Hi-Def video senders (long post, sorry!)

[Paul Gordon <paul_gordon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Peeps, having finally got a nice shiny new TiVo from Virgin, I'm
consequently ditching my (much hated) Sky+HD box, and at the same time
having to revisit how I distribute the signal from the lounge to the
kitchen... a number of possible options are on the table and I like to seek
the groups collective wisdom & advice...

I have SWMBO approval to purchase a new Home Cinema amp for the lounge, and
I'm looking at the Denon AVR3311... there are a couple of features that I
particularly like on this model, that I think will be very useful in my
quest to finally distribute a "decent" picture to the kitchen TV,
which is
full-HD capable:
- It has 2 x HDMI outputs, & fully supports using both concurrently for
separate displays
- It supports HDMI pass-through whilst in standby (so I don't have to have
the amp powered on all the time)
I need to check on a couple of specifics before I purchase: - it also has a
set of component outputs, but I need to confirm how that's implemented to
determine if that's also something I could use to distribute HD to a 2nd
display (e.g. does that also support pass-through in standby?)

I currently use a set of KAT5 modules to send S-Video from the SCART on the
Sky box over a single CAT5 to the kitchen. The new TiVo has a SCART
available, but as yet I don't know what signals are available from it, so I
don't know yet if it outputs S-Video (in which case I _could_ just continue
to use the same method).

Since the source & display are both HD capable, & have spare HDMI
ports, I'=
d
love to use a HDMI signal, but - and this is the bit where Mark McCall will
no doubt laugh his way out of his undergarments... - all HDMI-CAT5 senders
that I'm aware of require TWO CAT5 runs, and I don't currently have enough
CAT5 runs to the location in the kitchen where the TV is situated... :-0 
(=
I
can hear him chuckling already!)

So as I see it, my choices as far as source signal go are:
1:Stick with S-video - issue there is I'm not 100% certain the TiVo
provide=
s
it on its SCART
2:Use Component from the new amp - issue there is I'm not certain it can be
used in standby, & I'd prefer not to *have* to leave the amp on all the
tim=
e
3:Use HDMI - Issue here is I don't have 2 x CAT5 runs between the TX &
RX
ends

It's probably not impossible to get a new CAT5 run to the TV location, but
it's definitely a PITA, & a load of additional work I'd prefer not to
have
to do...

The TiVo source only has a single HDMI, currently connected to the living
room TV. My plan would be to replace the current amp with the 3311, connect
all HDMI sources directly to that. 1 of the HDMI outputs from the amp then
goes to the living room TV, leaving a spare HDMI output available which
carries the same signal as the first one, & thus could be used to feed
the
kitchen. Since both HDMI's (allegedly) passthrough while the amp is in
standby, I don't have to rely on the amp always being powered on for the
remote TV to get a feed... There is also a _possibility_ of having a
component output available for the same purpose depending on the passthough
operation... (I'm not counting on that though).

So assuming I decide to tap off the 2nd HDMI... - I can either go wired
(bu=
t
then I'd definitely need to retro-fit another CAT5 run), or there are
wireless HDMI extenders available... (for a greater cost of course). Looks
like wired HDMI-CAT5 units can be got from as little as =A330-odd at the
ch=
eap
end, with mid-range units available for well under a ton... Wireless ones
OTOH, look like they only start at about =A3180-ish and go all the way up
t=
o
=A3stupid money....

Wireless would be a *lot* easier to retro-fit, and most also provide the
return IR signal too.. such as this one:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/wireless-hdmi-video-sender-kit-503801
- but I just
have an intense aversion to wireless video senders based on all my previous
experiences of them (i,e, not one has ever worked to my entire
satisfaction).=20

So, after all that rambling, I'll get to the point of my post, - which is
t=
o
ask specifically if anyone has direct personal experience of ANY HDMI video
senders, either wired or wireless, and would care to offer
comments/opinion=
s
on them to aid my decision making process?... Or, does anyone already have
=
a
Denon 3311 & could answer my remaining questions regarding its
operation?

And the obvious advice to come out of all this is: RUN MORE CAT5 CABLE THAN
YOU THINK YOU'LL EVER NEED!!!! :-)

Cheers.

Paul G.









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