The wiring infrastructure in most homes has not changed in 50 years and is unable to fully support the technologies that are available to consumers today.  However, today's wiring systems are created to handle today's technologies and provide the electronic foundation for a "connected home." This advanced infrastructure called structured wiring is necessary to ensure that your family can be connected to today's services and prepared for new technologies.

Structured Wiring vs. Conventional Wiring
Think of wiring as an informational pipeline.  Conventional wiring has the data capacity of a squirt gun.  By comparison, structured wiring has the capacity of a fire hose and can transmit more information faster.  Conventional wiring, which is found in most homes, is adequate for basic voice, fax or data communications.  Structured wiring is more advanced wiring.  Not only can it handle traditional telephone, fax and data communications, but also sophisticated video and data signals from computers.

Components of a Home Wiring System
An advanced home wiring system is usually comprised of three main components:

  • The Service Center
    The service center is the part where all outside services enter the home, including cable TV, telephone, DSS satellite, Internet, etc. This central hub distributes these services to locations throughout the house in a way similar to how the electrical breaker panel controls electricity flow.

  • High-Performance Cables
    Certain services like digital satellite, high-speed Internet, and digital TV require high performance cables to allow full access throughout the home.  Most systems include RG-6 coaxial cable for TV and video, and Category 5 or better twisted-pair cable for telephone and data. Coaxial cable provides maximum protection from interference with your TV picture. Category 5 or better cable provides high-speed access to multiple phone lines without cross-talk. These cables deliver all the performance you need today, while providing the capacity to handle tomorrow's technologies.

  • Multi-Use Outlets
    The outlets in each room determine which services are available in that room. Each outlet can be customized to a consumer's specific needs based on which services are desired in each room (cable, Internet access, telephone, etc.). Without the proper outlets, the high-performance wiring behind the wall is of little value.

Investment
Regardless of size, location, or cost of a home, incorporating minimum wiring standards can add value to the home at resale.   A "connected home" can be achieved today with minimal investment and is not limited to custom construction.  The initial investment varies depending on the scope of an installation, with a range of upgrade and home control options available to consumers who want maximum control.  In addition, to ensure that your home is "future-proofed" and your investment is secured, it is recommended that a 2" PVC pipe be installed from the basement to the attic. This will enable new wires to be pulled, if ever necessary, between floors without having to replace walls or ceilings.

Resale Value
Homes built today without an upgraded wiring system will not be able to accommodate the demands of new technologies. They will not retain value as strongly as those built with a solid technological infrastructure and, in fact, may not even be considered by a large percentage of future homebuyers. With the rapid growth of new technologies for the home, the ever-changing working environment (telecommuting, home business, etc.), and the revolution in home education and entertainment opportunities, it is predicted that installing structured wiring will potentially increase the resale value of a home.

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