ᐅ New Construction: Internet and TV Connection and Wiring

For the TV, both options work; it’s up to you. However, an empty conduit with cables installed at the top will be more cost-effective than having separate outlets installed there.

Hello,

Here is a suggestion on how it could be done based on the drawing.

Guest room = 2 connections as a double socket with modular jack
Living / Dining = 4 connections as a double socket with modular jack
Hallway = 1 connection as a ceiling outlet for an access point, powered via PoE adapter. Connection using modular jack or field-configurable plug
Gallery = Same as hallway
Child 1 = 2 connections as a double socket with modular jack
Child 2 = Same as Child 1
Bedroom = Same as Child 1

What might also be of interest:
Network connection for video door system
Network connection for doorbell gong
Network connection in the kitchen
Outdoor network connections
Network connections for cameras

Improvement suggestion:
I would place the access point in the hallway centrally between the living/dining area and kitchen. You spend more time there than in the hallway, and the hallway would then be served through the access point in the gallery on the upper floor.

According to the drawing, 14 cables would lead to the utility room.
An additional port on the switch will be needed for the router (e.g., Fritzbox or Speedport).
How old are your children / do they already need network connections?

At full occupancy, you would need at least 15 connections, so the next common switch size would be a 16-port switch.
Are there any other devices you would like to connect to the network via cable? Examples might include a printer, central data storage, a system like Sonos, smart home system, etc.

If it were my plan, I would buy a 24-port switch right away to have enough free ports available for future expansions.
On the other hand, you could start with a smaller switch and upgrade or replace it later if needed.

It is difficult for me to give a specific hardware recommendation, as it depends partly on your technical experience and, of course, how much you want to spend.

dhd82 schrieb:
Hello,

here is a suggestion on how it could be done based on the drawing.

Guest = 2 ports as a double socket with modular jacks
Living / Dining = 4 ports as a double socket with modular jacks
Hallway = 1 port as a ceiling outlet for an access point, powered via POE adapter. Connection via modular jack or field-installable plug
Gallery = same as Hallway
Child 1 = 2 ports as a double socket with modular jacks
Child 2 = same as Child 1
Bedroom = same as Child 1

What might also be interesting:
Network connection for video door system
Network connection for door chime
Network connection in kitchen
Network connections outside
Network connections for cameras

Improvement suggestion:
I would place the access point in the hallway more centrally between the living/dining area and kitchen.
You spend more time there than in the hallway, and the hallway access point will then serve the gallery on the upper floor.

According to the drawing, 14 cables would run to the utility room.
An additional port on the switch is needed for the router (e.g., Fritzbox or Speedport).
How old are your children / do they already need network connections?

With full occupancy, you would need at least 15 ports, so the next common switch size would be a 16-port switch.
Are there other devices you want to integrate via wired network? Examples could be
a printer, central data storage, a system like SONOS, smart home system... etc.

If it were my plan, I would buy a 24-port switch right away to have enough free ports for future upgrades.
On the other hand, you can start with a smaller switch and upgrade or replace it if needed.

It’s hard for me to give a specific hardware recommendation, as it depends partly on your technical experience and of course on how much you want to spend.

Thank you very much for your suggestions!
I wouldn’t call my experience such... I certainly wouldn’t trust myself to do all the wiring and installation on my own. As mentioned, electrical work is part of the contract, but depending on the hardware and effort, we will of course pay quite a bit for it.

We don’t have children yet. It will be quite some time before they actually need the connections. But you never know, maybe one of the children’s rooms will initially be used as an office.

Regarding other necessary connections, I still lack a clear picture. Outside (garden shed / terrace) also seems important. Video surveillance is not really a topic at the moment. Door chime? Why would my doorbell need internet?
The printer will probably be centrally located in the study. Is a cable really necessary there? The Wi-Fi signal should easily be strong enough—especially with the access points—to send a print job down from the upper floor, right?! Of course, if there’s an available port in the socket, it could have one.

SONOS sounds good. Although I would find it odd to wire every single speaker. Besides the power cable, the LAN cable would also need to be concealed reasonably.

I don’t really understand the preference for double outlets. We have them in our rental apartment as well, and there are basically two situations: The outlet is used by exactly one device (e.g., bedroom) or by significantly more than two devices (e.g., study). In the first case, I don’t need them anyway; in the second, a small switch is connected to one of the two outlets.

Am I missing something?

A single-gang box requires the same effort as a double-gang box, with the only difference being that the cable is doubled. So why choose just one when you can basically get two at no extra cost?

Today, you might have only one device connected there, but tomorrow it could be two. Also, as you suggested, this helps avoid switches inside the boxes. Switches result in higher power consumption and potentially lower data transfer rates.

So why limit yourself from the start if you still have the option?

I think the basic layout is quite good. I would add a network outlet in the kitchen, but I guess that’s open for debate. On the ground floor, I would move the countertop between the kitchen and living room. In the living room near the TV, install two double outlets; if there’s already an office planned somewhere, put two double outlets there as well; for the rest, one double outlet each. (I would always go for double outlets since no additional outlet space is needed.)

Since you’re having a patch panel and network outlets installed, go with whatever your electrician is familiar with. But make sure to have a classic cabling system installed, and don’t let anyone push you into systems like Homeway or Datalight. As for switches, I currently have a favorite: the Zyxel GS1900-24E – a smart managed switch that usually costs around €90.

Be careful with the conduit from the TV down to other devices like a PS4; it needs to be quite thick since HDMI connectors also have to pass through it. I saw a picture somewhere here where a 50mm (2 inch) conduit was used. I would also place a power outlet directly behind the TV.

One other question: We’re throwing around network outlets here. How much does a double outlet cost you? Have you asked? Network outlet on the ceiling – does your house builder do this? Just putting it out there.