

Now it's a dinosaur.

 

[bazzateer]

Plasmas are dinosaurs. It's all LCD and LED/LCD hybrids these days apparently.

 

[jmh21586]

Plasmas are dinosaurs. It's all LCD and LED/LCD hybrids these days apparently.

I think pretty much anything a guy brings home will be outdated by the time it's hooked up.

 

[Gary S]

I solved problems like this a long time ago. I have a rule.
ANY TV FOUND IN MY GARAGE WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT!!!!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS.

My garage is for working, and it not to be polluted with TV programs.

(I worked 30 years in Television broadcasting, so I know a lot more about TV pollution that the rest of you)

 

[Mystic195]

I actually put PVC in two places when we built out garage. I ran one in my garage from about 6 feet up from the basement and also put a box half way up. I use the box for a cat 5e cable from a laptop which allows me to use the tv as a monitor or tv. I used 2 1/2" PVC. In the house we have a stone fireplace which I ran another PVC from about 7' where our LCD TV is mounted and ran it to the basement. I bought what they call a 5 in 1 cable which has an HDMI, S-Video and Component cables over to my wall unit which houses the components. The 5 in 1 is a little more compact but still takes some finesse to run. I used 45's for the angles to help with the runs but still would advise you running some type of lead or fish tape.

 

[jmh21586]

I solved problems like this a long time ago. I have a rule.
ANY TV FOUND IN MY GARAGE WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT!!!!!!! NO EXCEPTIONS.

My garage is for working, and it not to be polluted with TV programs.

I want it more for background noise than anything. I'd like to have the music channels from directtv. I like old country music and there are no radio stations around here that play them. I suppose I could get sattelite radio. But I wouldn't mind watching Smokey and the Bandit once in a while in the garage.

(I worked 30 years in Television broadcasting, so I know a lot more about TV pollution that the rest of you)

I've been watching tv, and the garbage on it, for 32 years. So you're the one to blame??

 

[jmh21586]

I bought what they call a 5 in 1 cable which has an HDMI, S-Video and Component cables over to my wall unit which houses the components. .

What length did you have to buy?? How much $$$. Can you get custom lengths?


I need about 25' of whatever I end up using. Can damn near spend as much on cables as on the tv itself.

 

[Torque1st]

what I meant by old school is that the picture and sound quality (so I've been told) won't be as good if you only use a coax instead of the newer technology wires. But in a banquet hall or garage who'd care?

Wrong, ALL the signal that is converted to those other signals comes over the coax.

I have several places in the house where I installed ABS pipe to carry phone, network, and cable signals. It makes pulling wires easy. I even left a nylon pull cord inside each run.

 

[jmh21586]

Wrong, ALL the signal that is converted to those other signals comes over the coax.

Makes sense to me but why all the other kinds?? What is the need for HDMI, composite, s cable or component if in the end you get the same quality as if you just ran a coax to the tv?

 

[Torque1st]

Makes sense to me but why all the other kinds?? What is the need for HDMI, composite, s cable or component if in the end you get the same quality as if you just ran a coax to the tv?

Who knows? The coax carries everything in the first place. I didn't design the things. All I know is everything is complicated and more expensive nowadays since a TV and other components have a number of input/output types. All of that circuitry and connectors cost $$.

 

[Mystic195]

I ran a 25' 5 in 1 for $175 but that was awhile ago. I think the prices have come down since then.

 

[jmh21586]

Who knows? The coax carries everything in the first place. I didn't design the things. All I know is everything is complicated and more expensive nowadays since a TV and other components have a number of input/output types. All of that circuitry and connectors cost $$.

Check this site out. Apparently there is a difference in quality and compatibility.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/howto-av.ep

I think when I do it I'm going to run everything and be done.

 

[Torque1st]

Check this site out. Apparently there is a difference in quality and compatibility.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/howto-av.ep

I have seen all that stuff before. The initial signal comes over Coax, all the other signals are derived from that.

 

[jmh21586]

From what I've read composite video and s video do not support High Definition.

1) You will not actually "have" HDTV unless you are receiving it from either your Cable TV provider, your Satellite provider, over the air via antenna, Blu Ray or HD DVD player. Not all Cable or Satellite boxes output HD to your TV. Check with your provider!
2) Use the right cable to get the HD signal to your TV. S-Video and Composite video do not support HD. You must use Component video, HDMI or DVI for HD. It is often a good idea to use an analog Component video connection along with a digital DVI/HDMI connection in case the digital connection fails due to HDCP incompatibility or other issues.
3) Check the settings for the output of your cable box, satellite box, ATSC tuner, HD DVDplayerorBlu Ray player. HD is either 720p, 1080i or 1080p. 480p and 480i are not HD!
4) Do you have a home theater system? Does it have a digital audio input? If so, you should make sure to use a SPDIF RCA cable or Toslink optical cable from the Cable or Satellite TV box to the Surround sound Receiver. Make sure to set up the Receiver to use the digital audio from the input you connect to. It is a good idea to also run analog audio cables to the receiver as well, in case some stations do not put out a digital signal, or the digital connection fails. For the new, high resolution audio formats, please see the audio connections section.
5) You won't be actually viewing HD unless you actually tune to an HD channel! Your Cable or Satellite Box only will have a limited number of actual HD channels. With a DVD, HD DVD or BluRay player - you will notbe seeing real High Definition Video coming from a DVD Disc. "Upconverted" is not high definition, it is standard definition that is upconverted.

