Hello. I have spent a lot of time looking for the "how to" of running wires in my existing home, and thanks in large part to Wayne A. Pflughaupt I at least have some ideas as to how to approach the job.
I have searched for the answer to my questions, and if I have overlooked a thread, please accept my apology. And if you would be so kind as to point me to it ....
It will not be easy to run the wires/cables in my 10 year old house with a limited attic and a mostly finished basement, so I want to try to do it right and just once if possible. I would like to hear the best approach to have something flexible and high quality for, say, 10 years. Here is the penciled version of the "plan":
Sources: PS3 Blueray, poss. also HD DVD, 2 DirecTV HD DVR
Inputs to: AVR (looking at Denon 4308CI, Integra 8.8 mainly)
Locations/zones: All HD. Primary location via HDMI and with 7.1 sound; 1 secondary location via component and with 5.1 sound. Interested in a 3rd location, but AVR's currently under consideration only have 2 video output zone capabilities.
I hope to figure out how to stream home video as well as music to the "zones".
Here is what I'm trying to figure out for now and the forseeable future. What wires/cables should I install?
- Can I separate the AVR from even the Primary TV by using optical HDMI?
- I am assuming I have no choice but to run component to the secondary zone, right?
- Should I use mini coax bundles for my component run? If so how many cables per bundle and how many bundles?
- What should be done to prepare for the possibility that component distribution will be prevented because of HDCP non-compliance?
- What wires/cables are good to use for the speaker runs? (They need to be in-wall rated. Actually everything needs to be in-wall.)
- How many runs of cat5e should I install, including probably a network?
- Should I use optical audio?
- Is there anything else with fiberoptics that I should plan for?
- Is there a good conduit for retro-installation?
And of course if anybody has a suggestion for a better distribution plan, I would very much appreciate your input.
Again, if this is all a dupe, I am sorry.