The ultimate aim for my tech at home is for a telly and speakers to be the only visible things.
The amp, computer and NAS will be racked in the cupboard under stairs, controlled via an infra red remote signalling to IR receivers scattered around the house. This will feed to the receiver box in the cupboard rack. I'll use some form of WOL program to wake the PC remotely.

Connectivity will be via a switch and router (for internet browsing). Each port on the switch will be connected to an ethernet port in various rooms. The ethernet ports will have baluns plugged in to convert the signal back to video or audio as needed. Of course you can feed internet to these ports, too.

The advantage is you can then move things around by changing what goes to which ethernet port, allowing you to move the room around in a way that you can't with standard AV faceplates.

I don't like wireless.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:13, 1 reply, 11 years ago)

Dont you need line of sight for IR control
it would be more effective using a Bluetooth or wifi
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:18, Reply)

Yeah, it's basic remote technology.
You have IR receivers plugged in around the house and they relay the signal via cable to the IR hub. The problem with Bluetooth and wifi is they get blocked and interfered with by basically every bloody thing.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:23, Reply)

xbmc has a nice http (and for phones, apps) remote though.

( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:31, Reply)

Yeah, I use XBMC, nice software.
I'll probably have a low powered shuttle box attached to a NAS for that. Nice interface.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:46, Reply)

I'm thinking of buying one of these and turning it into NAS/XBMC
www.ebuyer.com/616877-hp-proliant-microserver-g7-n54l-1p-4gb-u-non-hot-plug-sata-150w-ps-744900-421
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:56, Reply)

My step dad's got one of them for the same purpose.
Seems like slight overkill to me, but they're certainly very capable.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:58, Reply)

I don't think I could build a machine any cheaper.
I want to mirror the drives and it's nearly as much for a mini-itx case that'll hold multiple drives as it is for that box.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:02, Reply)

Yeah, you're probably right on that score.
Watch out though, you'll have a blade server before you know it.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:03, Reply)

I seem to be using less powerful kit these days.
I have barely turned my desktop or netbook on since I got my Nexus 7.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:07, Reply)

Why not control it all over wifi or bluetooth
then you won't need IR receivers everywhere

*edit* I see bonzo already suggested this sorry
( Peej, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:46, Reply)

"The problem with Bluetooth and wifi is they get blocked and interfered with by basically every bloody thing"

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:46, Reply)

Well his must be shite then. I can use my phone upstairs to control my TV downstairs over wifi with no issues.

( Peej, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:47, Reply)

I just don't like wireless.
It's slow, it's flakey and it stops routing for no reason whatsoever. I don't want to have to dig around in my cupboard to reboot the router every time the wireless craps out.

HD content is frequently too much for it, too. Bearing in mind I want different stuff going to different rooms, bandwidth is king.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:49, Reply)

If you're running cables about the place you should also run network though.
Then it's only your handset that needs to see the router via wifi, and remote control doesn't use much bandwidth.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:57, Reply)

That's the whole point, ethernet faceplates everywhere
so you can use some for AV and some for internet.

It basically makes your whole house hot-swappable, because you just re-patch the switch to send internet to an ex-AV port or vice versa.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:59, Reply)

I had to fuck around with patch cables the other day at work.
Some numpty only patched 4 cables into our server rack.
( Slippery Mick ‏, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:05, Reply)

I FUCKING LOVE WIRES!

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:59, Reply)

i want to make this say SWIPE
but i can't figure out a sensible strikethrough for the inevitable lols.

SWIPE.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:00, Reply)

SWIPE HORDOR
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:04, Reply)

Krones is in London though
So while the distance from the bedroom to his living room will be considerably smaller in his shoebox than in your spacious Kernow pad, there will be 200 other shoeboxes contained within the same building, all equipped with interfery stuff.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:50, Reply)

My flat's actually quite large actually.

( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:51, Reply)

London large or actual large?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:52, Reply)

London large, to be fair.
And only large for a one bedroom flat. It's the top floor of a converted Edwardian house, with a big old extension on the back.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:54, Reply)

I think I know the problem
have you tried using the correct BT rather than Bouygues Telecom
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:56, Reply)

Uh Oh
Man boasts about having a whole flat
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:53, Reply)

yer, in Brentford

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:00, Reply)

I went to Brentford swimming pool the other day.
Jesus that place is nasty.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:01, Reply)

^ This is how bored I am
I've got involved in a conversation about wireless or some shit that I neither know, nor care about.
( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:52, Reply)

cheer up pal it's nearly friday

( MEATSNAKE Richard Hammond, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:54, Reply)

YES!!!

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:55, Reply)

you can see why IT teams never get anything done
they can't even agree amongst themselves the best way to turn it off and on again
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:57, Reply)

It's really getting interesting now though eh

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:01, Reply)

there's been worse on here
i need b3th back so we can flood the place with MANICURE CHAT
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:02, Reply)

Your all gay
and I'm very clever. Shut up.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:00, Reply)

Yeah yeah, get on with your next 'phonecall'

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:02, Reply)

hahaha

(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:10, Reply)

Totes a word

( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:10, Reply)

No point having all your content wirelessly streaming to the kitchen touchscreen
when you've got the fucking fridge in the way, electrically shitting all over your signal.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:48, Reply)

I dont have any problems
Have got the whole house wifi'd up three stories plus cellar and out into the garden.
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:54, Reply)

I LIKE CABLES OK?
Anyway, I've found wirelessly streaming HD signals bonks out the wireless. Since the capability for different streams to different rooms is required, cable's your man.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 15:56, Reply)

5.9.83.79/questions/offtopic/post2324006
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:02, Reply)

Do you want some job hunting updates?

( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:02, Reply)

Go on then.

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:04, Reply)

Had the phone interview
they thought it was very positive and want to interview me properly.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:06, Reply)

oh dear

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:08, Reply)

I was rather under the impression that's how the process works.

( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:11, Reply)

yeah but if they meet you...

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:13, Reply)

...you know, with your face...

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:13, Reply)

Haha, prick
I'll have you know that my mum thinks I'm very handsome.

As does yours.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:14, Reply)

lol

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:15, Reply)

good luck

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:15, Reply)

And anyway, your positive attitude and natural charm will see you through.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:15, Reply)

2nd lol

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:17, Reply)

Ah HA, that's where I'm ahead of the game.
I'm being interviewed by an IT guy. He'll understand my demeanour and will probably return it.
( Kroney, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:19, Reply)

I hope the interview room has opening windows.

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Mon 14 Jul 2014, 16:21, Reply)