Cat 5e/6a/7 and Fiber Optic

Gigabit Ethernet is fine on Cat5e unshielded but 10G Ethernet requires Cat6a or Cat7. AVoverIP devices should be at least Cat6a and shielded. Covers can be CL2 or CMP.

In addition to using Cat5e cables for Ethernet switch connections, these cables are also have many other uses.

Color coding non-Ethernet for HDMI extenders or control connections is recommended.

Fiber cables rated at 10 Gbps 40 Gbps, and 100 Gbps are standard. Home networks might use a 10Gbps multimode fiber for a high-speed backbone between Ethernet switches.

Speaker Wire

Speaker wire is a two conductor wire that varies in the gauge and cover based on application.

Thick wire (12 or 14 gauge) is recommended for long wire runs, high power applications, and low-impedance speakers (4 or 6 ohms).

For relatively short runs (less than 50 feet) to 8 ohm speakers, 16 gauge wire will usually do just fine. It’s cost-effective and easy to work with.

High-impedance 70v speakers can use even thinner wire, such as 18 gauge and speakers can be connected in serial with a home run back to a constant voltage amp.

Coax

Coax is still used for Cable TV and Internet cable distribution. RG6 coax cables are used for high-speed internet, CATV and satellite TV applications. Quad core and braided insulation offer higher shielding from interference. The two most common termination type is F connectors and BNC connectors.

Another RG6 coax cable application is SDI video distribution used for commercial.

RG59 coax, which is thinner and more flexible than RG6 should only be used for older CCTV or analog video.

Control/Security Wire

Control wires are used to, well, control something. HVAC, Irrigation and other systems have special wire types needed for their installation. You need to know in advance what the device you are controlling requires before installing the wire.

A common DC power wire is 16/2 AWG CL2 in-wall rated and connected a control panel to each device controlled, such as a motorized shade or screen.

Burglar alarm wire or security wire, is used to wire various components, such as passive door sensors and motion detectors to your alarm panel. The most commonly used security wires are 22 AWG and 18 AWG. Both are available in 2, 4, and sometimes even 6-conductor configurations to accommodate for a variety of security components.

HDMI

HDMI Cables connect TV’s and projectors to audio/video sources like cable and satellite receivers, AppleTV, Roku, BlueRay DVD Players, etc. HDMI combines high-definition video and audio over a single cable.

There are several HDMI cable types plus a special cable certification designation to choose from; each designed to meet a particular performance standard. Here is an overview of the HDMI high-speed cable types, their capabilities, and how to tell them apart. We do not recommend using standard speed HDMI cables.

The Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable

This latest HDMI cable is the only cable that complies with stringent specifications designed to ensure support for all HDMI 2.1 features including uncompressed 8k@60 and 4K@120. The cable’s bandwidth supports up to 48Gbps, it is backwards compatible with existing HDMI devices, and features exceptionally low EMI which reduces interference with nearby wireless devices. All cables support the Ethernet channel.

Premium High Speed HDMI Cable and Premium High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet

Premium HDMI Cables are a special certification for High Speed HDMI Cables that have been designed and certified for ultra-reliable performance for 4K/UltraHD including advanced features such as 4K60, HDR, and expanded color spaces including BT.2020. They have low EMI and are identified by HDMI LA’s Premium HDMI Cable Certification Label for authentication and in-field verification.

High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet

This cable type offers the same baseline performance as the High Speed HDMI Cable with an additional dedicated data channel, known as the HDMI Ethernet Channel, for device networking. HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality is only available if both linked devices are HDMI Ethernet Channel-enabled.

High Speed HDMI Cable

The High Speed HDMI Cable is designed and tested to handle video resolutions of 1080p and beyond, including advanced display technologies such as 4K@30Hz, 3D, and Deep Color. If you are using any of these technologies, or if you are connecting your 1080p HD display to a 1080p HD content source, such as a Blu-ray Disc player, this is the recommended cable.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort is also a digital cable with combined video and audio. This is commonly used between PC’s and monitors. Some TV’s have a DisplayPort input in addition to HDMI.

DisplayPort cables and ports may have either a "full-size" connector or a "mini" connector. These connectors differ only in physical shape—the capabilities of DisplayPort are the same regardless of which connector is used. Using a Mini DisplayPort connector does not affect performance or feature support of the connection.

HDMI Extenders

Sometimes called HDbaseT, HDMIoverIP, AVoverIP and SDVoE, these technologies have a similar purpose, to extend HDMI and other protocols over a Category 5e, 6A or better cable or Ethernet network. But, these technologies are not compatible with each other.

When pre-wiring a new house, it is important to have a well-thought-out plan. How many TV’s and projectors? What types of video sources - cable, roku, appleTV, DVD, smart TV? One to one or one to many? Do you want these in a centralized rack to keep in a serviceable location?

The most flexible solution is one of the AV over IP types mentioned above where each source has a AVoverIP transmitter (encoder) and each TV or projector as a AVoverIP receiver (decoder). All transmitters and receivers connect to an Ethernet switch, typically a POE+ switch that provides power. This design allows a control system to dynamically connect sources to one or all displays at the touch of a button. Want the Super Bowl on every TV in the house from a single cable receiver? No problem. Want to watch four different video sources at the same time on a large TV or projector screen in multiview? No problem.

But AVoverIP is not always the best option. Perhaps you only have a few TV’s and want to centralize the cable boxes in a rack in the basement. HDMI extenders are less expensive and also extend IR and Ethernet. So now you can use the cable remote and have a wired connection to the TV for Internet channels. Or better yet, put a wall mounted wireless access point on the ethernet with a built-in switch to connect the TV and a Sonos or MusicCast sound bar!

We love to put a 8x14 or 14x14 wall enclosure behind each TV to allow for flush mounting and hiding all power and electronics.

Balanced/Unbalanced Audio

Balanced audio is better for long cable lengths and handles interference better. Unbalanced audio, like the 3.5mm stereo output on an iPhone or TV is fine for short connections.