[JumboShrimp]

Hi all
I've been lurking for a while and need a 'second opinion'. Here's why I'm confused...

- built a home 4 yrs ago and installed my own Distributed Audio / 5.1 system in Fam Room
-Family room has (12 yr old - used in prior house but still works) big TV, Denon Rcvr w/ multi source output - etc. I have XM piped in as an input and use it all the time. Antenna is outside, wired thru condiut, terminates at the Denon / tv / entertainment center
-Basement has a AMC 2100 250 Watt 2 Channel/ Bridgeable H T Amp in a rack enclosure hooked to a niles sms-10 splitter
-Denon feeds the AMC as zone 2
-Rack also houses a 'server' computer for my home network (6-160 Gig drives for back-up and file sharing)
- niles sms-10 feeds 8 pairs (2 more available) of ceiling speakers in kitchen, 2nd floor bath, front / back porches, garage, all over...
- plain old Vol Controls at each room (not impede matching)
-I ran cat 5 to each VC when i rough wired while the house was being framed to future-proof myself
-the system works GREAT ...

BUT...

I'm finishing my basement and will have HT there also. It will be in a long room with a bar in back
-so far it'll be onkyo TX-SR705, Panasonic PT-AX200U, and all the peripherals in a middle atlantic Rack burried in a wall
-Built my own Laminate screen thanx to you guys...
- the 'Upstairs' rack is on a wall directly behind the new 'downstairs' rack (both racks are in basement)
- I would LIKE to incorporate the network file server into the system at some point
- Also have a 1U Slide-out KMM to use in the 'downstairs' rack to control the server behind it in the 'upstairs' rack as a HT Computer
- Basement is a walk-out and am installing a pool in yard and will need (FOR Sure) audio and (hopefully) video feed to the pool area
- Basement walls / ceilings are still uncovered so -NOW's THE TIME to do it right - do it once!!

So... are you as confused as I am yet? There's a LOT of stuff going on here!!!

Here's where I need help from the experts that hang out here.......

How can I keep my 'speakers everywhere' but use the XM thru the Onkyo? and control it from 'upstairs'
How can I control the XM from the basement and still play it thru the 'downstairs' system?
will I need to put IR modules in place ov the VC's?
Can I split an XM antenna to use it on both amps? (I'm trying to avoid another subscription - have 5 now!)
I know nothing about IR - where can I learn? or should I hire a PRO to get me started
Do I even NEED IR? Would RF be better for this?
The upstairs Entertainment Center holds ALL my CD's / Videos - If I take 'em all 'downstairs' then my wife will be UNHAPPY
She HATES the Universal Remote the runs the show now - If I make this any more compilcated then ...well - you get the idea

So, there's my 'Saga' - put your thinking-cap on and see what you can come up with
If this were YOUR system, what would YOU do to combine all the stuff to make One-Hell-Of-A cool whole house system
I'm sure I missed a detail or 2. Plz feel free to .... PM me or yell at me for being so unorganized or come over and help pull wires (Free Beer!!)

Thanx for any and all help - this is a great site for HT - A/V - I've learned a lot from you all!
JS