The
Audio / Video equipment consists of:
The
Audio / Video equipment consists of:
Onkyo TX-SR600 Audio/Video Dolby Digital, DTS, 6.1 receiver
Samsung SIR-T150 Terrestrial HDTV Decoder
Motorola DCT5100 Cable TV / HDTV Tuner Set Top Box
Emerson VCR / DVD Combo
Playstation 2 Game Console
Cable Modem & Wireless Network Access Point
All of this equipment resides in the Hallway closet out of the reach of my kids & animals. It is controlled by a IR/RF blaster system.
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The
Onkyo receiver has 4 Dolby Digital Inputs (3 Optical / 1 Coaxial). It has DTS-ES
& Prologic II decoding, as well as the obvious Dolby Digital decoding. It
outputs 100 watts x 6 channels, has 2 source component switching, and discrete
on/off remote codes.
The Samsung decoder does all of my HDTV decoding of the Over the Air Broadcasters. I'm using a Radio Shack Model 15-2151 UHF/VHF Antenna mounted on my home. I currently receive 7 digital channels via this antenna from the Roxborough, PA Antenna Farm (about 50 miles away). The Channels include ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, UPN, The WB, & Fox (EDTV).
The Motorola DCT5100 is provided to me by my local Cable Company, Comcast. It provides me with all of my local analog programming as well as Digital Cable Channels & HDTV channels which include HBO, Showtime, PBS, ABC & NBC, and newly released Comcast SportsNet.
The Emerson DVD / VCR combo is mostly used for the kids because it RF Modulates the DVD to the RF outputs so it can go to both of my kids TV's because they only have RF inputs. I use the DVD for the Plasma TV but it is just temporary until I build a Home Theater PC.
The Playstation II is obvious, this is my release from the real world. I am using the Optical DD output for audio. I purchased the Component Video Cable connection for it & Controller extensions so I can connect my controllers right above my seating area. That's right, my controllers plug into my ceiling leaving them out of site when not in use!
The Broadband Internet connection is provided by a 3Com Home Connect Cable Modem, again from my Cable Co., Comcast. Its is connected to a Linksys 2.4 GHz Wireless Access Point Router. Which feeds 4 - Hardwired Network jacks throughout the house and is accessed wireless by my Dell Laptop via a Siemens SpeedStream PCMCIA network card.
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The
closet is also modified to keep all of my DVD's, Videos, & Games handy without
losing too much space and making them easy to access. This was done by cutting
the drywall out to expose the studs and essentially the inside, of the outside
layer of drywall. It gave me a nice 3.5" cavity that allowed me to recess the
video & game collection into the wall. All of the shelving was made from MDF
(medium density fiberboard), painted & 3/4" Yellow Pine, which was stained and
sealed with polyurethane.
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