Wireless HDMI Options

[darkguy2]

I need some help giving advice to a co-worker. They just bought a town-house and are looking to upgrade the existing system. Currently there is a 5 channel sound system pre-wired in the wall. There is no connection for a subwoofer. The video connection is also wired through the wall in the form of three coaxial cables for component. All this goes to a control closet. He is using this one connection to connect to his DVD player. So what he wants first is to add in the .1 to the 5 channels. I know there are some wireless options out there but I do not have any experience with that. Next he will need to get a higher quality connection to the TV as he will be setting up HD cable channels. I am not sure what kind of coaxial cable was used so I am not sure if it can handle 1080i. Plus no Blue-Ray player will output 1080 on component. He needs to get a HDMI connection to set him up for future and current need. The problem is I am not sure if there will be access to the wall to run a cable and if there is it will need to be an active one that will cost a fair amount of money for the length that will most likely be needed. So I am thinking that wireless HDMI is his best option.The technology has come a long way and seems to be getting somewhat affordable but I am by no means a expert. He has two consoles that will put out HDMI, most likely a HD cable box, and a media player. The guy is an engineer so he does have a decent income but since he just bought his house he is not overflowing with money and is a somewhat cheap guy. I have experience setting up home audio/video systems when I was a teenager working for my dad so I can set up any system or run cable if needed. I will list the main question I have below but feel free to ask anything that you want to know. I am planing on taking a trip over there either at the end of the week or next week to take a look at his options.

- What is the best option for wireless subwoofers?
- What is the best option for wireless HDMI?
- Is there a better way?

 

[RealBeast]

If he is tight on funds right now wireless is not the best option -- wired HDMI that come in very long lengths and simple speaker cable to the subwoofer will be cheaper and less hassle.

 

[darkguy2]

But that is not actually true in this case. The length required to run the cable through the wall if it is even possible will be over 100' and that will cost around $100 depending where you get it from due to the fact that at that length you have to get an active HDMI cable. This also requires a receiver to power the cable which is another couple hundred dollars. Or he can get a cheap HDMI switch and single input wireless HDMI system for less than $200 and will give him the ability to move it if he wants unlike the wired option in the walls. If he runs a physical wire to the sub then it will cross over a threshold and he does not want to run the cable along the walls.

 

[RealBeast]

You failed to mention the extreme distance involved -- 100ft. for wireless HDMI -- you must be kidding.

The only feasible low cost solution that comes to mind would be using a Raspberry Pi as a HTPC, and while Ethernet is best you can use wireless for your connection. Take a look HERE. He should be able to do it for under $100. If necessary he could also use a pair of Zyxel PLA5205 powerline units -- these are the only that I have found adequate to stream uncompressed full HD programming, there is a good review of them here that is pretty close to the results that I've gotten with 4 sets that I've installed: http/www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/lanwan-reviews/32164-homeplug-av2-head-to-head

 

[darkguy2]

That 100' figure was for the routing length and not the point to point length. Since the house is pre-built the routing is rather ugly. The TV is less than 15' from the closet. I did not think of HDMI over CAT. I will take a look at that as it is much cheaper to run CAT5e or 6 than HDMI. The only problem with the ethernet over power is that I am not sure of if the closet and TV room are on the same circuit. I will have to look to see. Thanks for the suggestions.