[ATC1]

I've learned quite a bit from reading this forum. Thanks to all that contribute.


I just want to make sure that I have all of my ducks in order here before I pull out the drill and start boring holes in the 2x4s. Here is some basic information on my situation. I'm building a new home that has 3 bedrooms upstairs plus a office alcove. On the main level is the master bedroom and family room and in the basement will be the future home theater and another office. Drywall will be installed within 2 weeks.


I would like to provide the following features:

1. Ability to network computers from either room.

2. Provide Direct TV, Dish Network, cable and over the air to these rooms.

3. Provide HDTV to all rooms.

4. Provide telephone service with intercom feature.

4. Provide whole house music with separate volume control in each room.



Video...It's my understanding that:

I should have six runs of RG6 from the roof to a central point.

I should have at least two outlets per room and have separate runs of RG6 from these outlets to a central point.


Audio...It's my understanding that:

I should run 4 conductor wire from the volume control in each room to a central point where the music source is.

I should run 2 conductor wire from the volume control to the points where the speakers will be placed in each room.


Telephone...I don't have a clue. Well maybe. I'm thinking that I need to run CAT 3 from where the phone service enters the home to each phone jack. (like a daisy chain) Right or wrong?


Computers...Have a general idea but rather hear your suggestions.


I have already purchases 1000' of RG6 quad and 1000' of CAT5e Riser rated. If the "home run" design is desirable, I think I will run all of the cables into the basement somewhere or to the future theater room. I would appreciate any advice on installation and equipment that I should use (including type cables). Also if you know of any links that would help me, that would be great. Thanks for your time in responding.

 

[ckaudio]

Yikes! I hope you are in there wiring right now. You have a lot of wire to pull with not even knowing where exactly you should be pulling it. It could take me an hour of typing to make sure you get everything to where it must go. The quadshield is a good choice....however it does require special ends. Home run all the phones. Home run everything. Daisy chain nothing and you might be safe in the end. Run a 4+4 speaker cable to the volume controls if you might want the possibility of infared or keypad control of the remote equipment. Don't forget an attic mount fm antenna if you like to listen to fm reception. You will need a twin modulator at the satellite location for analog distribution. For HD every location must be home run from the distribution hub. You better go get some more RG-6 because you will need it for what you have planned. I wish I could be more helpful in direction as to how this must be wired, but each individual item you are doing would take some time in explaining which I just don't have at the moment. Help! anyone else. Maybe everyone can take one aspect of this install and break it down for him. Where are you located?


My theater http://www.aquacatt.net/theatre

 

[robertmee]

Quote:

Originally posted by ATC1 I've learned quite a bit from reading this forum. Thanks to all that contribute.

I just want to make sure that I have all of my ducks in order here before I pull out the drill and start boring holes in the 2x4s. Here is some basic information on my situation. I'm building a new home that has 3 bedrooms upstairs plus a office alcove. On the main level is the master bedroom and family room and in the basement will be the future home theater and another office. Drywall will be installed within 2 weeks.


You better get busy



I would like to provide the following features:

1. Ability to network computers from either room.

2. Provide Direct TV, Dish Network, cable and over the air to these rooms.

3. Provide HDTV to all rooms.

4. Provide telephone service with intercom feature.

4. Provide whole house music with separate volume control in each room.



Don't forget security, video surveillence, home automation.



Video...It's my understanding that:

I should have six runs of RG6 from the roof to a central point.

I should have at least two outlets per room and have separate runs of RG6 from these outlets to a central point.



That's what I did. You might consider an extra RG6 to the roof for an OTA antenna. And an RG6 to the side of the house for Cable (TV or Broadband)



Audio...It's my understanding that:

I should run 4 conductor wire from the volume control in each room to a central point where the music source is.

I should run 2 conductor wire from the volume control to the points where the speakers will be placed in each room.



I would consider running a Cat-5 cable with each 4 conductor to your keypad location. If you ever decide to go with a zoned audio system with IR, then you'll need keypads that usually operate off of a cat-5 connection. You would then just tie your 4 conductor to your two sets of 2 conductors, using the keypad box as a Junction point.



Telephone...I don't have a clue. Well maybe. I'm thinking that I need to run CAT 3 from where the phone service enters the home to each phone jack. (like a daisy chain) Right or wrong?



Homerun your phone wiring...Whether you use Cat3 or Cat5 I suppose is a personal preference. I used Cat-5e for everything, phone included. Standard phone jacks (RJ11, RJ14, RJ23) will fit into RJ45 jacks, with no problem. You'll bring your main phone line from your demarkation box to your headend also, so be sure to pull a cat-5 for that. At the headend, you'll likely use 110 punchdown blocks to terminate everything.



Computers...Have a general idea but rather hear your suggestions.



Same as phone. Homerun Cat-5e and terminate with RJ45 jacks in every room. Run extras to opposite walls in heavy use rooms. With highspeed broadband (DSL or Cable) use a Cable/DSL router and/or hubs to distribute your ethernet to all your rooms.



I have already purchases 1000' of RG6 quad and 1000' of CAT5e Riser rated. If the "home run" design is desirable, I think I will run all of the cables into the basement somewhere or to the future theater room. I would appreciate any advice on installation and equipment that I should use (including type cables).


Just be sure to allocate plenty of space. I used three panels to mount all my equipment and route my wires. I settled on the Leviton style panels and distribution equipment, along with ChannelPlus video distribution and modulation. I'm using a Kustom 6640 for multi-zoned audio.


For equipment, get a good 1" cutting drill bit, a bit extender (for drilling through double headers), wire labels (label everything). You'll need a 110 punch down tool if you're using modular plates at the wall jacks (for data and phone). For RG6, I'd recommend the snap-n-seal type connectors so you'll need an IT-1000 snap/seal tool. Cable, use Quad shield RG6 and Cat-5e riser rated. Use 16awg or 14awg (for long runs) riser rated CL3 speaker wire. I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but this will get you started.




Also if you know of any links that would help me, that would be great. Thanks for your time in responding.


Hometech has some decent information to get you started

http://www.hometech.com/learn/index.html


Finally, run cable while you can to every place you think you might want info from...To give you some ideas, here's some of what I did:


Ran Cat-5 to Garage Door Opener Locations for remote control

Ran Cat-5 to Garage Doors for Open/Close sensing

Ran Cat-5 to Water Heater (Smart Appliance in future, water sensor now)

Ran Cat-5 to Doorbell

Ran Cat-5/RG6 to all external doors for video surveillence

Ran Security wires to all doors and windows

Ran Security wires for external alarm horn

Ran Cat-5s between security closet and Headend for Home Automation

Ran Control Cable for sprinkler control

Ran Control Cable for exterior light control


IMPORTANT: Ran empty conduits from basement to attic for everything you forget before the drywall goes up


Good Luck!

 

[Robert J]

Assuming two people, how much time do you think it will take to run the wires? I thought a long weekend would do it,

 

[mwk]

Robertj, an experience installer 20 minutes a drop.


Mike

 

[ATC1]

Is it OK to mount a speaker volume control box on the oposite side of a 2x4 stud where 110v switches are?


How about the speaker wire? Can you cross speaker wire with 110v AC cable?


Thanks.