 Q:
What is communications wiring?
A: Communications wiring, also known as "structured wiring," goes
far beyond plain old telephone wire. It is the best way to ensure
full and reliable use of communications services. A proven technology
that has been the standard in office buildings for years, communications
wiring is also perfectly suited to handle the high-speed, high-capacity
data transfer needs of today's modern home.
Q: What does communications wiring consist of?
A: Communications wiring consists of a special class of high-performance
cable containing four twisted-pairs of copper wire (Category 5 or
better). This cable, together with RG-6 coaxial cable, is run from
a central location to all rooms in the home that are likely to be
"connected."
Q: Why do you need communications wiring in your home?
A: The conventional wiring used in most homes has not changed in 50
years and is unable to fully support the communications technologies
available today. The conventional wiring consists of one or two pairs
of wires and is adequate only for voice, fax, and some data communications.
"Structured" communications wiring enables you to realize the full
potential of your computer and communications devices. It can handle
telephone, fax, and data communications, plus video and sophisticated
data signals from computers. You will easily and dependably access
the Internet, enjoy video and entertainment services, and even operate
your home security and climate control systems. You can also run a
modern home office, network your computers and printers, communicate
at high speed with other offices, and send/receive faxes. What's more,
you and your family can do all of these things at the same time!
Q: Will communications wiring meet the home needs of tomorrow?
A: Absolutely. It will make your home virtually "future proof" for
many years to come. Inadequate wiring is the weak link in communicating
within the home and with the outside world. Now, properly-wired homes
can take full advantage of today's wide range of technologies, as
well as tomorrow's.
Q: What is a "connected home?"
A: A "connected home" is a home connected by a wiring network that
links one room to another and to the outside world. The connected
home gives you the power to integrate home systems, such as communications,
computers, audio/visual, entertainment, security, lighting controls,
utilities, and environmental controls (i.e., heating, cooling). It
lets you more fully enjoy your home by enabling you to experience
the best that technology has to offer.
Q: What category of wiring is used in a "connected home?"
A: Category 5 "structured" communications wiring is the current standard.
It has an approved bandwidth (information carrying capacity) of 100
MHz (megahertz). Today, Cat 5 wire is used extensively for offices,
schools, and factories to provide local area networks (LANs), which
allow computers to talk to one another and to receive and send Internet
and high-speed computer data. However, Category 5 wire it will soon
be supplanted by even higher-speed versions, such as Category 5E (i.e.,
enhanced) and Category 6. At a small cost premium, Category 6 wire,
when approved as a standard, will deliver more than twice the bandwidth
of Category 5 wire. It will be able to carry at least 1 gigabite (billion
bits) per second, equivalent to 50,000 pages of text per second.
Q: What is the role of copper in a "connected home?"
A: The average properly-wired home uses about 1,000 feet of Category
5 or better cable. This translates into approximately 10 pounds of
copper per installation. Another 10 pounds of copper is used to wire
each room with coaxial cable using a solid-copper center conductor.
|
