Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Oct 14, 2009 6:54 am Hi About to build a new house in Beacon Hill on the Northern Beaches in Sydney and still in the research phases as it comes to structured wiring. The home is going to be a 5 bed + study + formal lounge (??becoming the media room) + large open indoor (kitchen, dining, family) / outdoor (alfresco) area. My main aims is to allow audio / video distribution, security (alarm + see security camera / also camera in baby room seen on any TV), ? foxtel distribution, data network, not that interested in light/heating control/automation. Most articles I read talk about the standard 2*Cat5 (e/6) + 2*RG6 (quad) - however with the increase in HD / digital is this still the standard. I was thinking about running as a minimum -- 1*RG6 for aerial TV (with security cameras and baby camera RF modulated to be seen on any TV) + 4 Cat cable (1 Cat 5 for telephone, 1 Cat 5e for data, 2 Cat 6 for HD audio/video). With the 2*Cat 6 for HD AV signals - this could be by either component video + digital audio or by HDMI if this becomes more stable with time (and cheaper) These would all be run to a central location near the garage which could then house all the source AV components. I also would like a stable media centre that can hold all my pictures, movies, music to stream to the whole house - it must be rock solid stable that the wife can use and doesn't require a technician come in every time there is a minor hiccup. Is it better to have a media centre in the central location with media streamer as a local source at each location connected by network. Thus basic outline for each room would be 1. Study - 1*RG6, 1*Cat(phone), 1*Cat(data), 2*Cat(HD AV) + another 2*Cat for accessories such as printers for whole house access 2. Family room - 1*RG6, 1*Cat (data), 2*Cat(HD AV) + another 2*Cat to return a signal for a local DVD/Blueray player for whole house distribution 3. Formal lounge - same as 2 4. Alfresco - in ceiling speakers (speaker wires run to the central amp) 5. Kitchen - 1*Cat(phone), 1*Cat(data) + in ceiling speakers (speaker wires run to the central amp) 6. Bedrooms - 1*RG6, 1*Cat(phone), 1*Cat(data), 2*Cat(HD AV) 7. Security camera at front door and rear back yard + nursery to be run to central hub and connected by RF modulator Also in the family room I would like to have the plasma mounted on the wall and have hidden speakers - in wall Rt + Lt + centre speaker and in ceiling rear speakers - is it better to run the wires to the central location and have 1 large amp control these speakers + the in ceiling speakers in the kitchen and alfresco areas. Or is it better to use a normal AV amp (I have a denon AVR 1804 currently) connected it locally and use a smaller amp centrally for the kitchen / alfresco areas. I would also need to run a line for my sub from the central location to the family room if the speakers are powered centrally. In the kitchen and alfresco area I would like to be able to access either the radio or my music that is on the media server via wireless / RF remote control. I'm not that interested in having lots of smart switches (which cost a fortune) spread throughout the house - may be one in the main area between the kitchen / family room. Sorry for the long post 1. Does this sound reasonable or is there any suggestions that people can make? 2. Are there any cable installers on the Northern Beaches that people have dealt with that they recommend that are reasonably priced 3. What systems do people recommend to connect the AV distribution - elan, aton, CBUS, etc - ease of use / costs / expansibility Scott Re: Structured wiring - new home 2Oct 14, 2009 9:44 am Scott, Good luck with the research. I too am in a similar position - about to build in Sydney (north) and would really like to know just what to have pre-wired. I have sent a few ideas to many data cablers in Sydney for costs (& ideas). The response has been disapointing. However, it is still not clear what I ought to be including in terms on numbers/types of outlets. I understand that it is very hard to predict the future and that makes 'future proofing' very difficult. Have also visited several specialist audio showrooms only to get varying suggestions on what systems to go with. The more that I have looked into it (& that is a lot), the more confusing it has become. Sorry that this does not answer any of your questions....... Hopefully there will be a sage out there in homeone world who can help us both. Re: Structured wiring - new home 3Oct 14, 2009 10:08 am It sounds like what you guys need to do is sit down with an AV specialist (rather than a cabler) and discuss what you want and might want and the different methods by which your ideal solution can be achieved. Then you will be able to work out what your cabling requirements are... P.S. Elan Home Systems is an excellent distributed AV specialist - (U.S. manufacturer). (Aton is theirs as well...). Re: Structured wiring - new home 4Oct 14, 2009 2:45 pm Rodda It sounds like what you guys need to do is sit down with an AV specialist (rather than a cabler) and discuss what you want and might want and the different methods by which your ideal solution can be achieved. Then you will be able to work out what your cabling requirements are... P.S. Elan Home Systems is an excellent distributed AV specialist - (U.S. manufacturer). (Aton is theirs as well...). + 1 some cablers don't have a clue about future proffing let alone AV distro, even i know my limitations but if the customer is switched on and knows what they want and where then I'm happy to run the cable for them. I know cablers who are still trying to sell people on hills/ clipsal hubs yeah sure they are neat and tidy looking but are hardly future proof. cabler will be good for the ethernet/ pc network side of things but unless they are the complete package I'd look else where for multi room audio and such 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 Is it just a report written to give to the bank initially and it is based on what and how your payments are made up for, or is it a full service where they go out and… 2 5593 Skjm You might want to watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKx-bsOr2jg If that link doesn't work go to youtube and search for Zac Homes ACA I am really… 1 4016 What you are looking at is fibrous plaster, true gypsum, it is cast on horizontal beds with fibers included to give strength. I has no Asbestos in it. 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