Carolina Beach Grill & Bar is a locally owned elevated restaurant and sports bar located at the premiere beachfront of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, United States. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and coastal charm, the venue was newly opened in early 2025 with the vision of offering guests a premium dining and entertainment experience.
To bring that vision to life, the management team planned to build a complete distributed AV system from scratch—one that could stream 6 DirecTV sports channels to 16 large-screen TVs installed throughout the 200-square-meter dining area. The goal was to create a seamless, high-performance HDMI over IP solution that would deliver crystal-clear 4K sports content to every screen, while allowing centralized control of all sources and displays.
The Challenge
To stream multiple sports games across 16 displays using 6 DirecTV boxes, the bar required a robust AV infrastructure. The TVs in the dining area were pre-installed with dual CAT6 cables running back to a centralized equipment room, where all streaming sources would be housed.
The challenge was to extend HDMI signals over approximately 30 meters (100 feet) to each TV, while enabling flexible switching and centralized control. The system also needed to support simultaneous transmission, matrix switching, and intuitive management via a tablet interface connected through an Ethernet switch.
Technical Assessment
The management team outlined several core requirements for the AV system:
- Long-distance HDMI signal extension
- Flexible distribution and switching between multiple sources and displays
- Centralized control via a tablet-based interface
- Support for 4K video resolution
- Scalability and ease of use for future expansion
After evaluating multiple options, they selected the AV Access 4KIP200 series HDMI over IP solution. This system offered plug-and-play functionality, compatibility with standard Ethernet switches, and drag-and-drop visual control via the VDirector App. Crucially, it required no complex configuration—making it ideal for a newly built venue without dedicated AV technicians.
The Solution
Between March and May 2025, Carolina Beach Grill & Bar deployed the following setup:
- 8 sets of 4KIP200E HDMI encoders
- 20 sets of 4KIP200D HDMI decoders
- 6 DirecTV receiver boxes
- 1 music player
- 1 spare receiver box
- 1 set of 48-port Cisco PoE Ethernet switch
- 1 wireless router
In the equipment room, the DirecTV boxes and music player were connected to the HDMI encoders, which were then linked to the Ethernet switch. The wireless router was also connected to the switch and provided network access for control devices.
In the dining area, 16 HDMI decoders were installed behind each TV. Two additional decoders were connected to sound systems—one for indoor music, one for outdoor ambiance. Another decoder was linked to a preview monitor in the equipment room, and one was kept as a backup.
All encoders and decoders were connected via CAT6 cables to the Ethernet switch, enabling centralized management. The VDirector App was installed on a tablet, allowing staff to control the system wirelessly. With its visual interface, the staff can preview sources, assign feeds to displays, and manage power states via CEC commands.
The connection diagram is as follows:
Results
AV Access 4KIP200 HDMI over IP solution delivered a powerful and scalable 4K video distribution system that met all technical and operational requirements:
- Reliable signal extension over CAT6 cabling
- Flexible switching and distribution across 16 displays
- Centralized control via the VDirector App
- 4K Ultra HD resolution for crisp sports visuals
By centralizing all DirecTV boxes in the equipment room, the bar minimized hardware redundancy and reduced overall equipment costs. The intuitive VDirector App allowed waitstaff to manage AV operations without technical training—previewing sources, switching feeds, and powering displays with ease.
Additionally, the manager used the spare encoder to connect a PC and broadcast promotional content such as beer menus and daily specials across all TVs. This added marketing channel helped boost customer engagement and drive revenue.
Guests could now enjoy high-definition sports broadcasts while savoring food and drinks—creating a premium experience that elevated the bar’s reputation from day one.
Conclusion
The AV Access 4KIP200 series 4K HDMI video distribution system successfully fulfilled the requirements for AV signal extension, distribution, switching, centralized management, and visual control. It even supports video wall configurations up to 8×8.
AV Access 4KIP200 series HDMI over IP system provided Carolina Beach Grill & Bar with a complete, scalable, and user-friendly AV infrastructure tailored to the needs of a modern sports bar.
Its key advantages include:
- Plug-and-play setup with no switch configuration required
- Support for video walls up to 8×8
- Drag-and-drop control via VDirector App on tablet, smartphone, or PC
- CEC display control, source preview, and matrix switching
For advanced applications, AV Access also offers:
- 4KIP204E 4-in-1 encoder: Transmits four 4K HDMI signals to a single decoder
- 4KIP204M quad-view processor: Displays up to four sources on one screen
Whether for sports bars, restaurants, or hospitality venues, the 4KIP200 series delivers a reliable HDMI over IP solution that enhances customer experience and operational efficiency.
More Resources
If you’re interested in more AV over IP products, check out here. Below are more cases about our AVoIP solutions if you need to learn more:
- Case Study: Creating a Fantastic Audiovisual Experience in Ford’s Garage Restaurant with 4KIP200 Series HDMI over IP Solution
- Case Study: Application of HDIP100 AV over IP Solution in “Buffalo Wild Wings” Sports Bar to Build an IP Matrix with Video Wall
- Case Study: Creating a Powerful HDMI Distribution System in a Large Meeting Room with the 4KIP200 Series
- Case Study: Building a Scalable 4K Video Distribution System with the 4KIP200 Series at “The Crossing at Big Creek”
