Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Aug 13, 2009 10:07 pm Hi all, Just looking in to ways to having my TVs’, media centre, music and projector distributed around the home. The Lexcom system sounds good - using the Cat type cable to carry the remote signals as well as HDMI. What else is available? I will be putting in the network cable and speaker cable during the build. What systems are the best for hooking up to media centre etc? Any ideas would be great. Cheers Re: Media distribution - best way 3Aug 14, 2009 11:15 am there really isn't a 100% best way unless you have a 100% unlimited budget for this, just the best way your budget allows for.... another ways is a central file server and HTPC's, regular PC's and or "meda" sharing devices like Pop corn hour machines... once again depends on your IT expertise and budget... just remember cabling up the wahzoo is all well and good but if you cable smart you don't need to have a PDL system and still get the same if not better result i.e. by having extra money in your pocket. any data cabler worth his while will have good options to this... or have a mate who can help with that side of things Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Media distribution - best way 4Aug 14, 2009 11:31 am Pugs there really isn't a 100% best way unless you have a 100% unlimited budget for this, just the best way your budget allows for.... another ways is a central file server and HTPC's, regular PC's and or "meda" sharing devices like Pop corn hour machines... once again depends on your IT expertise and budget... just remember cabling up the wahzoo is all well and good but if you cable smart you don't need to have a PDL system and still get the same if not better result i.e. by having extra money in your pocket. any data cabler worth his while will have good options to this... or have a mate who can help with that side of things Hi Pugs, what do you mean by PDL ? I like to think I am computer savvy, however all the Electricians are telling me for this type of service that physical cabling is not needed and to go for wireless appliances ? I am sure this is a religious argument and I hope I am not hijacking thread. * Are we there yet ? Demolition has come and gone ! yippeeee..hang on that was months ago !! come on Mr Builder, dig a hole at least Finaly ! Hole Dug ! well done darren 20/06/2010. Slab is down ! Framing is complete 20/10/2010 we are progressing like a snail on heat - excited and determined but very very slow Steveo Re: Media distribution - best way 5Aug 14, 2009 11:37 am Steveo Hi Pugs, what do you mean by PDL ? I like to think I am computer savvy, however all the Electricians are telling me for this type of service that physical cabling is not needed and to go for wireless appliances ? I am sure this is a religious argument and I hope I am not hijacking thread. PDL is a brand and they have a system that allows video distro over Cat6a i believe.. but hasn't been released here in Aus yet AFAIK maybe your sparkies don't have their data tickets and are trying to not use a thrid party contractor.... wired ftw..... yes very religious war over wired v's wireless ..tho i will conceed this even if you do have a wired system it is good to be able to use a note book away from a desk without a ethernet cable so as a rule i would always try to sell a clinet of having a wireless router to provide such a service... i just wouldn't to be streaming HD content over wireless Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Media distribution - best way 6Aug 14, 2009 11:48 am Pugs Steveo Hi Pugs, what do you mean by PDL ? I like to think I am computer savvy, however all the Electricians are telling me for this type of service that physical cabling is not needed and to go for wireless appliances ? I am sure this is a religious argument and I hope I am not hijacking thread. PDL is a brand and they have a system that allows video distro over Cat6a i believe.. but hasn't been released here in Aus yet AFAIK maybe your sparkies don't have their data tickets and are trying to not use a thrid party contractor.... wired ftw..... yes very religious war over wired v's wireless ..tho i will conceed this even if you do have a wired system it a good to be able to use a note book away from a desk without a ethernet cable so as a rule i would always try to sell a clinet of having a wireless router to provide such a service... i just wouldn't to be streaming HD content over wireless My gut feel is your right Pugs. I have been in the corporate side of this industry for 20 years, however when it comes to my own home I have been struggling with a decission to put money into hard wiring. As Draft N is only now about to be ratified I can't see how wireless can keep up with HD.....For that reason and the fact it shoulfd be cheaper to wire during the build, I will go ahead and cable to a single point probably under the stair well * Are we there yet ? Demolition has come and gone ! yippeeee..hang on that was months ago !! come on Mr Builder, dig a hole at least Finaly ! Hole Dug ! well done darren 20/06/2010. Slab is down ! Framing is complete 20/10/2010 we are progressing like a snail on heat - excited