RE: Re: Sky+ at node zero

["Paul" <p-gale@xxxxxxx>]

Does the homenet offer a high quality video distribution system like Kat5
(=
www.kat5.tv) using Cat5? I was under the impression they just had an RF
dis=
tribution system (which IMO is a waste of time if you want good quality
and=
are serious about video everywhere). Cat5e can be used for sensors althoug=
h I used screened 8 core alarm cable as it's more flexible and easier to
fi=
t and was only slightly more expensive than other cables.

=20

I have a pretty full and complex HA/Alarm system comprising:

=20

Comfort with second slave enclosure

2 x UCM's

Smartfit heating system with Smartfit UCM

At least one PIR in every room (something like 18 rooms/areas)

Glass break sensors

Cat5e absolutely everywhere (about 4Km ish)

Extron video matrix switcher (composite and stereo)

Whole-house audio

Whole-house microphone system (for voice recognition when the software
fina=
lly gets better!)

Various video sources including Sky+ and Sky (freeview)

Wired networking, wireless etc

5 CCTV cameras

something like 16 Kat5 units (including RGB for the plasma)

Motion detection system running under Linux

HomeVision HA controller

Lots of HA software running on server

40 X10 LD11's + AD10's in 3 54way enclosures for control of ALL lights in
t=
he house

several phone lines distributed via Cat5e patch panels

The list goes on...

=20

Don't underestimate the time it takes to retro fit wiring like Cat5e,
alarm=
, audio etc - mine took me about 4-5 weeks solid (early mornings and late
n=
ights) spread over several months - there was a lot though!

=20

Cat5e faceplates - I looked around for a long time to find the right look
-=
in the end I just went with an MK design which was plain and OK - didn't g=
et the best deal though although I bought rather a lot!

=20

Heating - the Smartfit system is very good and links directly to Comfort.
I=
can control it via comfort, homevision, ACE or any other system I want as =
it all talks to each other (after a lot of playing and config!). Not the
ch=
eapest solution though.

=20

Lighting - I personally wouldn't go X10 for anything but lighting (as X10
l=
ighting is cheaper than C-Bus etc) although if I was doing it again (next
h=
ouse!), I'd definitely go for something like C-Bus for it's reliability of
=
signals and status reporting (big downside to X10) - is considerably more
t=
hough. I have quite a big house and do have several X10 'dead spots' that
I=
've never been able to fix. I recently connected the X10 transmitter
direct=
ly into the X10 enclosures and now it's super reliable :-)

=20

I've probably spent around =A320k for the infrastructure and Comfort/HA
con=
trollers and that's with doing everything myself.

=20

Don't know if that's helped at all - feel free to ask more...

Paul.=20

=20

-----Original Message-----
From: iwilson2003 [mailto:iwilson2003@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 04 July 2003 09:36
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Sky+ at node zero

=20

It is a new build ... but it is already built :-(

Basically I have bought a new flat, and plan to install cat5e and=20
ct100 throughout before moving in.  This isnt as bad as I first=20
thought.  The flat is all on one level, and the hall has a false=20
ceiling with a 2ft gap above - ideal for running cables from node=20
zero.  I've also managed to secure the services of the original=20
electrician who wired the flats.  Luckily he is familiar with=20
structured wiring as well.

I plan to also put in a Comfort control system.  Tricky bit is=20
working out exactly what wiring I will need for this!  I would like=20
to control at least the lights, heating, and hot water.  Plus there's=20
the security sensors to think off!

I am as yet undecided about the Sky+ distribution.  Its either the=20
Kat5 system, or perhaps IP Homenet.  I like the look of the IP=20
Homenet since its provides a neat all-in-one (well, almost) solution -
video, data, phone etc.  It is expensive, but it is available now.

Also planned for node zero are a Cisco 2600 ADSL router (since I work=20
for them ;-), and a Netgear fast-ethernet switch.  The Cisco 2600 is=20
too big for the IP Homenet rack, so I may get a small wallmounted one=20
>from

I am working to a pretty tight timescale for all this.  I move in on=20
8th august, and will only have one week to do the cabling.

Difficult bit just now is working out exactly which cables I will=20
need, and where to put them.  I'm still trying to understand how X10=20
works, and what is required to have it control the lights and=20
heating - wiring back to node zero?  new CH control panel?  New room=20
thermostats?

A few questions:

Anyone used videk.co.uk for cat5 stuff?

Can cat5e be used for PIR sensors?

Which type of cat5 wallplates are best?  Videk offer three types -=20
they seem to be of differing qualities.  Prices for a dual faceplate=20
(ex. VAT) are 5.95, 7.45, and 8.95

Anything else I should consider?

Thanks,
Ian=20

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, <ha@r...> wrote:
> Ian,
>=20
> You don't mention what cables you have available to each room. Or=20
is it a
> new build?
>=20
> Richard
>=20
>=20
> -----Original Message-----
> From: iwilson2003 [mailto:iwilson2003@xxxxxxx...]
> Sent: 02 July 2003 17:19
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: [ukha_d] Sky+ at node zero
>=20
>=20
> I am planning on putting my Sky+ box in a central location, and
> feeding video to several rooms using Kat5 modules.  I'm a bit new to
> all this, so I would be grateful on any advice on the best way to
> proceed.
>=20
> The Sky+ outputs are as follows:
>=20
>   TV Scart             SCART (composite video out; RGB out)
>   VCR Scart            SCART (composite video in/out; RGB in)
>   S-video out          4-way mini-DIN
>   RF Out 1             IEC 165-2 male
>   RF Out 2             IEC 165-2 male (with 9v out for Skylink)
>   Audio out (L/R)      Phono sockets
>   Optical audio out    Optical digital-audio socket
>=20
>=20
> Would it be best to feed the S-video output to one room and the TV
> Scart output to the other room?
>=20
> If I use the S-video output then how do I connect this to a Kat5=20
AVS-
> TX?
>=20
> If I use the TV scart then I assume I will need to also get an RGB-
to-
> S-video converter?
>=20
> I expect these will give me the best quality.  If I need to connect=20
a
> third room then I could just use one of the RF outputs (the 2nd RF
> output will allow IR control via the Skylink mouse).  Or I could use
> the Kat5 modules in a daisychain setup (with only the last Kat5 RX
> terminated)
>=20
> What if I get an AV amp for the lounge?  Sky+ provides Dolby 5.1
> output - will this be available on the S-video -> Kat5 TX/RX link?
>=20
> Any benefit to feeding the audio outputs to another room?
>=20
> Lastly, what is recommended for sending the IR back to node zero?  I
> understand that IR will be coming to Kat5 sometime soon, but what do
> people use meantime?
>=20
> Thanks,
> Ian