1. Recommend Running Shielded Cat6A, better for speed & PoE stuff. 2. Instead of in Wall Media box, Use a wall mount rack system as it will allow you to mount your networking switch(es), firewall, etc. Mount up high so its out of the way. You can also install Plywood where all oft the low voltage cabling is so you can easily mount additional equipment to the wall. 3. Don't for get about cabling for VoIP phones. Wireless phones can be a pain if you have poor signal, and can be a pain to hold. VOIP phones with speaker phones built in 4. Consider installing electronic latches for some of your exterior doors. This can be set up to work when you need to allow some inside your home while your away (ie contractor, repair man). Grandstream make an all in one door camera\door bell\door lock. The grand stream also supports electronic Badge\Keyfob entry. 5. Consider wiring for alarm. Add built in door switches that can tell if a door is open that is mounted into the door frame (hidden). Add wiring for the alarm controller near your front door & garage door. 6. Add ceiling mount 70V speakers for intercom. This can be connected to VOIP which you dial an extension & it will allow you to speech through out the home. Also add exterior 70V speakers for outside & garage. You can also use the speakers for Mono audio music. I have these mounted in my hallways, garage, basement, etc. 7. For ethernet drops: 2 drops per wall so you have it available to future proof your needs. 8. Recommend install can lights in all of your rooms, much better than having to deal with lamps. I have them installed in all of my closets too. Recommend 4 can lights per bedroom, 2 per bathroom, 1 per closet. Lots of the in the kitchen. 9. If you have an office room, install an infloor data & power floor mount box for your desk so you don't have wires running from a wall to your desk. 10. Run Coax for roof mount antenna for TV, Radio. I don't have cable as it a total waste. I do have OTA TV for local weather, ie if you get a tornado warning in your area. 11. Consider adding indoor PoE cameras for common areas or areas where you might have pets. So you can keep an eye while your at work. These can be mounted in the ceiling so they are out of the way & have high visiblity.
The only thing I would change about this is use a real patch panel, those media centers are good for small installs or coax runs, but for a large install like this, a real rack mount patch panel is the best, you can even buy high density models that give you 48 ports in 1u instead of 2
I always recommend extra RG6 coax to tv's. Some people may home run for (xbox ,playstation, bluetooth, one Directv receiver with IR for whole house) using 4K SDI boxes for long runs. Never use long HDMI cables over 6ft. they dont last long. Plus 16 gage speaker cable everywhere to a home run use a SONO's port with amp receiver. Wireless speakers suck.....
Very good advice. Contrary to popular belief, everything is not wireless, and many things that can be, shouldn't be if you have the option to hard wire them. Nice work by the integrator.
One thing I could have done a better was run conduit under the concrete and up into the walls from the basement of our home prior to pouring cement to shorten up my hardwire runs. Would have made my life so much easier in our 3 story home. It would have been so easy to do
The problem with new builds is that the builders want $250 per Ethernet drop. I’ll run my own Ethernet when the house is done instead. I realize I won’t get cat6 everywhere but that’s why wifi is there. $250 per drop is theft.
Yeah, that is a lot but might be more expensive after the fact. I'd check to see what the cost is to run additional lines to the same location. Having 2 or 3 jacks compared to just 1 is really nice, and should only cost the length of the wire, since they get pulled simultaneously
@@BrandonDoyleMN it’s the same price. $250 per drop no matter what. Again, I’ll do my own later. It’s cheaper. Maybe a little more effort but I’ll take pictures of framing and mark my locations from the attic or I’ll sneak in after insulation before Sheetrock and put my low voltage outlets. These guys wanted $15k for a 400 amp service 😂. I am hiring an electrician to prewire after their electrician for about 25% of cost . He knows exactly how these builders work but he also knows the actual electrician who’s contracted to do the work. It’s a game, just gotta know how to play it.
