New Home Media Network, Full Install in New build home

[Biscuit]

Could be a cost effective first option though, cost may be a factor. So I could still run all the cables to all rooms but would be limited to say 6 or 8 feeds that the router provides?

Definitely not a bad way to start off, you might find that you end up needing little more than that!

You can pick up cheap Netgear prosafe switches off ebay usually though and they are pretty decent if you are just splitting the network access across a load of ports. Even this might be enough to start off with.

Cant imagine that you will a huge amount more than 1 port active in each room at a time.

[dave87]

I was referring to the powerlines bit, but yes, there is no reason why you can't simply use the connections on the router. Bear in mind though that most routers only offer 4 ports.

[escapizm]

How can I attached a PDF of my prelimary wiring schematic?

[Biscuit]

You cant attach PDFs on the forum, you could upload it to a filelocker site such as rapidshare or mediafire though

[escapizm]

sorry to be a pain... ive uploaded to rapidshare (as its free) but cant see how i get a link, i can add a contact but that not right for posting to forum me thinks?

[dave87]

There will be a link somewhere to download it, it is this that you'll need to post on the forum to enable others to view the file.

I've not used rapidshare much, so not too au fait with how it works. Alternatively is the PDF something you can turn into a jpg and upload to somewhere like imageshack?

[Biscuit]

THanks but i was meaning for the 3m self terminating connectors, do you have a part number, is there only 3m that make them, guess ill have to get Paul to buy some specialist tools too?

Sorry i thought i had replied to this previously, i mustn't have hit the send button!

The 3M system does not require special tools, the only tool you will need a pretty good set of snips to cut the cables (im talking £30-40 or so) and a screwdriver to mount the panel. There are a number of different systems that are toolless and use clever self terminating systems. The Nexans one (also supplied by Blue Helix) is also very good and even includes a pretty nice system to hold the cables into the back of panel, whereas in most systems you would cable tie it. The downside here is that it's more expensive.
As i said before, blue helix supply a number of different systems so it might be worth doing a bit of research into what you need/want and can afford. The guys there are pretty helpful aswell.

All the part numbers are here if you want to look for them seperately though:
http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/portal...bling-systems/

You will want normal CAT6 cable and normal CAT6 RJ-45 Jacks. Most CAT6 systems will do 24 way and 48 way panels in 1u, however because of the size of the jacks in this system you can get 24 and 32 way in 1u or 48way in 2u. You will have to pick what size you want for Node 1! (Just in case you don't know what 'u' is, it means rack unit and is a standard measurement for rack equipment.)

They also do a wallpanel mount, if i were you i would just get the 4 way panels everywhere and keep it simple, fill in anywhere where there is only 2 connections using a blank.

To help you estimate how they will all fit on the panel, i would recommend making an spreadsheet layout for the panels and state on each connector which room its going too.

If you do decide to order from blue helix then i would recommend using their 'value' patch cables instead of the 3m or any other ones. I have tried a lot of different types of patchlead (sad i know... but its part of my job) and a lot of them tend to be very difficult to manage (very springy and stiff) whereas these ones are fairly flexible without losing signal quality and at reasonable prices.

Edit: BTW if you can get the CAT6 cable cheaper elsewhere then there is no harm in doing it, you don't have to use the 3M cable and connectors!

[Biscuit]

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/42246698/Pr...%20%281%29.pdf

Here is the public drop box link showing the plan.

Its a pretty good way of showing the plans but wow... youre really going all out if thats what you're doing. Are you putting multiple connection points in each room or are all of those going to be in the same place in each room?

Im all for future proofing but that seems a bit OTT if im honest

[escapizm]

Thanks Biscuit, yes you're right, plan changed a bit...

Just project meeting with my friend Paul, he as purchased some CAT5e cable from a friend so that decision is made (as all builds costs are escalating).

Decision has been made to reduce the amount of Ethernet cable to all the rooms as my drawing had too much redundancy ($$$).

The main living room will have a SKY HD box feeding the TV mounted therein, the other SKH HD (sky room in room £10/month) will be mounted in NODE 1 and will feed the Family Room and Master Bedroom controlled over Coax/sky eye. These two rooms will have Ballun boxes taking in the 2 x each CAT5e cables.

I guess there will be a need to run coax from the NODE 1 for the sky eye but not sure how this will work as they’re receiving HD, I guess the COAX is redundant and is solely for the IR sky eye signal.

We have also just discussed hard-wired cable for surround speakers to the living room only which I will add to my drawing next revision.

When it comes to run the CAT5e cable are we ok just using the cable clips (1 nail and a plastic loop), I remember reading CAT6 was sensitive to how its secured, I hope CAT5e is less so.

Imp back at work 15th April and will change drawings that week, we have to start cable install 20th as plastered comes w/c 29th.

I’m vesting the site next week so will take some pics of NODE 1 area and cable runs etc.

Paul also mentioned CCTV, he was shown and App where a guy controlled pan & tilt from his phone he really liked, so that will be something ill have to learn too!

[escapizm]

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/42246698/Pr...%20%281%29.pdf

Here is the public drop box link showing the plan.

Its a pretty good way of showing the plans but wow... youre really going all out if thats what you're doing. Are you putting multiple connection points in each room or are all of those going to be in the same place in each room?

Im all for future proofing but that seems a bit OTT if im honest

We had considered fitting multiple points in the living rooms at least but that remains to be seen...

[escapizm]

Visited site tonight, cable routes determined , was dark so no pics. Will take some next w/e when we install. Am I right in thinking a 48 port unmanaged gigabit switch will do, if I need more can I just add another to the rack? Can I use standard clips to attach cable to walls, will be dot and dabbed with plaster board after.

[Biscuit]

Visited site tonight, cable routes determined , was dark so no pics. Will take some next w/e when we install. Am I right in thinking a 48 port unmanaged gigabit switch will do, if I need more can I just add another to the rack? Can I use standard clips to attach cable to walls, will be dot and dabbed with plaster board after.

48 Ports should be enough yeah! You could add another to the rack, the only limitation would be (unless they are stacking switches or they have/you can put in a 10GbE link) any traffic between the two will be limited to 1GbE. I would be very surprised if you needed 48 ports simultaneously though! Part of the advantage of the patch panel is that it allows you to have a lot more sockets int he house than you have ports on a switch and if you ever adjust it you just move a patch cable in node 1.
I think you should be ok with standard cable clips for CAT5e as long as they dont pinch the cables.

[escapizm]

Hi guys,question:-

how do i get 3 shared sky hd outputs to 3 separate rooms, i appreciate the signal is sent via cat5e and balun boxes but the sky unit has only one output, i'm perplexed?

[Biscuit]

I dont think you can send 3 HD signals simultaneously, HDCP on the skybox will stop it working. There are probably ways round it, but nothing legitimte as far as i know

[escapizm]

Could I use a hdmi splitter?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004X2H07W/ref=mw_dp_sim_ss4?pi=SX125

[Biscuit]

Could I use a hdmi splitter?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B004...m_ss4?pi=SX125

It shouldn't work. As i said before, the HDCP should detect that its not connected to a compliant device and cut out the video. Some devices can strip out the HDCP and allow you to do this, but its not legal/legitimate and i cant recommend you anything.