Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Jan 21, 2009 9:12 am Hi all
We originally had some things in our electrical plan that would help increase the re-sale of our home (like a TV point in every room) and considering Star Serve and data points in every room as well Now - what we will actually use is very different - we plan to only have 2 tvs. One in a family area for general tv watching. The other in our games room for gaming etc. I will never allow TVs in bedrooms. My internet plan is to have a connection to my study - then run a router off that through my electricity lines - so that to connect to the net - all you need is the plug that is cat5/6 at one end - powerpoint at the other. I'm not concerned about speed - I honestly don't need lighting fast internet when I'm looking at recipes on the net. Or when (in the future) kids are googling websites for homework. So is "future proofing" with data points everywhere and Star Serve really necessary? (and at a charge of between $4-5k I can think of better things to spend that money on) I'm wondering in 20 yrs when we plan to sell whether the technology will be hideously outdated anyway. After 4 years - we're in! Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 2Jan 21, 2009 9:36 am Furture proofing is only recommended if there is a small increae in price. Technology becomes cheaper and unless you want it now there is no point.
For most people reducing there morgage will save the most money in the end. Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 4Jan 21, 2009 10:17 am ed - I'm not sure. They haven't priced individual components - just done a whole package deal for $4k - the layout is below
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ After 4 years - we're in! Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 5Jan 21, 2009 12:33 pm Ciel and me are going to go for significantly less then whats on the one you linked. What we're thinking is (and this is my opinion of future proofing):
Upper Lounge - 1x Cat5, PayTV/FTA Leisure Room - 1x Cat5, PayTV/FTA Home Theatre - 1x Cat5, PayTV/FTA Master Bedroom - - 1x Cat5, PayTV/FTA, Telephone Point Kitchen - Telephone Point Home Theatre - 1x Cat5, PayTV/FTA From my eyes (and this is coming from a massive computer nerd) the above is more then enough to satisfy the requirements for our house as well as ensure people in the future have what they need. We will be finding out what options are available as a 'home distributor' as I don't think we need to get a 'starserve' system for that. The way i'd like to see it is a standard telephone splitter for the telephone points, for the copper points, have a wired (not wireless) router in the home distributor cabinet. In the study, we'll have a wireless access point/switch so we can put more systems on the network if needed via wireless or wired from the study. I am under the same view as you that no one will have a computer in their room (except me for when I'm on call so I don't have to run downstairs every time I'm paged out). Nav Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 6Jan 21, 2009 2:47 pm Waste of money methinks... how can you FUTURE proof a home using CURRENT technology? I would buy chocolate instead... that's future proofing in case of famine... especially if you store it around your hips.
Ed Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 7Jan 21, 2009 3:01 pm Nav - I think we are after exactly the same setup, and amk is after something slightly more complicated.
EcoClassic - mmm - chocolate - I think I'll just eat a Ferrero Rocher from the box on my desk now! Edit - I've just checked what Home Distributor products are available - I think we'll have to use Clipsal - * the basic "Starter Pack" home distributor has 4 outlets for TV/PayTV * the next model up (3105VDU38IRT) has 8 outlets I'll request a quote for the 5 outlets (that you've listed) and a 4 outlet price as well. After 4 years - we're in! Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 8Jan 21, 2009 3:43 pm It seems you have a specific system in mind that I am not familiar with. But in general, if data connection speed is not critical for its function, IMO, wireless is sufficient, especially if it is just for internet browsing. If you plan to have a HTPC or stream video contents to your TV, you will need cat5e from your HTPC to the TV room.
