“Structured Wiring” is really no longer an “option” considering today’s Structured Wiring System technological lifestyle. High Definition cable and satellite signals for television, downloading music over the Internet and other computer based activities that were only futuristic dreams a few years ago are here today. Because of this, you need to consider not only your needs today, but in the future. This includes considering the impact of not having a Structured Wiring System should you elect to sell your home one day. Imagine offering a home for sale today if it did not have telephone service or air conditioning. Take a few moments to read these two pages so you can better understand how to judge your Structured Wiring needs based on your lifestyle. Your American Home Systems representative will then meet with you to answer any questions you may have and help you design your system. Doing so will not only help to protect your investment, but will also provide you and your family years of valuable service.
All structured wiring systems possess similar basic components:
- Incoming Signals: Various types of cables coming into your home carrying video, voice and data signals are connected to the back of the distribution modules in the distribution cabinet.
- Distribution Cabinet: An enclosed cabinet where the incoming cables are terminated and the signals are then rerouted to the locations you desire throughout your home through the distribution modules.
- Distribution Modules: Interchangeable amplified and non-amplified signal splitters that snap into the distribution cabinet to reroute the video, voice and data signals throughout the home.
- Category 5E Wire (CAT5E): An “Enhanced” high speed cable containing 4 pairs of copper wires that are then twisted around each other in such a way as to minimize outside interference. It should be rated at 350 Mbps.
- Quad-Shielded RG6 Cable: A round cable with a single copper wire in the middle that is shielded with four (4) layers of protection to minimize interference.
- Fiber Optic Cable: A series of thin flexible glass filaments inside a vinyl jacket. Fiber Optic cable is capable of carrying more data, faster, than CAT5 or RG6 but is substantially more expensive and limited in home application at this time.
- Wall Outlets: Wall plates, located in designated rooms throughout your home, which are attached to the different cables coming from the distribution modules. Your electronic equipment is connected to the Structured Wiring System at these outlets and receives the video, voice or data signal it needs.
The Distribution Cabinet is normally installed near other such enclosures (electrical, security, telephone, etc.) in the utility room of the home since it will need little ongoing attention. Incoming cables, carrying video, voice and data signals from any source, are routed to and secured in the Distribution Cabinet and then attached to the correct Distribution Module designed to handle that particular type of signal. Depending on the type of signal, RG6 or CAT5E cables are then run directly from each Distribution Module to the desired Wall Outlet locations throughout the home. Each cable is continuous with no splices or other connections along the way. This technique is referred to as “Home Run” cabling and reduces the possibility of any interference. Once at the Wall Outlet, the cables are fastened to specific “jacks” or connectors in order to allow the appropriate equipment to be plugged in or attached.
CAT5e:
Telephone Lines Telephone Modems Computer Networks Fax LinesISDN and DSL Lines
RG6:
Cable Television Satellite TVSatellite Modems Closed Circuit CamerasVCR & DVD DistributionCable Modems
FIBRE OPTIC:
While fiber optic cable may one day play a role inside the home because of its high speed capabilities, it is not currently being used residentially due to its high installation cost. Currently, fiber optics strength lies in its ability to eliminate exterior problems and deliver clear, high speed signals over many miles up to the home.Multimedia Outlet (2 CAT5e & 2 RG6) :
Multimedia Outlet CAT5e RG6This Wall Outlet is configured based on the fact that your video provider requires one RG6 cable to provide a signal for your television. The other RG6 cable and jack can be utilized for other purposes as shown above. The telephone/data jacks at the top of this outlet each consist of a single CAT5E cable with a larger RJ45 style data jack attached. This RJ45 jack is specifically designed, however, to also allow the use of the smaller RJ11 standard telephone plug in the outlet if needed. One of these RJ45 jacks is attached to your telephone service. The other RJ45 jack could be used as part of a computer network, another telephone line, etc. as shown above.Telephone or Data Outlet: (1 CAT5e)
Telephone or Data Outlet CAT5eThis Wall Outlet contains a single CAT5e cable, capable of carrying up to four separate telephone numbers or various other signals. Individual incoming signals, such as voice, fax, dial up modem, etc., can be accessed by utilizing a signal splitter such as the Future Smart “Line Break-Out Module.” It is strongly recommended that high speed signals such as cable modems, DSL and ISDN lines, as well as local area computer network lines (LAN), have their own cable and not share it with other signals. This outlet would serve any of the purposes listed above for CAT5e cables. The larger RJ45 jack used in this outlet is specifically designed to also allow the use of the smaller standard RJ11 telephone jack in the outlet if needed.
Utilizing the highest quality CAT5e and Quad-Shielded RG6 cabling, this unamplified wiring system provides superior signal carrying capacity for your home. Due to the absence of a video amplifier, however, it is limited to distributing the strength of the video signal as it is provided to you by your cable or satellite company. Because of the larger size of today’s houses, this limited signal strength usually restricts such a system four (4) television locations within the home. While more televisions could certainly be handled by the system, the quality of the picture on all sets would begin to deteriorate rapidly when more than four sets are attached.NOTICE: Ordering additional wall outlets does not mean that they can or will all be active at the same time. It is possible to order and have more wall outlets installed in a home than the structured wiring distribution modules in the wiring cabinet can handle, or have active, at the same time. If you require that all of the outlets be active at the same time you may need to add additional distribution modules as offered later in this section. Your sales representative will assist you in designing your system.
This option provides one (1) single channel camera modulator which is required when adding a fourth camera to the system.Customers may view the potential output of an On-Q camera by going to http://www.onqlegrand.com Where it says ENTER select “HOMEOWNER” At the top of the page, under “Homeowner Navigation,” select “PRODUCTS” You will be shown 4 groups of products. Under “Comfort” select “CAMERA PRODUCTS”. Under Camera Products select “VIEW CAMERA DEMO.”
This camera is not compatible with the On-Q “Basic Camera Surveillance System.
Use it to watch children at play outside, a bed ridden family member’s room, or a Structured Wiring System Diagramvisitor at your front door.
Sensitivity: 0 lux (Total Darkness)
Horizontal Resolution: More than 380 lines
Auto Gain Control
Auto White Balance
Operating Temperature 14 to 122 degrees F
Includes a single channel video modulator.
* NOTE: For any camera system, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to provide a television set with the capability of receiving the modulated camera signal. Cameras mounted on the exterior of the home cannot be mounted more than 10’ above the ground. Installations above this level may be available but will entail additional charges.
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) with Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP)
Legacy 64-bit and 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption
802.1X access control
It is the homeowner’s responsibility to verify the technical capability and compatibility of all computers and peripherals to be attached to a network.
Each device on a network must be specifically capable of being part of a local area network (LAN).
A computer operating system that supports networking, such as Windows, is required.
All computers and peripherals on a network require a 10 or 100 base-t network card which is available from your computer dealer.
The homeowner is responsible for installing and configuring the network, both hard-wired and wireless, as well as any software provided with any of the devices such a router, switch or IP Server.
Wireless systems and IP Servers require Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2 or Netscape Navigation 6.2 or higher Internet browser.
Each device on a wireless network requires an 802.11g or 802.11b wireless adapter which is not included.