I am green on this subject because my living arrangements have never allowed me to consider whole-house distribution. But in a couple of weeks, will be moving into an existing home that's wired with coax and Cat-5 cable throughout. I have reviewed this board, and have some holes that I need help with -- mainly I believe due to the desire to stream audio and video from teh net in multiple locations. Here's what I want to do:
First floor family room:
Cable/satellite HDTV w/ DVR
Play audio and video from hard drive on PC in basement (see below)
Stream audio and video from the net (Internet radio, mlb.tv, etc.)
DVD player
Surround sound
"B" speakers already wired to adjacent exterior deck
Basement rec room:
Cable/satellite HDTV w/ cable card
Play audio and video from hard drive on PC in basement (see below)
Stream audio and video from the net
"B" speakers to be wired to adjacent laundry/workshop area (open space exists to run wire along wall)
Also set up a separate PC station w/ cable Internet, printer/scanner, etc., in this basement area. Easiest for tagging & ripping purposes if this were the computer hosting the media library.
First floor living room
Play audio only from hard drive on PC in basement
Stream audio only from the net
First floor kitchen
Play audio only from hard drive on PC in basement
Stream audio only from the net
AM/FM radio
Second floor master bedroom
Basement rec room:
Cable/satellite TV
AM/FM radio
Play audio and video from hard drive on PC in basement (see below)
Stream audio and video from the net
"B" speakers to be wired to adjacent master bath or master bath could be set up as separate zone. (Separate coax/Cat-5 connection to that room exists)
My initial thought is that my desire to stream audio and video from the Internet means I would have to have PCs with wireless keyboards/mouses in all 5 (or 6 including master bath) locations. For the locations in the family room, basement and (to some degree) the bedroom, this is not a problem, as I can use the TV as a monitor. But it seems unwieldy elsewhere, especially in the kitchen and master bath.
Other considerations: This is a postwar home. The family room is already wired for surround sound properly, but the plaster wall probably limit the opportunity to start putting speakers in walls, etc. (such as kitchen, bath, etc.) ... Also, as always, budget is a consideration.
Here's the possibly relevant equipment that I already have:
-- Three business class Dell desktop PCs, one of which I use to stream video over my existing TV. Can get more of these cheap, if necessary.
-- Slingbox, now used exclusively for out-of-home viewing.
-- One Technics amp/Surround Sound system for use in family room
-- One older Sansui amp, for use on basement rec room system
-- Wireless router for at least one laptop that will float around the house
Here are some other additions I would like to make in the short term/long term:
Short:
Wireless security cameras
Long:
Full security system
Full automation (lighting, etc.)
Thanks!
First floor family room:
Cable/satellite HDTV w/ DVR
Play audio and video from hard drive on PC in basement (see below)
Stream audio and video from the net (Internet radio, mlb.tv, etc.)
DVD player
Surround sound
"B" speakers already wired to adjacent exterior deck
Basement rec room:
Cable/satellite HDTV w/ cable card
Play audio and video from hard drive on PC in basement (see below)
Stream audio and video from the net
"B" speakers to be wired to adjacent laundry/workshop area (open space exists to run wire along wall)
Also set up a separate PC station w/ cable Internet, printer/scanner, etc., in this basement area. Easiest for tagging & ripping purposes if this were the computer hosting the media library.
First floor living room
Play audio only from hard drive on PC in basement
Stream audio only from the net
First floor kitchen
Play audio only from hard drive on PC in basement
Stream audio only from the net
AM/FM radio
Second floor master bedroom
Basement rec room:
Cable/satellite TV
AM/FM radio
Play audio and video from hard drive on PC in basement (see below)
Stream audio and video from the net
"B" speakers to be wired to adjacent master bath or master bath could be set up as separate zone. (Separate coax/Cat-5 connection to that room exists)
My initial thought is that my desire to stream audio and video from the Internet means I would have to have PCs with wireless keyboards/mouses in all 5 (or 6 including master bath) locations. For the locations in the family room, basement and (to some degree) the bedroom, this is not a problem, as I can use the TV as a monitor. But it seems unwieldy elsewhere, especially in the kitchen and master bath.
Other considerations: This is a postwar home. The family room is already wired for surround sound properly, but the plaster wall probably limit the opportunity to start putting speakers in walls, etc. (such as kitchen, bath, etc.) ... Also, as always, budget is a consideration.
Here's the possibly relevant equipment that I already have:
-- Three business class Dell desktop PCs, one of which I use to stream video over my existing TV. Can get more of these cheap, if necessary.
-- Slingbox, now used exclusively for out-of-home viewing.
-- One Technics amp/Surround Sound system for use in family room
-- One older Sansui amp, for use on basement rec room system
-- Wireless router for at least one laptop that will float around the house
Here are some other additions I would like to make in the short term/long term:
Short:
Wireless security cameras
Long:
Full security system
Full automation (lighting, etc.)
Thanks!
