Computer Network System Design

Modern living requires every dwelling to be connected to the internet so that computers can be interconnected. Even this has changed new televisions, blu-ray players, freeview and satellite boxes and other domestic appliances have internet connection requirements, another recent development is the tv services downloads; this complicates the computer network system installation. Where any fixed appliance requires a network connection then a network socket needs to be located locally to the appliance. A home office will require additional consideration as a room used as a home office will have a significantly higher number of network access points.

The first decision regarding the computer network system is whether the connections will be hard wired or wi-fi. As previously stated a property developer has no interest in doing a proper job the sole motive for their existance is profit, the cheapest installation is to provide none, thus when the dwelling is sold it leaves the new owner little choice but to utilise wi-fi. Wi-fi cannot be totally secure as with telephones that utilise radio signals the same comments apply, having made that statement it is also necessary to note that many tablet devices cannot be hard wired to a network and that a notebook computer is by its vary nature a mobile device and can connect to a network by either hard wire or wi-fi.

As with the other systems the client's brief will determine the computer network installation.

The locations of the computer network points should be shown on the client's drawings, if not then an allowance should be made for computer points in every room except the bath and shower rooms, points must also be located adjacent to those devices that require the ability to connect to the internet. Where a television and its periperal devices all require a network connection to enable those devices to connect to the internet then either one connection may be allowed for, so that a switch can be fitted to distribute the network to those devices requiring a network connection, or a network point per device. The network connection points can and usually will be co-located with the telephone outlet points. The cabling network will carry a number of diffent types of signals, where a home office is included there will be an office computer network, a general computer network, a device/appliance network and a telephone network either IP or PSTN.

In the previous paragraph mention was made of an office computer network, general computer network, device/appliance network and a telephone network; to manage these services effectively it makes sense to place each service on a separate network whilst retaining the flexibility of the common wiring system.

By wiring each network connection point back to a central point which has a patch panel together with the switches and routers required to control the network plus the IP-PBX where required, which should all be fitted into a 19 inch rack. The location of the rack should be where it is accessible to enable the patch cables to be installed and modified, obvious locations for the rack are either at high level within a garage or in the loft.