Whether you’re installing your new distributed video equipment by yourself or hiring a professional company to do it for you, these best practices can save you time and money.
What is Distributed Video?
Distributed video is when you have visual media, often from the same source (like your Roku or Blu-ray player), playing on multiple screens at the same time.
Planning Your Smart Home for Video Distribution
Before contacting Media Controlled or your local video distribution company, gathering some key information will help the process run smoothly.
To make the planning process easier, here are questions you should consider:
1. What rooms will you be watching from?
First determine all the places where you and your household would enjoy watching movies, TV series, and other content. If you need a television in the bedroom, kitchen, or kids’ playroom make a note of those.
2. What kind of media will you be displaying on each TV?
Next, jot down who uses the screens in each room and what they typically use them for. If you’d like a screen in the kitchen while you’re cooking, decide if you’ll be streaming recipes from on-demand streaming services like Netflix and YouTube, or if you’ll want the screen connected to your satellite or cable provider.
If members of your household enjoy gaming, you might want to pinpoint their preferred gaming rooms and ask them what types of video games they play, and which consoles they use.
3. Where will you want each screen to be in each room?
Pay attention to where you’ve arranged your furniture and how you make use of the space, maybe even consider rearranging a few things. Where would be the best spot in the room for a screen?
4. Will the screen be mounted on a wall?
Will you be mounting a flat screen TV on the wall, housing it in an entertainment cabinet, or mounting a projector screen to the ceiling?
5. Would you want the source devices to be concealed?
Having them out in the open and easy to access is one option, but you might prefer the clean look of having them hidden away.
6. How close are power supply points to where you want the screen to be?
Make sure you have access to electricity to your devices.
7. Would you need access to the house’s WIFI router, satellite, or cable modem?
What the devices to be used require?
8. How far apart will the devices be from each other?
Once you’ve made the decisions, measure the area and calculate the distance between each screen and the sources it needs to be connected to (routers, modems, Blue-Ray, gaming consoles, etc.). Having the information will help narrow down the equipment you’ll need and the specification you’ll require for each piece of equipment. It’ll also help any technicians you hire to design solutions that are tailored to your needs.
9. Are your devices compatible with each other?
Finally, create a list of the technical specifications you’ll need for the project. This is where the work you’ve done thus far pays off. It’s important to know what your existing devices are compatible with before buying new screens, monitors, cables, or switches.
Moreover, you want to make sure that you’re not overspending by buying a 4k Ultra gaming monitor when it’s not practical for the types of video games you play. Having said that, you should speak to your technician about ways to “future-proof” your video distribution setup so that you’ll be able to adapt to emerging technologies and trends seamlessly.
Draw First, then Install
The old saying measure twice, cut once holds true for in-home video distribution projects too. You, or the technicians you work with, should create a sketched or digital version of the concept before any purchases are made. This will give you a visual representation of the existing area and the fresh look and feel. You’ll also be able to see how your proposed design solution will fit in the space with ample time make changes before the project starts.
Call The Pros
Distributed video can get complicated quick. If you live in North Idaho and are looking for help, call the pros as Media Controlled. We have years of experience! We will help you with the design, installation and configuration. Call us today or contact us through the site.
