Currently in the process of Organizing our Smart Wiring for a house currently at slab stage.

We have been quoted on a Hills Home Hub System (In Garage) with all data points using Cat6 Cable

Master Bedroom: 1xFta, 1xPhone, 1xData
Bedroom 3/4: 1xFta, 1xPhone, 1xData
Family Room: 1xFta, 1xPhone, 1xData, 1xAustar
Games Room: 1xFta, 1xPhone, 1xData, 1xAustar
Study (Listed as Bed4): 1xFta, 2xPhone, 3xData
Kitchen: 1xPhone, 2xData (Fridge and Bench)
Bathroom: 1xFta

$5,000 for Prewire and Installation.

These are some addons they also quoted.

Intercom System Wiring: $200
HT Room: Cabeling For 7.1 and Projector Cost: $500
Alfresco: Cabeling for 1 pair of Speakers: $100
Ducted Vac: Rough in only of pipes and 3 points: $1,000


We are mainly just making sure we getting most of the Wiring in to start with while we are currently looking into further a HT Package to go with in the Games Room.

Does the $5000 look like a decent price for this setup and if not is there a different system I should be looking at for around this pricing.

I notice Hills Hub does have quote a few mixed reviews on here from the guys with more advanced setups etc so the pricing did not really compare to this setup above making it hard to tell with pricing. Also if there is anything im missing to make it somewhat future proof for later down the track please let me know.

Any advice is much appreciated.

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That is way too much money for that, the Hills Home Hub should only cost about $1000 and the wiring should only cost about $120 per point so at most should only cost about $2000 so I think they are charging about $2000 too much for what they are offering.

Did you go through who your builder recommends, and have you asked your builder if you are permitted to get outside contractors to come in and do work.

If you are getting more quotes do not ask for smart wiring ask for structured wiring, companies have jumped on the whole smart house thing and think people will pay for whatever they say.

I am im the game of automation !! But can someone PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME!! What smart wiring or as the previous poster stated what structured wiring is? This is Really Really Confusing me....... need urgent advise!?!

The cabler guy probably puts a markup on CAT6,

so just buy your own CAT6 (e.g from selbyacoustics) and give them to your cabler guy.

Structered wiring is the Method.. Smart Wiring is the Marketing term

Thanks for all the advice guys.

jbo: The builder is fine with us getting outside contractors as long as his Electrician is happy with it.

|Thanks I will ask for structured wiring in any future quotes.

We have met up with the Electrician today and he said he can do pretty much the same thing for a hell of a lot less so he will be getting me a quote tomorrow so will let yous know how I go with him.

He was also shocked at the price of $1000 for the ducted Vac Pipes as he thinks he can do all the pipes and install and an Aussie Vac System with the 3 points aswell as the sweeper thing in the kitchen for 1300-1500 Total so I think this original quote is obviously looking like a big rip off everywhere.

zairgeber: its interesting in regards to the Cat6 as he said it costs him not much more to lay the Cat6 down compared to Cat5e so yeh I think he must be just trying to markup the entire package as he didn't say how much a run and instead trying to sell it all together.

They are meant to be Home Theatre Specialists aswell so I may want to look elsewhere when I go to set this up to by the sounds of it.

a data cabler would be cheaper.... Hills hub systems are flawed.. expensive, out of date IMO

Other then the Fact that selby don't sell Cat6 on pull packs

Cheers Pugs.

You mention Hills Hubs are flawed out of date etc, which I think yourself and a couple of others might of mentioned before in regards to this.

What would you be recommending for someone getting into this for the first time, any example of the equipment used would be great.

The Hills home hub and starserve systems do not do HD content and if I remember correct does't handle gigibit speeds, there is not really any all in one type system that will do it. A custom system is the best way to go but it really depends on what you want the system to do.

well with 16 points of Data all up (including the phone points) i would get a 9RU Amdex 10" rack, 2 x 12 port patch panels < sub $400ish the cabler can use the last 5 free ports a a Phone patch set up so then you can send "POTS/ PSTN/ Dial tone" to those sockets that you need to have it at.. i know the tp link 8 port Gige Switches fit ina amdex rack and also AMdex offer shelves and other panels to suit what you need to do all sub <$600 in total, witht he correct TV hub system you don't need to have seperate foxtel/ austar points just add a decoder box to where ever...

and




this..... i really hate "package deals" they are so unflexible

don't mean to hijack but here's some pricing i got for structured cabling for my new place:

Study: 1 x FTA, 4 x Data, 1 x Foxtel
Living room: 1 x DTA, 2 x Data, 1 x Foxtel
Dining room: 1 x FTA, 3 x Data
HT room: 1 x FTA, 2 x Data, 1 x Foxtel, and 2 sets of 4 x D Point to Point
Master Room: 1 x FTA, 2 x Data, 1 x Foxtel
4 bedrooms: a total of 4 x FTA, 8 x Data

quote included mid size hub (~$800)
total quote comes around $6000

how does it sound?

wow wish i could more jobs like that I would be set... you are being ripped off...

pugs.. whats a reasonable price so i know what to expect as i approach data cablers? thanks

half that.. in around aboutness.. not knowing your lengths involved but i would hardely see that go over $3K, hell even me driving over form SA it woudl be less then $4K (assumning you are in Vic which seams about right for that price/ lay out of the quote is simliar to the one above)

pugs - can you fly over and work on my house
.. i am in perth....

I'd still drive that.. lol I like having all my tools handy...

Ibelieve a Perth cabler joined our Ranks... I'll make sure he sees this thread

come come come.... you can pick up a few other projects when you are here too

if you are serious i can pm you my email addy and you can send me some plans and such ... and see how we go from there...

pugs - please pm me...

and if there's anyone else in WA looking for a reliable data cabler, please let me know...