What is Smart Wiring?

Often confused as a "Smart Home" or home automation, a SmartWired® House is simply a comprehensive wiring installation with cabling for speakers, phones, faxes, TV,  projectors and security to be installed using an integrated approach. Installation starts from as little as $1500 and can add thousands of dollars more in value to the house when it comes to selling the property.

Pre-wiring for new homes

The cabling / wiring should be installed during construction, often called "pre-wiring". These speaker, data and TV cables are then utilised later as and when the need arises. The great advantage is in the saving in the cost of further installation or relocation of services, not to mention convenience. As the home evolves, bedrooms often get converted to offices or study rooms. With smartwiring in place, phone, fax, TV and computer points can be added to the room by the home owner in a matter of minutes.

Say goodbye to TV antennas, CD, DVDs and your local video store...

Research shows that data communications internet/email and integrated security/control are likely to increased in demand in the coming years. It is also acknowledged that Australians are among the world’s leaders in the take-up of emerging technologies. Having a Smartwired™ home means your house will be ready to take advantage of current and future internet based TV and Music systems like ABC TVs iView (www.abc.net.au/iview/) and the very popular Rhapsody music service which allows you to play music from a library of over 8 million songs. Say goodbye to poor TV reception and scratched CDs.....

Be careful who you contract to "Smart Wire" your home. Smart wiring requires special accreditation and licenses. Connect Multimedia are one of only two companies on the Sunshine Coast fully qualified to carry out this work. Some companies aren't even aware that these qualifications exist, let alone understand how to cable a house to the smart wired specification, but proudly advertise they can do Smart Wiring. Buyer beware!

If you'd like advice on how to smart wiring your home for music system, data, phones, Austar and free-to-air TV, contact us on 1300 884 200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we help give you a rough idea about what type of wiring you'll require for your project. If you like we can help design a system that right for you.

How to pre-wire your home

Are you building a new home or considering a remodel? If so, now is the best time to design your Audio, Video and Home Theatre system. A custom-installed home entertainment system will enhance your living space. The foundation of good design is the installation of a structured wiring system. Because wire is relatively cheap, but opening up existing walls to add additional wire is expensive, the ultimate, future-proof design strives to place non intrusive "data" or media access ports on several walls in each room of the house.

In this way, a clean media connection can be made regardless of how the decorations of the room change over time or even if the main purpose of the room changes. For example, guest rooms often become bedrooms or even home offices and the need for entertainment and data connections changes accordingly. With these connections economically installed during construction, there is no need to either attempt to run new wiring through existing walls or worse, run wires along the walls or under carpets.

The structured approach generally groups two coaxial connections and two Ethernet data/telephone connections at each access point and on a single wall plate. It also brings all of the connections back to a central cabinet or cupboard. This allows for the placement of a central hub that not only manages the interconnections between rooms but also provides a place to centrally store all of the digital content. The placement of a Media Centre PC and or storage device at the hub means that each member of the family can access TV, or any of their Music, Movies, Photos, spreadsheets/memos etc. from any room where there is a television or PC.

Aside from allowing anyone to access, this centralization, it also makes everything easier to manage. Most homeowners have their content scattered across many devices. MP3 music on a desktop computer in the bedroom, financial files on the PC in the office, CDs collecting dust in the living room or maybe stored in a CD changer. Some of this material is poorly protected from viruses and some of it is rarely used because of the inconvenience of the medium or its location. A central hub not only allows you to listen to your CDs throughout the house but it ensures that all your important files, songs etc. can be easily protected from viruses, power surges, equipment failures etc.

New construction also allows for the optimal design of the Home Theatre. The correct placement of the speakers within the room can have a tremendous effect on the overall sound quality and impact of the viewing experience. The flexibility of being able to design the Home Theatre from the ground up allows not only for correct speaker placement but the unobtrusive use of various acoustical materials to eliminate unwanted sound reflections and bright spots. This ensures that every seat in the room can enjoy the best possible experience. Finally, new construction often allows for the cost of the whole house Media system to be folded into the price of the overall project.

If you are seeking assistance in pre-wiring, system design and installation, please give us a call. Connect Multimedia has been involved in custom installation since 1989 and operating on the Sunshine Coast since 2006. We are a fully accredited Smart Wiring designer and installer.

Pre-wiring your new home is not expensive and adds value to your investment. If there is an area in the house (or outside) that you might desire Audio or Video, we recommend that it be pre-wired.

Click here to download "Whole House Wiring Basics" by impact acoustics. Or here to read a review on CAT 5 wired home networks.