sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring residential backboard footprint

I don't usually do residential, but recently have pulled RG6, CAT6, CAT5E, etc., for a few good-sized large homes that are being remodeled or newly built. I like the OnQ/Legrand product line for video distribution and modulation and also their cameras (PoE) and audio systems because they use CAT5E or CAT 6 and seem simpler to install. In each case I have limited space to terminate (as usual) and the need to get close to and service cables easily. I am leaning toward forgetting about the residential box approach (all the structured cabling vendors have several models), and treating the residential installs like commercial installs (standard 19" patch panels, plywood backboard, etc.). Any advice on whether or not these residential boxes (where you mount the modules) are functional, or will I end up with a cable spaghetti dinner that will be difficult to service? I hate when I end up underneath the stairwell or some other dark, cramped space. In one case, I have a garage wall which is great. There are a lot of CAT 5E/6 and RG6 in all instances. By the way, I enjoy reading all the war stories from the group here. - Bill Farhood

A 2'x4' panel should be enough space for a residential install or a little larger if there is room.

Hey Bill. Welcome. I have gotten away from using the residential boxes. With most people installing home networks, it just isn't feasible to put the cable modem and router in the box. Same with satellite TV. I use a 2x4 board and organize my stuff by function. The boxes look great but turn into a PITA when you actually want to use them. However, I sometimes use the telephone bridges as they are convenient and have the RJ21x jack in it for security sytems. Good luck!

Bill: I am in agreement that those structured wiring systems sound good on paper but they really don't do the customer much good. They are too restrictive and aren't really designed for situations where a system is being installed. Oddly enough, I was looking in a catalog recently and one of the manufacturers now has a "PBX" integration module which includes a 25 pair connector that makes the transition to 110 clips. It's still to restrictive in my opinion, but it's nice to see that manufacturers of these systems are starting to take notice to the fact that phone people don't like them.

I like the OnQ/Legrad module (I am sure others make them too), that takes a 4-pair cable with 4 C.O. lines on it, then you flip a dip switch as to which line you want to be the blue pair at each location.

Sounds like a great idea for sparky who thinks that each jack/cable will have a different telephone number. What about the real telecommunications business BEFORE the electrical equipment manufacturers became the "officials". Leviton is the ring leader in making electricians think that if it involves wires, they can do it. Legrand is the second-most guilty party.

This is comparable to putting loaded pistols in the hands of middle school kids as they board the school bus. Just because they have it in their hand, are they responsible enough to know what to do with it? Nope.

Exactly, and the IBEW was behind all of it. Before that there wasn't one sparkie who knew who Suttle was.

-Hal

In residential settings I use smooth finish plywood, painted to existing color. Since cable is cheap, I run at least 4 drops to each room (usually just one to bathrooms, though), and do not differentiate between telephone and data outlets, except where a phone is to be wall mounted. I terminate everything to a 110 patch panel, and put a shelf under it (about a foot) to hold the modem and router. I patch just the jacks that are initially going to be used, and give the homeowner a stack of 3’ patch cables, and give a quick tutorial on patching--"go from here to here if you want a computer jack, and from here to here if you want a phone jack”.

No complaints so far on the “commercial” appearance. I’ve had to service boxes of the residential variety, and find them very difficult to work in, and expansion is very limited.

-Marc

Four drops per room? This is yet again another case of TIA/EIA dreaming up ways to keep the cable manufacturers happy. The cable manufacturers fund them! Funny how when they manage to NOT come up with some unrealistic expectation/advancement for a year or so, the price of cable shoots through the roof.

Four cables per room in a residence? Come on, that's just plain wasteful. Cerisier, is your standard the same in commercial construction? I also hope that you aren't placing four cables in one room at the same outlet. That's even more of a waste. You will go out of business quickly if you insist upon such unrealistic standards on all of your jobs.

My company deals with McMansions day-in and day-out and even 10-bedroom homes would never need something so exotic. Some of our customers have us splitting their existing CAT3 or less home runs for their LAN connections with no problem. Remember that cable and DSL connections can't communicate better than 10base-T speeds anyway, so why the drama?

EIA/TIA/BICSI: The good old boy network in full force, just like it is in the electrical trade with the NEC. Put the word "association" on any establishment's name and somehow, this company miraculously knows a better way to run a 120 year-old industry.

I work in Washington, DC. I know.

Ceresier, I agree that in new residential construction you should load up each outlet with as much CAT5E (and at least 2 RG6) as you can because of the proliferation of IP devices, like cameras, WAPs, and data, also voice, audio, video etc., all can run on CAT5E - and there are baluns for component video/stereo now - and you never know what you might need. Every day in this business my fear is that walls and ceilings will be closed and I will need another cable somewhere that I can't access. This year as never before I have been dealing with non-existent pathways. People expect miracles, hate to see wires, and expect beauty shows all the time when there is no way to run the wires. Sorry to vent.

EV607797, I looked at the Panasonic switch, and you get a lot of functionality for the price. I like the intercom and door opener functions. After looking at the Russound A-Bus modules, I realized that the OnQ stuff was the same product. Did they buy Russound too or is it a different unit? Now video distribution is another matter. Today's paper had this Friday at 12:01AM the official start of PS3 sales. The battle for control of the living room continues......