I used to take pride in my Geek Skills. But by audio/videophile membership has long expired.
We’re finishing the basement and my ‘reward’ for getting it done is an HDTV.
We’re not sure where we’re going to put it. It might be above the fireplace, but that might be too high, so we may relocate it to the opposite wall. Either way, I’d like to get it wired to make deciding this a non-issue (for us or the next owners).
So…I want to put in two drops in the main family room and one in the den/office. I was thinking:
– 1 coax
– 1 ethernet
– 1 phone
– 1 pair of speaker hookups (to run rear channels up through the drop ceiling).
Aside from the phone, which I will connect up at the main entrance of the house, the other’s I was going to connect to the wall outlet, and then add an outlet to the top of the wall in the floor joists. That way I or whoever could run the ethernet to whichever main hub, and the same with the speakers through the ceiling.
Any others? It’s been suggested that I add HDMI wiring, though that doesn’t make as much sense to me, as I can’t figure why I’d have my TV that far away from my DVD/Receiver.
I will also be running large conduit to each of these so one could pull new stuff through in the future, but while the walls are open, I figured I might as well add as much as I could now.
Replies
I've several times found use for two ethernet connections, and it's not unusual to want a second coax (for OTA FM vs cable/satellite, eg).
And of course you want telephone, ethernet, and maybe coax in most bedrooms.
I concur with Dan. Two ethernet (minimum) plus 2 coax.I find that I can go through ethernet connections pretty rapidly. I use mine for phone too, but we still use 4 in our TV room, no problem. And that doesn't include a phone.BTW, I think you still need a phone connection if you want TiVo. Maybe they have an internet connection now, but I'm not sure.
"BTW, I think you still need a phone connection if you want TiVo. Maybe they have an internet connection now, but I'm not sure."They do.But sat recievers do need a phone connection for some of their features..
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A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
My elderly Mother recently upgraded from her two VCRs to TiVo's. I installed two TiVo's in widely spaced rooms. Each had dual tuner capabilities. They were able to have USB connected wireless transmitter / receivers that connected to the PC Internet wireless router in another room. This avoided the need for a telephone connection at each TiVo.
Another BIG advantage for my Mother is that she can watch on one TiVo a program that was recorded on the other TiVo. The program becomes available in the list of recorded programs and is transferred quickly through the wireless connection when desired.
Amazing age we live in.
Terry
Hi Darrel,
For clean wall mount installs, the receiver / dvd gear will be some distance away from the HDTV. Whether the distance is 5' or 25' away, you'll need to get the signals to your TV from your video gear.
If you purchase an Audio Video (AV) Receiver, all the video signals from the DVD/VCR/TIVO/cable box/satellite dish/etc. will get inputted into the receiver. The receiver will do all the switching/scaling and will feed the video signal through one HDMI cable to the HDTV. I also normally run a Coax cable line to the TV so someone can just flip on the TV and not have to worry about turning on the rest of the gear. Some folks want to hook up their computer to the monitor. In this case, you'll also need a VGA cable from your PC/laptop to the TV (plus sound). Note that not all AV receivers will upconvert to HDMI at the receiver, so read the product literature carefully.
Sound cables (RCAs) are not run to the TV as the AV receiver handles the sound through the surround system speakers. You will need to run speaker cables from the receiver to the various speaker locations. How many depends on which type of receiver you get. A 5.1 receiver will have a front left, center, front right, rear left, and rear right channels plus a sub. Add 6.1 or 7.1 and you get more speakers. Speaker placement will depend on speaker selection. Depending on the TV, the TV may have an audio out to the receiver which will require L/R feed to the receiver.
Without an AV receiver, then you will have to run dedicated cables from the standard receiver/DVD player/etc to the TV. Your TV will then handle the switching between components. Every component will need a L/R (red/white) RCA feed plus the following types of cables for video:
VCR: Composite video (yellow RCA plug).
DVD: Depends on what type of DVD player you have but either S-video, component (3 cable), or HDMI. HDMI Upconverting DVD players are fairly inexpensive nowadays and if you don't have one, this is the route I'd take.
Blue Ray or HD DVD: HDMI.
TIVO: HDMI if you have the high def model, S-video if you don't. Dual tuner TIVOs and high def TIVO take either a CAT 5 internet connection or a phone line. Do the internet, not the phone line.
Cable Box or satellite dish: HDMI if you sign up for high def, S-video if you don't.
I'll often put in a Infrared repeater under the TV if the AV gear is a distance away from the TV. Most folks naturally point the remote(s) at the TV, not at the AV gear. I recommend the Atlas Soundolier products which have been bulletproof, even in well lit rooms. This will require a 3 wire 18 guage conductor to be run from the IR eye receiver to the AV gear IR flashers. About $100.
Don't forget power to the TV. Ideally, this would be a dedicated line that's on the same circuit as the rest of the AV gear to minimize the likelihood of ground loops. Conditioned power or at least surge protected power is a plus.
Edited 11/27/2007 7:25 pm ET by Bassnotes
There was a time when I enjoyed this stuff.I think that's long passed.TV shouldn't be hard. When did it get so hard? *sigh*;o)Seriously, thanks for the info.I know surround is SUPPOSED to be what I want, but I'm not convinced the effort is worth it. I'm thinking with going with a really nice surround setup...though I of course want to accomodate future owners so will also set up the surround hookups.I'll definitely want the complete AV Receiver, and then just having one HDMI out is just a bonus. I still think we need a phone line for DishNetwork. Which is asinine, but without it they want to charge a $5 B.S. fee, so, I'll do that too.Do any of you have a HDTV above your fireplace? This seems to be the preferred location for photo shoots of interiors, but I question how practical it is in reality. Seems like we'd be getting sore necks.
