New Build Wiring - Help!
Discussion
So progress of new build is starting to pick up pace and suddenly dawned me I need to plan cabling requirements sooner rather than later! I have the following in mind:
- Sky in main living area
- Ceiling speakers in living area - able to play over tablet/smartphone bluetooth and able to connect to tv
- Sky in master bedroom
- Perhaps ceiling speakers wired in to one or two other rooms (possibly bedroom / another lounge)
Where do I go about working out what I need where? Anybody who can help with this or any websites good for reading?
Network cabling also a consideration, as well as alarm, cctv, etc. As you can see, quite lost need to get a plan in place! Don't want to spend a fortune, as most likely will not use a lot of it myself, but want to make it future proof as possible while have the chance.
- Sky in main living area
- Ceiling speakers in living area - able to play over tablet/smartphone bluetooth and able to connect to tv
- Sky in master bedroom
- Perhaps ceiling speakers wired in to one or two other rooms (possibly bedroom / another lounge)
Where do I go about working out what I need where? Anybody who can help with this or any websites good for reading?
Network cabling also a consideration, as well as alarm, cctv, etc. As you can see, quite lost need to get a plan in place! Don't want to spend a fortune, as most likely will not use a lot of it myself, but want to make it future proof as possible while have the chance.
There's a thread just recently on here.
I'd recommend wiring for alarm (corners of rooms, main entry doors, keypad, internal and external siren) plus telephone cable
Interlinked fire alarms, can't have too many
Boiler/thermostat wiring for Nest etc
Cat5 to the usual places plus think about wifi, instead of a single router maybe get a few Uniquiti type APs mounted centrally on each floor
Cameras ? Cable to outside corners etc
I'd recommend wiring for alarm (corners of rooms, main entry doors, keypad, internal and external siren) plus telephone cable
Interlinked fire alarms, can't have too many
Boiler/thermostat wiring for Nest etc
Cat5 to the usual places plus think about wifi, instead of a single router maybe get a few Uniquiti type APs mounted centrally on each floor
Cameras ? Cable to outside corners etc
Porkupine said:
So progress of new build is starting to pick up pace and suddenly dawned me I need to plan cabling requirements sooner rather than later! I have the following in mind:
- Sky in main living area
- Ceiling speakers in living area - able to play over tablet/smartphone bluetooth and able to connect to tv
- Sky in master bedroom
- Perhaps ceiling speakers wired in to one or two other rooms (possibly bedroom / another lounge)
Where do I go about working out what I need where? Anybody who can help with this or any websites good for reading?
Network cabling also a consideration, as well as alarm, cctv, etc. As you can see, quite lost need to get a plan in place! Don't want to spend a fortune, as most likely will not use a lot of it myself, but want to make it future proof as possible while have the chance.
There two ways here ... either DIY or engage an expert ... there's not really a middle ground.- Sky in main living area
- Ceiling speakers in living area - able to play over tablet/smartphone bluetooth and able to connect to tv
- Sky in master bedroom
- Perhaps ceiling speakers wired in to one or two other rooms (possibly bedroom / another lounge)
Where do I go about working out what I need where? Anybody who can help with this or any websites good for reading?
Network cabling also a consideration, as well as alarm, cctv, etc. As you can see, quite lost need to get a plan in place! Don't want to spend a fortune, as most likely will not use a lot of it myself, but want to make it future proof as possible while have the chance.
Between you and your sparky, you should be able to do enough research to provide you with plenty of options.
Sky HD requires twin coax to each point from the dish ... if you want to distribute out from a Sky HD box, you'll need to think about Cat5e/Cat6 and a HDMI splitter/matrix and HDMI baluns.
For audio, most people will recommend Sonos (simple to set up and add to) so ideally you'll install speaker cable led back to a central area with X number of Sonos units to X number of speakers. This location should include a hardwired connection to your router. Better still if router/Sonos etc are in the same place.
I would say for each TV point, have 2 or 3 Cat5e or Cat6 which can be used for either network or HD distribution.
Cat5e to each potential CCTV location ... cameras are generally powered over the ethernet so don't worry about power to the CCTV locations. Again, makes sense to cable these back to a location with other kit ... CCTV NVR's are networked and apps can be used to view live camera streams or view recorded playback from the NVR.
They do but our rule of thumb when designing or recomending to diy'ers is as follows.
Everything that has a fixed location, desk tops, tv's telephones, sky boxes, games machines, wire cat6 to it, ideally two.
Then add a few data pairs in cupboards and kitchen plinths for wifi boosting.
This way, fixed location stuff gets a good reliable wired network and wireless stuff stay unconjested for truly portable devices.
When we exhibit at shows we offer a range of different service levels depending on how much or little the selfbuilder wants to do themselves. It's not difficult if you follow the rules.
V.
Everything that has a fixed location, desk tops, tv's telephones, sky boxes, games machines, wire cat6 to it, ideally two.
Then add a few data pairs in cupboards and kitchen plinths for wifi boosting.
This way, fixed location stuff gets a good reliable wired network and wireless stuff stay unconjested for truly portable devices.
When we exhibit at shows we offer a range of different service levels depending on how much or little the selfbuilder wants to do themselves. It's not difficult if you follow the rules.
V.
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