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I'm probably going to sound like a complete technophobe here, but I'm hoping I can get the answers I've been pondering on!
'Smart-wiring' isn't something commonly offered by any of the builders in my little town, we must be pretty old school here! I also don't think that there's any plan on introducing the NBN to our area within the next 100 years, but I don't even know if that's related.
I'll start by telling you our requirements...and then you can give me your opinions (as well as, hopefully, a simple explanation) on what I need
- We have a 'smart tv' in this house, in the media room. I don't think I use it for too much of it's smart purpose though. The bits I love most are being able to control the tv and Blu-ray with one remote, or my phone; the fact I can play stuff from my computer straight onto the tv; and also being able to watch youtube on the tv even if I've searched it on my phone. In the new house, I want one of those surround sound speaker sets (priced at Harvey Norman for around $500) where some of them a wireless so you don't need to worry about that.
- We would like (somehow) to have outdoor speakers in the alfresco area (as well as kitchen/living) linked from this tv. I don't know how hard the pre-wiring for this would be - is it something simple that DH could do, or would we need the electrician/home theatre specialist to do it (I feel like that would be the best option)?
- We will have a couple of other tvs as well, but don't need them linked to each other
- With regard to internet, we just have ADSL (or ADSL2, can never remember), which has been sufficiently fast for us. Those little toggle USB things are way too slow for my liking. Only PITA about ADSL is the fact we still need a home phone line. Assuming there's no way to avoid this. But I always see people talking about cabling and stuff for internet...what purpose does this serve? We both have laptop, DH intends on getting an iPad/tablet in the near future and we both have our phones. We've never had a problem with the ADSL but is there a better option I'm completely missing out on?
That pretty much covers us on the technology side of things. I'd love to hear any opinions as I'm completely naïve about these things. If I've missed any vital info, let me know
Thank you all in advance!
Sounds like you have it covered. You could buy a 9.1 surround system and use only 5.1 in the living room and the other zones as the 2 extra zones. Most amps have iphone apps which can control the extra zones pretty simply.
Thanks Tim! I'll look into that
I'm probably going to sound like a complete technophobe here, but I'm hoping I can get the answers I've been pondering on!
'Smart-wiring' isn't something commonly offered by any of the builders in my little town, we must be pretty old school here! I also don't think that there's any plan on introducing the NBN to our area within the next 100 years, but I don't even know if that's related.
I'll start by telling you our requirements...and then you can give me your opinions (as well as, hopefully, a simple explanation) on what I need
- We have a 'smart tv' in this house, in the media room. I don't think I use it for too much of it's smart purpose though. The bits I love most are being able to control the tv and Blu-ray with one remote, or my phone; the fact I can play stuff from my computer straight onto the tv; and also being able to watch youtube on the tv even if I've searched it on my phone. In the new house, I want one of those surround sound speaker sets (priced at Harvey Norman for around $500) where some of them a wireless so you don't need to worry about that.
- We would like (somehow) to have outdoor speakers in the alfresco area (as well as kitchen/living) linked from this tv. I don't know how hard the pre-wiring for this would be - is it something simple that DH could do, or would we need the electrician/home theatre specialist to do it (I feel like that would be the best option)?
- We will have a couple of other tvs as well, but don't need them linked to each other
- With regard to internet, we just have ADSL (or ADSL2, can never remember), which has been sufficiently fast for us. Those little toggle USB things are way too slow for my liking. Only PITA about ADSL is the fact we still need a home phone line. Assuming there's no way to avoid this. But I always see people talking about cabling and stuff for internet...what purpose does this serve? We both have laptop, DH intends on getting an iPad/tablet in the near future and we both have our phones. We've never had a problem with the ADSL but is there a better option I'm completely missing out on?
That pretty much covers us on the technology side of things. I'd love to hear any opinions as I'm completely naïve about these things. If I've missed any vital info, let me know
Thank you all in advance!
Hi Stella
You can ask for Cat6 cables to be run through the walls from where you will have TVs and any other devices that need Internet to one central hub. At the hub, you can have your modem and a server/NAS if you have one. The modem could be a wifi modem with some ethernet ports. That way it serves the wired devices and your tablets/phones.
Have you considered naked ADSL? It still uses the copper phone line but does not require you to pay for a fixed phone line rental. Another option is cable internet through Telstra or Optus if it is available in your area.
I used to have outdoor speaker attached to the roof of alfresco at our old house - I did the install myself. You will need speaker cable (you can get online from Selby) and an amplifier. The speaker cable can run from speakers and down the wall to the amplifier. The TV can be plugged into the amplifier.
