| Prior to the Internet revolution, buildings usually | | | | ground while it's still cheap to do so, and, keep the |
| had two wiring systems, the electrical service and | | | | ownership rights. This will future-proof the |
| the phone service. When computer networks | | | | property for later upgrades. |
| were required, phone lines were the only means | | | | Retrofit Strategies |
| available for data transmission. The original | | | | There are two common methods for retrofitting |
| networks that were created for computers to | | | | buildings: Wireless and Ethernet. Wireless has the |
| share data simply piggybacked over existing | | | | apparent advantage of being less expensive and |
| connections and technology. | | | | easier to implement, especially for retrofits. |
| Today, more options are available (and needed) | | | | However, this is not always the case. Today, the |
| to meet the networking needs of consumers. A | | | | answer is probably a combination of both |
| good rule when projecting the future of | | | | systems. At points of use that are obvious and |
| communications: whatever you can imagine for | | | | static, for example the home office, an Ethernet |
| the future, and multiply that by ten. Who twenty | | | | connection is appropriate. Overlaying this system |
| years ago could have predicted the Internet or | | | | with a wireless (WiFi) network provides improved |
| HDTV or cell phones or IPODs. And given that | | | | flexibility. |
| technology growth in communications has proven | | | | Wireless |
| to be exponential in the past, we need to multiply | | | | Wireless Ethernet (802.11) can be a good choice |
| that experience by a factor of ten for the next | | | | for communication retrofits for small projects. |
| twenty years. | | | | WiFi operates on radio frequencies (RF) and was |
| When dealing with the design and construction of | | | | developed for wireless digital communication |
| a new facility, it is important to identify needs | | | | between personal computers and consumer |
| early in the process. When renovating an existing | | | | electronic devices. Most new computers include |
| facility, many of the same considerations should | | | | built-in WiFi support. Wireless Ethernet has |
| be addressed, and the task is often more | | | | applications including large buildings. Wireless access |
| challenging. | | | | within common areas of a property, such as a |
| Structured Wire | | | | pool area, can be an elegant solution. Wireless also |
| Structured wire is a technology of electrical | | | | is an excellent choice where it is difficult to run |
| interconnect, and is rapidly becoming standard in | | | | additional wire. |
| many parts of the U.S. The products try to | | | | Hardwire |
| anticipate future needs, and provide standardized | | | | In some situations, rewiring can make more |
| methods for implementation. A Structured Wire | | | | sense. For larger projects, a hard wire approach is |
| facility includes telephone, computer networking, | | | | more reliable, and in the end, cheaper. Wireless |
| video, and sometimes fiber optic facilities. | | | | looks good "on paper", but in a large building, |
| Structured Wiring Service Panels are usually about | | | | universal connectivity is difficult. The average cost |
| 4' high by 4' wide and are installed in a service | | | | to rewire with Ethernet cable is about $300 per |
| area such as a garage, attic, or basement. The | | | | point of use in large buildings. Having infrastructure |
| Structured Wiring is most often installed in new | | | | in place for future expansion may justify the |
| construction, but it can be utilized in existing | | | | expense of rewiring. |
| structures. | | | | Environmental issues must be considered when |
| The Structured Wiring Service Panels for a | | | | rewiring. Issues such as asbestos and lead-paint |
| structured wire installation is a central panel where | | | | abatement are examples. There are those |
| services (cable TV, telephone, satellite, internet, | | | | applications where rewiring is not an option |
| etc.) enter the house. A minimum requirement for | | | | because of construction constraints, unless |
| each panel is a telephone-connecting block for | | | | exterior conduit is used, and esthetics often |
| terminating the twisted pair, and a passive cable | | | | preclude this option. Once the wiring is installed, |
| splitter for the coax. Room should be left in the | | | | implementing the network is straightforward using |
| panel for upgrades. | | | | standard Ethernet hub or switch equipment. |
| Although individual Ethernet and video cables can | | | | Remember that there is a 100 meter distance |
| be used, specifically designed multimedia cables | | | | limitation with Ethernet. In large projects, locating |
| are becoming standard. A dual cable, for example, | | | | Ethernet switches in each building or on each floor |
| consists of one Ethernet and one video | | | | of a high rise resolves the issue. |
| interconnect under a single jacket. Another | | | | Fiber Optic vs. Ethernet |
| composite construction could include 2 Ethernet | | | | Fiber is probably not the solution to deploy today |
| cables for voice and data and 2 video cables. | | | | given Ethernet's ability to handle high speed |
| These multimedia cables speed the installation | | | | communication over the short distances typical of |
| time because multiple cables can be pulled at the | | | | large buildings. But it is difficult to anticipate the |
| same time, and it minimizes termination times | | | | future. Fiber optic cables are used instead of |
| since all ends are identifiable. | | | | traditional copper cables because this technique |
| Ideally, the wired network has a "home run" | | | | offers more capacity and is less susceptible to |
