Running AV cables through a wall?

[deerminator]

Hoping someone can help. What I'm looking to do is to run a set of cables from my wall mounted TV in the family room downstairs straight through the wall into the laundry room directly on the other side. The idea is the DVD player and stereo tuner will be on a shelf on the other side.

We just recently finished our basement and the GC talked of cutting small circular hole (right behind the TV) straight thru and running a small PVC pipe thru to feed the wires. This should be fairly simple and I'm thinking that's what I'll do but maybe there's a better route. Doesn't seem like it but I thought I'd check.

P.S. I know I'll have to go into the laundry room to start a DVD and adjust the sound, etc. but that's a sacrafice I'm willing to make to not have all the equipment out. Family room is a smaller space and so it's nice to have sleek look of TV on wall.

P.S. II A sound/image place in town talked of adding a sensor right below the TV so I could avoid that problem and adjust the DVD and tuner from the family room even though the equipment is on the other side of the wall. But it's a little pricy so we'll see how tedious going to another room is for now.

[Jim Uran]

Can't you build yourself a shelf to set the reciever/dvd player below the TV and run the wiring through the wall down to the reciever/dvd player.. that's what I did.

[merkman]

The remote issue can be solved with an RF Remote.

They "work though walls"

Some pieces of equipment come with RF remotes nowa days.

Other options would include building recessed shelves on each side of the TV to hold the equipment.

Those "shelves" could also have a door on them so you could close the door when they were not in use.

The PVC pipe idea is much cheaper though! :-)

[deerminator]

Thanks guys. Basically, the wall the TV sits on is not all that big, about six feet wide, before a corner fireplace starts taking over. I already have a small slim shelf underneath the TV with the right, left and center speakers on it. I just don't want it to get too crowded so I'm having the equipment in the other room.

Anwyay, I think I'll check into that RF remote as my equipment is a little older, good Sony and Yamaha stuff, but older.

P.S. I am not good with electronics so re-hooking everything up will be the next challenge. lol I moved most of it down from our living room.

[Jim Almquist]

Back when I did home theater installs we installed IR extenders that would take the signal from the wall of your tv room and send them to the equipment room and flash all of the gear that needed a IR signal and the one it was for would react to it. If I remember they were not that expensive and real straight forward to install. I can't remember who we got them from but my guess would be Capital Sale's or maybe Graybar. Hope this helps or at least lets you know that it can be done.

[CJH]

I have something similar where I have a TV mounted over a gas fireplace and then conduit run to the bookshelf next to it where the components are stored. Works/looks pretty slick and clean. (the wife is happy if that says anything)

As far as having the components downstairs, I would definitely check into the repeater option. I don't think they are that expensive or hard to do.

[deerminator]

Thanks guys. So to cut through the dry wall, would you just use a circular cutter tool attached to a drill and then run the pipe through? Also, I h ave been checking out some repeaters and I've found quite a few for less than $100, one for $40 that's gotten rave reviews on Amazon.

[Surface Tension]

I've used IR extenders. Most connection blocks handle 4 devices. You'll get a connection block, IR emiter(one for each device), and a sensor. They work fine and can be used with your existing remote. That was some time ago so some kits might come with a remote. That can be good or bad.

A receiver doesn't have to be new to have an RF remote.

I have sat receivers with RF. That would be the best option IMO. You'll have different options there as far as kits.

[LakeDocktor]

deerminator, where in Central MN are you? I have done this and work with this on a daily basis. I could offer a hand if you need it. You could also pick up a cheap pyramid RF transmitter to relay your IR signal. Let me know, I can get anything at wholesale prices.

Is the TV going on an interior or exterior wall? Does the basement have a sheetrocked or drop ceiling? How far away is the laundry room from the TV location?

[deerminator]

Thanks LakeDocktor but I already got er done! I drilled a hole straight through the wall with a circular cutting tool from the family room to the laundry room on the other side where the components will sit on wall shelves pretty much right behind the TV on the other side of the wall. And I ordered an extender today and will get it set up. Thanks again!