 

[jmh21586]

I have seen all that stuff before. The initial signal comes over Coax, all the other signals are derived from that.

So you're saying you can have a high definition picture on your HDTV using just coax?

 

[Torque1st]

So you're saying you can have a high definition picture on your HDTV using just coax?

Absolutely! What part of all the original signal comes in on a coax don't you understand?

 

[jmh21586]

Absolutely! What part of all the original signal comes in on a coax don't you understand?

Kind of a jackass aren't you?

 

[jdoering]

Cable ready in this instance is diferent than the cable you're thinking of.

What does it mean then? I would have assumed it either meant:

a) Supports analog cable with no adapters (pretty useless for modern TVs).
b) Supports unencrypted digital cable with no converter.
c) Supports cable cards internally so it can handle full encrypted digital cable without a settop box.

All (3) of those scenarios requires coax input for traditional cable companies (non FIOS, etc).

I also would have expected most current TVs to support coax input for a QAM tuner for OTA digital (which makes a coax input on new HD TVs a very useful thing for some folks).

If none of these scenarios are supported then what exactly is "Cable Ready. No Converter needed!"?

-Jeff

 

[jmh21586]

If none of these scenarios are supported then what exactly is "Cable Ready. No Converter needed!"?

-Jeff

As far as I know Digital cable ready (assuming thats what yours says) just means you don't need a traditional set top cable box.

 

[jdoering]

So you're saying you can have a high definition picture on your HDTV using just coax?

jmh21586 - it seems like you understand this stuff so you probably realize that with the exception of digital OTA the answer is no. Maybe limited unecrypted digital HD from a cable provider - but I don't think much HD content is really sent unecrypted from cable providers.

-Jeff

 

[jdoering]

As far as I know Digital cable ready (assuming thats what yours says) just means you don't need a traditional set top cable box.

Which means the TV must have a coax input - might not support encrypted digital though (CableCard) so it is probably only good for over-the-air. But I thought the OP said there was no coax input at all which doesn't make sense for DCR.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable-ready

-Jeff

 

[jmh21586]

jmh21586 - it seems like you understand this stuff so you probably realize that with the exception of digital OTA the answer is no. Maybe limited unecrypted digital HD from a cable provider - but I don't think much HD content is really sent unecrypted from cable providers.

-Jeff

Hell no i don't understand. My questions are sincere. The more i think i know the more i find out how little i know. From what I've read in the last few minutes looking it up, regular coax will not support 1080p HD. ALso from what I've read a lot of the new surround sound formats need better than coax.

 

[jmh21586]

Which means the TV must have a coax input - might not support encrypted digital though (CableCard) so it is probably only good for over-the-air. But I thought the OP said there was no coax input at all which doesn't make sense for DCR.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable-ready

-Jeff

You're right. It doesn't make sense. If it says cable ready then I would think it would have a coax imput. Unless if the cable coax went into an imput on a stereo reciever and then was reformated to another type of cabel before going to the tv. Still wouldnt have the set top cable box, and the signal would no longer be in coax. The tv would still be required to do the job of the set top box. But just a guess.

 

[sammerdog]

Okay - I'm still trying to piece this all together:

*Yes - there is normal R6 coaxial running into the banquet hall. I am still planning on splicing into this at work and behind the TV adding a device that turns coax into the red/yellow/white cable combo. A young whipper-snapper says I can grab one from any Radio Shack.

*My home garage is the head scratcher - my utility room in the basement is approx 100' totale from where my TV in the garage is sitting. Along the way, I want to add a pair of splitters to bring cable into a guest room upstairs and an exercise room upstairs (otherwise a straight shot of 2" pvc would be my choice). I know how to splice into coaxial all day long, but some of the other HIDI/MIDI/Cat5 stuff is too much for this simpleton.

I kinda like Jack's idea of running R6 as initially thought, and adding some el cheapo VCR/DVD players at the garage terminus.

If I grab a little bit of everybody's ideas, it sounds like R6 is still and will remain the mainstay mass delivery media, but specialized cables are required once the data is "purified" into audio and video splits.

Full disclosure: golly - all this so I can watch my beloved Spartans beat up on the rest of the Big Ten this winter while I goof up brakes, wipers, and anything else that moves on a car