Very true lol, i guess the regulation would be better suited for an enthusiast or on the off chance one might give a fook.

Originally Posted by digidude

i do a lot of new build places, and renovations, for the majority of the builders etc in the valley where i live, and most of them now ask for multiswitch installs, a 5x8 switch will ensure that 3 bedrooms and the living room are all sky+ / freesat+ / freeview+ compaitble. if you attenuate the input, especially for freeview, and especially if btvision boxes are going to be used, then there shouldnt be any problems

This is my point digi, for a builder who wants to rent it out or sell a property, then a multiswitch is perfect as you offer a potential client OPTIONS

However for the AV enthusiast (PIMPED) lol... a multiswitch could be a mistake, pimped wants to have his home future proofed and have a little bit of magic in his install and options for later High Definition improvements.

If you really want to improve your home with AV then the first step is removing as much boxes, computers, drives, as possible and centrally locating as much as possible, and at the same time removing as much from view as possible... nobody wants a a triplex socket on view they are ugly.

A brushed box behind the TV with the cables installed in braid and all cables hidden out of site is a much neater install than having a triplex socket feeding a sky box then feeding the TV... if you can remove the majority of them items, make it all work (RTI, HARMONY, IR/RF BUGS), then you have achieved a AV installation.

And it does not have to be expensive either, you could easily do all this with basic, sky magic eyes, and a decent (£30/£40) HDMI cable from a cupboard.


Breakdown costing for an reasonable AV cupboard install (basic sky/virgin install):

27u Server rack (cheap option) --- £330 --- (rackcabinets.co.uk - value range) I would personally use Middle Atlantic but we wont go there lol as the costs are maybe 10 times this.
6 x rack shelfs (£12 each £72)
48 cat5e/cat6 RJ45 Patch Panel --- £30 --- (ebay)
1 x Digital TV booster (woolsey 12 way with sky pass) --- £35 --- (any sat shop/ebay/amazon etc)
4 x magic eyes (£15)
2 - 4 x sky/virgin hdmi boxes (you already have these )
MISC BITS AND PEICES £20 - £50 (there will be a misc lol)


TOTAL £502

Cheaper than a TV (your labour however - priceless!)

Cable costing for your install:

250 meters of Sat cable double screened WF100 --- £119 --- (aerial shack)
610 meters of Cat6 decent grade cable --- £196.72 --- (scan computers)
4 x 15 meter HDMI (you can push here for 20m however not recommended) --- £120 --- (various shop around but buy 24/22awg if poss)

TOTAL £435.72

TOTAL MATERIALS COST £937.72


Labour is different as its your time, you install it or have someone do it

Install 4 cat6 to behind each TV, with 2 coax, 1 hdmi cable - this uses one backbox with a brushed cover all cables are then tied into a braided cable cover.
Install 9 coax to the roof, 8 for four sky boxes, 1 for digital freeview aerial (if your running 9 lol then one more wont hurt for DAB ).
Install 2 data points to each room (telephone/network/etc) next to a socket somewhere.
Place strategic wifi points for whole house coverage (depends on house size of course).
Try and leave 6-10 meters of tails in the cupbaord to be able to pull your rack out and work on it

This setup above will central locate an AV cupbaord, it will also provide freeview around the house (future proof a sale )
It will provide a magic eye with the freeview (sky pass wolsey booster) so you can control sky
It will provide HDMI from each sky/virgin box to your TV's
Use existing sky/virgin remotes
Have a backup of cat6 to each tv for later future updates (EVEN higher definition lol)
All your nas drives, mini pc's, storage drives can all be put in here out of the way
No boxes in rooms just a TV (and magic eye)
Network back end that is easily expandible from the cupbaord
All in one place and maintenance is just a pull out of the rack!
Adding equipment is as easy as adding a shelf.


NOTE* using virgin (or even dreamboxes etc) for this setup will will need to use 2 cables from a cat6 and a IR BUG system (very easy) add £50 to costs

Network switch and routers (i am guessing you already have these things) this will add extra money but will also depend on whatever you want to acheive on your network

Lol that went on a bit pmsl

I am quite serious about AV, sorry if this post comes across funny its not meant that way its just if you are going to do something which involves labour intensive process of drilling joists, running cables, chasing walls, don't **** it up, do it proper and once!

Mick