If you have double storey house, get all your data points to terminate upstairs. This way, if you need to add wired data points for bedrooms upstairs, it can easily be done. For downstairs, you need to think hard now. Building Clarendon Brighton - Done and moved in Sept 2009 Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 9Jan 21, 2009 3:51 pm stonecutter1309 Nav - I think we are after exactly the same setup, and amk is after something slightly more complicated. EcoClassic - mmm - chocolate - I think I'll just eat a Ferrero Rocher from the box on my desk now! Edit - I've just checked what Home Distributor products are available - I think we'll have to use Clipsal - * the basic "Starter Pack" home distributor has 4 outlets for TV/PayTV * the next model up (3105VDU38IRT) has 8 outlets I'll request a quote for the 5 outlets (that you've listed) and a 4 outlet price as well. i'd probably still go with the 8 outlet model just for 'future expandability' in case we ever want to get a tv out in the alfresco :) (one can dream). In reality, what I posted above, I think would be more then enough, when internet prices become reasonable in australia, I think we'll be following suite with the U.S/Canada and getting video on demand as well (i.e. renting (downloading) high def movies, etc direct to players on your tv when you feel like for a fee). I don't see any huge leaps of technology occuring in the next 10 years to 'future proof' that any more then it already. Just looking over what I mentioned above, we might also need an additional one phone line for the back to base dialing on the alarm system (atleast provision for it). Nav Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 10Jan 21, 2009 4:11 pm Nav I don't see any huge leaps of technology occuring in the next 10 years to 'future proof' that any more then it already. Nav And if you did we could patent your idea now and make lots of money... Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 11Jan 21, 2009 5:26 pm Nav I don't see any huge leaps of technology occuring in the next 10 years to 'future proof' that any more then it already. Be wary of predictions..... "There's just not that many videos I want to watch," lamented Steve Chen, a co-founder of YouTube, in March 2005. At the time YouTube featured about 50 videos. Less than two years later, on November 13 2006, Google acquired YouTube for US$1.65 billion in Google stock. "No one will need more than 637KB of memory for a personal computer. 640KB ought to be enough for anybody," Bill Gates is alleged to have said in 1981. "The world potential market for copying machines is 5,000 at most," IBM told the eventual founders of Xerox in 1959. According to Wikipedia, by 1961 Xerox had almost US$60 million in revenue, and this value had leapt to US$500 million by 1965. 10 years is a long time.... Pardon moi for the OT.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 12Jan 21, 2009 10:51 pm Hi Guys,
I am probably getting the StarServe System only because it suites our needs (kids) and I am running a Media Server to stream divx. I will also have Foxtel, SatDish, DVD, etc. If you dont watch a lot of TV/Movies or dont have any devices to control (Foxtel, DVD, etc), it may not be worth it. Cheers, Andrew Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 13Jan 22, 2009 1:14 am Regarding Future Proofing...it is just a marketing term the builder has used for Starserve and all the cabling for the Telstra Smart Community called Velocity as Telstra will be replacing all copper for traditional services to optic fibre on new estates to begin with and in decades coming, established residential homes. That is their plan but no idea if it will happen.
Telstra Smart Community (The Future) is, ‘Fibre to the Home’ technology for the connection of Telstra services, under agreement with the property developer. This technology is called Telstra Velocity. Telstra Velocity is used to describe the supply of telecommunications services to customers' premises using optical fibre instead of the traditional copper cable. A single optical fibre supplies the home with telephone, broadband data and digital TV services. Please note that homes built in a Telstra Velocity estate must be cabled to the Telstra requirements as an absolute minimum. Homes that are not cabled to these specifications may not have access to services across the Velocity network. If you live in a Velocity estate, you cannot use any other provider, only Telstra for all Services. Good way to take a chunk of the market. The optical fibre lead-in cable connects to a device on the external wall called an Optical Network Termination (ONT). The ONT converts the optical (laser light) signals to electrical signals and retransmits them on twisted pair and coaxial cables, which run to an internal distribution device, called a Home Distributor (HD) or for a more basic option a RF Splitter, from which cables run to outlets located in various rooms. The ONT needs power to operate and this is supplied by a Power Supply Unit (PSU) that must be installed inside the building. The PSU needs a dedicated 240 V power outlet. Future services such as Video-on-Demand, Video Telephony and IP TV have been considered. Pre-connect using the Smart Wiring™ system and your home is ready as soon as the technology catches up. Plus, there is no need to purchase additional modems, as the BigPond Broadband connection is built into the Telstra network. This means that you won’t have to spend extra money in the future in order to receive new technologies and services. Checkout their plans (towards the end). In time the price should come down. http://my.bigpond.com/internetplans/big ... ard_HR.pdf For the Home LAN You can setup a Network at SCR without needing a HD and using a RF Splitter. The StarServe HD is more used for controlling devices like DVD, Sat Dish, Foxtel, CCTV, etc so you can choose what device to watch and on which TV to watch it on, if you have more than 1. It also has other functions like Alarm, etc depending on the unit you purchase. Telsta Issues you with a Starter Kit for Velocity to use the Internet which includes a Wireless Router. You may not need the Router if you have the HD but I would still get one for the Firewall option but you may be able to use your own, depending on how Velocity works. Cheers, Andrew Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 14Jan 22, 2009 1:41 pm Starserve is way too expensive in my opinion.
