Advice Please

Archived from groups: comp.home.automation,rec.audio.tech,rec.video,rec.video.marketplace (More info?)

In <kXOsd.15367$dC3.195852@news20.bellglobal.com>, on 12/05/04
at 08:52 PM, "Alan" <nobody@nowhere.com> said:

>Hi,

>Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

>I am doing home remodeling. While at it I decided to redo my wiring
>for A/V distribution. I ran RG-6 (x2). CAT-5 (x2) and speaker wire
>from each room we are remodeling and brought each individual line
>back to a central electrical room in the house. I didn't run
>anything like S-Video or RCA cableing.

> I would like music and video in each room.

>I have 2 satellite boxes (from the same provider) and am going to add
>a 3rd from a different provider. I also have a CD player and DVD and
>VCR but am questioning the real-life useability of having DVD/VCR
>centralized. The CD player may be replaced by either a CD "jukebox"
>or put onto a computer HD in the future.

At the moment, there are a daunting number of options, more every week.

In your case, a satellite "multi-switch" (shares a single dish with
multiple receivers) is relatively inexpensive. Dozens or even hundreds
of receivers can be accomodated with proper design; eight or less is a
one-box piece of cake. (one must have run enough RG-6 lines to the dish
-- one per LNB.) There are also inexpensive modulators that will allow
you to distribute video sources (except High Definition sources) over
the same RG-6 as the satellite. It gets harder if you want to
simultaneously distribute cable TV and local video. There is also some
relatively new technology that allows component video to be shipped
over CAT-5.

A relatively inexpensive and straight forward audio option is to use
autotransformer speaker volume controls in each room (with or without
IR repeaters).

>I want to do this on the "cheap" for now but not so cheap that I am
>totally wasting my money.

>So where do I go from here? Any guides?

In the future we will become more computer network based, but for the
moment, the really good systems are expensive and, while it's great for
the new generation of MP3 aficionados, old style audio types don't
appreciate the audio quality of the low end (about $200USD) stuff
offered by the computer manufacturers.

>I live outside of Toronto, Canada in case anyone can recommend
>someplace I can visit or buy from directly.

In the US, most higher end audio stores are in a good position to help.
Some may be snotty and want to stress having them do all the wiring,
others will be happy to sell you a bag of parts and, if necessary, some
consulting services. Occasionally, I'll see the autotransformer volume
controls in mega bulding supply stores. I can't recall seeing satellite
multi-switches, but both are easily available mail order. They are
premium products, but I've had good results with SPAUN multi-switches.

Multi-switches are easy to deal with. Just hook all the LNBs and the
satellite receivers to the box (sometimes there may be a setting or
two), and you are done. Make sure you purchase a multi-switch with
enough "ins" and "outs". You need enough outs for your network of
receivers and enough ins to do High Definition. In most home
situations, a 4-way or 8-way is enough.

Resistive volume controls (sometimes called "L-Pads) are cheaper than
autotransformer speaker volume controls, but the autotransformer
controls are far superior and not very expensive in absolute terms. Use
the premium type that offers to match impedances. (there will be a
discussion of "1x", "2x", "4x", or "8x".) In most cases I've had very
poor luck using the speaker controls with built-in IR sensors, but the
XANTECH units seem to be reasonable. I use separate IR sensors. They
take-up more wall space than the integrated units, but are much more
reliable. If you use remote IR sensors keep them *AT LEAST* four feet
away from lamp dimmers. If you are using Plasma TV's, the IR sensor
situation becomes more complicated.

-----------------------------------------------------------
spam: uce@ftc.gov
wordgame:123(abc):<14 9 20 5 2 9 18 4 at 22 15 9 3 5 14 5 20 dot 3 15
13> (Barry Mann)
[sorry about the puzzle, spammers are ruining my mailbox]
-----------------------------------------------------------

Archived from groups: comp.home.automation,rec.audio.tech,rec.video,rec.video.marketplace (More info?)

Maybe you can get with the same money a dvd player for each room.After all
they sell only for 50 euro (here) and calculating what the electrician would
charge you for this type of wiring you could get 2 dvd players with cruise
control.

