My Home Theatre Build Plans - Comments?

[Bent]

But...
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...umber=091-1206
has screw terminals on each side, unlike the other one.

[TurboTropic]

Question for you:

How are you going to show different channels on each of your TVs at the same time? Do you have seperate cable/satellite boxes for each TV?

[ClgShaft]

Yes, a bell receiver for each addiational TV.

I am going to try for the projection setup first.

The rest will be roughed in and bought at a different time.

Also after discussing this with my wife, she just hated the idea of having that many TV's, so the rough in will be done, and I will persuade her over time.

I currently have a 9200 and 4 3100's, so I could power most of the TV's now.

thanks

[lindmar]

Why do you need so many tvs? I dont get it.

[Dog Byte]

Why do you need so many tvs? I dont get it.

It's not about having a lot of TVs; it's about not knowing where the TV (or two) will end up.

[Kaoru]

I've been following this thread and I thought I would weigh in some possibilities that I'm doing for my HT. First of all, don't have any reservations in installing 14 gauge CL2 (in-wall rating) speaker wire. There is no noticable difference between 12 and 14; this has been proven time and time again. As for sub wiring, I use cat-3 with specific Leviton RCA connectors. RG-59/6 is ok too but harder to find connectors. I get all my stuff from Home Depot; they have a good selection of Leviton products.

Wiring for all those TVs, however, is not so simple. First is the TV themselves, what will be your connection method? HDMI, component, VGA, etc.? And what is the run length? Generally speaking 25' is the maximum for passive HDMI... active HDMI is required for longer. Yes, distance matters in digital connections where as physical cable is not so important. For component cables, it less on the distance but more on the physical. In either case, it won't be cheap at approx. $200 per cable set; double it for active HDMI.

Idea #1: Co-locate your receivers near/behind the TVs, run RG6 for Coax Audio/SPDIF and your choice (RG-59/6/Cat-3) with RCA connectors for analog audio to your equip. rack. To control the boxes, pick up an IR repeater kit (with IR bugs wired homerun to equipment rack) so that your not subjected to remote hell; this assumes your going with a high-end universal remote. This obviously saves the cost of buying HDMI/component cables. I have no idea how to arrange/switch the audio at the AV receiver (5 inputs?); a switcher will be required.

Idea #2: Install conduit to your equipment rack from the TVs. Pull what ever you desire to the TVs. Obviously a chunk of change will go toward buying desired cables and add the cost of a video/audio switcher ($$$). You still have remote hell so a IR repeater will be needed.

I have other ideas but the use of 4 satellite receivers makes it hard. If you had cable, there would be other choices. I don't know much about the 3100s but if they're not HD and money is no objection then you could do a Master HTPC with 4 x Haupauge capture cards, Beyond TV, and Girder to cature the 3100s; doable but a challenge. Then you could use 4 satellite HTPCs at the TVs (cost is about $300 each) running Beyond TV Link (i.e. network attached to the MASTER). Use of Girder and a universal [programmable] remote required to control everything but no repeater or 3100s remotes are required (Beyond TV takes care of it). Advantages: HDTV,DVD,PVR,etc. for the main LCD/Projector and SDTV/PVR for the TVs; you save on video cabling and a video switcher; a typical AV receiver will work nicely (your inputs are limited). Downside: still need an audio switcher and the HD at the HTPC/satellites NOT possible... (unless something new comes out, FireWire ports become readily available, pigs fly...)

Cheers,
Kaoru

PS: I currently run a master HTPC with 4 capture/tuners (but only one STB; on Rogers). I have 5 TVs, 1 HD projector and 1 laptop (TV capable) in total (i.e. 7 TVs); 2 of the TVs have a satellite HTPC and 2 TVs are HD along with the projector. Every room in my house is connected in some manner.

[ClgShaft]

hey,

well what can I say, WOW.

I was not going to get that intense in the setup.

The secondary TV's will just have coax run to them. I am looking for some 19" + EDTV Flat panel TV's for this setup. I was not going to buy HDTV's for the secondary TV's for a couple of reasons. One was the price of cable's and two was beacuse they will only be used during football season, which is only sundays basically. May be used the odd time to watch multiple hockey games.

I currently have a 42" Panny, that will be for the center TV, I am going to leave room to buy a bigger plasma.

The 42" Panny and the projector will both have HD receivers going to them.

I currently also have a ps3, receiver is a sony strdg900. The PS3 will be used in this setup, however the receiver is going to stay upstairs as I am going to buy something newer near the end of completion.

I will also be running conduit to both the plasma and the projector.

thanks for your suggestions.

[ClgShaft]

Hey guys and ladies,

I am ready and have planned how I am going to wire. Wiring will begin tonight.

So hard to get stuff done during Christmas season.

