Home System - recommendations / advice / suggestions?

RunHomerRun

Hi All,

I’ll try to keep this as clear and concise as possible.

At home, each room has the following

• 2 x cat5e (or maybe cat6 I can’t recall off-hand) and 2 x Co-Ax
• 8 areas / zones have speaker cable in the ceiling
• Sitting room has the above cables AND cabling for surround sound
• All of the cables / wiring are back to a central node in the attic.
• This central node is a comms cabinet that houses; Cat Patch Panels, Co-Ax Patch Panels (f-type), SKY + box, SKY box and a 6-way amplifier / splitter / distributer
• Attic room in the far distant future will be a games / cinema room, currently hdmi cables back to the comms cabinet, surround sound, power cables for motorized projector screens, etc, but this is all for a land, far, far away called the future.

Current Configuration

• Sitting room TV is linked via magic eye to the SKY + box
• Bedroom, sunroom and kids playroom TV is linked via the 6-way splitter and magic eyes to the SKY boxes.
• (note: the playroom magic eye – antiference – does not seem to be working correctly, it is viewing the SKY channels, but will not allow me to change the channels, it appears to be the same cable run distance as the sunroom, so don’t know why this isn’t working)

Wish-list
I would love to have the following;

1. Central media server where all movies / videos / photos / songs are stored
2. In each room, I want to call up on the TV and view / play the above media
3. Does this work as a media version of a magic eye, e.g. do you have a local to the TV piece of kit that connects directly to the TV, and is then linked back via Cat5 (rj45) to the media server in the attic, and you merely change the tv source to aux, etc?
4. I would like to have the ceiling speakers back to a 8-zone amplifier system, it can be accessed via the TV also or maybe PDA / laptop device.
5. I’m aware of one Audio system, where you can connect to the amp controller over the internet and adjust the zones, volumes etc, but how does this link to the media server?
6. Does the surround sound in the main sitting room have to be linked back to the SKY + box (which isn’t possible to cable UP to the attic) or can it be linked to the TV in the sitting room?

I have a rough idea of what I would like.
Hopefully you can recommend the hardware, components, makes, models, sellers, interconnectors, adaptors for all the above wishlist
I don’t want the expense of getting a specialist, bells and whistles A/V company to install a pricey complete package.
I would like to add to the system bit by bit over time as money allows, have the satisfaction of connecting the whole thing together.
Beforehand though, I would love to have the “big-picture / blueprint” of how it all works and fits together – so I can begin.

I have most definitely missed something from the wishlist above……..(I had half of this written earlier, then got interrupted and it was lost…so had to re-start)

Thanks a million in advance.

Idleater

If you aren't willing to pay for someone who knows exactly how this stuff works, then I suggest you do a simple Google search on the things you have bolded above to inform yourself . Then you can come back here and post something specific that those of us with non professional knowledge can answer within a defined scope.
Budget for one would be handy, because i reckon you'd balk at my suggestions and go running to a professional to do it on the cheap.

rob_

The easiest do it yourself system for audio is a Sonos, and for movies stick an Apple Tv behind the tv's you want it at. That will keep your cost down, then use your spare money and buy an iPad to control them, simples!!

Otherwise hire a professional, it takes years of experience to learn how to install these systems correctly, not a job for the DIY'er.

higster

rob_ wrote: »

The easiest do it yourself system for audio is a Sonos, and for movies stick an Apple Tv behind the tv's you want it at. That will keep your cost down, then use your spare money and buy an iPad to control them, simples!!

Otherwise hire a professional, it takes years of experience to learn how to install these systems correctly, not a job for the DIY'er.

VERY sound advice

Homer

+1 on the Sonos/Apple Tv setup. It's what I use at home in a number of rooms and it's very simple to use and gives me all the features/functions I need without costing a fortune.

aaf

I hope I'm not hijacking but...could you guys recommend some AV companies then? I’m in a similar boat to the OP myself in that my parents have built a new house and want me to look after the AV side of things. It’s far too big a project for me and far too complex. I’ve very much a technophile and have my own high end 5.1 system, media server etc and tend to keep up with the latest and greatest but multiroom AV is a different kettle of fish. At this stage, the house needs to be cabled properly. That’s all I want done for now. I have a fairly good idea of what is needed in each room in terms of tv’s and sound etc. How much do you think companies will charge for a cabling diagram and cable installation? I think the house is approx 3,500sq feet. The house is in Meath.

RunHomerRun

Thanks Rob and co for the good advice.
Will take a look at the apple tvs.

Thanks.

rob_

@aaf if you want to PM me I can recommend somebody for you.

Likewise Homer, if you want to PM me I will send on details of a supplier