Getting Started — AV Installation

What Wilsons Does in AV

TV Installation & Wall Mounting

Fixed, tilt, and full-motion brackets — selection based on viewing position, wall type, and customer requirement
Cable concealment — in-wall routes for plasterboard walls; surface trunking for masonry
Compliance with BS 7671 for any in-wall mains cabling
Above-fireplace assessments — heat, height, and cable routing considerations before proceeding

HDMI Distribution

Routing HDMI signals from a source to multiple screens
Passive HDMI cable for runs up to approximately 10m
Active cables or HDMI over Cat6 extenders for longer runs

Multi-Room Audio

Distributed audio systems routing music throughout a property
Ceiling and wall-mounted speaker installation
Amplifier and source equipment installation

Projector & Screen Installation

Fixed or motorised projection screens
Ceiling or wall projector mounts
HDMI and power routing to the projector position

Key Concepts

Wall Types

Stud walls (plasterboard on timber frame): Fix into studs (typically at 400mm or 600mm centres) — never into plasterboard alone for a TV bracket
Solid masonry (brick, block, stone): Fix directly with M8/M10 coach bolts and rated wall plugs
Dot-and-dab / battened plasterboard: Fixings must reach the masonry — not just the plasterboard or the air gap behind it

VESA Mounting Standards

VESA defines the mounting hole pattern on the back of TVs. Common sizes: 100×100, 200×200, 400×400, 600×400mm (horizontal × vertical). Always confirm the bracket supports the TV's VESA pattern before ordering.

Cable Management

In-wall (plasterboard walls): Use a cable drop kit; mains cables must be in rated conduit, routed vertically — BS 7671 compliance
Surface trunking (masonry): Paintable plastic trunking with mitre-cut corners for a professional finish

HDMI Distance Limits

Passive HDMI cables are reliable up to approximately 10m. Beyond that, use:

Active HDMI cables (powered from the HDMI port)
HDMI over Cat6 extenders (transmitter and receiver units)