This seems to be the preferred location for photo shoots of interiors, but I question how practical it is in reality. Seems like we'd be getting sore necks
That's because "house designers" cling to passè notions like a hearth as something around which familes gather, as opposed to haggling over who gets the remote.
You cannot have a european-porportioned (let alone a rumford that might actually heat the room) fireplace and mantel and surround, and not have the tv farr to high on the wall. That is, unlees all viewers have recliners, or stand more than six and a half feet tall (and watch standing up).
Almost every of the Interior Desecrators will "orient" the furniture to a fireplace, thus gurarnteeing that not only is the tv in the wring place, but so wil lthe xmas tree (the festivus pole, being safely in the yard, is immune to this).
Might be intereseting to actually meet a person with a paid-off hdtv, to find out if any last in the precarious locations often selected.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I might have to convince the wife that we really need to buy the HDTV BEFORE the sheetrock goes up.Stick it in a spot, grab the lawn chairs, and watch a netflix flick. Sore necks? OK, not there. Next spot...
might have to convince the wife that we really need to buy the HDTV BEFORE the sheetrock goes up
What ever gets the Design Committee to agree <g>.
It's one of my pet peeves about "house" designers' designs, they get spaces like formal rooms that "everyone" knows "you" have to have--but have no use to the actual (or typical) occupants. And little touches, like moving that "required" fireplace into the otherwise useless "formal living room" at least lets a person detail it to a near "away room" with some sort of use. The "family" ot "great" room on the plans can then get a hint of cabinets that will be the focal point to make the "decorators" happy and wil lbe where the tv goes in any event, whether the decorators approve or not. (STill find it funny to see decorators, in their own homes, with unabashed rooms dedicated to the tvs they seem to pretned cannot exist in their clients' houses <g>.)
Oh, and yes, I give my sister, the Inferior Designer this same sort of grief, too <g>.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Actually, having the equip first is not a bad idea. That's what I did so I could size and locate the wire chases, speakers and support for the TV while it was still "easy". Also, the sound system I got has some proprietary connectors on the wire ends, so it was a big help to have them in early to avoid fishing issues later.
I think over the mantel is too high for a TV if you are planning on actually watching the TV for more than about 10 minutes at a time. I've been to friends' homes where they did this and I always end up with a stiff neck after a little while and just give up on trying to watch the TV -- which, come to think of it, ain't such a bad thing. ;-)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I don't like placing the TV above the fireplace if there are other options. It's not the best location for the TV, but I understand that some folks want this for various reasons. One primary one is that many family rooms have a furniture arrangment that is hearth centric. In a typical setup, the fireplace is on the wall opposite from the room entry, the sofa along one wall adjacent to the fireplace, with a windowed wall opposite the sofa. And many wives don't want to rearrange the family room for the toys.In order for it to work above the fireplace, you need a couple of things:1) A larger sized room so that the viewers can get some stand-off distance from the tv. If you are too close, you will have to loop up which will result in the cramps.2) A low profile fireplace / mantle. If it sits too high, then the TV will be hitting the ceiling. :-)Since you are finishing off your basement, why not create a home theater room down there??
Suggest an empty 1" conduit from both TV and A/V equipment locations to above the drop ceiling 'just in case'
Also, take a look at Leviton Quickport for terminations
TV above mantel/fireplace - No good
Jeff
Edited 11/28/2007 9:47 pm ET by Jeff_Clarke
Just to add my $.02....
Yes, you'll want surround. Yes, it really does make a difference when watching movies via DVD. If you can, wire for 7.1 (two more rear speakers) as it's cheap to do now. It also gives you flexibility in placing your rear speakers for the 5.1 setup.
Run big fat conduit between the receiver and TV as well as between the likely "utilities" tie in point and the receiver. Personally, I think 1" is too small, I'd go 1.5" since it makes pulling that much easier later on. Think about the pain of trying to pull component cables through that conduit.... Bigger is better. And no, none of the existing wiring your planning on should be in the conduit -- might not be a bad idea to run them in a conduit too if you think they'll need to be changed out.
And yes, it'll be worth it when you're done. You'll quickly (want to) return to your audiophile roots. :-)
Glen
In a former life I used to do custom video/audiophile installs - it hasn't gotten any less complicated, but the options are more fun.
You most definitely want to plan for surround and run empty conduit to potential locations. Their are also wireless HDTVs becoming available (Samsung today) that will eliminate all but the power from the wiring equation. I have not tested them out for interference issues, but the concept is great. Here's the latest: http://www.news.com/Chilly-forecast-for-wireless-HD-video/2100-1041_3-6219630.html
In general, putting a TV above a fireplace is a terrible idea unless you'll be at least 12' back and can lower the viewing angle. Of course, if you're that far back you can't enjoy the fireplace so QED.
Locate your flat panel such that any bright light sources are either less than 90 degrees from the mounting wall or have room darkening shades over them. Plasmas have very reflective screens and you'll end up watching your reflection in the TV. LCDs generally have less reflective screens but can also have issues because they are somewhat less bright.
For more info check out the following links:
http://www.avsforum.com - You can get in as deep as you like here...
http://www.hometheatermag.com/ - They have a gallery of pics that include what other people have done.
http://www.reighn.com/theaterphoto.html - This guy made his home theater look like the bridge of the Enterprise from Star Trek... Spring that on your wife for grins.