Structured wiring systems

I too would like to see these houses wired with EMT.

The notion that copper data networks will be replaced by fiber is equally suspect. The claim that fiber can carry more simultaneous conversations that copper is true, if you spend thousands of dollars for multiplexers.

The FSB on a modern computer can be overwhelmed by even a 100 Mbps copper channel, forget about an OC-3 fiber line. Remember the slogan "Fiber to the desktop"? It never caught on because a PC just can't accept data at such speeds.

I've installed hundreds of miles of copper and fiber networks. Done plenty of 802.11 networks too. Copper networks are in no danger of becoming obsolete.

Intresting thread. This is my 1st post. I've been running fiber and copper for the good part of 21 years. Never once ran fiber to the desk top. Only backbones/trunks and connecting network racks and such.

Brian

I am working with a new corp and they are moving national. How or where would I look for national low voltage types, I am looking for plasma and or lcd tv hangers commercial property installs

steve b said:

I am working with a new corp and they are moving national. How or where would I look for national low voltage types, I am looking for plasma and or lcd tv hangers commercial property installs

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You could look, but you probably won't find them. Even national stores like Circuit City and Best Buy use local electricians to hang plasma's and such.

Digital Signage

steve b said:

I am working with a new corp and they are moving national. How or where would I look for national low voltage types, I am looking for plasma and or lcd tv hangers commercial property installs

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My company currently holds a national contract to install Linux Media servers and flat-panels in LabCorp facilities. What are you looking for?

mdshunk said:

Your local electrical supply house will have everything you need to build your structured wiring panel. Square 'D', Leviton, and Cooper all make excellent structured wiring components that you can purchase at any electrical supply house that will perform the tasks you outlined. This is becoming pretty standard fare in new construction, particularly in mid to high end homes. I think the money spent on the combo cable was wasted. Compare what you paid for that against just pulling two runs of series 6 and two runs of cat5e to each plate.

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I'd tend to agree. Unless you are wiring multiple units and receiving discount prices on teh combo cable i'd simply pull individual wiring. i would however add that you can purchase the cat 5 or 6 from web site companies at a lesser cost i.e. "firefold" is one of many that i use. 77% braid coax (RG6) is sold to MSO's for under .06 per ft. Lowes and Home Depot sell it for in excess of .20 per foot. not a big difference on a small job just information for future reference. you can likley purchase for at least half the cost of the local sites. As far as fiber, not a bad idea for future use but depending on where you live, could be 5/10 years down the road. you may want to include it but by no means should you eliminate the ethernet cable or coax. The fact of the matter is if you live in an area where the Cable company offers digital phone you only need one RG6 coax from the outside of the structure located approximately 18 inches from the power meter locaton for mutual bonding purposes. The cable company is likely going to run "only one" RG 6 or RG 11 coax to your home anyway. That is if you are using an inside smart box. The best design that i see is one which the inside panel (smart box) is large enough to house a drop amp, modem/router/switch/hub depending on what you're doing. The RG 6 will be coupled/split and feed the drop amp and the modem. The modem feeds the router/hub/switch (whatever your choice) which feeds all your ethernet wiring outlets. that is unless you are going wireless. the other RG6 feeds the drop amp which feeds the coaxial splitting device/s. the purpose of the split before the drop amp is multiple. Unless you use an active return drop amp the attenuatiion of the drop amp could cause you trouble on your broadband upstream. hope this was helpful