The Valley Theater & Game Room (The Return of the Build Thread) - Page 7

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

First I'll start you off with some pictures... Then explain my mistake.









You can see the mistake a bit in the first picture... Can you guess what it is?
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Yep that's right the projector is installed...
It started off innocently enough, I just wanted to see if my HDMI cable survived it's trip though the conduit but then I wanted to test my speakers, and then I needed to connect a couple components to see how everything worked together and then I had to make sure surround sound was working correctly and you know it's just amazing how good the projected image looked on a dark brown painted wall and before you know it its 3 a.m. and I had watched the entire movie


So embarrassingly enough the my movie premier was a showing of G.I. Joe on Blu-Ray for an audience of one. But man was it SWEET!

It's an anodized aluminum specifically made as a tile edge profile... I used different versions of it several places in my build.

Thanks everyone for the positive comments...


No I tried, I think the HDMI cable is stuck or something...

Installed the Screen and one door last night... I'll try to post some pics soon.

To Do List:

Hang Doors (1 of 3 done...)
Term all LV Wiring
Build and Fit two DVD Case Hidden-Doors (Did a Scrap Test fit with the hinges)
Install & Paint Trim (Floor & Door)
Seal Tile & Grout
Install Shower Fixtures
Build Built-in Bookcase for the Pool Hall
Install & Paint Trim
Tweak Projector & Receiver
Build new HT/Gaming PC
Program Universal Remote
Have fun with new area! < Started this early

I have accomplished a few things though most don't photograph well.

- Satellite Distribution Done - I have two of DishNetwork's HD DuoDVRs. One set up in the theater one in the living room. Those two receivers can then rebroadcast a "TV2" signal (included any recorded shows) to the other 4 TVs in the house. There are some down sides but it is working well for my household.

- GB Network Distribution - Mostly done. A few more jacks to term.

- Cleaned up and setup my second row of seats. It's the two end pieces of a big, comfie, U-shaped sectional giving me 4 seats in the second row (2 recliners)

- Had my first "Premier" with actual guests! Besides some interruptions from the kids it went great! Watched the New Star Trek Movie. It was a really good movie and great visuals to show off the projector.

I'll have to admit that some of last weekends progress was "Lost" to steaming several episodes of "Lost" form Netflix in HD... Looked really good on the big screen.
I'll try to post some pics this weekend.

I've been running a single DuoDVR from dish for several years now and it works great except...


Well there's the key. It uses standard coax to rebroadcast but the other TV's in the house receive the content in SD. This isn't a problem for me because my other TVs are smaller but it is nice to be able to watch the recorded shows in other rooms if needed.

So I had my first big event in my basement. 10 xbox 360s and 13 adult size kids playing Rainbow 6 Vegas 2, Halo 3, Modern Warfare 2 & Left4Dead 2... with 7 smaller kids playing computer and Wii. A good time was had by all!!!
The big 100" screen is awesome for 1080p gaming on both xbox and PC. Even split screen gaming is great....

I really need to get back to work on the trim... but I did get the bathroom door hung before the event....

Tax Season is winding down... I should have time to get back to work on the trim and built-ins soon...

Minor Update... Finally set up my lighting control... I was a bit worried by some of the older posts about poor Insteon quality... If my experience is any indication they have all of those early problems worked out.

I sprang for one of Universial Devices' ISY-99i/IR PROs and I will say that it made Scene Setup dead easy... and I am already spoiled by the setup of an "all-off" button as I leave the basement. It also allows control through a browser even has an iPhone app...

Also set up my Harmony One Universal Remote, everything is working well with one little snag. Projector Control is great pointing the universal (or projector remote) at the screen) but for the other components I need to point the remote off to the left, this has about a 25% chance of not picking up the projector when I send the "Activity" command to the other components. All the universal needs to do is turn on the projector...

Any ideas for a cheap fix??? IR blaster, extender, repeater? If it is a hard wired solution it would need to extend about 35 ft from the cabinet to the projector...

Over all I am incredibly happy with my setup... It has worked great for everything I have thrown at it... Gaming and Netflix with the xbox, Gaming and Blu-Rays with the PS3, Gaming, Hulu and surfing with the new HTPC.... Noticing a theme yet?
I have even flipped on the Satellite Receiver a couple times to watch TV...

635 hrs on the lamp so far...

Oh I almost forgot I have the DVD Case Doors built with a second coat of stain applied last night... Should try hanging and trimming this weekend...

Thanks Cuz,





Here are the DVD Case Doors. The hinges are working great no sag at all, just need to put the trim up to make it all come together.

4 more steps and the Theater area will be done!
Poly the DVD Case Doors
Install the rest of the Trim
Fill nail holes
Touch up paint...

For the Rest of the basement I need to:
Build Book Case for Pool Hall
Trim Ledges
Fill Nail Holes
Touch Up Paint
Clean up (maybe paint) Pool Table.

Now you see me...


Now you don't..

Remax has it right. Slap up the casing and make it an "opening" to the next room, add your door-shelf later. If you do want to include it in your plans then it helps if your hidden room is a "Closet".

Although I am happy with the performance of my Home Cinema 8100 I just replaced my first bulb at only 945 hrs. So much for up to 4000 hrs.

Been away for a while... The theater has seen a lot of use much more gaming that I anticipated... It has become the default spot for the guys to get together and play video games both xbox and PC.... In about 2 years we will be building a new house so I'll be starting a new thread soon for Theater 2.0 planning. Given the use of Theater 1 I want to try and figure out a more elegant approach to setting up 4 or more semi-permanent "Game Stations" IN the theater. I'll post pics of my dilemma soon... besides I owe you all pics of the finished theater with treatments. Can't believe I didn't post those.

So here is my dilemma for theater 2.o

In general I like the size and layout of the current theater but we ended up gaming in there as often as we watch movies. So the nice clean lines of my theater ends up cluttered with this:





@ of these have become permanent fixtures, one on the big screen which isn't a problem

So the guys come over and set up their xboxes or pcs, usually with my monitors and we run 2-6 systems with overflow going to the bar but no one really likes setting up at the bar when there are seats available in the theater.

So for my next build I am looking for a way of preserving the nice clean layout of the theater and yet get 2-4 permanent (or Semi-Permanent) game stations set up.

Swing-out monitors and keyboard trays that can tuck against the wall when not in use? 2nd row monitors that can raise or lower out of a short bar in front of the seats?

The Final Pics... Doubt I will make any significant changes to this theater. Well maybe a new projector

2nd Row


Front Row


Projector


DVD Case


Behind the DVD Case


Next to the 2nd Row


Back Bar


Entry


From the Bar


"Kitchen" behind the theater


Kinect & Kids Game Room behind the theater.


Looking towards the Rack & DVD Case Doors


Other Screen View


Fan & Lights


Seats


Showing the Arches


Entry looking towards the Rack


The Plan


SketchUp