I would and am just going to do: Cat6 to most rooms b/c you can get 1gbs data movements. Cat5e will do it too but Cat6 is better quality for not much more. 1 phone jack. Everything is wireless these days so don't see the need for more. Forget about FTA antena other than the lounge or rumpus rooms. Forget about Foxtel b/c why are you wasting money on cable tv..... Do get yourself a nice server grade media center that can be the hub of all your data/media needs. Now if you want to watch tv in the other rooms you can set up tuner cards on teh media center to record what ever show you want or just watch live tv and stream it. A dual tuner card is about $130 bucks. In most cases the only time you would want to watch tv in a room other than rumpus or lounge is late at night before u sleep or something like that.....so no need for cable b/c if you record everything u want to watch, you can watch when u want to. The kids can use their laptop to connect to watch dvx shows or u can get a dvico tvx console or use your old xbox or use a ps3 to stream your shows. Anyhow, so many options out there. Finally, why would u pay for foxtel cabling when they do it for free? just a dump of my thoughts not in any particular order ---->Some say that a recession is when your neighbour loses his/her job while a depression is when you lose yours!<----- Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 15Jan 22, 2009 1:58 pm I am having starserve as well and CAT5/6 wiring whole house for TV points all bedrooms, 2*phone points and pay tv point
One thing I didn’t do is datapoint, because I don’t think I will use it… my area only have wireless and ADSL available But yes, TV in bedroom actually is ban… so don’t think I will use those TV points, but only $50 per point, so I thought why not just install it Not sure if money well spent… will see Blog - http://clageonewhouse.blogspot.com/ Building Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=10886&hilit=milan I am in, with my husband and my beautiful bunny Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 16Jan 22, 2009 2:52 pm smeagol Do get yourself a nice server grade media center that can be the hub of all your data/media needs. I am currently running TVersity for free using my old Xbox coverted to XBMC and also via XBox360 and the kids PSPs. Starserve is for us to control all the devides/hardware that I will install in the Home Theatre. smeagol Finally, why would u pay for foxtel cabling when they do it for free? Yes, Foxtel cabling is for free is current residential areas but not for Telstra Smart Communities (Smart for them ). They have now put this requirement back onto the Builder/Owner Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 17Jan 22, 2009 6:23 pm Foxtel to me is 100% necessary.. only for the sports channels... I love my live sport.
But yes starserve is a waste of money. You can just set up faceplates in one central location that will do the same job for about $700 less money. I stream videos via my ps3 and xbox360 from windows media player on my pc... but it is over wireless at the moment and it cuts out sometimes.. so ethernet is definetly the way to go. You should only use wireless connection if you don't have any other option. A wired connection will always be superior. Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 18Jan 22, 2009 8:03 pm My suggestion - At best - run good quality RG6 down the walls for each room for TV - so someone later can put a point on it if they want too.
Terminate the spots you want and leave the rest. Don't terminate the rest - run them all to acentral spot and leave it at that. Run the cable and leave a loop with a mark on the plans as to here is the cab;e - so it can be used if required. Cat 6 - not worth it. It will all be wireless by the time you want to sell the house. Netbooks - mobile phones - internet streamed video - who needs cables? My opinion. Steve Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 19Jan 22, 2009 8:46 pm I'm with Andy. If I was building a house, I'd do it. But I'm a tech head. I use a wireless network, but i'd still like to have the option of a wired network, mainly for streaming HD media more consistently.
I have visions of a central media hub (which I already have over wireless) streaming media to the study, 2 x lounge rooms and garage etc. Even outdoor patio area for music possibly. I also have a feeling that I do things for the sake of it and not necessarily worry about cost effectiveness etc. so take my post with a grain of salt. If it's just going to be browsing etc. I'd stay with the wireless network. If you were to go with a wired network, go with Cat5e. 99% of residential applications would not notice the difference. Quality of materials and installation is much more important. Re: Is "future proofing" a waste of money? 20Jan 22, 2009 10:10 pm A lot to think on.
I am currently running wireless "N" through our current property and will have it in the new house but would prefer a wired LAN for large downloads, streaming and work. No idea is a stupid idea Cheers all, Andrew Scientists have used random matrix theory to demonstrate theoretically that the neutrino mass hierarchy can be explained mathematically. When a substance is fragmented… 21 20669 thanks Chippy, i hope they have applied sealer but i am doubt to be honest, so i am gonna do this job after handover. 8 16294 Brass fly wire, you will need to cut it, shape it and jam it into brick slots 1 7488 |