New Gym AV

[webbobfc]

Hi All,

 

We have just had a new gym refitted in our school, and as per usual nobody consulted us and now we have some AV requirements that we need to find a solution to. The gym has had 3 new 40inch TVs fitted and they would like to play Youtube vids etc from an IPad simultaneously to the 3 TVs.

 

Our idea is to wall mount the IPad, then have an extra long lightning cable going up to false ceiling. From here we will use a lightning to HDMI converter and another lightning cable going into a power socket to charge the IPad

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-Lightning-Digital-AV-Adapter/dp/B009WHV3BM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=apple+lightning+to+hdmi+adapter&qid=1660567272&sprefix=apple+lightning+to+%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-3

 

We will then use 3-1 HDMI splitter with a HDMI from the converter mounted in the ceiling and take HDMI leads to the TVs over the false ceiling. The HDMI lengths will be 10-15m.

 

Can anyone see any problems with this, or have any sort of similar setups. Don't want to order the kit and it doesn't work due to the IPad\converter splitter scenario?

 

Any suggestions on the HDMI splitter to use, I've just been looking at the cheaper ones on Amazon but open to suggestions. As usual needs to keep costs down. We want to avoid any wireless setups.

 

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Webbobfc

[3s-gtech]

How about using an Apple TV? No need to wire in the iPad. You could split the HDMI from the Apple TV then.

[georgeescott]

Depends on your needs/budget but something like https://www.airserver.com/airserver-connect-2 might also be useful so that it’s not limited to Apple products.

[Chris_Cook]

I'd generally put an HDMI connection point in on these sort of installs - then any visiting speakers etc can plug their own device in. Most things will convert to hdmi.

 

As for splitters, you need to look for one with HDCP copy protection, as you may find you can't play copyright movies etc. I think many of the more expensive ones have this now, and I'd probably avoid the bargain basement stuff anyway as you are likely to have issues.

 

for your cables, I'd recommend the AOC (fibre optic) cables for this sort of length. They seem to give us fewer issues than the cat5 based solutions. 10m is the upper limit for copper hdmi cables.

[SamanthaD]

As for splitters, you need to look for one with HDCP copy protection, as you may find you can't play copyright movies etc.

All distribution amplifiers (or splitters if you must) should be HDCP compliant. If the chain is correct and complete you should be able to play whatever you want and it'll work, and only try and circumnavigate the HDCP signal if you have a genuine reason to. (There's not many reasons why you need to!)

 

Back to OP's thinking. Long lightning cables etc that you mention is probably flawed - I'm thinking voltage drop on a cable of any real length is going to be an issue, as is digital video cable length. As others have said, wireless casting would be the best option here which gives you an option for external use. Feed that into a DA and then to your screens. Anything over 5m cable run use active copper cables - we used to use Van Damme but they're end of life so are looking at the Lindy offerings for runs of up to 15m. Put your casting box and DA behind the centre screen to keep the cable runs as short as possible. Plenty of iPad charging security enclosures out there if you're wall mounting it.

 

Probably too late to be thinking of any sort of control solution other than remote controls - as anyone with multiple screens / projectors will tell you the fun of trying to turn on all 3, only getting 2 to turn on then when turning the last one on you turn the middle one off is infuriating. To quote my broken record - RS232 control would be a real benefit here.

[webbobfc]

Just to add to this, we went with the Apple TV setup with a quality HDMI splitter to the 3 screens and its worked brilliantly.

[Colt_phil]

We recently had to do this on a tight budget, we used a company called Educare AV. They installed one of this hdmi over cat5 systems for us and so far has worked a treat. It does however require you run a cat5 cable to each TV position.

 

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-signal/psg3381/hdmi-1-3-1x4-splitter-hdmi-extender/dp/AV28992?mckv=s_dc%7Cpcrid%7C224635168920%7Ckword%7C%7Cmatch%7C%7Cplid%7C%7Cslid%7C%7Cproduct%7CAV28992%7Cpgrid%7C46533246385%7Cptaid%7Cpla-1298418901878%7C&CMP=KNC-GUK-CPC-SHOPPING-945736535-46533246385-AV28992&s_kwcid=AL!5616!3!224635168920!!!network%7D!1298418901878!&gclid=CjwKCAjwvsqZBhAlEiwAqAHEldQ40dVdyZUZKOheC9Q_VdZOZHPDjbtWpxRAffWNrh4VZgnfQj6UvRoCNUIQAvD_BwE