I am just starting to design my home network for a build I am doing in an Opticom estate that provides FTA TV over fibre. I want to keep this as simple as possible and stay away from the Hills Home Hub etc. I have read the other threads and am just trying to break down the information to the simplest and cheapest option for me.
I am going to have the builder run the cat 6 ethernet and and TV coaxial cables (and splitter) from the rooms back to my garage then buy the equipment I need from this point.
My computer which I stream HD content will be in the study with the router for wireless as this is the central point of the house. Am I right in thinking one line from Opticom box to the study for going into the router then one line back to garage to a gigabit switch with as many ports as I need. Then plug all the wires to the rooms into the switch? Can it be that easy?
My next question in relation to free to air TV over the opticom fibre, is it a HD RF modulator I need to receive the signal from opticom and transmit through the coax cable? I take it another lead goes from the opticom box into the RF modulator then the modulator is wired into the splitter?
Probably not as simple as I am trying to make it, what am I missing or need for a basic setup like this. I am getting a bit confused where people are talking racks, patch panels etc, cant you just sit the switch on a shelf/desk and why use a patch panel if the cables can go direct from the switch?
Thanks for the advice.