Professional Video Distribution in a Retrofit Installation

RETROFIT CHALLENGE

This installation tells the story of a 3-story home. The bottom floor has cement walls because it stands below the flood plain in Eastern Florida. Cement walls and other Florida building standards can make installing a modern audio-video distribution system very difficult. With cement walls and no conduit to run cables through, it's hard to find ways of distributing your cabling needed to handle high-quality signals.

• Previously installed old category cable could not send high bandwidth video long distances
• Centrally located AV distribution for a clean and professional looking finished installation
• High variety of brightness in display zones - displays need calibration to prevent loss in quality between zones

ABOUT US

AVPro Edge specializes in full bandwidth audio/video distribution. Working alongside HDMI, HDBaseT, and HDCP, we pride ourselves on developing uniquely engineered solutions for today's integrator. From 18Gbps matrix switchers and HDMI extension products to audio down-mixers and scalers, AVPro Edge's product line-up is diverse. As an original equipment manufacturer, we are so confident with the reliability of our products that we offer an industry-leading ten-year manufacturer's warranty. At AVPro Edge, we continue to push audio-video technology into the future and make sure our customers receive dependable products along the way

INSTALLATION

This job has a 16x16 modular matrix switch that connects multiple sources to 16 different zones throughout the home, inside and outside. The audio-video distribution system runs out of a centrally located rack-mounted matrix switcher designed by AVPro Edge to handle the latest signals in technology. From this central location, the integrators from HD2020 were able to keep all the audio, video, and control electronics in one central place, using category and fiber optics to distribute signals. With a Control 4 system for control, the end-users can watch any connected sources in any of the zones. So when our homeowner is grilling on the patio and has to walk from the kitchen to the family room, they can view the same signal in each zone, being played simultaneously with no audio delays that could cause overlap echos.

"The 16x16 chassis system is what it is; it's a chassis, so you have eight input slots and eight output slots. Those slots can be various types of solutions, so in this case, we have some down-mixing what we call the AVDM input cards for multichannel theater, broken down and downmixed to a 2-channel type scenario. We're putting HDBaseT output cards in there to put receivers on the other end. Fiber input cards and fiber output cards, and so ultimately it's a configurable piece of gear that will do whatever you want to do with that product." Stefan Tonjes, Regional Sales Manager of AVPro Edge

Each zone has different types of displays, including Sony, LG, Samsung, and others. Even though the install has a complete 16x16 matrix switch, three zones are not being used but are available for future use. The ability to customize the matrix gives the integrator options when the customer is looking to change things up down the road. sources to 16 different zones throughout the home, inside and outside. The audio-video distribution system runs out of a centrally located rack-mounted matrix switcher designed by AVPro Edge to handle the latest signals in technology. From this central location, the integrators from HD2020 were able to keep all the audio, video, and control electronics in one central place, using category and fiber optics to distribute signals.

"We're taking and supplementing what wiring is already here with Cat6 cable and Cat6 shield and also fiber optic so that we can bring the infrastructure of the house up to the standards of today." Don Dunn, Senior System Designer of HD2020

FUTURE PROOFING

HD2020 is not only installing quality Category 6a cable throughout the entire home. They are also running duplex fiber optics. Even though these fiber optic strands are not in use right away, because the integrator is pulling cable, it only makes sense for them to pull fiber as well. When redoing the wiring, comparing the price of adding new fiber strands now versus five years from now, it's a no-brainer for a minimal cost. Just one more way HD2020 is setting itself up for happy customers down the road. 

OPTIMIZATION

Murideo specializes in picture quality and signal optimization. Jason Dustal of Murideo was consulted on this project, even coming on-site and calibrating the displays. When calibrating different displays with different brands, it's essential to make them look similar. Some of the displays in this home are inside, and some are outside, dramatically changing picture quality on uncalibrated TVs. Brightness settings, in particular, can be challenging in these scenarios. Jason made sure the pictures on the various TVs look the best they can without blowing out the colors. 

Our biggest concern at Murideo especially is making sure that the best possible image is making its way to the screen and making sure the screen is reproducing that image as accurately and as good as it can for that room that it's in." Jason Dustal, Training and Support of Murideo