Multi Media

We are going to have a Hi-Tech Multimedia system which we are going to design ourselves. I have been given the job of chief architect for multi-media and all the technology in the house.

We are going to have the server room in the study. This will house a rack mounted server and the switch panel for the network. We are going to install cat 6 throughout the house and also run coax cable to all the main living areas.

The server rack will include a media PC running windows home server. This will be able to stream video, audio and photographs to any devices around the house via the LAN and the use of media extenders (including XBOX, PS3 and portable devices). There will also be a wireless LAN which will be used to connect to the various laptops.

The main server will be backed up regularly to the internet via a skydrive service.

There will be 4 main plasma/LCD/LED screens. One in the living room, one in the family room, one in Alicias bedroom and one in Danial's bedroom. We are also thinking about a small screen in Dad's room in the gym area. We will also have a projector and screen in Danials room for home cinema and gaming.

We are thinking about implementing virgin boxes throughout the house rather than sky as we prefer virgin broadband and phone services. We will be implementing freesat so we can access MTA but we will also be able to access that via the internet to any screen in the house.

We are not going for a centralised concept - we will have the devices close to the screens where they will be used. This may limit flexibility but should make the system easier to use and more reliable. In time everything will be channelled through the media server which will result in the ultimate flexibility but the technology is just not mature enough yet.

We will have recording capabilities to the virgin boxes, but also hard drive recorders and a PVR installed on the media server. That should be more than sufficient.

Our main viewing room will be in the living room. Here we will have our large plasma screen (over 50 inch) and a surround sound system with roof or wall mounted speakers. We will have a nice multi-media amp here, with a blu ray DVD player as well as the Virgin HD box and the HD media extended to connect to the media server. Nice !

Games consoles will mainly be divided between Alicia's and Danial's room - probably the PS3 in Danials and the Wii in Alicia's with the XBOX in the living room.