Basically smart wiring means cabling the house in a purposeful and structured way to suit the home-owners specific requirements for TV Reception, Phone, Networking/Internet and Home Theatre, where all cables terminate in a central location or hub.
When smart wiring a house, you will need to consider exactly what you and your family will want out of it technology wise now, and in the future. If the kids like to play xbox online, they need data points in their house, if you want to use your TV for Youtube, you need data points where each smart TV will be, is it wall mounted, do you want cables hidden in wall various considerations like that.
Your builder will include basic provisions which may not suit your needs, which is why you may need to find a business that offers smart wiring services, so your house can be wired to suit your requirements. In your situation I would reccomend :
- In regards to having outside speakers, get speaker cables to run from the wall that your amplifier will be, up out into the alfresco area to the position where the speakers will be mounted, you will then use an amplifier with 2 Zones, so you may chose what to output to your alfresco speakers, this same amplifier will also power
- To watch Youtube on your TV you need internet access, so a Data Point will be needed there
- For every other TV in the house, if you are want to watch youtube videos on them , a data point is a good idea
If your going to ever use Fetch TV or the like, Data point is needed.
- In Regards to cabling for the Internet and using your phones to access Internet. All your phones can connect wirelessly to your ADSL Modem so that is not a problem. If you intend to have internet access in any room, be it your bedrooms if you want to each have a personal computer there, you need a data point there. Your Living or Home Theatre area may require a few data points, any device that will need internet access such as Smart TVs, Sonos, Fetch TV, Xbox etc.
Hi guys,
I am now very confused about smart wiring
; so please help me out here. We are building a new house (Perth) and builder wants us to use a specific company's service if we want NBN compatible internet service. After meeting the builder approved 'smart wiring' company, I feel they are charging way too much for data point and smart TV points. I was wondering if it is possible to for us to use independent service after the home is built for NBN compatible wiring (Builder won't let us use any other company during the building process). If this is possible, then what sort of things I should keep in mind to get it done by the builder (electrical guys)?
1) Builder installs 25mm conduits for electrical purpose. Can similar conduits be used for smart wiring? (the company says 32mm is required. is it true?)
2) They put 3 32mm conduits for wire-free TV viewing; can the same be done with 25mm conduits?
3) I am after foxtel compatible TV points rather than the smart TV data points; the company apparently charges a fortune for that. Is it really that expensive? Is it doable afterwards if I install 25mm conduits?
I will be very thankful if you could explain, would be great if you could provide any pics. Experienced guys please
Since you are in Perth, I assume you are building in double brick, so you definitely want conduits installed.
I wouldn't imagine that there is much difference in cost between 25mm and 32mm conduit - most of the cost will be in labour to chase the brick to install the conduit - and the extra diameter makes it easier to put multiple cables in (or HDMI cables) later.
For your TV points you should definitely go with 32mm as HDMI cables don't fit very well down 25mm.
Foxtel needs one (for cable) or two (for satellite) RG6 quad-shield cables. This cable is pretty cheap and if conduits are in place you can easily get it done by an antenna company after handover. Foxtel will also install for free when you sign-up, but only to locations where you are getting a box. I can't see why they wouldn't use conduits if they were already in place - it makes their job easier.
Hi Ozlizz.
While smart wiring is best done during the build as it allows it to be done exactly how you want by one person, yes it can be done after the build if it's a single story house but so long as the builder places the correct size conduits and wallboxes in the right places, that allows for all the cabling to be done after the build.
To answer your questions :
1. Yes, so long as the builder places the required conduits + wallboxes of the proper size and location during built. We prefer to use 32mm where required, that is theatre rooms or any location where multiple cables will or may be added later.
2. If only one cable will be running down it such as for Free to Air TV, 25mm conduit will be fine.
3. If you intend to have Foxtel, Free to Air and Data points in the same wall plate, a 32mm conduit would be more suitable as you always want more room for expandability and ease of installation, once the house is built it's built.
Everybody has a different price and profit margin, for example dealing with a company that runs on higher overheads, many subcontractors, call centre staff. A builder would have a contract which makes it more profitable for them to use only 1 company, and to deny you the choice to use an alternative company you are confident with to do work on a house you are paying for.
We have it - our area had Telstra Velocity so we get all our TV, Foxtel, internet, phone etc through the fibre optic cables. Unbelievable pictures etc and awesome net speeds.