Structured Wiring (SW), best knows as this box in your closet containing hordes of cables which makes your home a “smart house.” “Smart house,” what marketing ignoramus came up with that one?
Whenever confronted with the “smart home” statement I enjoy asking, “What’s so smart about it?” <silence> But unfair are these comments given the needs to which SW addressed in the early days of its origins. Eliminating cabling “daisy chains” and attempting to provide level amplitude of broadcast signal to all the household televisions were the objectives. It also increased awareness of how screwed up things could get by cut-rate builders and trunk-slamming authorized CATV/satellite installation contractors.
Recently, a homebuilder asked how we could better prepare the house electronically, without unnecessarily spending money for cabling that would never be utilized. Long story short > provide a better design. For example, utilizing PVC to create a cabling pathway to certain areas from the crawl space or attic is great. But the BEST future proofing available is simply planning ahead. Every home is a little different; every one requiring a slightly customized touch to make it the best it can be.
If wall mounting a HD television, think through where the source components should be positioned. If you desire the highest 1080p signal, better provide provisions for HDMI cabling at the appropriate places. Component cabling will not get you there (contrary to recommendations by the trunk slamming group). Ten years from now it may be some other type cable – who knows!
As we enter the 21(.1)st century things have changed! Household phones are being replaced by cell phones. Computers tout the feature of wireless access. Televisions require CATV/Satellite receivers in order acquire digital and HD broadcast signals (and who wants that ugly device dangling below a nicely hung flat panel HDTV on the wall). AppleTV and Netflix (and more!) are sending full high-definition movies over the Internet and Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) will allow TV on demand. TiVOs, BluRay players, and similar components require access to your network. The evolution continues. And, we haven’t even touched on the multitudes of other electronic systems or integration possibilities that exist between them.
And as this evolution continues, various types of cabling infrastructure will be needed to facilitate the newer technologies. Cat6e is becoming a standard, HDMI1.4 was recently released, and fiber optics is gaining acceptance. Cat5 and RG6 (coax) will continue to be installed, they still have their places. But as main stream communications backbones, their places will be with late adopters or lower-end installations by low cost strategy providers.
Tags: ESC Forward Looking, New Technologies, Technology Ahead
Only structured wiring is not enough. It should be paired with proper wiring and other devices for better output.