Could be a long post, but I have a vision and need help!

Oxbow

Oxbow

Oxbow

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14 Aug 2006
Posts
212
Hi all,

I hope some Gurus on here can help me with this. My networking knowledge is not Uber, but I can easily set up a network at home, secure it, understand most of the things that go on, router settings, etc, etc.

Now, we are in the process of getting a house and I have no problem with DIY or anything so here is my plan.

What I need from you guys is the best way to implement it.

Firstlty, we have our main TV - fine.

Now, in the master bedroom we have a wall mounted TV. I would also like to put in the bathroom (for the Mrs of course) and the kitchen (also for the Mrs) two touch screen monitors.

I envisage one server with Terrabyte storage in the loft to serve both Tvs and both monitors.

Now, here comes the tricky part. (I think). I want to create a user interface for the two touch screens which allows us to choose Video, Music, Radio, TV etc either in the Kitchen or bathroom. Secondly, I guess the server could link to another box running as a media centre so that we could have digital TV to the two TVs.

What I would like to know is how 'you' would set something like this up? I also want to look into the option of the server controlling the soundsystem in the house with the ability to play different music in different rooms. Are there any amplifiers that can be connected through LANs?

Lastly, I have heard about this homeplug thing that is coming in where you use the house power supply as the backbone for your network. This can run at around the 100mb/s which is more than enough for this sort of application..

TIA
 
I dont know,

but bathroom and touch screen would be a mission, for one condensation behind the screen would kill it.

Love the idea though, and i share the vision lol one day when i get my own place.
 
Datamonkey said:
I dont know,

but bathroom and touch screen would be a mission, for one condensation behind the screen would kill it.

Love the idea though, and i share the vision lol one day when i get my own place.
Click to expand...

Not worried about that. I've done a screen install before and as long as you break open the unit and use a clear thin sealant, you have no problems and you'd neve know.
 
Datamonkey said:
cool cool

ok my next thought then,

how do you send the vid signal to the screen?

Complete n00b to this lol
Click to expand...

Through a switch box I'd imagine, or multiple cards, i'm not sure. Going to read that electronic house site now.
 
Pinnacle Showcenter?

Not perfect, but fits the bill well enough to justify cost and time savings over a bespoke setup.
 
Big influencing factor in this is, do you want the separate screens to function separately (or more clearly, do you want to be be able to have pictures showing on one terminal and video on another), or does it not matter if changing a setting on one changes a setting on all of them (i.e. switch to TV on one and in fact they all go to TV since they share the same monitor stream).

If it's the former, is MythTV not the sort of thing you're after software wise? http://www.mythtv.org/

You could then setup a Mini-ITX system at each terminal and have them all connect to your terabyte storage server. Advantage is, the only cabling needed is that for the LAN. Disadvantage, it costs more.

Great idea you've got, hope this helps, null :)
 
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