@@BrandonDoyleMN that’s the plan. Timing it just right. I would have paid the builder but the cost was outrageous. Multiple electricians told me not to do it. But we have a local guy who we used for our other properties that will gladly “prewire” just in time and put a blank plate. It will pass inspection as well.
Not 5 minutes in and I’m already seeing a couple issues. 1) you do not run Ethernet, directly parallel with power. 2) the overall vibe with the ‘tech’ is just not it. 3) installing boxes lower down is not a convenience.. it’s going to take a similar amount of work and effort to move it up or down. 4) the cables are already too short in the distribution panel. Even if they actually tried to bring it into a floor standing rack it would be extremely tight or not possible due to the length. Seeing the work done by this company, I would not hire them. Not an issue, but something I would have done, is installed the control4 lighting. Everything connects to a centralized lighting controller, and you use the button pads, touch screens, and apps to control it.
HELP! We are just starting on a custom home, like lot bought, architect going to give us prelim plans hopefully in the next week. Builder picked and he has walked the lot and he met the architect. We’re in Colorado. I don’t want a “dumb” home but I don’t want a total smart home either? What is good to include and what is fluff. Smurf tubes to upgrade later this smart. But do you have a “must have” and a “nice to have” list for smart upgrades. We’re on a tight-ish budget so smarter smart upgrades are good. Overkill is too expensive.
Thank you very much for the tips. I am almost ready for sheet rock looking for someone that does this Wi-Fi security install in the Neosho Missouri Joplin area not sure if you have any connections but would be thankful. Thank you for the video awesome
I recommend finding a CEDIA member in your area, alternatively if you know which system you want to use you could go to their site and look up local dealers
Doing the zig zags in the wall to have access for a future light is sloppy workmanship. You have an attic on top of you. Even if that attic is going to be totally enclosed there are much cleaner ways to do this.
1. Recommend Running Shielded Cat6A, better for speed & PoE stuff.
2. Instead of in Wall Media box, Use a wall mount rack system as it will allow you to mount your networking switch(es), firewall, etc. Mount up high so its out of the way. You can also install Plywood where all oft the low voltage cabling is so you can easily mount additional equipment to the wall.
3. Don't for get about cabling for VoIP phones. Wireless phones can be a pain if you have poor signal, and can be a pain to hold. VOIP phones with speaker phones built in
4. Consider installing electronic latches for some of your exterior doors. This can be set up to work when you need to allow some inside your home while your away (ie contractor, repair man). Grandstream make an all in one door camera\door bell\door lock. The grand stream also supports electronic Badge\Keyfob entry.
5. Consider wiring for alarm. Add built in door switches that can tell if a door is open that is mounted into the door frame (hidden). Add wiring for the alarm controller near your front door & garage door.
6. Add ceiling mount 70V speakers for intercom. This can be connected to VOIP which you dial an extension & it will allow you to speech through out the home. Also add exterior 70V speakers for outside & garage. You can also use the speakers for Mono audio music. I have these mounted in my hallways, garage, basement, etc.
7. For ethernet drops: 2 drops per wall so you have it available to future proof your needs.
8. Recommend install can lights in all of your rooms, much better than having to deal with lamps. I have them installed in all of my closets too. Recommend 4 can lights per bedroom, 2 per bathroom, 1 per closet. Lots of the in the kitchen.
9. If you have an office room, install an infloor data & power floor mount box for your desk so you don't have wires running from a wall to your desk.
10. Run Coax for roof mount antenna for TV, Radio. I don't have cable as it a total waste. I do have OTA TV for local weather, ie if you get a tornado warning in your area.
11. Consider adding indoor PoE cameras for common areas or areas where you might have pets. So you can keep an eye while your at work. These can be mounted in the ceiling so they are out of the way & have high visiblity.
The only thing I would change about this is use a real patch panel, those media centers are good for small installs or coax runs, but for a large install like this, a real rack mount patch panel is the best, you can even buy high density models that give you 48 ports in 1u instead of 2
I always recommend extra RG6 coax to tv's. Some people may home run for (xbox ,playstation, bluetooth, one Directv receiver with IR for whole house) using 4K SDI boxes for long runs. Never use long HDMI cables over 6ft. they dont last long. Plus 16 gage speaker cable everywhere to a home run use a SONO's port with amp receiver. Wireless speakers suck.....
