Watch the video on Structured Wiring.
Most sportsmen (and sportswomen) will agree—a bad day fishing is STILL better than a good day at work. But fishing for cables to wire a home office can be a bad day for any homeowner.
A home that is pre-wired to integrate modern technologies can save the homeowner money and frustration. More and more homeowners (and their kids) are looking for easy access to home networks, for work and school. The use of home automation systems that include home security, audio, video, and temperature control are also on the rise, but it takes planning on the builder's part to help organize and facilitate access to all these systems.
The best practice for totally preparing a home for modern wiring needs is to structurally wire the entire house during the construction process.
Though a wiring trade contractor will handle the actual wiring of the house, there are three parts of a structured wiring system the builder should understand and be able to explain to the homeowner: the hub, cables, and multi-access outlets.
- The "hub" is like a giant splitter that is basically the brains of the operation. The hub is the central point where all telecommunication hardware is located, and from where all cables for the home originate. It should be placed in an out-of-the way spot with easy access for the homeowner.
- Cables run from the hub to all rooms or access points in the house. All signals for security systems, cable television, Internet access, telephone, lighting systems, and "smart" devices run through the cables.
- Multi-access outlets look a lot like regular electrical outlets but have multiple ports for the various cables, Ethernet, telephone, and audio/video jacks. Having a multi-access outlet in every room will give the homeowner greater flexibility to meet the changing needs of living spaces.
Builders who fail to plan for the cabling and access needs of their customers sentence the homeowner to expensive and difficult re-wiring tasks or piles of unsightly cables exposed to the living space. On the other hand, a home that has been structurally wired to meet the needs of modern technology can increase both the home's value and the homeowner's satisfaction.
Most homeowners and builders would agree, a good day fishing is best done outside of the home.
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