Is Smart Wiring really necessary?
Is it worth spending $3 – $15k on smart wiring?
Is Smart Wiring really necessary? and what is it?
Today, just about every new house comes with a smart wiring package, supposed to make your house “future-proof“.
That statement may have been true 10 years ago but today it is NOT. We explain why.
What is a smart-wired or smart wiring home?
You see many houses being advertised as “smart” or “smart-wired” (smart-wiring) these days. Being “smart” does not mean that the house can think for itself or turn the lights on and off as you enter or leave a room (see a definition of smart home)…
Smart in this case refers to the fact that it has been “hard-wired” with TV Aerial (coaxial), Foxtel (coaxial), Telephone and Ethernet (Networking and Security) cabling back to a central “junction box”, “smart-wiring panel”  or “hub” usually located in a cupboard, garage or utility room.
From the central hub, cables are run to various points in the house and terminating in wall plates such as the following.
The true definition of smart wiring is defined here as a system that enables the combination of many different types of wires used around the home into a single location, which allows for the integration of many different smart home systems and sensors throughout your home, and the capacity to add more at a later date if you want to do so including lighting, security, internet communications, security systems and audio-visual or home entertainment systems.
Having the ability to turn lights, air-conditioning or the oven on via your smart phone or schedule is a component of “home-automation”. A smart home may feature smart-wiring to help you achieve home-automation but it is not the same thing. The IT Guys (WA) can assist you in smart-wiring your home and offer alternatives that can save you a great deal of money. Contact us on 08 6118 2601 or email us at support@itguyswa.com.au for a FREE assessment.
What does a Smart-Wiring Package give me?
When building a new house, you may be given the option of adding a “smart-wiring” package at an additional cost.
This will supposedly provide internet access through the home and is usually sub contracted to a smart-home sub-contractor specialist.
To be honest, the builders electrical sub-contractors can do this work themselves but prefer to subcontract the work out as many electricians do not like installing and especially “terminating” Ethernet Wiring.
Unfortunately, your builder will unlikely offer you a number of alternative smart-wiring-contractors. In Western Australia, one company in particular appear to have a strangle-hold over the major building companies. (For legal reasons we are not allowed to mention the companies name)
Most major builders will NOT allow other smart-wiring contractors onto their sites during the building phase, leaving you with only two choices.
- Install their inferior and outdated smart-wiring package at great expense and then update it when you move in, or
- Save your money. Give us a call and install the correct package once you have moved in. A large multi-floored house can have high-speed WI-FI and cabled internet starting at only $500 + cabling (see below)
If you are being sold such an “add-on” make sure you know in detail, what you are being quoted on by your builder, renovator, electrician and/or “smart-home” installer.
Do not be pressured into accepting their proposal straight away. Ask for full details of what you are getting and then come and discuss the suitability of their proposal with us.
For $78 bring your plans and/or the installers proposal to our office (or email them to us if you cannot make it to our office) and we can advise you on the suitability of their proposal. You can make payment over the phone by credit card.
Ask yourself these questions…. How are Smart-phones, iPads and modern notebooks and laptops with no ethernet port supposed to pickup internet through the house when no wi-fi access points (WAPs) are supplied in the proposed package??
Some of these Smart-Wiring companies are living in the past, still installing outdated technology (hard-ethernet-wiring) and not making any provision for wi-fi coverage.
Below we offer a number of Wireless (Wi-Fi) Smart-Wiring-Solutions.
- Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors
- Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for large sized homes
- Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes
- Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small home
- Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small unit or apartment
Building or Renovating? Make yours a Smart-Wired Wi-Fi enabled Home 
Do I need ethernet points in the wall, to connect my TV?
Possibly, if you do not have strong wi-fi and/or your TV is not Wi-Fi enabled. (Apple TV or Telstra TV can get around this issue as they are wi-fi enabled)
Any TV purchased in the last few years will most likely be a “Smart-TV” and will connect to the Internet and streaming services such as Netflix, Stan, Amazon, iView etc via Wi-Fi or hard-wired cabling.
A Smart-TV uses either a hard-wired Ethernet connection or built-in Wi-Fi to connect to a home network for internet access. Most models today have built-in Wi-Fi, but check that it does before you buy a new one.
Non-Smart TV’s can also use streaming services such as Netflix over the Wi-Fi by purchasing “Apple-TV”
or “Telstra-TV”
but if you wish to watch standard free-to-air TV or “Fetch-TV”
you will need to have hard-wired TV co-axial cabling and hard-wired Ethernet cabling to an outlet near your TV. If you are using external speakers such as the Sonos or Bose Playbar or Soundbar check to see if they will connect to your music system.
You may need to connect them to your network using an Ethernet cable but most can do so using an Optical-Audio cable between your TV and the Soundbar. This allows the sound-bar to operate as an external TV speaker as well as a part of your music system.
FETCH-TV boxes also need to be connected to your network using an Ethernet Cable (earlier models). Newer models may connect via wifi.
However, Apple-TV and Telstra-TV can connect to the Internet by Wi-Fi
Earlier Foxtel IQ boxes DO NOT have Wifi and also need an Ethernet Port to connect to if you wish to use the catch-up features.
