Amazon.com Widgets

Media Networking: Planning for the Future

We just did our first walk-through with the electrician the other day.  Our new addition is essentially all sealed up with new windows and such, but the walls are still just framed and wide-open.  So now we begin to think about lighting, electrics, and networking.

I have been convinced that since the walls are open, I might as well run CAT5 networking cable all over the place.  I've indicated one or more jacks to be available in almost every regular (not bathrooms) room in the house.  Now I'm beginning to think about how future media options might affect my networking choices.  I need to quickly make some decisions.

We are not big TV people.  We don't have anything but basic broadcast cable.  No, I don't even get the Discovery Channel.  But that all could change over the next 10 years.  I want to be prepared.  Here is what I envision from a media network.  These are the things I desire:

  1. Cable service comes into a central computer.  Video is recorded on a massive hard drive.
  2. I can control the recording of future TV shows from (in order of preference):
    1. Any TV in the house.
    2. The single main TV in the house.
    3. Any computer in the house.
    4. The Internet (though I could do that easily via LogMeIn anyway)
  3. I can request video from the central hard drive from any TV in the house.
In satisfying these requirements, I wasn't sure whether or not I needed to run Coaxial cable to all of the potential TV locations in my house.  As I've discovered, I don't think I need to do this.  However, it would still be beneficial to have Coaxial jacks located in places where I might situate the Home Media PC, if it becomes a stand alone unit.

As of this writing :), I think I have a potential solution for my desires.  Here is what I need to make it happen:
  1. A relatively modern PC.  (I probably already have this)
  2. A massive hard drive.
  3. A TV tuner card. (I already have a Hauppauge Win-PVR card)
  4. A network of CAT5 cable installed to potential TV locations.  (will have this shortly)
  5. A Hauppauge MediaMVP unit at each TV.  ($99 each)
  6. SageTV software running on the modern PC. ($80)
  7. A SageTV client license for each Hauppauge unit ($30)
This should allow me to use my PC to record TV shows in standard PVR fashion and call that recorded content from any TV with the MediaMVP device connected to my network.

Comments?  Questions?

Note: Apparently BeyondTV might also be a good option.


Comments
Mike's Gravatar http://www.mythtv.org/">MythTV?

I think there are premade mythTV distros..

My house was prewired with cable that contained 2 CAT5 and 2 RG-6 cables in one sheath. They ran that to every room and you chose what connectors you wanted... a teco jack, a network jack or CATV jack...or any combo.

http://www.hometech.com/techwire/combo.html

MMMM, fiiiiberrr.
# Posted By Mike | 1/17/07 12:41 AM
Steve's Gravatar I'm such a newb! Tell me why I might want fiber in my walls!

Those cables look great though. At very least, the Combo 4 might be what I need.
# Posted By Steve | 1/17/07 10:02 AM
Mike M's Gravatar > Tell me why I might want fiber in my walls!

I dont have a clue... but I'm a sucker for "faster is better". I can't imagine anything more future-proof.. not sure it's worth the extra cost though.

BTW, if you are interested, let me know, I can probably to get it for you wholesale. It would reqiure a trip to Milford, CT (or manhatten) to pick up. Just tell me what you want (any type of wire not just those combos) and I'll get you pricing.
# Posted By Mike M | 1/17/07 12:21 PM
Mike M's Gravatar email me. The email address I have for you bounced.
# Posted By Mike M | 1/17/07 12:33 PM

Raymond Camden's BlogCFC version 5.8.001