The incoming telephone lines are wired to an "Control Hub" and then star wired to all points require around the house. The type of cable used should meet CAT5 e standards or better.

Most families now have more than one PC. Networking your home PC's means you can share PC resources, Printers, Scanners and Internet Access. The network should be wired with CAT5e cable or better, the same as your telephone system. Typically these cables are run back to the same "Control Hub".

It is not unusual for families now to have multiple TV's so you need to consider running video cables to most rooms. By installing a structured video system it is possible to watch satellite TV or DVD anywhere in the house without resorting to buy multiple satellite receivers or DVD players. This also facilitates using CCTV cameras in any room of the house so a sick relative or child can be monitored without actually being in the room. Typically these cables again will be run back to the "Control Hub".

Alarm / Access Control systems can be built to suit your specifications. This includes perimeter detection, area-zoned detection, panic button, and medical assist. If the perimeter of the house is to monitored (ie Front Gate / Driveway Gate) then the cables will need to be buried which needs to be performed before any concrete is poured for paths / driveways. Basic alarm systems use motion detection within the house, the problem with this is that the intruder must already be in the house to trigger an alarm! If the sensors are going to fasten to doors then the best time for this is to have the cable run through the wall before the wallboard is installed. Again, if it is wired back to the "Control Hub" it becomes easy to integrate it with other systems at this point.

From the above it will be fairly obvious that the Control Hub will become the heart of your house. The Control Hub will need to be accessible for easy re-configuration and yet still need to be reasonably secure, especially if it also houses your "Alarm System". There will be electronic equipment operating within the Hub so mains power will need to be available. There will be a large number of cables running to the Control Hub. Where to place the hub is an important matter you will need to discuss with your designer / builder. Accessible but not too accessible. Placing it in your hot water closet could cause over heating problems and placing it on the garage wall may leave it too accessible.
While most hubs will mount in, or on the wall of average homes, it is not unusual in large homes to find a purpose built room complete with carpeting, lighting and air-conditioning. If you are installing whole house audio, then you do not need access to the amplifier because the controls will be available around the house. If the house is fully automated then there is likely to be a dedicated PC controlling some of it. This equipment can be kept out of harms way by having it in this location.

If you only have a pokey little hole to place this equipment into then we do have access to equipment racks that are specifically designed to meet this need.

NZ Telecom : Voicing concern that new homes are not being wired to meet future multimedia requirements (Note: NGN stands for Next Generation Network)