The IQ3 & IQ4 CAN connect by Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable
Do I need ethernet points in the wall, to connect my computer to the internet?
Yes and No. Some computers such as iMac, have built in Wi-Fi capability. All laptops and tablets connect to the internet via Wi-Fi.
However, older computers may need a small wi-fi adapter that simply plugs into a USB port to allow it to connect over wi-fi.
The fastest internet connection will always be by a wired ethernet connection, so if a data port is available, use that to connect your computer or PC to the internet.
I am a Foxtel user, can I watch Foxtel using Wi-Fi?
The majority of Foxtel users will watch Foxtel on a recording box called an IQ. These boxes allow you to record programs unattended and play them back later.
To use the IQ Â you need to have coaxial cabling hard-wired to a socket near the IQ box. IQ1 and iQ2 will not work over wi-fi so to access “Catch-up” services on your IQ box, you will also need a hard-wired internet connection
The Foxtel IQ3 & IQ4 solves this problem by not needing a hard wired connection.
However, you can also watch Foxtel over the Internet using Wi-fi … the service is called Foxtel NowÂ
What are the advantage of buying a “smart” or “smart-wired” home?
Buying a home already configured for smart-wiring should mean that there could be some home-automation already installed.
At the very least it should mean there are multiple ethernet jacks at points where you would want to connect a TV, computer or printer etc all leading back to a central point , hub or junction box.
If you are buying a home from that is already configured, make sure you get detailed instructions including having all data and phone points labelled both at the junction box and at each wall socket when the property is handed over.
This means you have the option of installing your Internet modem/router in the central junction box and then distribute that connection to ethernet multiple points through the house by means of the installed ethernet cabling.
However, unless some of those cables go to WAPs (Wireless Access Points) the only Wi-Fi signal you will have in your house will be from the modem/router located in your hub/central junction box, which could be in a cupboard or garage well away from the main living areas. Or by locating your modem in a central point and then looping the ethernet back to the hub. This method requires two ethernet ports next to your modems location.
Can I convert a hard-wired smart-house to a wire-less one?
Yes, Standalone AmpliFi HD Mesh Routers can be connected or wired to existing Ethernet outlets or WAP’s can also be used and then hidden under a desk or table. It is not an ideal solution but it will work.
Using Standalone AmpliFi HD Mesh Routers
Using WAP’s (Wireless-Access-Points)
Should I smart wire an EXISTING home?
Yes, but depending on the size of the house. Small houses can achieve the same result using Wi-Fi Range internet extenders.
Should I smart wire a NEW home not yet built?
Yes, but only if that leads to a “Wireless” Internet Network (Using Wireless-Access-Points) through the house in combination with Wired Ethernet Ports (to Non-Wi-Fi devices such as older TV’s, Foxtel IQ etc).
Having both Ethernet Wall sockets PLUS Wireless Access Points will give the best overall solution. Ubiquiti “In-Wall” sockets that combine ethernet port AND wireless access points are an elegant alternative.
Turn an existing smart-wired home to a Wi-Fi enabled one?
Wireless Technology or Wi-Fi using Wireless-Access-Points (WAP’s)
Using a series of Wireless Access Points (WAPs) a complete house or office can be covered by fast Wi-Fi that can be used by multiple devices not just those connected to the ethernet socket in a wall.
Depending on the type of construction, large houses with 2 or 3 levels can be covered with as few as 2 or 3 WAP’s or Standalone AmpliFi HD Mesh Routers
Houses with Reinforced Concrete Walls and Floors will require at least one WAP per floor as a Wi-Fi signal will not penetrate thick stone, or concrete structures.
These days more and more peripherals and consumer electronic devices are coming shipped with built-in Wi-Fi rather than Ethernet ports, for instance:
- Printers and Scanners – There are now more Wi-Fi enabled printers than Network ready Ethernet ones.
- Security Cameras and Alarm systems are now available using wireless/Wifi cameras and motion sensors. No Cabling Required.
- Audio Wireless Speakers such as Sonos and Bose – The need for long leads under carpets and floors is long behind us.
- Televisions – most flat-screen TV sets now have built-in wireless capabilities
- Domestic Appliances – Fridges, Coffee machines
- Heating and Cooling systems – controlling your heating, power and solar panels is done by wi-fi, no need for clumsy wiring
- Telephones, Fax and Answering machines – The landline is dead. Most households do not have a land-line with the occupants all having mobile phones
However, Wireless Technology (Wi-Fi) is only effective across areas devoid of thick dense structures such as stone or reinforced concrete without employing “boosters” or “repeaters” or other technologies. WAP’s connected by Ethernet Cabling back to a hub or switch, eliminate this problem and POE injectors or POE Switches mean the devices can be powered down the Ethernet Cabling.
In conclusion:
The only sure way of ensuring a strong internet signal through a home or office is through a combination of hard-wired (ethernet wiring) plus WAPs (wireless access points) or Standalone AmpliFi HD Mesh Routers Boosters and Extenders are simply a waste of money.
Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors
Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small houses, units or apartment
Building or Renovating? Make yours a Smart-Wired Wi-Fi enabled Home from $428
Contact us 08 6118 2601 or email us at support@itguyswa.com.au for some independent advice and a free quote.
:jk: