[kjgarrison]

MatrixDweller wrote:

...........

You may want to elaborate on your plan a bit more. Where will the equipment be (What is in what room, etc)?

That, perhaps, is the problem. It's a chicken-and-egg thing. I don't really have a clear plan yet. Do I decide what electronics to have where and then figure out the wiring, or do I figure out the wiring to handle whatever electronics I do decide on both for now ... and for later?

In addition I just recently was told that the really important item is some sort of matrix switch, possibly amplified.

I do have some concepts on my "Wish List".

1. Hi def TV in 3 locations, one a HT, and the other two just TV's using the TV's own speakers.
2. Two DirecTV DVR's because we sometimes need to record more than two programs at a time. Also two gives more viewing location flexibility.
3. Some sort of home media server with personal video, still pictures, and audio (CD's)
4. Hi def DVD player, Bluray and prob HD DVD
5. We want to watch any source from any location at any time, and we want full control from any location.

I guess you could also add to the list to figure out the wiring so that it only has to be done once. I have to retrofit an existing 2 story + basement home which has a small attic (that only covers part of the house), and a mostly finished basement. But the wiring depends on the equipment, and, at least in the future, to a large degree the equipment depends on the wiring.

You asked why I need digital audio, and I don't know that I do. Wasn't it in the list you gave me? What I do know is that speaker cables from an AVR to zone 2 will work because AVR's can mostly also send video to zone 2. None that I have looked at send video to zone 3, so that is not a solution for all my needs based on an AVR. Plus I don't know if an AVR will send different AV, or even A, feeds at the same time. I don't think they do, which means I can't be in zone 2 looking at one thing from the AVR while somebody else is in zone 1 looking at something else. So because of all these unanswered questions and limitations on equipment I have no idea what equipment I need, much less what wiring/cabling I need. Oh, and I am just getting this understanding of all this as I type.