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mrwood's avatar
mrwood
Explorer
Jan 22, 2014

TV Upgrade Cable Routing

Hey Folks I'm a RV newbie, just purchased a used 2005 37' National Tropical LX. Since they're on longer in business I can't go to them for info, so here I am. I've replaced the front and rear TV's with new flat screens and upgraded my receiver as well. Of course all the new stuff uses HDMI instead of coaxial to connect components. So I need to route a new HDMI cable from the front receiver bay above the right side windshield to the rear TV in the bedroom in the back of the coach. I was hoping someone may have under taken this and might have some suggestions for routing of the new cable ( overhead, below thru the trunks, etc. especially how to get out of the front overhead to one of these routes)? Any ideas would be much appreciated as I have the skills, but could use some input from those who might have gone before me.....
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  • TechWriter's avatar
    TechWriter
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    Johno02 wrote:
    Most TVs and components still have coax cable connectors in addition to HDMI. In our case, as we are not using any satellite, I am just using coax that was installed in our coach. Believe it or not, High def signals work just as good for the purpose as HDMI. The major limit is how good of a signal you have in the first place. If we are local to a good OTA station, I get a really good HD picture.

    Yep, OTA HDTV can work fine with coax.

    The flip of that coin is that newer sat receivers, like DISH's Hopper & DirecTV's Genie, are designed to send HD signals over regular coax -- options to consider before you start pulling HDMI cable.
  • Johno02's avatar
    Johno02
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    Most TVs and components still have coax cable connectors in addition to HDMI. In our case, as we are not using any satellite, I am just using coax that was installed in our coach. Believe it or not, High def signals work just as good for the purpose as HDMI. The major limit is how good of a signal you have in the first place. If we are local to a good OTA station, I get a really good HD picture. Another thing, the picture can never be any better that what comes down a coax from the antenna. I do have my DVD player attached to our main TV via HDMI, but it is also connected to the back TV via coax, and we can't tell the difference.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Jan 23, 2014
    You also may not need HD on the other TV's. If HD on the main TV and the SD version on the other TV's work then you can use an RF modulator to send the signal via coax throughout the coach.
  • Alfred622's avatar
    Alfred622
    Explorer
    Jan 23, 2014
    I was going to suggest wireless also, but TechWriter beat me to it. The ioGear he pointed to looks pretty good to me. Pulling HDMI cable is tougher because of the large connector on each end. If you do buy HDMI cable, check Amazon - I got 25' there for under $20 (works great) while my local audiophile store was over $100 for 25'.
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Jan 23, 2014
    The longest you can go with HDMI cables is about 35 foot. Longer and the signal may not make it. Current RV's that use HDMI use a powered booster that feeds up to 5 TV's. You can also use Cat 5 cable and buy the Cat to HDMI or Component adapter. That is what current Tiffin motorhomes are using. Doug

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