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How To: Component to Ethernet Extender

In this tutorial I will guide you through the process I went through to make a this extender

Purpose: The main purpose for this adapter was to make a cheap alternative to the (in my opinion) over priced currently available ones, I also wanted the adpter to be passive. Another reason for the adapter was I wanted a way to extend the use of my Verizon FiOS supplied Motorola QIP6416 to my bedroom. (I'm cheap and don't feel like spending the extra money for another box) I'm currently extending it using an RF modulator and then coax to my TV and an RF to IR remote extender, but this does not give me HD, which is what I was trying to accomplish

Materials: I obtained all my materials from Radio Shack

Qty	Part Number	Description	Cost
2	2701801	Project Box 3X2X2	2.29
2	2782024	CAT5E Jack Kit	5.99
2	2740322	Quad Phono Jack	2.99
Subtotal			22.54
Tax			5%
Total *Note: Since I was using the quad phono jack and component only requires three jacks I will use the fourth for digital audio			23.67
Tools Used: Sharpie Markers Dremel Tool Soldering Iron Solder Super glue Philips Screw Driver Spare Ethernet cable to cut up

Step 1: Color code Phono Jacks and Cut Holes The first thing I did was color the phono jacks by using sharpie markers (the ones with the fine tip) Next take out your Dremel tool and cut a hole for the CAT5E jack and a hole for the Phono jacks
Step 2: Wire Ethernet jack and Phono jack Plug in your soldering iron to get it heated up Take your spare Ethernet cable and cut about 3 to 4 inches worth and strip the ends of the wires and push the color coded wires down into the Ethernet jack into the corresponding colored slot Feed the wire through the smaller hole and then through the bigger hole and solder the wires to the phono jack in a logical way.

Step 3: Put together Put some super glue around the edges of the Ethernet jack and snap it into place Stuff any excess Ethernet wire into the project box Then super glue the phono jack to the project box (you could use screws if you like, I just didn't have any) Screw on the top of the project box


Testing the adapter
Items Used: Westinghouse LVM-37w3 LCD Monitor Motorola QIP6416 HD DVR Box provided by FiOS Logitech Z-5450 5.1 Wireless Surround Sound Canon SD850 Digital Camera (not the best way to get screen shots, but this was my only option)

The Results
HDMI	Component with Audio, extended with 16ft of Ethernet


There appears to be a little bit of image blur with just the 16ft of ethernet cable

HDMI	Component with Audio, extended with 75ft of Ethernet



There seems to be considerable blur and noise with the 75ft of Ethernet and audio

HDMI	Component without Audio, extended 75ft with Ethernet



Without the audio the image is definatley a little better and sometimes it was hard to tell the difference.

Final Thoughts
Even though the image quality wasn't quite what I would have hoped, it still beats paying the high price (in my opinion). Overall though if you're not extending to ridiculously far I would probably just buy really long component cables. I found some retail extenders and though I would put them here just for a comparison Passive Extenders http://www.allthings.com.au/Baluns/balun%20component%20video%20YUV%20RGB.html http://www.hdtvsupply.com/component-to-cat5-converter.html - I wonder how this can perform so much better than the one I made especially since there is no extreral power source. Active Extenders http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3960 . http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=4141 . http://www.networktechinc.com/hdtv-extend.html - For those last two I'm curious how they were able to extend all that over one Ethernet wire Your Thoughts...