Or, why not skip a
balun and the extra issues they can cause and just go analog over fiber?!
http://www.fullcompass.com/searchresults.php?search_simple=true&txtAll=CP-AOCH/XL
These are becoming a very popular solution for longer cable runs.
RE: Hybrid
HDMI Cables
These have a high tendency to get roached either during the install or after. Usually after someone has pulled the cable the wrong way not realizing it's a
unidirectional cable and then they try to pull it out and repull it. Also, in my experience with the
HDMI hybrid cables they don't always perform at the distances and resolutions they're advertised to and have a lot of out-of-the-box quality control issues. That aside -- once you pull that cable you're beholden to it. You will never get anything across that cable other than whatever resolution it is rated for. It will also not pass control.
RE: Pull Length
I've pulled cable in a lot of theaters and 300' for a room that size seems generous even if you have to go up to the third floor and back. Probably worth measuring it out with a
disto or pulling some mule tape through to measure out the total path. Assuming you have enough length at either end to patch out to your devices without hitting 300' or the length limitation for your specific extenders, I'll bet you can probably do that with copper.
RE: Installer / Copper or Fiber
My recommendation is to contact your local AV shop and get a quote for them to do this work. Or work out an agreement that you'll do the
wire pull if they come and terminate/test it. With shielded CAT6A you're looking $100+ just for a termination kit and before you put it to use you'll want to certify it -- not just
wire map it. Certifiers are $$$$. You can try to go without certification but if you encounter any problems at all, most manufacturers (
AMX, SVSI, Crestrion, Extron,
etc.) will not provide you technical support if your product doesn't work and you are using it on uncertified cable.
If you get a shop to do this, you'll only pay for the
wire they pull. If you do it yourself, you'll probably buy a 1000' spool -- I usually recommend West Penn 4246F or 4246AF. Rugged, performs well at 300', and it comes in black. I would burn up the entire spool. If you're going to pull one cable you might as well pull 3 or 4 and have some others available for future whatever.
If you do in fact need fiber, I would take your measurements of how long the run is, add 35' or so on either end, and order a custom length of tactical fiber from Whirlwind or the like. Tactical so it can take a better beating before it breaks, plus WW pre-certifies it and sends you the test report. So long as you don't roach the fiber during the
wire pull or don't dirty up the connectors, you won't need to terminate anything. I would only take the fiber to a wall plate though. WW can also cook you up a wall plate with an Opticalcon connnector on it so you can use off-the-shelf tactical fiber to get out to your
projector.
I expect budget is limited in which case you may want to look at something like the
TechLogix TL-FO2-HDC that'll pass
HDMI 4K30, IR, and RS232 up to 984'.
Other options:
Crestron HD-EXT3-C copper extender, IR, RS232, 4K (List price $1000, but nobody ever pays list)
Crestron HD-MD-400-C-E copper extender, IR, RS232,
scaler, 3x1 auto
switcher, 1080 (List price $1300, but nobody ever pays list)
Other usual suspects I would trust are Extron, Magenta Research,
Hall Research, Key Digital.
RE:
Coax
If you go with 3G-SDI over
coax as suggested by
@ruinexplorer, the cable is cheaper as are the transmitters/receivers. AJA has some inexpensive converters that will do this available both for 1080 and for 4K. Black Magic Designs has some even cheaper units but my experience is that they tend to have a shorter lifespan than AJA. Understand you'll never be able to display HDCP-protected content over this link, which may or may not be an issue for you. If you do pull
coax, I would try to get a couple unshielded CAT6 cables in as well if you can do it under 300'. They will be infinitely useful for one reason or another.