I have made a change, I have scrapped the 5 TV setup, and am just going to go with a 100" Carada Screen with a Sanyo z2000 projector. Picture in Picture will be enough with the 9200, plus this way my wife will pitch in.


Well I guess I cannot attach photos.

[ClgShaft]

Hey,

Couple things first. Could a Moderator by chance delete the useless posts? Also how do I post a picture?

Now on with my home theater. The home theater is pretty much wired, just working on the low voltage now.

I have chosen the PLV-Z2000 as my projector, and the projector calculator tells me with a 100" screen with a 1.0 gain (basement will be dark) to mount the projector at 13' 4". I am just wondering where to put my cabling. I dont want to put the box's behind just in case I need to move the projector back, or buy a different one with a longer throw, and I might run into the same problem if mounting on the sides. Just curious as to what others have done.

I was going to block the joists up for mounting the projector 14" wide and do the blocking in between three joists, just in case of future changes I would have a place to mount something else closer or farther away.

Other question since I am now doing low voltage, Is RG6 going to be good enough to run to my sub locations? I am going to actually wiring in 4 locations for a sub just in case I want to move the two subs around. I was planning on running the rg6 to the same location as the speaker wires for my rears and fronts, having a 3 port jack, but should I run speaker wire for the sub also? Most subs I have seen can be hooked up with a sub cable or run your front speaker cables to the sub first then the speaker cable to the fronts, so I wouldn't need any speaker wire to the sub directly.

any help or suggestions. Please and thanks.

[rwalker]

On the sub thing, RG6 is a good choice. You can terminate with F ends and then use F to RCA adapters.

Run seperate speaker wire for the regular speakers. Don't do the mix thing you mentioned. Running speaker wire to the sub then from the sub to the other speakers isn't the best for overall bass management.

[Bent]

RG-6 inside the wall terminated into this F-connector:

and an RCA cable out to your subwoofer.

[ClgShaft]

That is the connector I have ordered.

Here is a slide show of what I have completed so far, Should be 100% done wiring this weekend.

http://photoshare.shaw.ca/view/11639...8127922-98832/

[ClgShaft]

Hey all,

Just an update for those who have been following this thread.

All my low voltage wiring, speaker wire, and sat cables have been run. I think I went a little over board with the wiring. I got the theater room wired for 7.1, no rear center but thinking maybe, zone 2 to the bathroom and basement bedroom. I used 14 gauge in wall speaker cable from rona for all my speakers. I got 2 sat connections going to all the rooms in my house, I got three dp 34's in line. I can have 6 dual Tuners from Bev. I also wired each room for shaw cable, in case I switch. Switching to star choice could be easy, I ran extra cables outside.

I am now in the process of running vacuflow conduit from the home theater to the plasma location, projector, and the computer. I have all my cables for this, and an extra string for the future.

Heating guy is tomorrow. Then I will rough in my bathroom and call an inspection. Should be drywalled by the end of the month, but I always run behind from changing various things, thats the best about doing it myself. I am shooting for a March to April completion, then I will start my fence and garage.

Couple of areas I need some help, or suggestions.

I bought the 25' HDMI 1.3a in wall gold plated cable from monoprice. Now it is a little short going to the plasma, but when I get the projection it will be perfect. So my plan for the time being was getting a custom wall plate with hdmi and rca at each end of the cables. Then run another 1.3a hdmi, 3' to the receiver and TV. Will I loose much signal here? The TV is a TH42PX60U from Panasonic, 768 resolution. Should I add a repeater? I think thats what they are called. Keep in mind I will be ditching this TV early spring when the projection comes in.

Should I run anymore Cables? I got internet to each room. I ran a cat 5e to the computer from the home theater. I ran rg6 to 4 sub locations (where ever it will sound best).

I got more cat 5 and more rg6.

Let me know your suggestions.

I would take some pics, but I have a pile of insulation in the middle of the room.

thanks

[Coop]

I would consider beefing up your home network, or at the very least adding more cat 5e to your HT setup. Bev may open up the ethernet port, for a XBox and as time goes on more and more components are adding this option.

[ClgShaft]

Hey,

Well it's been well over a month since my last post in this thread, so I guess it is time for a update.

Below is a link to where my Home Theater now stands. The first picture in the entrance. The second picture shows the computer area, and where my components will go on top of my bar fridge. There will be a curtain under the beam, to try to reduce light into the room. The third picture shows the sitting area. The fourth shows where my screen will go. The last is again the entrance.

Drywall will be delivered tomorrow, and the drywall guy starts on Friday.

I am doing the whole basement at the same time, so I am a little slow.

Thanks for looking.

Any thoughts or suggestions, please let me know.

http://photoshare.shaw.ca/messages/v...arm/page/1/15/