Save all the money you were going to spend on expensive cables and use it for room acoustic panels. Talk to GIK Acousutics or ATS Acoustics. Make sure to ask them about delivery times before you commit. I like GIK, but they are a little more expensive than ATS and right now they are about 3 months delivery.
For networking you really only need Cat 5 or Cat 6. Having 1 GigE switches and routers is a great idea. Consider putting your network devices in the HT on their own surge protector. If you are running a long distance, shielded Ethernet is a good idea, but make sure your switches support it.
Yes, get whole house surge protection, but they also recommend (with good reason) surge protection at the devices. I have both, and I've just lost a laptop I forgot was charging without a local surge protector.
Best,
Erik
For networking you really only need Cat 5 or Cat 6. Having 1 GigE switches and routers is a great idea. Consider putting your network devices in the HT on their own surge protector. If you are running a long distance, shielded Ethernet is a good idea, but make sure your switches support it.
Yes, get whole house surge protection, but they also recommend (with good reason) surge protection at the devices. I have both, and I've just lost a laptop I forgot was charging without a local surge protector.
Best,
Erik