ᐅ Lighting and Electrical Planning in New Construction

Ok, since several experts are involved, here is the question:
In our house, we want to install one WiFi access point per floor, even though the construction is partly open plan. On the ground floor (GF), I would have the router, and on the upper floor (UF) another access point connected to this router (I’m simplifying the terms here to avoid confusion). We won’t have LAN connections except for a cable from the router on the GF to the access point on the UF.

Option a) Use the existing Fritzbox on the GF and what would be a suitable model for the UF?
Option b) What would be a practical, straightforward solution for WiFi throughout the house for a typical user?

The utility room is located in a corner of the house and is enclosed by 17.5cm (7 inch) brick walls. Can the router be placed there, or is it better in the hallway or an open area?

If we don’t want a satellite dish, what is currently a reasonable option to watch standard TV channels such as ARD, Kabel1, and other stations? Or is there a reasonably attractive and practical satellite solution?
Sorry @Hendrik1980 for the interruption, but maybe you’re interested in this as well.

Hendrik1980 schrieb:

Very good question! I’m still not sure if I can/want to afford KNX. That obviously has a major impact on the choice of switches!

Of course you want it, you just don’t realize it yet. Why not share what you already know about it and what your wishes and needs are?

pagoni2020 schrieb:

The utility room is located in a corner of the house and is enclosed by 17.5cm (7 inches) brick walls. Can the router be placed there, or is it better in the hallway/open area?

It’s the same for us (currently and going forward). That’s why there’s no Wi-Fi transmitter there 😉 Instead, we have a central access point (hallway) on each floor. These are, of course, connected by cable to the utility room. Depending on the size and layout of the house, you might even need a second transmitter if good 5 GHz coverage is important to you.

As for TV, we now only use streaming services like Magenta, Waipu, etc. However, we’ll have to see if this remains the case long-term or if we switch to using the individual providers’ apps (ARD, etc.) instead.

Oh, regarding the specific models, it depends a bit. AVM is quite easy to configure and offers good German-language support. If you are comfortable with the model selection and already use a Fritz!Box, that would be the simplest option, despite the disadvantages mentioned here, which might not be an issue for you.

Otherwise, very affordable options are devices from China, either no-name brands or TP-Link. For professionals, companies like Dell, Cisco, Juniper, and others are suitable. Somewhere in between are Ubiquiti, Zyxel, Netgear, and similar. I have been using Mikrotik for years and am satisfied, but the devices are not necessarily beginner-friendly. 😉 However, the price-to-performance ratio is right.

pagoni2020 schrieb:

Option b) what would be a more down-to-earth, easy-to-implement solution for WiFi throughout the house for a "regular user"

For a long time, Ubiquiti was basically the standard for "better WiFi in home networks." However, nowadays it is relatively expensive for comparable equipment (so more suitable if you want solid devices but not necessarily the top model, or if cost is not a major concern). Many features for little money are offered, for example, by TP-Link and Grandstream access points. The "professional" network vendors like Cisco, HP, Juniper are, in my opinion, unnecessary for private use.
For private purposes, I would make sure to avoid anything that can only be operated via the cloud or subscription licenses.

pagoni2020 schrieb:

The utility room is located in a corner of the house and is enclosed by 17.5cm (7 inches) brick walls. Can the router be placed there, or is it better in the hallway/open area?

It’s fine to leave it in the utility room. Together with a home server, if you have one, and KNX technology. The main thing is to place it somewhere where small children can’t press colorful glowing buttons (from my experience over the last few years) 😀

Mycraft schrieb:

Of course you want that, you just don’t know it yet. Tell us what you already know about it and what your wishes or needs are.

Yes, of course I want that! You’re probably right! ;-) So far, I have studied the basics, both through books and here in the forum. Although I have already convinced my wife of the benefits of installing KNX, from my perspective, a KNX installation is somewhat of a luxury compared to other parts of building a house.

I’m wondering whether and how I can find an electrician who doesn’t immediately charge a 100% markup when they hear the word KNX. Up to now, we have budgeted 20,000€ for the electrical installation. My current question is whether it’s possible to have a basic KNX installation done with a 30-50% surcharge, which can then be gradually expanded together with the electrical contractor over the coming years. Initially, the priority should be on the central bus wiring. I want to be able to control lighting, some power outlets, blinds, and later also heating and ventilation through this system. I don’t need visualization right now. Scenes can be added later.

Is this a reasonable plan? Is 20,000€ even realistic for the planned standard installation? How do I find the right partner here in this rural area? So far, I have only approached companies that are familiar with bus systems.