STRUCTURED WIRING - F.A.Q.’s

Q. What is structured wiring?

A. Sometimes called ‘Home-Net’ or ‘Future-proof’ wiring, it is basically the most efficient way to fully utilize the TV and Phone cabling in your home by taking advantage of today’s higher capacity wire. Yesterday’s wire and the way yesterday’s wires were run do not allow for today’s high-tech expectations. Today’s TV and Phone wires can now do much more, for example; deliver high-speed internet and computer networking, video distribution for DVD’s and security cameras, and even ‘smart-home’ technologies that allow you to operate lighting, heat and air, alarm and cameras from home or remotely!

Q. There are some wires in the structured wiring panel that aren’t hooked to anything. What are they for?

A. Because structured wiring is capable of providing so much in the way of technological potential, it is unlikely that you’ll take full advantage of it right away. In fact, you may never take full advantage of it, but running the wires in the walls while your house is being built is one of the cheapest upgrades you can buy for your home. The fact is, you are buying potential, and until you know how you would like to use those wires, some of them may be ‘un-hooked’. The important thing is to learn what they can potentially do for you. Be assured though that every TV, phone and data jack in your house is hooked up.

Q. What kind of wires are they?

A. The technical designation for what is often called TV cable or co-axial wire is RG-6. This wire allows for cable TV, high-speed internet, video distribution for DVD players and cameras, digital audio and more. The Phone wire is referred to as Cat5 (pronounced ‘cat-five’) or Category 5 wire. This eight conductor wire allows for up to 4 different phone lines at any given location or high-speed internet or allowing computers to network together. This wire is also used as a communication pathway for many different kinds of electronic components that work with your new audio/video or ‘smart-home’ systems!

Q. Whatever happened to ‘fiber optic’ wire?

A. Some service providers are actually bringing fiber optics up to your house, but currently, that’s where it ends. There are no devices in your home yet that can utilize the direct fiber optic feed. That may change down the road though.

Q. What if I want to change something, like move my computer from one room to another or add a phone line?

A. It’s very easy to change or have us change the wall jacks in any given location. Since the wires have multiple use potential and they’re already run to various locations throughout the house, they often simply need to have different ends put on them. That’s the beauty of a structured wiring system –it’s adaptable!