| configuration: a separate interconnect for cable | | | | electrical interference. Fiber optic is becoming |
| TV, phone, and Internet data transmission is | | | | more common as a way to provide very high |
| made from the Structured Wiring Service Panel | | | | speed Internet service (100 Mbps and higher). |
| to every point of use. | | | | Uncompressed HDTV |
| Structured Wiring panels are used to provide the | | | | If you want to distribute uncompressed video, |
| miles of cable interconnects required to distribute | | | | say from the output of a satellite or cable |
| Audio, television, security camera video, | | | | receiver, then the bandwidth requirements are |
| telephone, and digital communication applications, | | | | significant. The alternative would be to distribute |
| and now combines it with multimedia facilities. | | | | the compressed signal, and install a receiver (with |
| Structured wiring works well with a wireless | | | | decompression) at each point of use. If you are in |
| network because administrators can connect | | | | the first camp, read on, otherwise you can skip |
| wireless access points throughout the house | | | | forward to the next section. |
| through an Ethernet connection. | | | | Today's video installations grow ever more |
| Computer Networks | | | | complex, with source components positioned a |
| The right technology choice is driven by what kind | | | | good distance away from the display. The |
| of property is being serviced. In a good | | | | distance is the biggest factor in determining which |
| communications interconnect plan, all interconnects | | | | technology to use. There are two choices, Copper |
| are run to a central location. It may be OK to run | | | | or Fiber Optic. |
| a phone line in series (room to room), but it is not | | | | An uncompressed digital video signal is a challenge. |
| OK for Internet network cables. | | | | Fiber optic interconnect is the best technique for |
| Technology changes fast. | | | | DVI and HDMI, because of the enormous |
| - It was only twenty-five years ago that Steven | | | | bandwidth available. The bandwidth of Ethernet is |
| Jobs said that no computer would ever need | | | | less than 0.6 Gbps, and this is much lower than |
| more than 64K of memory. | | | | uncompressed video data (1.65 Gbps), it is easy |
| It is important to future-proof your plans. | | | | to understand why fiber optic is better when it |
| Fiber-optic solutions seem to be an unnecessary | | | | comes to high bandwidth digital signal transfer for |
| luxury today, especially with the performance | | | | long cable runs. Typically, 1080p signal would mean |
| available with high speed Ethernet. However, the | | | | 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60 Hz. At this high rate of |
| majority of technology solutions for residential and | | | | speed and large bandwidth of data, the impedance |
| small business applications are currently based on | | | | of many copper cables can cause signal loss at |
| Ethernet. | | | | less than 20 feet, and this results in significant |
| Wireless networking (WiFi) is another technology | | | | distortion. |
| that is rapidly impacting computer networking. | | | | Interconnect reliability over time should also be |
| Market research firm IDC projects that the total | | | | considered. The optical conversion electronics |
| number of enterprise WiFi access points installed | | | | should last at least 80,000 hrs of continuous |
| will grow from 1.6 million units in 2006 to 11.5 | | | | operation. Fiber optic cables are immune to |
| million units by 2010. Up to 20 users can connect | | | | electrical interference such as gadio frequency |
| to a single WLAN access point and receive | | | | interference (RFI). With Fiber Optic Conversion |
| adequate service. IDC also predicts that Ethernet | | | | technology, there is zero impedance (zero loss |
| switch ports, those predominantly deployed in | | | | during transmission). |
| enterprises, will grow from 172 million units to 208 | | | | Summary |
| million units in the same period. | | | | High quality interconnect is an investment. As |
| Ethernet | | | | digital video technology improves, you may be |
| Ethernet is the dominant standard for hardwire | | | | upgrading your DVD player or TV and it is |
| data networking. Ethernet hardware is usually | | | | important to make sure your interconnects do |
| standard in all new computers. If the method for | | | | not become obsolete. Utilize a technology good to |
| high-speed data (cable modem, DSL, etc.) is | | | | at least 1080p. Fiber Optics may be more |
| hardwire, then the interface to the computer will | | | | expensive, but the price differential may be worth |
| usually be an Ethernet port. | | | | consideration for future-proofing your system |
| Ethernet interconnections should not exceed 100 | | | | now. |
| meters, and separate cables are needed for data | | | | The goal is to deliver a cost-effective, |
| and phone. It is possible to run Ethernet in the | | | | future-proof deployment. It is more expensive |
| same jacket as phone, but it can be unreliable, | | | | and difficult to retrofit later. Inexpensive |
| and is definitely not advisable for High Speed | | | | computing, the Internet, and digital |
| Ethernet (> 100 Mbps). Use a separate cable, | | | | communications are transforming the our planet. |
| the "home-run" design, where possible from the | | | | Twenty years of stunningly rapid advances in |
| network switch to each point of use. | | | | technology have brought computing into |
| With new construction, it is also advisable to | | | | businesses and homes in ways that were recently |
| interconnect buildings with conduit. Install it in the | | | | not imagined. |