DIY Network

Cleaning Up A/V Clutter With a Media Wall A couple streamlines their home entertainment system and eliminates the "wire spaghetti" syndrome from their living room. From "Tech Out My House" episode DTMH-102

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With the speaker system in place, it's time to make room for the new plasma TV. Mark cuts a hole to size using the framing as a guide. The new plasma TV will fit inside the frame making it look like a large picture frame hanging on the wall. As a bonus, this will give the homeowners a high tech and unique way to display all their digital photos.

Before putting the TV in place, the equipment cabinet that houses all the components is next to go in. With the cabinet secured, Mark finishes the box frame for the TV installing brackets where the plasma will be mounted.

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Figure Q

Installing the Framed Plasma TV

Steps:

• Using a drywall saw and utility knife, cut a hole to size using the framing as a guide (figure Q).
  

• Cut two brackets out of plywood and fasten to the frame (figure R). The brackets will hold the plywood backing (figure S) that the plasma screen will be mounted on.

  Figure R

  Figure S

  
  

• Center the mounting bracket on the plywood backing and screw it in place, making sure it stays level (figures T and U).

  Figure T

  Figure U

  
  

  	Figure V
  	Figure W

• Drill holes into the backing to accommodate all the cable connections, and feed the cables through (figure V).

• Install the mounting brackets on the TV.

• Carefully lift the TV screen into position, making certain that it rests securely on the mounting bracket.

• Double-check all the connections, turn on your TV and test it out.

With the screen in place, the Gins are ready to try out their new "framed" plasma TV. Using the wireless network that they set up, they connect Eric's laptop to the TV with a standard S-video cable and christen the new living room by watching a slideshow of the transformation.

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