and determined but very very slow Steveo Re: Media distribution - best way 7Aug 14, 2009 11:49 am Pugs there really isn't a 100% best way unless you have a 100% unlimited budget for this, just the best way your budget allows for.... This is true... I did mine after hand over so we had a few limitations on where we could reach. I did it the budget way, CAT5s and PCs to every room in the house that you can easily get to (computer room, bedrooms, rumpus, theatre), and then a central PC with all the files. I also have a wireless broadcast for when I'm not at one of those locations (study, kitchen, alfresco). I could have gone the AV route (HDMI or component, AV to each location) but I felt it was over kill, as CAT5 can stream video fairly well. I figure I get security with wired and when wireless eventually catches up it won't matter any more. Re: Media distribution - best way 8Aug 14, 2009 11:55 am Steveo My gut feel is your right Pugs. I have been in the corporate side of this industry for 20 years, however when it comes to my own home I have been struggling with a decission to put money into hard wiring. As Draft N is only now about to be ratified I can't see how wireless can keep up with HD.....For that reason and the fact it shoulfd be cheaper to wire during the build, I will go ahead and cable to a single point probably under the stair well just got a warm fuzzy feeling .... group hug later on ???? I'm just about to finish a job with 35 "data" points in a 2 storey house... personally the client could have used alot less, but in the first meeting he wanted like 48 points... told him that was over kill. as per my other posts in so many other threads.. bare minumum for "structured" cabling is 2 x Cat5e or Cat6 + 1 x RG6 in bedrooms. for HT or "main" TV rooms 4 x Cat5e or Cat6 and 2 x RG6 (plus any other short <15m run video cables HMDI, DVI/what ever a projector needs.) and any other cabling that is needed to be done. i think i should put a thread to be stickied.... about you a data cabling.. Kodiak Data Cabling onFaceBook Consult*, Design and Installation Data, TV, Home Theatre/ AV Cabling, Multi Room Audio, IP CCTV and Door Intercoms Ask for a Quote. *DIY DATA Cabling Is Ilegal Re: Media distribution - best way 9Aug 14, 2009 2:07 pm Best efficient way to distribute your videos is by using HDMI over CAT5e. I will have a projector and 2x TVs in seperate rooms and HDMI will be supplied to both TVs (My central point will be where the projector is). Keep in mind that in the near future, most TVs will have ethernet ports built-in them. There are few in the market that have that with their built-in media centre. So an ethernet point behind the TV will be a good idea too. Another thing to remember is your FTA channels, so you need to run a coaxial cable to the back of the TV as well. I will have mind placed on the wall, so I will be having two points (one beind the TV and one right at 300mm height). It's very complicated project, but I'm pretty sure a data cabler will have good ideas to clear things up for you. Regards P.S. I will also be using a HDMI distributor so I could use the Wii/Xbox/HTPC at either or all of the rooms at the same time. P.P.S A good and clean way to distribute your IR signal is by using IF over RF devices. Re: Media distribution - best way 10Aug 15, 2009 8:52 am Pugs Steveo My gut feel is your right Pugs. I have been in the corporate side of this industry for 20 years, however when it comes to my own home I have been struggling with a decission to put money into hard wiring. As Draft N is only now about to be ratified I can't see how wireless can keep up with HD.....For that reason and the fact it shoulfd be cheaper to wire during the build, I will go ahead and cable to a single point probably under the stair well just got a warm fuzzy feeling .... group hug later on ???? I'm just about to finish a job with 35 "data" points in a 2 storey house... personally the client could have used alot less, but in the first meeting he wanted like 48 points... told him that was over kill. as per my other posts in so many other threads.. bare minumum for "structured" cabling is 2 x Cat5e or Cat6 + 1 x RG6 in bedrooms. for HT or "main" TV rooms 4 x Cat5e or Cat6 and 2 x RG6 (plus any other short <15m run video cables HMDI, DVI/what ever a projector needs.) and any other cabling that is needed to be done. i think i should put a thread to be stickied.... about you a data cabling.. Yes to the sticky ! and no to the group hug * Are we there yet ? Demolition has come and gone ! yippeeee..hang on that was months ago !! come on Mr Builder, dig a hole at least Finaly ! Hole Dug ! well done darren 20/06/2010. Slab is down ! Framing is complete 20/10/2010 we are progressing like a snail on heat - excited and determined but very very slow Steveo Building Standards; Getting It Right! 1. optional, you can but normally just use the earth from the main switch board 2. should be enough but the distance determines voltage drop - sparky should work it… 1 28804 4 9048 Yeah mine about 9 metres long and 8 wide with slope of 25% at one point but the end point of the outlet is past the side of garage and if he concretes allowing for… 4 4517 |