Options for Installing all Sources in Equipment Room

[Kruz]

I was hoping for some install advice in regards to placing all sources (receiver, cable box, blu ray and xbox) in a utility room behind my media room. One of the quotes I've received for in wall wiring has presented this idea and I love the really clean look this will do. However I do not like the price he is quoting.

To get a sense of what I mean he quoted around $700 to do a conventional setup with everything in the media room and around $2800 to do this utility room setup. The utility room quote includes a ton of time to configure everything and hardware costs (RF remote,brain and racks) while the first option is just wiring.

I was hoping for options on doing this utility room setup on the cheap.

He quoted $600 for these two things:

Pro-Control PRO24R Touch Screen Remote with IR or 433MHz RF


Pro Control PROLINKR Advanced Central Processor

He quoted $650 for just the rack:

MA Slim 5-29 T543R 1 169.00 ea Rack 169.00
MA Slim 5 Top and Bottom BXBTB5 1 249.95 ea Rack 249.95
Rack Shelves, Lacer Cables, etc...

Lastly there is $720 in labour to configure and setup the rack/components/remote and brain.

Basically is there a cheaper option for the RF remote/brain and a rack system? I think if I could get those for cheaper and offer to set everything up I could swing this second option.

As always I appreciate any input!

 

[Alex2507]

I've seen some really nice gear on racks like these:

Seville Classics Chrome Mobile 5 Shelf Storage Unit : Target

I got my remote solution from this thread:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/cd-dvd-blu-ray-misc-hardware/89243-bmx-remotes.html

Of course I'm out of my depth with the remote business and completely dependent on BMX who is on vacation.

 

[Kruz]

Hey Alex thanks for the heads up. The rack idea alone could save me a ton of money and I don't really see a need for a fancy rack.

With the remote control (esp with RF feature) it seems way more complicated then I first thought. Is it as easy as getting something like the the URC MX-350 and the MRF-260 and then programming it all? Or am I missing something here?

 

[fuzz092888]

There's always the Harmony Ultimate system with the smart hub. It connects via Wi-Fi if you connect everything to your home network or it can also convert an RF signal from the Ultimate remote into IR signals that controls your devices.

It won't have the flexibility of the URC remotes and systems, but you can program it yourself instead of relying on someone else and the iPhone/Android apps are nice as well. There are obvious pros and cons to both systems and if I'm not mistaken, one of the biggest knocks against the Logitech systems has been reliability. IME with my own Logitech remotes, I've had excellent reliability with them, but as my system has grown and become more complex the added flexibility of a URC remote is slowly starting to interest me.

I don't think you can go too wrong with either route since with either you can get plenty of help and support here.

 

[Alex2507]

There's always the Harmony Ultimate system with the smart hub. It connects via Wi-Fi if you connect everything to your home network or it can also convert an RF signal from the Ultimate remote into IR signals that controls your devices.

It won't have the flexibility of the URC remotes and systems, but you can program it yourself instead of relying on someone else ...

The MX-350 that Kruz mentioned, you can program yourself.

 

[Kruz]

Fuzz I currently own the smart hub and you nailed it on the head with the reliability comment. Actually my hub lost wi-fi connection twice this evening and had to be unplugged to be reset. Could be my wifi router but I have heard the same comments from a lot of people now. Super easy to program and customize though. That's where the system really excels (and price actually since I bought if for under 90 bucks).

There's always the Harmony Ultimate system with the smart hub. It connects via Wi-Fi if you connect everything to your home network or it can also convert an RF signal from the Ultimate remote into IR signals that controls your devices.

It won't have the flexibility of the URC remotes and systems, but you can program it yourself instead of relying on someone else and the iPhone/Android apps are nice as well. There are obvious pros and cons to both systems and if I'm not mistaken, one of the biggest knocks against the Logitech systems has been reliability. IME with my own Logitech remotes, I've had excellent reliability with them, but as my system has grown and become more complex the added flexibility of a URC remote is slowly starting to interest me.

I don't think you can go too wrong with either route since with either you can get plenty of help and support here.