HDMI over CAT6 exists.
Very good advice. Contrary to popular belief, everything is not wireless, and many things that can be, shouldn't be if you have the option to hard wire them. Nice work by the integrator.
One thing I could have done a better was run conduit under the concrete and up into the walls from the basement of our home prior to pouring cement to shorten up my hardwire runs. Would have made my life so much easier in our 3 story home.
It would have been so easy to do
The problem with new builds is that the builders want $250 per Ethernet drop. I’ll run my own Ethernet when the house is done instead. I realize I won’t get cat6 everywhere but that’s why wifi is there. $250 per drop is theft.
Yeah, that is a lot but might be more expensive after the fact. I'd check to see what the cost is to run additional lines to the same location. Having 2 or 3 jacks compared to just 1 is really nice, and should only cost the length of the wire, since they get pulled simultaneously
@@BrandonDoyleMN it’s the same price. $250 per drop no matter what. Again, I’ll do my own later. It’s cheaper. Maybe a little more effort but I’ll take pictures of framing and mark my locations from the attic or I’ll sneak in after insulation before Sheetrock and put my low voltage outlets. These guys wanted $15k for a 400 amp service 😂. I am hiring an electrician to prewire after their electrician for about 25% of cost . He knows exactly how these builders work but he also knows the actual electrician who’s contracted to do the work. It’s a game, just gotta know how to play it.
@@mrprfct7069 if you’re able to get it done before Sheetrock yourself that’d be awesome, totally worth the cost of the cabling
@@BrandonDoyleMN that’s the plan. Timing it just right. I would have paid the builder but the cost was outrageous. Multiple electricians told me not to do it. But we have a local guy who we used for our other properties that will gladly “prewire” just in time and put a blank plate. It will pass inspection as well.
@@mrprfct7069How did this plan work out for you?
Not 5 minutes in and I’m already seeing a couple issues. 1) you do not run Ethernet, directly parallel with power. 2) the overall vibe with the ‘tech’ is just not it. 3) installing boxes lower down is not a convenience.. it’s going to take a similar amount of work and effort to move it up or down. 4) the cables are already too short in the distribution panel. Even if they actually tried to bring it into a floor standing rack it would be extremely tight or not possible due to the length. Seeing the work done by this company, I would not hire them.
Not an issue, but something I would have done, is installed the control4 lighting. Everything connects to a centralized lighting controller, and you use the button pads, touch screens, and apps to control it.
HELP! We are just starting on a custom home, like lot bought, architect going to give us prelim plans hopefully in the next week. Builder picked and he has walked the lot and he met the architect. We’re in Colorado. I don’t want a “dumb” home but I don’t want a total smart home either? What is good to include and what is fluff. Smurf tubes to upgrade later this smart. But do you have a “must have” and a “nice to have” list for smart upgrades. We’re on a tight-ish budget so smarter smart upgrades are good. Overkill is too expensive.
I would start with a good pre-wire, you can always add components later
Thank you very much for the tips. I am almost ready for sheet rock looking for someone that does this Wi-Fi security install in the Neosho Missouri Joplin area not sure if you have any connections but would be thankful. Thank you for the video awesome
I recommend finding a CEDIA member in your area, alternatively if you know which system you want to use you could go to their site and look up local dealers
Great video! Very useful info for people building a home.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! We will have more content like this coming soon
Matt Montgomery of Tym Homes in Utah has a great online book how to pre-wire your home
I really like his channel
Nice Video Sir 😍🥰😘
What’s your full time job?
Real estate agent here in MN
Doing the zig zags in the wall to have access for a future light is sloppy workmanship. You have an attic on top of you. Even if that attic is going to be totally enclosed there are much cleaner ways to do this.