A Discussion On Video Cable Construction

truedamen · 01-30-2008, 06:02 PM

You cannot go wrong with them.

truedamen · 01-30-2008, 06:08 PM

Bluejean make quality cables with tight tolerences.

spidermonkey11 · 08-11-2009, 01:13 PM

This might be a bit controversial, but I wan't about to pay about 100 bucks for an AV cable. An HDMI is simply 4 runs of Shielded Twisted Pair, 7 other wires, and an external shield. You can google to find out the applicable signals if you care to. In short I cut and spliced in appropriate wires to make a 3ft HDMI into 36 feet long. Works great with no issues and is currently routed from my flat screen in the bedroom to a nice HDMI/COAX/EHTERNET wall plate behind my entertainment center. It's not a hack job it looks nice, is completely functional, and not at all visible. I urge you to not waste your money on an overpriced trendy product. With a little effort anyone can do this. It might just take a little time. If you would like help I would be glad to share my knowledge or at least advice with you. If you would like one produced I can do that as well. As long as I take money away from the companies that manufacture these I am happy .

Stew4HD · 08-12-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidermonkey11

This might be a bit controversial, but I wan't about to pay about 100 bucks for an AV cable. An HDMI is simply 4 runs of Shielded Twisted Pair, 7 other wires, and an external shield. You can google to find out the applicable signals if you care to. In short I cut and spliced in appropriate wires to make a 3ft HDMI into 36 feet long. Works great with no issues and is currently routed from my flat screen in the bedroom to a nice HDMI/COAX/EHTERNET wall plate behind my entertainment center. It's not a hack job it looks nice, is completely functional, and not at all visible. I urge you to not waste your money on an overpriced trendy product. With a little effort anyone can do this. It might just take a little time. If you would like help I would be glad to share my knowledge or at least advice with you. If you would like one produced I can do that as well. As long as I take money away from the companies that manufacture these I am happy .

The one thing you are totally missing in your "work-around" is proper shielding. Shielding is very important in longer runs. Why should a person go through all that work to build a cable when they can buy a properly soldered, properly shielded, properly tested HDMI cable for around 40$ for a 35' run (Monoprice.com and other sites)?

I do agree that a person not pay the high prices of "M" cables

spidermonkey11 · 08-12-2009, 02:53 PM

I am sorry I forgot to include that part....For shielding I use double braded cable sleeve soldered on both ends. So yea it does have shielding.

While we are on the subject though. I did test it out at it's current length before the shielding just because I was curious and it still worked fine....just FYI

IGExpandingPan · 08-15-2009, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidermonkey11

I am sorry I forgot to include that part....For shielding I use double braded cable sleeve soldered on both ends. So yea it does have shielding.

While we are on the subject though. I did test it out at it's current length before the shielding just because I was curious and it still worked fine....just FYI

Is it possible to splice your own HDMI cable? Maybe.

Would you want to? Probably not.

Given a 25~35ft run runs $25~40ish, once you add the cost of the wire, the cost of braded shielding, heat shrink tubing, soldering, short HDMI run, you're not saving $25~$40ish. Maybe a percent if you get your wire on the surplus market.

You are starting to see crimp on HDMI connectors, though I lost the link, but odds are high that such custom lengths would cost higher than your average monoprice cable. If you need to go through 1 inch conduit, there is the monoprice flat cable, but I imagine that if you want to run 3 or 4, the crimp on connectors become more practical.

I'm a do it yourself sort of guy, and this is something I wouldn't bother, and to be honest I doubt I have the skill. My limit is DB connectors, and even on those it's pretty cost effective to go suprlus market.

spidermonkey11 · 08-17-2009, 02:44 PM

It's really not difficult to do just a bit time consuming. I did this almost a year ago when HDMI was a bit more pricey. As far as materials goes I do alot of wiring work so I actually have bulk materials readily available.

Loves2Watch · 08-17-2009, 02:58 PM

Since you can purchase high quality HDMI cables for so little at places like www.monoprice.com it seems time consuming/wasteful and absurd to attempt to make your own, that is unless you have lots of time to kill (in that case I would be making more money) or you just want to do it to say you did.

spidermonkey11 · 08-17-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loves2Watch

Since you can purchase high quality HDMI cables for so little at places like www.monoprice.com it seems time consuming/wasteful and absurd to attempt to make your own, that is unless you have lots of time to kill (in that case I would be making more money) or you just want to do it to say you did.

Well when I did it I did have a signifficant amount of time to kill....just moved to a new area and really didn't have anything to do. Also I really enjoy doing stuff like that. I completely agree with the monoprice thing if you don't want to do it yourself or can't. I am not saying that everyone must/should do it I am just saying it's possible and I have done it.

Actually I just bought a few 1.5 ft cables for $3 each online. Not sure how good of quality they are, but I am about to build a few more just like the one I have described. Not building them for anyone else, just seeing if there is a major difference and if I can improve my design/process. Simply to satisfy curiosity. I should be completely finished by thursday.

