Why wired still matters
Mesh wi-fi is sold as the answer to a poor signal, and in a small flat it is. In a house with solid walls, a loft conversion and a garden office, the thing that actually fixes coverage is cable.
A mesh node that has to talk back to the router wirelessly loses a large part of its throughput doing so. The same node with a network cable behind it performs as it should. The single most effective home network improvement is usually one Cat6 run to where the second access point sits.
- Cat6 to the rooms that matter — office, television, games consoles
- Cabling to ceiling positions for wireless access points, which is far better than a plug-in extender
- A sensible central position for the router, switch and patching, rather than wherever the incoming line happens to arrive
- Runs to garden offices in the same trench as the power
Television and AV
Most of what makes a wall-mounted television look good is decided before it goes on the wall.
- Power and data behind the screen, so nothing trails down the wall
- Conduit run for HDMI, so a cable can be replaced when the standard changes again
- Speaker cable run at first fix where ceiling or wall speakers are planned
- Aerial and satellite distribution to the rooms that need it
The one thing worth doing even if you are not sure: run a length of conduit behind the television position. It costs very little at first fix and saves opening a wall later.
Smart home, honestly
Smart lighting and controls are worth having when they solve a real problem, and a nuisance when they are fitted for their own sake. Our position is straightforward.
- We install the wiring, switching and control gear, and set up lighting control
- We will always leave a system that works manually — a light should turn on from the wall when the internet is down
- We do not take on whole-house integration across a dozen platforms; where that is what you want, you need a specialist integrator and we will say so
We have been wiring data and AV alongside electrical work for years. The strength here is that it is planned together with the power, at the same time, by the same firm.
Common questions
Can you run network cable without lifting all the floors?
Usually. There's normally a route through voids, a cupboard or an existing riser. We'll tell you what's possible before making a mess finding out.
Is Cat6 worth it over Cat5e?
For a new installation, yes. The cost difference is small and the cable will be in the wall for twenty years.
Can you improve my wi-fi?
Often, and usually by cabling rather than by adding more wireless. One hard-wired access point in the right ceiling beats three plug-in extenders.
Do you set up the equipment as well?
We install and cable, and we'll get access points and lighting control working. Whole-house integration across multiple platforms is a specialist job and we'll tell you if that's what you need.
Should I do this during a rewire?
Absolutely. Running data at first fix while the floors are up costs a fraction of retrofitting it later.
Can you get power and data to a garden office?
Yes, in the same trench. It's much cheaper to do both at once than to dig twice.
