Oh my, is it getting close…

There are several things going on that are making this whole process very “real” now.

1. Today we signed all of the paperwork
2. We purchased our first bit of ‘new’ furniture bits last weekend
3. We’re shopping for furniture and fixtures this weekend.
4. We’re getting the house measured for carpet next week
5. We get keys ONE WEEK from  TODAY! (provided all goes according to plan)

I haven’t had much chance to think more about the overall process that I’ve been documenting here, other than to start identifying some question about some of the smaller details that might effect what wire we run and what hardware I need.

Next week, after we have the house measured for carpet (and I can get in and double check a couple of things like the height of the wiring box) I will probably start purchasing the hardware for the wiring projects.

And on Saturday, September 26th, let the process begin!

Phase 1 of the Enhanced Home Theater project

So, I know it’s taken me a while to put this post together, and I’m sorry for the delay. As is, I’m not going to cover this in the detail that I originally planned, because the deeper I get into it, the more unknowns seem to keep coming up.

So, I’ve been doing some research on parts, and even dropped by Lowe’s yesterday to see what they had in stock. The stuff I’m looking at is things like:

• Keystone Audio Binding Post
• Sound Distribution Wall Plate
• HDMI over Cat5/Cat

I’m also looking at speaker mounts, since the speaker that are in place today in the front are on towers, and I don’t have any towers at the moment, so I’m thinking I’m going to mount them all the wall, around the screen. 

As for other location related issues, in doing some research I’ve found that where the projector is mounted can differ depending on projector, as they each have unique “throw” requirements. Since I’m going to run an HDMI port up by the projector, I find that I’m having to do more research and planning on specific models than I’d originally intended. I may find myself either delaying the HDMI port installation, or acquiring the projector earlier than originally planned.

I’m going to leave as much of the wiring alone as I can, but I don’t know how much that will actually end up being. I’m still researching the best solution for the in-wall audio cable, since there is *some* that I will have to replace.  I will also probably have to run at least one network drop behind the audio equipment, but that should be similar to other network drops that I may re-pull elsewhere in the house.

I’m also going to drop some ‘extra’ cables behind the audio equipment for future expansion, planning for phase 3.  I also have at least one issue that I don’t yet know what I need to do for wiring, and that’s the IR repeater that I want near the screen. 

Most of the wiring work will have to happen on the weekends, and I have 3 weekends set aside for ‘messy’ work before I actually take up residence in the house. My plan is to start installing the hardware and wiring changes on the second weekend, and finish anything that doesn’t quite get done on the 3rd.

This is going to be quite the project, though it’s currently looking like I may have some help for the wiring, thanks to my brothers, and a couple of friends from work. 

~16 days until we close, and I can get in and start this project.