--
Tzortzakakis Dimitriïs
major in electrical engineering, freelance electrician
FH von Iraklion-Kreta, freiberuflicher Elektriker
dimtzort AT otenet DOT gr
Ï "Alan" <nobody@nowhere.com> Ýãñáøå óôï ìÞíõìá
news:kXOsd.15367$dC3.195852@news20.bellglobal.com...
> Hi,
>
> Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
>
> I am doing home remodeling. While at it I decided to redo my wiring for
A/V
> distribution. I ran RG-6 (x2). CAT-5 (x2) and speaker wire from each room
> we are remodeling and brought each individual line back to a central
> electrical room in the house. I didn't run anything like S-Video or RCA
> cableing.
>
> I would like music and video in each room.
>
> I have 2 satellite boxes (from the same provider) and am going to add a
3rd
> from a different provider. I also have a CD player and DVD and VCR but am
> questioning the real-life useability of having DVD/VCR centralized. The
CD
> player may be replaced by either a CD "jukebox" or put onto a computer HD
in
> the future.
>
> I want to do this on the "cheap" for now but not so cheap that I am
totally
> wasting my money.
>
> So where do I go from here? Any guides?
>
> I live outside of Toronto, Canada in case anyone can recommend someplace I
> can visit or buy from directly.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Alan
>
>

Archived from groups: comp.home.automation,rec.audio.tech,rec.video,rec.video.marketplace (More info?)

Thanks for the advice.

"Barry Mann" <zzzz@zzzz.zzz> wrote in message
news:41b492aa$1$avgroveq$mr2ice@wcnews.cyberonic.com...
> In <kXOsd.15367$dC3.195852@news20.bellglobal.com>, on 12/05/04
> at 08:52 PM, "Alan" <nobody@nowhere.com> said:
>
>>Hi,
>
>>Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.
>
>>I am doing home remodeling. While at it I decided to redo my wiring
>>for A/V distribution. I ran RG-6 (x2). CAT-5 (x2) and speaker wire
>>from each room we are remodeling and brought each individual line
>>back to a central electrical room in the house. I didn't run
>>anything like S-Video or RCA cableing.
>
>> I would like music and video in each room.
>
>>I have 2 satellite boxes (from the same provider) and am going to add
>>a 3rd from a different provider. I also have a CD player and DVD and
>>VCR but am questioning the real-life useability of having DVD/VCR
>>centralized. The CD player may be replaced by either a CD "jukebox"
>>or put onto a computer HD in the future.
>
> At the moment, there are a daunting number of options, more every week.
>
> In your case, a satellite "multi-switch" (shares a single dish with
> multiple receivers) is relatively inexpensive. Dozens or even hundreds
> of receivers can be accomodated with proper design; eight or less is a
> one-box piece of cake. (one must have run enough RG-6 lines to the dish
> -- one per LNB.) There are also inexpensive modulators that will allow
> you to distribute video sources (except High Definition sources) over
> the same RG-6 as the satellite. It gets harder if you want to
> simultaneously distribute cable TV and local video. There is also some
> relatively new technology that allows component video to be shipped
> over CAT-5.
>
> A relatively inexpensive and straight forward audio option is to use
> autotransformer speaker volume controls in each room (with or without
> IR repeaters).
>
>>I want to do this on the "cheap" for now but not so cheap that I am
>>totally wasting my money.
>
>>So where do I go from here? Any guides?
>
> In the future we will become more computer network based, but for the
> moment, the really good systems are expensive and, while it's great for
> the new generation of MP3 aficionados, old style audio types don't
> appreciate the audio quality of the low end (about $200USD) stuff
> offered by the computer manufacturers.
>
>>I live outside of Toronto, Canada in case anyone can recommend
>>someplace I can visit or buy from directly.
>
> In the US, most higher end audio stores are in a good position to help.
> Some may be snotty and want to stress having them do all the wiring,
> others will be happy to sell you a bag of parts and, if necessary, some
> consulting services. Occasionally, I'll see the autotransformer volume
> controls in mega bulding supply stores. I can't recall seeing satellite
> multi-switches, but both are easily available mail order. They are
> premium products, but I've had good results with SPAUN multi-switches.
>
> Multi-switches are easy to deal with. Just hook all the LNBs and the
> satellite receivers to the box (sometimes there may be a setting or
> two), and you are done. Make sure you purchase a multi-switch with
> enough "ins" and "outs". You need enough outs for your network of
> receivers and enough ins to do High Definition. In most home
> situations, a 4-way or 8-way is enough.
>
> Resistive volume controls (sometimes called "L-Pads) are cheaper than
> autotransformer speaker volume controls, but the autotransformer
> controls are far superior and not very expensive in absolute terms. Use
> the premium type that offers to match impedances. (there will be a
> discussion of "1x", "2x", "4x", or "8x".) In most cases I've had very
> poor luck using the speaker controls with built-in IR sensors, but the
> XANTECH units seem to be reasonable. I use separate IR sensors. They
> take-up more wall space than the integrated units, but are much more
> reliable. If you use remote IR sensors keep them *AT LEAST* four feet
> away from lamp dimmers. If you are using Plasma TV's, the IR sensor
> situation becomes more complicated.
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> spam: uce@ftc.gov
> wordgame:123(abc):<14 9 20 5 2 9 18 4 at 22 15 9 3 5 14 5 20 dot 3 15
> 13> (Barry Mann)
> [sorry about the puzzle, spammers are ruining my mailbox]
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>