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Home Networks
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Although many houses will stand for centuries, a lot of cabling systems won't last a single decade. That's because communications are more demanding nowadays, incorporating voice, entertainment, information and home office applications. You can't get by any more with just a phone socket in the corridor and individual add-on extensions.
The necessary infrastructure has to be planned – for new buildings just as much as for those being renovated. In principle, the same well-proven and tested technologies can be used as in the office world. With intelligent planning, the additional costs are moderate, and the installation increases the long-term value of the building. This article points out the factors that need to be taken into account.
Technical Conditions, Personal Requirements:
Household data communications are spreading rapidly, and the demands of modern family members seem to be escalating: a number of phones in simultaneous use, fax, Internet connections, video intercom systems, a shared central printer, and TV in more than one room. And this development is just the beginning, if we are to believe current projections. An indicator here is the growing popularity of the many new home electronics gadgets, such as MP3 players, digital cameras, and games consoles.
The right infrastructure is surely needed in order to accommodate these new applications. Yet the clear solution, well established in office buildings, is still making very slow progress in the private sphere: network cabling. A lot of people seem to believe that, apart from the mains cables, just a phone and an antenna will do as the basic fittings for a house. Many electrical installers still regard network cables as taboo, even though the Internet and multimedia are now indispensable features of everyday life in a modern household.
The result, especially in larger households, can be a dreadful mess of cabling spaghetti. This is because networking is needed: the "soft-shoe network" (a pair of trainers and a diskette) is no good for shifting digital pictures and audio/video data. So there is a need for sensible alternatives.
A one-off cabling design that solves a given particular problem is never going to be future-proof. What is needed instead is cabling so general in form that it can meet changing requirements at any time. The first item to be tackled should be the Internet connection.
Selecting The Internet Connection (Last Mile Access):
there are several alternative narrowband and broadband Internet connections. Some of them are available in Egypt and some did not come yet. Their providers make use of the existing infrastructure.
The most widely used medium is ADSL by telephone line. Because of restricted bandwidth, Powerline (data transmission via the mains cable) is leading a shadowy existence, as is Internet via satellite. Basically, costs and available bandwidth should be compared when making a choice. There are clear differences here between the various providers.
…to be continued.
Posted by ROOT Technologies
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