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Home Entertainment set-up

  • 14-07-2007 9:23pm
    #1
    marsbars
    Closed Accounts Posts: 15 ✭


    Hi All,

    Am setting up HD-plasma on wall in new build and would appreciate any advice on any wiring I would need to hook up at first fix. Getting connected will be hd dvd player, sky hd box, PC and possibly xbox 360 (heard this can be useful as media centre?). Not interested in expensive Bose systems or there likes but would love to get wiring right from start as all will be wall mounted. Any future proofing would be great - I've heard I need Cat5 cable? Is this compatable with HD? Will cheaper HD ready do for my tv?


Comments

  • #2
    8T8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,757 ✭✭✭8T8


    First off find out the number of inputs on the TV e.g HDMI, component, scart etc.

    For HD-DVD you'll be wanting to use the HDMI connection.
    For Sky HD you'll be wanting to use the HDMI connection.
    For the Xbox 360 you'll be wanting to use either the component or VGA connection (HDMI version wont be available till August).
    For the PC you'll be wanting to use the VGA or HDMI connection.

    The Xbox 360 also doubles as a HD-DVD player if you buy the HD-DVD add-on drive so your rather doubling up their on functionality.

    The Xbox 360 can be used as a media centre of sorts a proper one if connected (via network) to a PC running Vista or XP MCE as it's turned into a Media Centre extender and you can access the MCE UI on the PC from the console. However video and music support is restricted to the formats natively supported by MCE so even if you install codecs for XviD in MCE it still wont play them back on the console but everything else like live TV, TV recordings, pictures, music, videos is accessible. The built in UI of the Xbox 360 annoyingly actually supports more audio/video formats but is a bit of a chore to use and lacks the slick UI of MCE.

    However one side benefit of MCE extender mode is that it is possible to construct an catalog of DVD movies on your HD and have them playable on the Xbox 360 through the MCE UI extender without having to re-encode the movie (need lots of HD space though).

    So I think you have a fair idea of whats needed though what I would do is run cables from all the inputs on the back of the TV to somewhere accessible so no need to take TV down from wall that way you can plug whatever in as needed.

    If you plan on using the HDMI input for most stuff & the TV only has one you may need a HDMI switch (example) or acquire a receiver (example) with multiple HDMI inputs.

    Cat5 or Cat5e is networking cable for wired setups, you could use wireless but the wired so much more reliable that if you can I would place a wired link between your broadband router and the room so the Xbox 360 can connect online and talk to your PC if need be for media centre tasks.


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