Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Jan 19, 2010 10:28 am Hi people. I am new to the forum however I have looked around and seen there are some very knowledge people out there, and while there are a lot of posts of Starserve already I am having trouble relating it to what I want out of the system. I will apologies for the length of this explanation in advance. I am about to start building in a Fibre Optic estate (not a Telstra Smart Community) with Metricon. Metricon informed me the only product they could provide was what they have called the Telstra Smart Cabling Package for $3255 (which feels about $1k too much but I have no other options ) which includes, (1no) Star Serve mid size cabinet (1no) 3 in and 8 out TV amplified splitter (1no) Data patch panel (1no) 4 line phone patch panel (3no) RG6 from Star Serve to below meter box (1no) 6 core security cable to meter box (1no) CAT 5e from Starserve to below meter box (1no) RG6 TV Point to Family Room (1no) RG6 Pay TV point to Family Room. (1no) CAT 5e phone point to Family Room (1no) CAT 5e phone point to Kitchen Area (2no) Double Power Point B&R Meter Box (CSV022102) as temporary/permanent with 16mm mains, RCD, 2 socket outlets and up to 12 metres underground in lieu of standard. Optical fibre lead-in cable connection to ONT. In addition I have added (1no) CAT 6 data point to Study (1no) CAT 5e phone point to Entry (1no) RG6 TV Point to Living Room (1no) RG6 TV Point to Master Bedroom Room (1no) RG6 TV Point to Outdoor Room Room I want to house all the equipment in the Family Room with only a TV in the other rooms, with the exception of possibly having another DVD in the master. The TVs will be full HD in the Family and Living but of but only 720p in the Master Bedroom and Outdoor room. The equipment in the family would included, Blu Ray Home Theater (yet to purchase and don't require this to be distributed to the other TVs) Foxtel IQ Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Apple T.V I understand I can hook these 4 appliances up to a modulator and distributed them via an assigned UHF channel to the other TVs. But my concern is surely I am going to loose out on not being able to hook the PS3 etc up via an HDMI cable. How much is my quality going to affected by not being able to use an HDMI cable? Also if I have to run the Apple T.V, PS3 etc through the modulator wont this mean the home theater system is bypassed in the Family room or can I hook it up so that any sound that was to be played through the TV is played through the home theater? I am new to this so apologies if this is confusing and does not make sense. Thanks for any help/suggestions. Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 2Jan 19, 2010 12:44 pm don't use it.. get a better "custom" option from other cablers..... 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: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 3Jan 19, 2010 12:54 pm This is what is being installed as a result of the fiber optics requirement by Metricon, whom basically have no flexibility regarding the matter. So whilst I would much prefer not to put in what appears to be a system that is almost at the end of its cycle, that's whats going to be there when I move in and I will not be looking to replace it for a few years. Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 4Jan 19, 2010 5:28 pm Pugs don't use it.. get a better "custom" option from other cablers..... Hi Pugs, just a curious question, do you have the names of any cablers who can install a quality system in the Wallan area. The estate is not a fibre optic state and will only be ADSL at this stage. However at some point it probably will be and I'd like to be ready for when it does. Can you or anyone help me with this? PD Hayman 34 H1 Thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=29460&start=0 Blog http://miazfolly.blogspot.com Tiles 25/3/09 Colors 6/4/09 Tender 7/5/09 Contract 28/5/09 Land 16/11/09 Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 5Jan 19, 2010 5:37 pm I think you are expecting too much from Starserve! Whilst it is a good BASIC system and will do some handy things for you, it won't let you enjoy the benefits of HDMI around you're house. I have installed Starserve in my house, but only so I could put DVD; SetBox; Foxtel; in a cupboard away from sight, they all plug into the Clipsal stereo modulator and can be completly controlled from any of the 3 bedroom tvs or lounge via Infrared over the RG6 lines. You will be able to do this with you're setup, you just need to add the infra red bits and modulator. I use an Apple Mac Mini as my main entertainment system - DVD's; streaming; iTunes etc. The TV outputs its sound back to my home theatre and the Mac outputs its sound there as well. If you want to have HDMI available in muli rooms and with multiple devices, you will need to get a specialist in and have a much more expensive system! Hope that helps!! Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 6Jan 19, 2010 6:34 pm i encounterd this very same question a few months ago when doing some estate homes in a 'smart community' i looked into it and found there is a device that alows you to convert from hdmi to cat-5 so you can transmit signals over long distances.. but thats as far as i got you really need some sort of hdmi switching unit with multiple sources and multiple outputs AND ir capibility.. this can then be incorporated into the starserve unit.. you'll probably end up with lots of different remotes tho.. i hope someone can shed some light on this as im keen to know as well.. Electrical - Automation - Smart wiring - New homes - Commercial - Data cabling] 1300 050 315 www.cenemelectrical.com.au www.facebook.com/cenemelectrical Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 7Jan 20, 2010 8:46 am Yes I saw on ebay HDMI to Cat6 plates which would be great for a custom solution but I have to work with the starserve for the moment. So I accept HDMI can not be shared around the house. Are either of these solutions possible.... Can I run the PS3, Xbox and Apple TV into the HDMI INs through a receiver (not sure which one) which I will use the HDMI OUT on the receiver to the TV in family room, thus giving me the benefits of HDMI and a decent surround sound in the family room. Then to use a receivers AV OUT (do receivers even have these and will they work simultaneous with the HDMI out at the same time?) to run to the Modulator with an IR repeater, therefor giving me the ability to use them in the other rooms? Or secondly.... Would it be possible to run these things directly into a TV via HDMI then (and I could be way off here - can you get HDMI outputs on TVs for use with say a second monitor?) have the TV output to a receivers HDMI IN then have the HDMI output via AV into the modulator. Again not sure if these are anywhere close to possible and I am aware I would only have surround and HD in the main room and then it would be distributed via UHF to the rest of the house, but at least if would give the main room the benefits of actually owning decent AV equipment Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 8Jan 20, 2010 9:30 am Hi Sam. Your first HDMI scenario would be more likely (the second can't be done as described - you'd need a HDMI splitter sending one signal to the TV and the other to the Receiver), however I think at present I don't know of an AV Receiver that can down-convert HDMI to anything analogue - but (this is all off the top of my head at the moment - can't be bothered looking it up this morning.. ) I'm pretty sure there are devices that do this... Re: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 9Jan 20, 2010 11:04 am Mia's Folly Pugs don't use it.. get a better "custom" option from other cablers..... Hi Pugs, just a curious question, do you have the names of any cablers who can install a quality system in the Wallan area. The estate is not a fibre optic state and will only be ADSL at this stage. However at some point it probably will be and I'd like to be ready for when it does. Can you or anyone help me with this? sorry don't know any cablers in your area... 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: How get the most out of Clipsal Starserve? 10Feb 02, 2010 2:39 am sammiles This is what is being installed as a result of the fiber optics requirement by *****, whom basically have no flexibility regarding the matter. So whilst I would much prefer not to put in what appears to be a system that is almost at the end of its cycle, that's whats going to be there when I move in and I will not be looking to replace it for a few years. How are you going with this? I am quite surprised that you are being 'forced' into having this system. Surely the builder cannot dictate what wiring etc you install in your house? Or is it some sort of new rule for your estate? I was going to suggest just getting the builder to run some basic cabling or even just conduit and then work out the distribution yourself. That's what I am planning to do at this stage as I have not found something in a reasonable price range that can do what you want it to (which is quite similar to what I want). The Starserve system will do most of what you require (i.e. distribution and control), however you will lose out on pic and sound quality cos as I recall, Starserve only switches/distributes RF (meaning low quality sound and picture). sammiles Can I run the PS3, Xbox and Apple TV into the HDMI INs through a receiver (not sure which one) which I will use the HDMI OUT on the receiver to the TV in family room, thus giving me the benefits of HDMI and a decent surround sound in the family room. Then to use a receivers AV OUT (do receivers even have these and will they work simultaneous with the HDMI out at the same time?) to run to the Modulator with an IR repeater, therefor giving me the ability to use them in the other rooms? Again not sure if these are anywhere close to possible and I am aware I would only have surround and HD in the main room and then it would be distributed via UHF to the rest of the house, but at least if would give the main room the benefits of actually owning decent AV equipment Built with Sw1tch H0mes >Build thread< House status 15/12: Gates and A/C finally installed! Sep 09 Bought block, Dec 09 Engaged builder, Jul '11 Moved in Thank you. That is really helpful. Once we get the place done and passed for OC we can upgrade in the future once we get back on our feet and not paying mortgage and rent. 4 5713 The worst thing you can do is sign a building contract without a pre contract review. Over the years many people have come to me with disputes where they just signed… 0 8338 Depends how much direct sun it gets. Is there any shading (eaves or trees)? If the sun hits a window directly it doesn't matter too much if it's double or single… 1 12647 |