| Today's new homes are much more | | | | has a outlet with 4 ports, two RG6, one |
| technologically advanced than in the past. One of | | | | telephone and one Cat5e. In this configuration we |
| the biggest advances lately is the use of | | | | run two telephone lines to each room, one cable |
| "structured wiring" in homes. Structured wiring | | | | TV line and one Cat5e line that has Internet and |
| consists of installing a bundled wire package that | | | | network signals. The second RG6 cable is inactive |
| typically contains two RG6 and two Cat5e or | | | | for the time being. In the utility room in the |
| Cat6 cables. The cables are bundled together into | | | | basement the Internet service is over the cable |
| one larger plastic sheath to make it much easier | | | | service. A cable modem is installed next to the |
| to install as one unit. Some of the new structured | | | | structured wiring panel and then it is connected to |
| wire bundles even include fiber optic cables as well. | | | | a simple network router. The network router is |
| Each room of the house will have a home run | | | | then connected back to the structured wiring |
| structure wire group run to a central location | | | | panel and distributed to each room. |
| (basement, utility room, closet, etc.) The beauty | | | | The structured wiring method will allow us to add |
| of this system is you can run almost any | | | | many features in the future as we need them. |
| technology over this system. The new wiring | | | | We could add video cameras, who house audio, |
| becomes the backbone of your electronic | | | | play DVDs in one room and watch them in |
| components. Some homeowners may not use all | | | | another or create a simple home network. The |
| of the wires in the beginning, however as new | | | | possibilities are endless and as more electronic |
| products and technology develop the structured | | | | components are created with IP addresses and |
| wiring will allow simple upgrades in the future. | | | | ports it will become much easier to integrate all of |
| In my new house we are currently using the | | | | our favorite electronics into a smart home |
| structured wiring in the following way. Each room | | | | feature. |