Poor Picture quality over component cables, at wits end!

[flyingboujanero]

Ok, I've got a lot to explain. I just bought a new condo and it has it set up so all the audio & video are wired into a closet down the hall from the living room, so cables go to a wall outlet from the closet. So I have long cable runs. My problem only involves video, so I'm only going to explain what I have for video cables. All that was installed in the closet were:

3 coax
1 S-Video
1 cat5


I have a progressive scan DVD player & a HD TIVO that I want to hook up. First I bought adapters that change the Coax to RCA plugs, to run component video over the coax. I hooked that up to the TIVO. I used the S-Video for the DVD player. I had no video problems over S-Video. HOwever when running the HD Tivo over the component cables I get horizontal scrolling lines. When i hook the DVD player via the component cables the picture is fine. I thought it might be the TIVO so i got a replacement sent to me, which did the same thing. Plugging the TIVO straight into the TV with other component cables, the picture was clear. HOwever I cannot do that, since I want to hide it back in the closet.

SO my next option was to try a component balun to run over the CAT5. This was no better. I get horizontal lines, plus a flickering picture over the balun with the TIVO. Again, it worked perfectly fine hooked up to the DVD Player.

I tried unplugging EVERY component I have except for the TIVO and I still get the interference, so its not a grounding issue. I even bought some RF & EMI chokes and have tried them on all the inputs that would be going into the TIVO, but still the same problem.

I'm at wits end. My only guess is that the TIVO won't work, but the DVD will possibly because of some sort of bandwidth issue. Even though the balun is supposed to handle HD signals.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry its so lengthy

[eliwhitney]

Hi -

Why did you "avoid" extra gauge HDMIs so badly ? These can be 20' without excessive losses.
And, more with a proper Amplifier ! Any BLU RAY Player must have same to be successful.
Here - also read the "FAQ" re HDMI -
http://www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.p ... tail&p=845

With each "adapter / convertor / etc.," you have introduced lots of signal losses ! Is it that " critical" that no one sees the means by which your HDTV actually gets it's signals?

Since you had this home built to your special specs, did you also have a dedicated power circuit installed for that HDTV + the rest ? Eliminates possible interferences from cell phones, Microwaves, WI FI set-ups, etc..

Sounds as though you will need to go "back to the drawing board" and rethink whats a priority ?

eli

[flyingboujanero]

Eli,

I did not have the home built to my specs. It was done before I saw it, so I am making do with what I have installed. Thats why I have not tried HDMI.

I have pictures of pre-construction and what the guy did with all the wire runs. He was by no means a professional. There are so many turns and such that it would be hard if not impossible for me to run any more cable back to the closet.

I did not mention in my original post, but the cable run is roughly 40 feet back to the closet.

I didn't feel I had that many adapters or splits, in either cable situation, but would cable loss explain why with a normal DVD player it is fine, but not with the HD TIVO?

And I thought that the balun should solve this, since I'm not doing any more adapters or splits than the balun requires, just a component cable from TIVO to balun, Cat5 from balun to balun and component cable from balun to tv.

I also thought about getting a HDMI balun, but those require two CAT5 runs, I only have 1. Some say that you can run over one CAT5 if all you need is video, but TIVO requires HDCP, which goes over the 2nd CAT5 (with audio)

And in regards to it being critical that noone sees how my HDTV gets its signal. It is not critical, but I am just trying to make do with what I was provided with. I did not custom spec the condo.

Thanks for your insight.

[eliwhitney]

Hi (again) -

Sounded as though you had "custom-built" - sorry

That 40' distance "runs" will be essentially impossible, in my experiences ! It is very apparent that whomever the builder was, he (she) should have stuck to the building & totally avoided any attempts @ electronics ! Nearly a nightmare!

You definitely need to "explore" the permanent elimination of that 40' distance for that gear ! Simply locate wherever the original COAX cable is outside first.

IF a long run, consider using a brand-name "quad coax" - even a 14 ga if very long - run this to that HDTV .

Reinstall those pieces upon a suitable inexpensive stand ( glass-shelved or wood to match your decor) to directly near that HDTV instead. Leave whatever is in the walls alone & 'dead' on each end.

Use good, certified 1.3a / cat 2 HDMIs & all should be much "better!"
eli

[eliwhitney]

Hi ( again) -

Consider that most local cable companies will rerun any new COAX of the needed type/ gauge either for free or at most a nominal fee all the way from their outside main line into that HDTV, totally by-passing all else.

[akirby]

Another difference is that the DVD player can only output 480p over component cables while the HD Tivo could (and should) output 720p or 1080i. That might explain why the DVD player is ok and the Tivo gets interference.

I don't think there's any way to get a good component video picture over a 40 foot run with regular coax. With Quad shield RG6 - maybe.

I agree with Eli - bite the bullet and put your gear closer to the TV. Or buy some custom Component cables and have them installed by an electrician and run through the basement or attic. I have a 30' custom component cable that works fine, but it's much heavier than even quad shield RG6.

[skookumchuck]

Check the ground at the catv source (interface). Horizontal scrolling lines are a very common problem with poor grounding at the catv interface. Try moving the TIVO to the TV location, with shorter component cables, and the same catv source. If you still have horizontal lines, you have proven the bad ground issue.

[ofield]

One more thing I would add is too get rid of the progressive 480p DVD player.
I would suggest a OPPO DVD Upconverter they are the very best on the market.
You will be amazed at the picture quality of standard dvd's with these units.

[akirby]

Only with HDMI though.

[mstockfisch]

I saw a very impressive demo of HDMI-over coax at this year's CES show. I'm not sure if this is commercially avaliable yet, but if so, you should be able to pass 1080i without incident. See http://www.pulselink.net/assets/pdfs/33 ... _Brief.pdf for details.

Mark