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Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:05 am

^^I would recommend that Onkyo system too to anyone with a few gizmos to plug into it.

skullman80
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Postby skullman80 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:07 am

I actually still have that surround setup in storage in my basement. It comes with tiny speakers and stuff, but I'm sure it still works. I think it was the st-3500 not 3800 or whatever, but it worked well for not huge spaces. Mikey if you want it I could send it your way for reduced $$$$ since I have no use for it anymore since I upgraded my stuff.

mikey
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Postby mikey » Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:17 am

Cool, good deal, boys. Thanks for the quick info. Sounds like I won't get a ton out of it with my current setup, but that there's still some upside for it. Does it have bluetooth capability...?

Skully I'll shoot you a PM :thumb:

mac5155
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Postby mac5155 » Wed Nov 15, 2017 8:11 pm

sorry i was on vacation for a week.

i used keystone plates. allowed me to use plates for RCA, HDMI, coax, and ethernet. on the same wall port behind my tv.
How do u run hdmi plates from bottom (shelf) to top (behind TV) of wall?

Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:32 am

The connection on an HDMI plate jack is basically just a coupler:

1 hdmi cord from your component on the shelf to the wall jack
1 hdmi connected inside the wall to the shelf jack at the bottom and the tv jack at the top
1 hdmi from the tv jack to the tv

The problem with HDMI cords is that coupling them together sucks. The error correction tolerances might make the entire thing not work, or potentially not work with high frame rates, high resolution, etc.

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:36 am

Source of the post The problem with HDMI cords is that coupling them together sucks.
This is exactly why I used an open place at my parents' house, running the HDMI cable directly from the TV into the STB.

Image

nocera
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Postby nocera » Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:37 am

The connection on an HDMI plate jack is basically just a coupler:

1 hdmi cord from your component on the shelf to the wall jack
1 hdmi connected inside the wall to the shelf jack at the bottom and the tv jack at the top
1 hdmi from the tv jack to the tv

The problem with HDMI cords is that coupling them together sucks. The error correction tolerances might make the entire thing not work, or potentially not work with high frame rates, high resolution, etc.
Wouldn't it make more sense to just get a longer HDMI cord and run it up the wall?

*edit* Saw NTP's post... :fist:

Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:48 am

^^ I also did that from my stand to my tv. Makes it easier to if you need to run multiple HDMI cords.

My keystone plate is from all the connections coming out of the basement. My game consoles, server, cable modem, tv tuner, antenna, and comcast lines are all in the basement. So I have HDMI, coax, and ethernet lines running up from the rack that stuff is on to my living room media shelf.

My living room tv shares a wall with my bedroom tv, so that made it extremely easy to hardwire everything together.

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Postby DigitalGypsy66 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:50 am

I would like to run a small, cheap, low-heat emitting, silent Windows box to host my Plex server. It's currently on one of my gaming PCs, but I would like to move it to a smaller box that I can remote into from other PCs in the house.

My current setup has the PC up in a FROG, which is fine this time of the year because we don't need to run the split A/C unit...but I'd rather move the Plex box downstairs where we have better climate control. The current box is a large and loud gaming PC, and it would need to go in my son's room...which is no bueno, as he would be tempted to play Rocket League etc. all night. :lol:

Would a refurbed HP or Dell office PC with an upgraded hard drive do the trick? Or is there something easier than that?

Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Thu Nov 16, 2017 9:51 am

how many hard drives do you need? does your Plex server transcode often?

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Postby DigitalGypsy66 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:44 am

I was thinking one 2TB drive for now, and it doesn't transcode often.

I only keep movies on it now, and the very occasional TV series.

Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Thu Nov 16, 2017 10:47 am

anything with an i3 processor will work. if youre not transcoding you could even get away with something like an Odroid or Raspberry Pi. Nvidia Shields can be Plex servers too.

DigitalGypsy66
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Postby DigitalGypsy66 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 11:27 am

Cool, thanks!

mac5155
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Postby mac5155 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:21 pm

Source of the post The problem with HDMI cords is that coupling them together sucks.
This is exactly why I used an open place at my parents' house, running the HDMI cable directly from the TV into the STB.

Image
Did you put a conduit in the wall or just run the wires? Also if the answer is no, can you fish them out easily after the drywall is up?

mac5155
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Postby mac5155 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:22 pm

Drywall isn't up yet, so i'm just trying to figure if i need to put boxes + HDMI wires... conduit... or nothing and just fish them out once it's done.

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Postby NTP66 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:42 pm

Source of the post Did you put a conduit in the wall or just run the wires? Also if the answer is no, can you fish them out easily after the drywall is up?
Nope, didn't need to. All of my cables were UL rated for running behind drywall. Conduit is usually unnecessary for this reason. As for the ease of fishing them, piece of cake for an interior wall if you're staying within that stud bay. Exterior walls can be a pain because of fiberglass insulation, which is why I recommend using nylon fish tape like this one (I would cut off the ends, personally); that will make fishing anything through the walls/floors/what have you 1m times easier.

If you've got the opportunity to do all of this before any drywall is up, seriously, do it all now. It'll save you so much time and possible frustration.

mac5155
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Postby mac5155 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:51 pm

I do have the opportunity. So I guess I should use wall boxes and just fish the HDMI through one at the top and one at the bottom. Then when they put the drywall up they will just go around those boxes. I am trying to make it easier for them.

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Thu Nov 16, 2017 6:28 pm

Yeah, there shouldn’t be any issues with you mounting boxes for this stuff. They’ll already have to cut out boxes for outlets and switches, and any good drywaller can do it easily.

DigitalGypsy66
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Postby DigitalGypsy66 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 9:55 am

anything with an i3 processor will work. if youre not transcoding you could even get away with something like an Odroid or Raspberry Pi. Nvidia Shields can be Plex servers too.
This is a little more than I'd like to spend, but an i5 with a SSD and a 2TB HDD for $279? That looks perfect.

https://computers.woot.com/offers/dell- ... _261710290

Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:04 am

that would work just fine.

are you handy to build a PC? this would make a great little HTPC/Plex server combo machine https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product. ... 6813157731

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:06 am

I can personally vouch for ASRock MBs. I'll never go back to ASUS (which is funny, given that ASRock was started by former ASUS employes).

DigitalGypsy66
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Postby DigitalGypsy66 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:09 am

Yeah, I've been jonesing for a PC build. Haven't done a full build in a few years. I can work the "it's a father-son project" angle with the family CFO. :lol:

Miami Vice
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Postby Miami Vice » Fri Nov 17, 2017 10:44 am

an i3 would definitely be the safest bet for a PC you want to run a Plex server on. but if you want a fanless, lower power machine, the motherboard I linked would be a good start.

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Postby tifosi77 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 4:38 pm

I don't think I've done a PC build since around 2010. Yikes.

NTP66
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Postby NTP66 » Fri Nov 17, 2017 4:40 pm

You have been relegated from l33t to leet.

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