Talking with all of you I get the impression as if I committed some huge sin in the electronics world by doing this. Quite silly really

Scottnot · 08-17-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spidermonkey11

Talking with all of you I get the impression as if I committed some huge sin in the electronics world by doing this. Quite silly really

Not sure about the level of the sin, but certainly goes against good and established engineering practices.

spidermonkey11 · 08-18-2009, 11:01 AM

Well yeah that is true. But it can be fun to just screw around with stuff. Could be an interesting learning experience for someone new to wiring and stuff. I don't think it's a good idea for someone to try this for no reason but for novice's (no offense people) it is enlightening to just look inside the beast. I personally will try this with anything.....it's fun for me ya know.

01-30-2008, 06:02 PM	#16
truedamen HD By Any Means Necessary Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 197	You cannot go wrong with them. __________________ MAN ROOM Mitsubishi WD-57731 Toshiba HD-A2 Sony PS3 60G Direct TV HR21 5LNB Onkyo TX-SR605 Dual Polk Audio RTi8, RM6750 Speakers and PSW505 Powered Subwoofer Antenna Direct DB8 Multidirectional Ant. Cyberpower - PP1500SWT2 UPS BLUE RAY-56,HD-DVD-49

01-30-2008, 06:08 PM	#17
truedamen HD By Any Means Necessary Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 197	Bluejean make quality cables with tight tolerences. __________________ MAN ROOM Mitsubishi WD-57731 Toshiba HD-A2 Sony PS3 60G Direct TV HR21 5LNB Onkyo TX-SR605 Dual Polk Audio RTi8, RM6750 Speakers and PSW505 Powered Subwoofer Antenna Direct DB8 Multidirectional Ant. Cyberpower - PP1500SWT2 UPS BLUE RAY-56,HD-DVD-49

08-11-2009, 01:13 PM	#18
spidermonkey11 I can rebuild it! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Age: 27 Posts: 14	HDMI construction and Extension This might be a bit controversial, but I wan't about to pay about 100 bucks for an AV cable. An HDMI is simply 4 runs of Shielded Twisted Pair, 7 other wires, and an external shield. You can google to find out the applicable signals if you care to. In short I cut and spliced in appropriate wires to make a 3ft HDMI into 36 feet long. Works great with no issues and is currently routed from my flat screen in the bedroom to a nice HDMI/COAX/EHTERNET wall plate behind my entertainment center. It's not a hack job it looks nice, is completely functional, and not at all visible. I urge you to not waste your money on an overpriced trendy product. With a little effort anyone can do this. It might just take a little time. If you would like help I would be glad to share my knowledge or at least advice with you. If you would like one produced I can do that as well. As long as I take money away from the companies that manufacture these I am happy .

08-12-2009, 02:53 PM	#20
spidermonkey11 I can rebuild it! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Age: 27 Posts: 14	Extending HDMI Cables I am sorry I forgot to include that part....For shielding I use double braded cable sleeve soldered on both ends. So yea it does have shielding. While we are on the subject though. I did test it out at it's current length before the shielding just because I was curious and it still worked fine....just FYI

08-17-2009, 02:44 PM	#22
spidermonkey11 I can rebuild it! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Age: 27 Posts: 14	Extending HDMI Cables It's really not difficult to do just a bit time consuming. I did this almost a year ago when HDMI was a bit more pricey. As far as materials goes I do alot of wiring work so I actually have bulk materials readily available.

08-17-2009, 02:58 PM	#23
Loves2Watch SPAM Police Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: AZ, NM, TX, MX Posts: 13,928	Since you can purchase high quality HDMI cables for so little at places like www.monoprice.com it seems time consuming/wasteful and absurd to attempt to make your own, that is unless you have lots of time to kill (in that case I would be making more money) or you just want to do it to say you did. __________________ Theater 1 - Panasonic TH-85PF12U Plasma TV, 6 Conrad Johnson LP275M Amps, Anthem Statement D-2 Pre/Pro, 6 Thiel SCS4 Speakers, 2 REL T-1 Subs, Infinity Interlude 120S Sub, Simaudio MOON Orbiter Universal Disc Player, ELP Laser Turntable, 2 Dish Network ViP 622 DVR's, Oppo BDP-83 Blu-ray Player, Onkyo DV-HD805 HD DVD Player. Friends don't let friends buy Korean brand TV's.

08-18-2009, 11:01 AM	#26
spidermonkey11 I can rebuild it! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Age: 27 Posts: 14	Extending HDMI Cables Well yeah that is true. But it can be fun to just screw around with stuff. Could be an interesting learning experience for someone new to wiring and stuff. I don't think it's a good idea for someone to try this for no reason but for novice's (no offense people) it is enlightening to just look inside the beast. I personally will try this with anything.....it's fun for me ya know. __________________ Let me help you help me help you.........or something like that. I do alot of unorthodox stuff so don't be offended if I don't agree with what you are saying

Similar Threads to A Discussion On Video Cable Construction
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
cables yes they do make a diffence if you have.....	"Install King"	Cables & Connections	22	12-22-2004 12:28 PM