Home Theater Problem - Genius Needed

[ryshandyr]

Hey Folks,

I'm hoping to garner some of the great ideas on the forums here and try to solve my own theater problem. So far I've only got half-solutions and I'd love to hear your thoughts on what else might work;

Best to start with the image and then read on.

I have a beautiful HD projector, 5.1 sound and rolling with XBMC on a laptop as my HTPC which plays all my media over an ethernet link. It all works great except that It's not ceiling mounted...

I have two problems;

1. I need to find a lightweight box that will hold both the projector and the laptop, probably one with a slope (for the projector). The idea is to attach the 'box' to the ceiling, beside the celing mounted power and ethernet points
2. Even if I do manage to find and anchor a 'box' to the ceiling I now need to get my 5.1 digital sound signal to the amp. I've had a look for wireless broadcasting units but they all seem ridiculously expensive

Is there a much simpler way to accomplish what I'm trying to do? If so please set me on the right track

Many thanks

/Ry

[mediasolutions]

Hi Ry,

This is my very first post, so please bear with me as I write.

Where is the CAT5 cable going to from the projector?

Regards

Nigel

[newbie1]

Hi Ryshandyr

I have a similar setup but works as follows:

Laptop connects to AVR (Denon 2808) via HDMI for picture and optical for sound, AVR then sends picture to projector via HDMI cable (15m).

This means I can use a conventional ceiling mount for the projector.

Is there a reason why this would not work for you?

[lite]

ah, looks like your stuck with some cables showing, unless the ethernet cable is loose, in which case you can attach string to the end of it, and pull it through, then attach the audio cable also to the string, and pull it back through,

[ryshandyr]

Originally Posted by mediasolutions

Hi Ry,

This is my very first post, so please bear with me as I write.

Where is the CAT5 cable going to from the projector?

Regards

Nigel

The CAT5 port in the roof was intended for the laptop that would also sit up with the projector

[ryshandyr]

Originally Posted by newbie1

Hi Ryshandyr

I have a similar setup but works as follows:

Laptop connects to AVR (Denon 2808) via HDMI for picture and optical for sound, AVR then sends picture to projector via HDMI cable (15m).

This means I can use a conventional ceiling mount for the projector.

Is there a reason why this would not work for you?

Several inches of carpet and floorboards are my obstacles. Did you run the cable in the ceiling or externally along the ceiling?

[newbie1]

Hi Ryshandyr

My construction is concrete so I put a tube inside the concrete for this purpose when it was built.

As lite said depending on where and how the cat5 cable is routed you could follow that for either a new sound cable. Or you do the same to put in an HDMI / component / S-video cable to feed the projector from an AVR in a more conventional setup with the laptop feeding the AVR.

In other properties I always found it was possible to feed cables under floor boards, between cavity walls, etc but not always easy! How did you get the cat5 and power socket in the ceiling?

[calibos]

Originally Posted by ryshandyr

The CAT5 port in the roof was intended for the laptop that would also sit up with the projector

But if you put cables specifically in the roof at the projector location, why on earth did you put CAT 5 up there for a laptop....beside the projector...hanging from the roof....when instead you could have run a HDMI to the PJ location and had the laptop on a coffee table beside you.

Unless I am misunderstanding something.

Is that the only ethernet cable for the whole room?? Did you run no other cables to the PJ location except power and Cat 5 ???

Sounds like the most wacky unconventional layout I have ever heard of.

[ryshandyr]

Originally Posted by newbie1

Hi Ryshandyr

In other properties I always found it was possible to feed cables under floor boards, between cavity walls, etc but not always easy! How did you get the cat5 and power socket in the ceiling?

Before we moved into the house we had the chance to make some minor changes; a socket and an ethernet port in the ceiling were what I thought would be enough.

I'd forgotten about the audio though!

doh!

[ryshandyr]

Originally Posted by calibos

But if you put cables specifically in the roof at the projector location, why on earth did you put CAT 5 up there for a laptop....beside the projector...hanging from the roof....when instead you could have run a HDMI to the PJ location and had the laptop on a coffee table beside you.

Unless I am misunderstanding something.

Is that the only ethernet cable for the whole room?? Did you run no other cables to the PJ location except power and Cat 5 ???

Sounds like the most wacky unconventional layout I have ever heard of.

I had originally intended to do the sound over the air back to the AMP - so all I needed was a video feed (local htpc laptop displaying content on the network).

Since then though getting 5.1 audio across the air is proving to be a complete nightmare.

Hence my need for genius - or loads and loads of cash

/Ry

[newbie1]

Ry OK

Here is another idea - use the cat 5 cable to transmit the picture from the AVR to the PJ instead of an HDMI. This means the rest of your setup can be conventional.

I have never done this but it is possible, try another thread on it or google "video over cat5" and you will find products that don't look too expensive.

I think this will solve your problem and avoids any new cables.

[ryshandyr]

Originally Posted by newbie1

Ry OK

Here is another idea - use the cat 5 cable to transmit the picture from the AVR to the PJ instead of an HDMI. This means the rest of your setup can be conventional.

I have never done this but it is possible, try another thread on it or google "video over cat5" and you will find products that don't look too expensive.

I think this will solve your problem and avoids any new cables.

I have recently been looking into this - unfortunately all the decent high-res signals require two cat5 cables to carry the signal.

I reckon the carpet and floorboards are coming up

/Ry


Thanks for all the suggestions so far folks - much appreciated.

[newbie1]

Hi Ry

Looks like only one cat5 is needed if you only need the video and you can pick them up for a few quid:

HDMI Cat5e - Cat6 Extender - HDMI Over Cat5e / Cat6 1080p 30m Only £32.29 at TVCables

[mediasolutions]

Hi Ry,

Simple solution:

1. Purchase a secure and quality projector mount from Omnimoun - PMD0.5 or so to mount the projector on the ceiling. This will also support cable management and provide adequate cooling for the unit.

2. Purchase a single cable CAT5 HDMI extender from SCP / Habitech in the UK... Audio & Video Cables : Accessories : Structured Cable Products

3. Position the Laptop beside the AVR and connect the audio...

or

Follow step 1 above

Instead of using your laptop for playback, why not use a Network Media Tank like Popcorn Hour or ZyXEL... they are both awesome and not that expensive...

One tip tho, if you think you need just one CAT5 always put a second cable in...

Hope this helps...

Nigel

[ryshandyr]

Originally Posted by mediasolutions

Hi Ry,

Simple solution:

1. Purchase a secure and quality projector mount from Omnimoun - PMD0.5 or so to mount the projector on the ceiling. This will also support cable management and provide adequate cooling for the unit.

2. Purchase a single cable CAT5 HDMI extender from SCP / Habitech in the UK... Audio & Video Cables : Accessories : Structured Cable Products

3. Position the Laptop beside the AVR and connect the audio...

or

Follow step 1 above

Instead of using your laptop for playback, why not use a Network Media Tank like Popcorn Hour or ZyXEL... they are both awesome and not that expensive...

One tip tho, if you think you need just one CAT5 always put a second cable in...

Hope this helps...

Nigel

Great idea - thanks for the links too.
/Ry