General Home Automation Transmit Wireless RCA

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Subject Author Date
Transmit Wireless RCA Bob 06-20-06
Posted by Bob on June 20, 2006, 9:34 am
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Greetings!

I want to avoid running rca cables from my ground floor up to my loft
area in my new house where I have my PC and AV unit. I need to connect
my ground floor tv/dvr, etc. to my AV unit. I use my PC for mp3 audio
hooked to the AV unit alot too.

I have been investigating wireless solutions and am wondering if the
"video sender" components I am finding on the web are what I am
looking for. I don't need to transmit the video stream... Just the
audio/rca data.

If I am on the right track, can someone please suggest specifics on the
brand/specs that will work best for my situation? Optimum audio
quality is definitely a must!

Also, my AV units' remote will not work from the ground floor. I
would like to be able to control the volume, power and switch inputs,
etc. on the AV unit from the ground floor. Will the sender units do
this or will I have to find an IR Extender too?

Any info is much appreciated.

Thanks!

Bob


Posted by Robert Green on June 20, 2006, 9:55 am
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> I have been investigating wireless solutions and am wondering if
> the "video sender" components I am finding on the web are what
> I am looking for.

Most of the cheap senders on the market operate at the same frequency as
cordless phones. They'll also pick up microwave useage. My recollection is
that it affects both audio and video quality.

I'd run cable if audio quality is a big concern. I'd probably not run RCA
but CAT5 with audio baluns so I could eliminate any ground loops between the
PC and AV. They're likely coming off different breakers and that always
seems to heighten the chance of ground loop hum, at least in my limited
experience.

A single CAT5 run could also give you an IR control channel between the two
floors to operate components remotely. I've found that if you need one
cable, you'll need more, so I would probably fish the standard 2 RG6
satellite grade for video and two CAT5's, one for Ethernet, the other for
your audio and IR control.

You can buy a very nice long drill bit and probably even a drill for what
you'd spend on a wireless sender that you'd probably have to replace anyway
once the buzzes, clicks and hums drove you batty. Lots of cable jockeys
here that would be happy to give you all the info you need on fishing a
cable.

--
Bobby G.


> Greetings!
>
> I want to avoid running rca cables from my ground floor up to my loft
> area in my new house where I have my PC and AV unit. I need to connect
> my ground floor tv/dvr, etc. to my AV unit. I use my PC for mp3 audio
> hooked to the AV unit alot too.
>
> I have been investigating wireless solutions and am wondering if the
> "video sender" components I am finding on the web are what I am
> looking for. I don't need to transmit the video stream... Just the
> audio/rca data.
>
> If I am on the right track, can someone please suggest specifics on the
> brand/specs that will work best for my situation? Optimum audio
> quality is definitely a must!
>
> Also, my AV units' remote will not work from the ground floor. I
> would like to be able to control the volume, power and switch inputs,
> etc. on the AV unit from the ground floor. Will the sender units do
> this or will I have to find an IR Extender too?
>
> Any info is much appreciated.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Bob
>



Posted by Bob on June 20, 2006, 12:32 pm
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Yep, I assumed there would be some goofies picked up through the
wireless transmission. I was really hoping there would be some
wireless hardware that could come close. So, if I decide to take a
chance with wireless, can anyone recommend the best of the worst? I
just saw the Leapfrog product at Best Buy for $100+.

Re: Wiring Cat5/Audio baluns

I think I could figure out how to fish the wire without too much
trouble.

Any suggestions on where to buy the cat5 and audio baluns? It looks
like the baluns are running around $60-$80/pair. Also, how will the
remote channel work with this setup?

Thanks!


Posted by Robert Green on June 20, 2006, 7:44 pm
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> Yep, I assumed there would be some goofies picked up through the
> wireless transmission. I was really hoping there would be some
> wireless hardware that could come close. So, if I decide to take a
> chance with wireless, can anyone recommend the best of the worst? I
> just saw the Leapfrog product at Best Buy for $100+.

They all seem to be made by the same outfit. If it looks like a black pack
of cigarettes with a rounded top, I wouldn't expect much from the unit. If
they say you can get 100' "line of sight" you're really likely to get only
10' - I bought a couple from different vendors but they were all equally
dismal.

> Re: Wiring Cat5/Audio baluns
>
> I think I could figure out how to fish the wire without too much
> trouble.
>
> Any suggestions on where to buy the cat5 and audio baluns? It looks
> like the baluns are running around $60-$80/pair. Also, how will the
> remote channel work with this setup?

I deal with Worthington and SmartHome but you'll probably find the wire
locally at Home Depot and the baluns for cheap on Ebay.

The remote IR you can buy from a number of people on the net. Search on
"wired IR link kit" and you'll find some sites.

IR sending circuits are very simple and extremely easy to build. A
phototransistor to see the IR from the remote and a IR LED on the other end
to emit the IR control signals and a few other components and you're good to
go. Lots of commercial stuff like Xantech, too, if you want to spend the
bucks.

FWIW, the latest Supercircuits catalog has an MVL58 5.8GHz "video link" that
might offer acceptable performance and has a built in IR link as well. It
doesn't appear to be on the website yet:

http://www.supercircuits.com/

it sells for $159.95 and claims 300' so it's really probably only reliable
up to 30' indoors. YMMV. They have a very fair return policy, so it might
be worth a look. The 5.8 band should be a little less crowded than the 2.4
one.

I'd go with hardwiring for several reasons. Cheaper over all. Cheaper to
operate. Those little wall warts all add up. Plus, you're polluting your
own RF environment and that could be an issue with current or future phone
systems and wireless LAN components.

Even better, you'll get a sense of accomplishment building your own IR
system. There are lots and lots of really good sites that explain just how
to build these simple systems from $10 worth of parts from Radio Shack. Guy
Lavoie has a lot of great IR extender circuits and thorough documentation.

--
Bobby G.




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