Video wiring

[FatimaandAhmed]

Hello everyone!

What’s the best way to run HDMI cables and other video wiring through walls for a clean setup? The run will likely be around 30 feet, so I’m concerned about signal loss or interference. Should signal boosters, HDMI over Ethernet, or any particular cable type be used for such distances?

[machinist]

Hi there!

When running HDMI cables through walls, especially for a 30-foot distance, you'll want to be a bit strategic about it. The good news is that there are several reliable ways to handle this. Your ideal choice would be to use either a Premium Certified HDMI 2.1 cable or a fiber optic HDMI cable – both are great options, though fiber optic will cost you a bit more but gives you rock-solid reliability for longer runs. Just make sure whatever cable you choose is rated for in-wall use (look for CL2 or CL3 on the specification).

Here's the thing about running cables through walls – you'll want to use wall plates to keep things looking clean, and if you can swing it, installing a conduit is a smart move. Think of it as future-proofing your setup. It means you won't have to tear up your walls again if you need to upgrade your cables down the line. When you're doing the actual installation, keep your HDMI cables away from power lines (about 8 inches of separation is good) to avoid any interference issues.

At 30 feet, you're right at the point where signal quality becomes a concern with standard HDMI cables. If you go with a regular HDMI cable, you'll want one with a built-in signal booster. However, if you're open to alternatives, HDMI over Ethernet is worth considering, especially if you might want to add more displays later or if you already have network cables running through your walls.

[FatimaandAhmed]

Thanks for the detailed response! Just curious, between fiber optic HDMI and HDMI over Ethernet, is there a significant difference in terms of video quality or latency? Which one would you recommend for a future-proof setup?

[machinist]

Let me break down the key differences between these two approaches.

Fiber optic HDMI is essentially a direct connection that offers virtually zero latency and can handle the highest video quality available today (like 8K/60Hz or 4K/120Hz with full HDR). It's as close to a "plug and play" solution as you can get, with incredible reliability over long distances. The only real downside is the higher upfront cost, typically ranging from $100-300 for a quality cable.

HDMI over Ethernet, on the other hand, is more flexible but slightly more complex. While modern solutions support excellent video quality (4K/60Hz is common), they usually have a tiny bit of latency - we're talking milliseconds, which you probably won't notice for TV or movies, but might matter if you're a competitive gamer. The big advantage is versatility: you can run multiple video streams over the same network infrastructure, extend to multiple rooms easily, and even add control systems later.

For a truly future-proof setup, I'd actually recommend installing both: a fiber optic HDMI cable for your primary high-performance connection, and Cat6a or better Ethernet cables in conduit for flexibility. If that's outside your budget, I'd lean toward HDMI over Ethernet simply because it gives you more options down the line. Plus, network cables are generally cheaper to replace if something better comes along.

[FatimaandAhmed]

Would you recommend shielded Cat6a for HDMI over Ethernet to reduce interference, or is unshielded good enough?

[machinist]

For HDMI over Ethernet, especially in-wall installations, shielded Cat6a is definitely worth the extra cost. When you're running audio/video signals, any interference can show up as visible artifacts or audio glitches – much more noticeable than a slight slowdown in network speed. While unshielded Cat6a can technically handle the bandwidth, you're running these cables through walls where they might pass near electrical wiring, LED lights, or other potential sources of interference. Think of it like insurance for your video quality. The shielding provides an extra layer of protection that's particularly valuable for AV signals, and the cost difference usually isn't huge – maybe $20-30 more for a typical installation. Plus, if you're already investing in the HDMI-over-Ethernet converters and doing the work to run cables through walls, it makes sense to use the most reliable cable you can.

That said, if you're running the cables through a dedicated conduit that's well-separated from power lines and other interference sources, unshielded could work fine. But given that opening up walls later to fix interference issues would be a major hassle, I'd say go with shielded Cat6a for the peace of mind.

[FatimaandAhmed]

Thank you for the information, machinist!