720p is more than enough until you get up in the 50 inch range unless you are sitting two feet from the TV. I can't think of any reason to run HDMI in the wall unless you will have your receivers in a cabinet at the base of the wall. In that case - might as well, just to make it clean.

Here's what I would run:


Minimum of two runs of RG6 to wherever your receiver will be
Cat5 (or 6 or whatever it is these days)
HDMI from your equipment rack to the display (assuming your display has HDMI) - If money is a big concern here (because of a long run) go with component cables - No need for audio cables if you'll have it hooked up to a stereo
Speaker cables from the equipment rack to the speakers

is your tv going to be 25 feet from your directv receiver? If not then you just run coax to the DTV receiver and HDMI from the receiver to the tv. I would also run dual coax lines incase you one day get a tivo or Direc TV's hidef DVR receiver.

if you threten to cancel your account you will get the high def receiver for free (vs $199). the catch is they will sight you up to a 2 year contract. I did it for my home.

Okay, thanks guys. The TV isn't more than 25' away from my proposed site where the DirecTV receiver will go. So if I'm reading you guys correctly, I can run a HDMI from the DTV box to the TV for future HDTV use OR run at least two coax lines to the TV.

Question: Why two coax lines? Does hidef need two?

* I ain't never bought me a hidef teevee befo'
-Jimmy

High def doesn't need 2 but The DVR (digital video recorder) needs 2. When I had my tv in the garage Having a DVR was the best thing cause i can just catch up on episodes of ALMS races while working on the car.

Here is the back of the Direct TV HD DVR. It also has a RF remote so you dont have to point it at the receiver to change the chanells.
http://www.dbstalk.com/hr20/images/Small/08-backpanel.jpg

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=140292&page=43&highlight=directv
Here are deals existing customers are getting on Directv upgrades. It will cost you 20 minutes of your time but it is well worth it. I got a new Hd satalite, HR-20 DVR, Free HD package for 6 months and $20 off my bill for 4 months, waived the $19.95 shipping fee. Not as good as some of the others but a good deal considering I was a happy customer before.

I would run flexable conduit in the wall for the TV signal. This way if you upgrade later, you don't have to tear up the drywall. I did that in my house I'm building for speakers outside and in the living room. I forgot to add a coax connection in my garage for a TV. :(

Yeah all of the in-wall cables (including coax) should go to your equipment rack. Then you will only need an HDMI or component cable to go from the equipment to the TV (outside of wall, or inside if you want to get fancy).

That's a good idea on the conduit - allows for future upgrades.

Another question: how good is the S-video cable in terms of versatility? I'm being a cheapass in trying not to buy a long HDMI cable, so any input is appreciated.

I just got through wearing out a few spade bits drilling holes in thestuds for coax and other whatnot. I'm not running a componet rack, but plan to have at least have a DirecTV receiver, a stereo receiver and a DVD. Speakers (just two) are gonna mounted way up high on the walls and in the corners of the garage.

A few more holes to drill and then I'll be buying cable.

-Jimmy

From my understanding S-video is incapable of showing high def. My DTV receiver came with a HDMI cable. I would just stick to that or component video

Here is what the wiki has to say about the svid specs. I'm not even close to being an expert so if I'm wrong someone correct me.

Due to a lack of bandwidth, S-Video connections are generally not considered suitable for high-definition video signals. As a result, HD sources are generally connected to a monitor by way of analog component video or wideband digital methods (usually HDMI or DVI).

The situation with VCRs is a bit unusual; the common S-Video connector was designed for Super VHS and Hi8 VCRs as a high-bandwidth video connection, and has been used for the same purpose on a great number of other consumer devices, coming into greatest prominence with the rise of the DVD format. Many digital, and all Hi-8, and S-VHS-C camcorders support S-Video out as well.

IMHO I dont thik you need to purchase a high dollar hdmi cable either. My thought process was its digital, the run from receiver to tv is short. When was the last time someone said you needed a mega dollar USB cable? Never.

imho, go with the HDMI now. It's not hugely expensive and you'll thank yourself down the road. check monoprice.com for some good prices. some other experts might weigh in with a different site, but I've always found monoprice.com to be good quality, very good prices, and they ship very quickly.

good luck!

A cheap HDMI cable would be much better than a really expensive S-Video. At the least you want to go with component, which can display 720p. I'm with pjsammy, I'd go w/ HDMI if you can squeeze out the extra dough.

Check out this place:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&style=

I haven't read a ton of reviews - but they seem decent. Get the shortest cable w/ the lowest AWG possible.

You guys are the best! The monoprice site is CHEAP.

Here's what I've got arriving in the next day or so:

1 25 foot HDMI
2 HDMI decora wall outlets (gotta make it look clean)
1 25 foot shielded coax (receiver to monitor)
2 50 foot shielded coax (from dish to DTV box)
1 100 feet of speaker wire

I think I'm set. I may drill a new set of holes now since I'm stuffing a bunch of cable into a 3/4" hole through the studs.

Anything else I missed?


-Jimmy

Make sure to use those metal plates that attach to the stud to protect the wires. You don't want to run all of those cables, then ruin one or all when a drywall screw or nail goes through them.

Make sure to use those metal plates that attach to the stud to protect the wires. You don't want to run all of those cables, then ruin one or all when a drywall screw or nail goes through them.

Good point. Sparky already put that in for the electrcity, and I noticed he also drilled the holes a good 3" in from the drywall face (I am using 2x6 studs instead of 2x4). I just figured out that I have to drill a series of new holes for the HDMI cable...the connector is about 0.9" wide and I drilled 3/4" holes already. Arghh.

-Jimmy

8/30

A few progress shots...

First layer of the torch-down roof was laid today on the garage and the addition. They're going to do the entire roof since we have leaks in this house and redo the Spanish tile too. Roofing in the summer heat with a torch has gotta suck...I could never do roofing.

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/500/8_29_07_013.jpg

I actually had a chance to climb around up here and take a few snapshots. If I had a second story, I'd have a decent view of the 'hood.

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/500/8_29_07_022jpg

I got a package from Brown today....the cables and wallplates came in from monoprice.com in 1 day!! Thanks for the links, fellas. I will be routing the cables this weekend.

-Jimmy

Lookin good! I found the monoprice site just by doing a little research for you, lol! :biggthump I'm sure I'll use it in the future.

Cat5 (or 6 or whatever it is these days)



Just FYI - Cat6a (augmented) is the latest. It's bandwidth is 500 MHz and is capable of running 10Gbase-T.

I design this stuff for a living.

www.smpdata.com

nice garage! I'm just trying to keep the water out of mine!

This is a awesome project, great pics for the build.

JUN

i cant wait intell im 30

my garage is going to be badass

nice build cant wait to see the finished project!

Update 9/21/07:

Stucco guys and insulation guys have done their magic and we're getting ready for the the stuff that makes things feel like a home -- drywall and doors.

Here it is, all wrapped up.

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/1058/9_19_07_004.jpg

http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/1058/9_19_07_008.jpg

Next update: rough drywall and interior shots of insulation.

We finally got some rain here in SoCal after about 6 months of no rain. Roof is holding up well!

-Jimmy

This isn't even my place and I feel like I want the construction to end, lol! I want to see the finished product.

Here, this might help:

http://www.smithworksforge.com/leatherItems/images/1bullWhip.jpg