terminate for LAN

ethernet termination
make sure it is the same on both ends

Are you running wire in the walls, or just across the room?

If you're putting it in the walls, get some solid-core cat5e wire, and terminate it using the keystone-style wall jacks, which will be easier than fitting RJ45 connectors. Then you just run pre-made patch cords from the wall jack to your device(s).

http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=keystone

Note that you can pick up lengths of cat5e wire and Leviton brand keystone components at Home Depot, which will come with a small plastic punch-down tool, which will be fine for doing a few of these. More than that, you'll want a real punch-down tool.

If you're just running long cables through the room, simply buy long, pre-made patch cables - much, much easier.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208


Jeff

Note that the criteria for a "correctly" terminated plug or jack are rather strict. It has to do with many things, such as how much untwisted pair you can have. Located and read the specs, if you haven't already.

Yes. If you're going to run cable through the walls (which is the right answer), make sure the wire is "in-wall rated". It will state it in the product description. Running cables inside ductwork will require "plenum-rated" cabling to be code-compliant. The difference between them is the properties of the insulation in case of a fire.

The keystone jack installation is the "correct" method to run Ethernet around the house...

Thanks! See the first post in my build thread - there's a full equipment / color list there... The sub is an ML, the surround / rear channels are Definitive Tech.

I've always been an ML fan, and they make for great theater speakers with their wide dispersion. Why are you surprised? Because they're big and visible (as compared to behind-the-screen) or something else?

Jeff

I have more detailed versions if you're really nosy... If you're calculating, use a 40-50% off MSRP for my speaker 'actuals'.

I've had ML's since the early 90's, and used them in my RPTV setup for a long time. My theater plan was to move the 'old' set into the theater and buy a new set for music in the living room (and also because the style / wood color didn't match the new house). I ended up getting a deal twice on Vantage pairs, so both the living room and theater got upgraded...

I'd certainly recommend the new Motion bookshelf-sized (Motion 4/6/8) line for entry-level 5.1 applications, I think they sound great, especially for the unobtrusive size.

The hybrid designs (ESL panel with traditional cone woofer) dealt with that issue a long time ago. The panels may not reach the SPL limits of other designs, but that would be in the 'stupid loud' realm... Mine will more than fill the theater space and with only moderate, non-crazy-wattage amplification... But yes, that is one of the primary differences between the ML models as the panel size increases through the product line.

Jeff

Buy an Apple Airport Express and connect it to your AVR. Run iTunes on the laptop, select the AE using Airplay to send the audio to the receiver after it's decoded by iTunes. Or, if you're using FLAC, use MediaMonkey and AirFoil. The advantage of iTunes here is the Apple Remote app for iOS devices works great to remotely browse / control the music library stored on your computer...

(there's a MonkeyTunes remote for MediaMonkey)

Jeff

Wired is better than wireless. And it will remain so. I will believe otherwise when cable companies let their cables go dark and start investing in towers again...

Yes, you should run wire. I think that you should buy CAT6 cable, run it cleanly, and terminate it with Keystones. Having two patch cables in the run will not compromise your bandwidth in any meaningful way, and it is so easy. I would do two runs.

Junction box for Ethernet is called an "Ethernet switch". And yes, absolutely you can do that. Cheap 100Mb switches are ~$10, for a few dollars more, you can get a Gigabit-capable one that will be more useful in the future.

Cheap:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=33-156-066&IsVirtualParent=1

Gigabit:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127421


Jeff

Had a few of my friends call me crazy for wiring my home. That was a few years ago and I think they now see the light, wired is better. I do have a Netgear Wireless Router connected to an RJ-45 jack in the middle of my home. My son and Grand Kids use it for their laptops an I Things.

Actually only a $10 upgrade (over the $10 100Mb switch), which makes it even better.