Another 'Digital Divide'

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Ghoop

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Topic # 8213 13-Jun-2006 17:51

Yea! The Telecom stranglehold is to be broken and we will see the dawn of a new age where real broadband services are available and New Zealand will onece again become the envy of the other OECD countries as we embrace the new technology and enjoy the benefits offered by the "digital lifestyle".......yeah, right!

Why am I so sceptical? Well the Government has been rabbiting on about the need for broadband deployment for a number of years and have finally plucked up the courage to do something about it. In the meantime however, the building industry continues to build houses with the technology infrastructure from last century. The owners of these homes will have great difficulty in using the new services afforded by broadband technology. (VOIP, video VOIP, IPTV, etc.)

Today I had the opportunity to inspect a new display home being built in Porirua. This home would be in the $500K bracket I guess.
I was astonished to note that there was no provision for a data network....nada...nothing. Furthermore, the cabling that was installed for TV reticulation made no allowance for flat screen (wall mounted) technology.

So my question is.....if broadband is so pivotal to the health and well being of the nation, why hasn't the Government encouraged the building industry to get with the program?

My rant for the day.

JAMMAN2110

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Reply # 38420 13-Jun-2006 19:03

I am in full agreement with you Ghoop!
The truth being even if the ... you know what I wont bother typing that all out, ITS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN anyway :(

numfarr

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Reply # 38425 13-Jun-2006 20:11

Homes Of The Future will be using most if not all of those services on wireless devices, surely? Apart from the TV cable obv.

Ghoop

22 posts

Geek

Reply # 38426 13-Jun-2006 20:33

A common misconception that needs to be stamped on. Wifi is great for some things but when you are trying to move a DVD over your network while carrying out a VoIP video conference call, and your kids are streaming music to other areas of the house, the Wifi network is not going to do the business.
So use wire for your infrastructure if you want to fully realise the benefits of broadband services. Use the WiFi to fill the gaps, provide some in home mobility and as a control pathway.
Cheers

bcourtney

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Reply # 38428 13-Jun-2006 21:06

I have several clients in property development whom specifically choose NOT to install data cabling throughout their properties for the very reason that it adds yet another panel on the wall that needs to be hidden/disguised for aesthetic reasons and also means you become restricted in the layout of rooms with furniture etc unless you want cabling running over the floor!

WiFi technology is more than capable of allowing you to "fully realise the benefits of broadband services", even with the expected speeds of TC's NGN in place. So I'd have to agree with numfarr on this point. Streaming video over 108mbps wireless hasn't been that bad in my experience...

You are right though in suggesting that something be done from a government perspective with respect to digitally enabling new homes. Have you ever had your average sparky implement the data network in a new home for you? I have had experiences with about half a dozen or so in several cities around NZ and it's been an absolute nightmare - the just don't understand the way it all works. So maybe the industry needs to develop some training in this area. Otherwise new home owners will need to employ yet another contractor (specialist data cabler) on top of everybody else they have in the process of building and fitting out their new home - not cheap and a disincentive to go down this path.

numfarr

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Reply # 38437 14-Jun-2006 00:43

Apparently there was a "Smart Wired" project started in 2004 by suppliers and electrical contractors to promote smart wiring and train builders and sparks.

There doesn't seem to be much mention of it since then, although the .au site they mention is still going. Perhaps a bit ahead of its time?

Ghoop

22 posts

Geek

Reply # 38442 14-Jun-2006 08:27

Ah yes, the cable quagmire.
In my view, the whole point of integrating technology into the home is to make it "seamless". ie. hide all wires and make the technology as unobtrusive as possible. Unfortunately this does mean that the builder (or owner) has to do some detailed design to decide what equipment is going where, what cable requirements exist etc. This is a reasonably complex exercise and best undertaken by someone with experience in this area. Property developers and builders et al. should consider the technology deployment to be similar to kitchen design. (i.e. get a specialist to design it)

WiFi is not the answer to an integrated technology solution, although it will be certainly part of the package.

Some sparkys are knowledgable in this area I'm sure, by the vast majority are still uninformed.

antoniosk

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Reply # 38476 14-Jun-2006 13:50

Given the fragility of ethernet cable, this stuff would need to be laid to "CAT5 certified". As I've discovered, certification has to do with how the cable is laid and not where you bought it from...

In my house I have a Garage, 2 living areas, 2 porchs, 4 bedrooms, 1 toilet, 1 kitchen, 1 laundry and 1 stairwell.

Or as I count it, a need for 12-18 individual quality protected ethernet lines. All coming back to one place for the 'switch room'. Need for power and ventilation, and hiding the gear from view.

Don't even add in Coax requirements if you want to discuss Cable in Wellington and Christchurch.

So, is it worth adding between $5-$10k and 2 weeks work to the cost of a house, when the service will most probably not be used?

I'm sure the industry could improve on things and make installation cheaper and faster. It would be a good idea, but new home owners bear the cost.

And what do the other 99% of the country do?