Pre-wiring House for DirecTV

[Tom Snyder]

New house is going up... and we'll be pre-wiring the house for Multimedia.  The builder pre-wires single cable runs to all the outlets I specify.  

But I'm pretty sure I'm going with DirecTV. I'm planning on having a regular DVR in the Master Bedroom, and an HD DVR in the living room. Will I need to run an extra cable to each of those places?

Also, will a single dish be able to handle those two DVR's and two other regular boxes?

Finally, The HD DVR will be powering two Plasmas... one 17 feet away, the other 30  feet away. Component Cable the best way to go?

[bradsmainsite]

Tom,

At minimun have dual cable run to each location , also make sure wire is rated for 3 gig nothing less!

Would run HDMI to your hd locations with component for backup that way it can also be used for composite if needed.

Also make sure phone lines at sat locations.

Brad

[Talos4]

Tom, currently I'm running the oval 3lnb dish with a 6X8 multiswitch.

I currently have 2 SD tivos, 1 H-20, and 2 SD boxes running with no problems.

I've got cables running everywhere. I think there's 11  :eek:  (well, maybe not THAT many) coax runs behind my Living room set up alone.  

I would run double lines to all of your rooms. Just in case, Upgraditis is very contagious!

I'm feeding my Plasma in the rec room a DVD player at the moment with 45' components with no noticeable problems.

Good Luck,  Happy building!

[Bebop]

If you are going to use the dual tuners, 2 cables. If you are planing to use OTA, run 3 cables. The new Mepg-4 does not allow diplexer.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&style=

[Tom Snyder]

If you are planing to use OTA, run 3 cables.

While the dish will be on the opposite side of the house, my OTA antenna is an indoor and will sit on top of the media closet. But I was planning on using the Mpeg4 locals just cuz I'm not sure how good a signal I'll get OTA in Jackson. We'll only be 6 miles further North from where we are  now, and I get 92-94 on all the locals now with the same set up.

The new Mepg-4 does not allow diplexer.

Excuse my ignorance... what does that mean?

On another note... I want to be able to output video from my PC to the big Plasma. The computer is about 4 feet from the Media closet, and 20 feet from the TV. What's the best way to do that.

[murdoc]

While the dish will be on the opposite side of the house, my OTA antenna is an indoor and will sit on top of the media closet. But I was planning on using the Mpeg4 locals just cuz I'm not sure how good a signal I'll get OTA in Jackson. We'll only be 6 miles further North from where we are  now, and I get 92-94 on all the locals now with the same set up.

Just remember the MPEG4 locals will only give you ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC.  OTA will be needed for everything else.

On another note... I want to be able to output video from my PC to the big Plasma. The computer is about 4 feet from the Media closet, and 20 feet from the TV. What's the best way to do that.

You could run a 4' RGB or DVI cable.

[Tom Snyder]

OTA will be needed for everything else.

How reliable is the DVR for OTA locally?

You could run a 4' RGB or DVI cable.

What's the easiest way to provide Video out from the PC...have splitter for a serial out, or is there card I should get?  I just want to occcasionally send the same video out that goes to my monitor to the TV, too.  Is there another "in jack" on the back of the D* DVR that I will plug into?

[Gregg Lengling]

I'd add a Digital Video card to the computer with either DVI or HDMI to feed it.  Of course the point would be moot if you had the Toshiba Cinema Series which has a network (RJ45/cat5) input.

[Joseph S]

I'd try to make sure there are conduits as the technology is always changing.

[Tom Snyder]

I'd add a Digital Video card to the computer with either DVI or HDMI to feed it.

Cool Thanks!

Of course the point would be moot if you had the Toshiba Cinema Series which has a network (RJ45/cat5) input.

So what do you do with raw Network cable?

I'd try to make sure there are conduits as the technology is always changing.

Yah know... That thought just occurred to me this afternoon...makes a LOT of sense! Just a big old honkin' PVC pipe?

[Gregg Lengling]

Cool Thanks!

So what do you do with raw Network cable?

Yah know... That thought just occurred to me this afternoon...makes a LOT of sense! Just a big old honkin' PVC pipe?

The TV works as a network device you just stream the video/audio down the network and the processor in the tv decodes and displays it.

[Bebop]

Excuse my ignorance... what does that mean?
.

They explained it better than I.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplexer

[Tom Snyder]

add a Digital Video card to the computer with either DVI or HDMI to feed it.

Do the DTV HD DVR's have a DVI or HDMI "In" or would I need to run a full cable to the TV?

[psubill78]

We just recently went through this...

I had our builder wire only the rooms where the jack(s) would be on outside walls.  Ran 2 coax, and 3 eth to each jack.  Leviton makes adapters that you can make S video and composite jacks from CAT5e cable.

Here's the key. Have them run a 2-3" PVC pipe from your attic to the basement (in the center of the house is preferable).  Makes it sooooooooooo easy to run it yourself afterwords.  Adding jacks to interior walls is extremely simple, and depending on how much the builder charges, you'll save a TON of money.

Plus, with the sat on the roof, you can run those wires inside the attic and down to the basement with ease - then run it all from one central location.  Eliminates having the 4+ coax running from roof to basement outside of house. Looks horrible.

[Tom Snyder]

If I run component, is it possible to use a splitter to feed both a 30 foot run and a 60 foot run at the same time and provide two TV's enough signal?