| With proliferation of wireless networking and | | | | significant number of channels of broadband |
| communication equipment it is oh-so-tempting to | | | | television or carry a baseband video, such as |
| cut the cord and save a significant sum of money | | | | security camera output, through great distances. |
| in the process. But is everything that a regular | | | | All of those applications, except the computer |
| computer networking user needs can be done | | | | network of course, will require specialized |
| using just wireless network? Let's take a look at | | | | expensive conversion equipment if they needed |
| some pros and contras: | | | | to be transmitted via a Wi-Fi link. |
| 1. One important advantage of having a cabled | | | | 4. The cost benefit of not running wires around |
| network is the available bandwidth or simply | | | | the house is not as simple as issue as it seems. |
| speed. At the present point in time the speed of | | | | Having installed a wireless network at home you |
| connection via a simple and inexpensive CAT5E | | | | have only eliminated the need to wire for a single |
| cable can be 1000Mbit/sec, whereas the best that | | | | application - computer network. A modern home, |
| IEEE802.11g (one of the many flavors of Wi-Fi) | | | | however, requires all kinds of wiring to run even |
| can offer is only 54Mbit/sec. It may not seem so | | | | without regard to computers. The power and |
| significant if you think you are only browsing | | | | phones are obvious examples, as well as |
| Internet, and the DSL speed available to you is | | | | thermostats and security systems. Pre-wired |
| 1.5Mbit/sec. However, if you need to print via | | | | speakers are common and most homes today |
| your network connection on a remote printer, | | | | have intercom systems as a desirable option, and |
| you should realize that the print jobs, depending | | | | those also require extensive wiring. It is very likely |
| on the amount of graphic data in them, can easily | | | | that the same contractor running the intercom or |
| reach dozens and even hundreds megabytes. | | | | security cables is qualified to run computer cables |
| Since 1Byte=8bit one 100MByte print job will take | | | | - CAT5E or better. If you are building a home, |
| 15 seconds (and in reality this time can be much | | | | you should definitely check if computer cabling |
| longer) to transmit via a Wi-Fi wireless connection, | | | | option is available in your new home, and our |
| and this time shrinks to mere 1 sec or less on | | | | advice is to go ahead and purchase it before the |
| wired 1000MBit/s Ethernet connection. Same | | | | walls close. It is going to be a pretty involved and |
| principal applies to transferring files, backing up files | | | | expensive procedure to install the cables later. As |
| on other computers in the network etc. | | | | an added cost benefit of a wired computer |
| 2. It is not possible today and with all probability | | | | network you will find that all modern computers |
| will not be possible in the future to transmit | | | | ship with wired Ethernet network interface card |
| power needed for your networking device via the | | | | included, and the latest models ship with 1000MBit |
| wireless link. Unless, of course, you would be willing | | | | sec cards that are essentially free for the |
| to be subjected to very high levels of microwave | | | | computer's owner. |
| radiation. Thus a device that was marketed to | | | | There are multiple sources of information available |
| you as "un-tethered" will in fact be very much | | | | on proper planning and design of a residential |
| tethered via the power cord or will have to be | | | | cabling for voice, data, audio, video and other |
| re-charged every so often. The power | | | | applications. One of the best sources is the TIA |
| requirements are increasingly important for | | | | EIA-570B standard, most resent release of which |
| devices that are expected to be always online, | | | | has been published in 2004. The standard outlines |
| such as phone sets. Therefore it is best to have | | | | recommended types of the cables, principals of |
| it connected via a cable that can deliver both | | | | cable distribution in a single- and multi-dwelling units |
| power and the communication signal at the same | | | | as well as recommended amount of cables to be |
| time. | | | | installed based on the size of the house. |
| 3. Wireless communications are very much | | | | In conclusion, cutting the wire seems like a step |
| proprietary and require whole gamut of | | | | forward, some sort of liberation of computer |
| conversion equipment to transmit multi-media | | | | from the bonds of the infrastructure. I would |
| signals. The same CAT5E cable can without any | | | | caution the reader, however, to take a more |
| modification support phone, computer network, | | | | balanced and informed approach before joining the |
| balanced line level audio signal, baseband video | | | | "wireless revolution". There are still (and will remain |
| signal as well as host of other, more specialized, | | | | in foreseen future) sound reasons to include |
| control applications' signals. With inexpensive | | | | properly designed cabling system into the list of |
| adapters called "baluns" the same cable can carry | | | | your dream home options. |