Bob Frapples

2 Samsung, both about 5 years old, one Vizio about 4 years old. I don't know the models offhand. Ultimately, whatever solution I pick, I want it to be TV agnostic, since those will eventually get upgraded. Thanks for the suggestion--I'll check the Wyrestorm HD400 out.

Thanks! You outline your system but not the issue you are experiencing. Sorry if that wasn't clear: the second floor TVs aren't part of the first floor C4 system. They are standalone TVs. is there a reason the system was designed with 6 tvs but a 4x4 matrix? the sources in the 4x4 switch, are they not to be shared with second floor tvs - they have their own sources connected locally? I am not sure why they designed it this way, or why they designed the EA5 to be located on the first floor instead of in the basement. I assume they did it because it was easier/cheaper to run HDMI/IR because 2 of the 3 TVs on the first floor share a common wall with the media cabinet, and the third TV is only about 25 feet away in the next room. That's not how I would have designed this network, but, yes, the way it is set up now, the 4x4 matrix is enough because the first floor only has 3 TVs and each second floor TV is separate with its own source(s) and not connected at all to the C4 setup on the first floor. how many cat6 drops at each tv? Just 1. Unfortunately, there is no conduit to easily pull more, so running additional drops is going to be major engineering. Assume that isn't an option. what model TVs? If they are TVs running Android you could put an IRUSB at each TV in the USB input and use that IR to control the soundbar if the soundbar has an IR receiver (not sure how those sound bars work). Samsung, but I don't want to depend on having a particular model of TV. The Sonos units are connected via digital audio to the TVs and integrated into the Sonos network, so that part of the setup is fine. I am basically trying to eliminate the local sources at each of the second floor TVs and get them integrated into the C4 network. You could also sell the 4x4 and buy a bigger HDMI HDBaseT matrix or get a flexible/scalable Video over IP distribution system and that will give you extra IR at each location too. Yes, those are the two ideas I mentioned above. With HDBaseT, though, I can't get to the first floor media cabinet since I don't have any direct runs to that cabinet from the second floor. That's why my first idea was HDBaseT in the basement because I have direct runs from the TVs' drops to the basement, so HDBaseT would work. I would need an appropriate EA director for that option. Would an EA1 work for that? To get to the first floor media cabinet, I would have to go with an IP-based video distribution solution. That would certainly be more flexible. All 6 of the TVs could share all of the same sources. I am looking for ideas on equipment (particularly video distribution over IP) that people have used successfully in situations like this and whether adding an EA1 would work if HDBaseT is the better/only route. If you just need extra cable behind each TV you can put a small splitter to get an extra cable. Nope. Just trying to get the second floor to join the first floor's C4 party.

I am a longtime network engineer who recently purchased a home with a poorly designed C4 implementation. After some work, everything that should be working is working, but I have a design issue that is beyond my local C4 dealer's expertise. I'm hoping someone here with more C4 experience can help me with a second set of eyes. Here's the basic setup: First floor has 3 TVs, each with: Sonos Playbars, Cat6 drops running to a 24-port managed GigE switch in the basement, and HDMI/IR running to the first floor media cabinet. First floor media cabinet has a Wyrestorm 4x4 matrix, an EA5, 2 Apple TVs, a BluRay player, an HDTV antenna, and a small GigE switch connected to the basement switch. Second floor has 3 standalone TVs, each with Sonos Playbars and Cat6 drops running to the basement switch. I want to integrate the second floor TVs into the first floor's C4 setup. The dealer has offered a solution that amounts to 3 EA1s and 3 Apple TVs--basically 3 separate rooms--because there's "no way to transport HDMI or IR". Obviously, that's not true. Since each of the second floor TVs has a home run Cat6 to the basement, would it be possible to: -let the second floor Playbars connect via WiFi -put HDBaseT transmitters with the TVs -put an HDBaseT receiver in the basement and connect the Cat6 cables for the TVs to that instead of the Ethernet switch -add a matrix in the basement with an EA1/3/5(?) Alternatively, are there reliable and functional HDMI-and-IR-over-IP devices that would allow me to (a) avoid having the Playbars run wirelessly and (b) simply get a bigger matrix for the first floor media cabinet and connect the IP-transported HDMI and IR from the second floor there instead? Is there something else I'm missing? Other solutions? Thanks!