Trends: Wiring for WirelessEnabling wireless technology requires a robust backbone of structured wiring and a smart use of accessories.

It seems you can't swing an iPod these days without hitting another wireless device. Laptops, MP3 players, PDAs, and cell phones abound—not to mention universal remote controls for just about every appliance and gizmo in the house. And the list just keeps growing.

For new-home builders, the message might sound like wireless is the wave of the present instead of the distant future, causing many to question the value of roughing in a structured-wiring system (SWS), much less enabling it with various outlets and ports. "I have builders asking, 'Why are we going through all this with wires and cables if everything is going wireless?'" says Brian Hodges, director of business development for Engineered Environments, a systems integrator in Alameda, Calif., serving the tech-mad Bay Area. "My answer is that wired is always superior to wireless and always will be."

Which is not to say that Hodges and other integrators disdain cable-free devices or capability; it's just that enabling homeowners to enjoy the freedom of their wireless mobile devices requires a well-planned structured-wiring scheme.

In Search of Consistency
"Wireless has its advantages, but the question is whether it provides a reliable signal on a daily basis," says Dave Wilson, president of Wilson Technologies, a systems integrator in Winter Park, Fla. "If you can hardwire the house, do it, to combat or avoid the inconsistencies of wireless, especially when you need to push a lot of content or need a steady signal."

In tech-speak, "content" refers to any sort of data, be it a downloaded song, a digital photo, high-definition video, or the Internet. While the latest wireless protocols are certainly improving, the amount of content being pushed around is also increasing at a rapid rate, and getting more complex to boot—in short, it's staying one or perhaps several steps ahead of cableless capabilities.

"With wireless, you're limited as to how much information can go in the pipeline," says Dave Richards, sales manager with Eaton, an electrical systems provider in Moon Township, Pa., referring in the wireless realm to the airborne signal that carries content.

So while structured wiring is not nearly by the wayside, it's also a near certainty that home buyers want a high level of wireless capability. "The demand [for wireless] is being driven by home buyers," who like to lounge with their laptop on the patio or control their lights or audio system from a handheld device, says Hodges.

Perfect Delivery
Actually, enabling a wired home for wireless is quite easy, though not necessarily affordable. Whereas the cabling of a comprehensive structured-wiring system is relatively inexpensive, as is the labor to install it during construction, adding and setting the components to create a reliable whole-house wireless system can get pricey.

"You also need to really think about where your wireless access points will go," says Hodges, so homeowners can not only catch the (frequency) wave but also enjoy the clutter-free conditions afforded by a smart setup that reduces, centralizes, and conceals various components, such as subwoofers and cable boxes. "Then you can have that sleek look like you see in the ads for flat-screen TVs."

Integrators advocate running the various SWS cables to every conceivable nook and cranny. "If you centralize the head room [lingo for the location of the SWS central controller or hub] and run the wires to every closet and room, it's easier to deliver a wireless signal to the whole house," says Jeff Briesemeister, assistant designer at Integration Controls in St. Louis. "It's so inexpensive at that stage."

Leveraging Wireless
To extend the wired signal into the wireless realm and help ensure its strength and reliability, you'll need wireless access points or routers and range extenders. Access points and routers rely on the wired system for power and signal to "connect" with a wireless device within their range, and range extenders carry the wireless signal beyond its practical capability. Together, these products are the basic gear that creates a wireless local area network (WLAN) to complement the structured-wire scheme (see "Gear Up," left).

"Wireless is very good as a control interface," says Hodges, noting that the latest products using WiFi (the premier wireless communication standard) enable two-way control instead of the one-way signal provided by infrared- and radio frequency-equipped gear, such as remote controls for televisions, DVD players, or stereo receivers. "It not only sends the signal [to a given component] but then provides feedback to let you know that the signal has been received," he says. That's an especially handy feature when various consumer electronics are centralized and concealed in a closet or behind a wall, he says, and in cases when the user is out of the room or controlling the equipment remotely.

If you still need convincing, consider this: Software giant Microsoft let it be known that the next generation of consumer products enabled with its applications will outstrip the capabilities of even the most robust wireless signal, instead requiring a wired connection to achieve their intended performance. "If that's not an argument for structured wiring, I don't know what is," says Richards.

This story first appeared in Digital Home magazine.

GEAR UP

Assuming that you have a well-designed structured-wiring scheme in place, you'll need some basic devices to extend the signal into the wireless realm, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). Additional functionality is possible with upgrades such as interface hubs, wall-mounted touchpad controllers, and handheld remotes. These items enhance wireless technology's primary benefits—namely, convenience, mobility, and the ability to control various household systems that require only low-
frequency signals.

-- BUILDING PRODUCTS

Lagotek Interface Hub

Lagotek Wall-mounted Touchpad Controller

Lagotek. www.lagotek.com

Philips Handheld Remote

Philips. www.consumer.philips.com