By John Ward
Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric
www.applewoodfixit.com

Modern computer and home-entertainment equipment does things and produces sights and sounds that are truly something to behold. But one key component often gets too little attention when people are setting up their equipment - the wiring.

Whether you're installing new equipment, upgrading what you already have or buying for a child heading off to college, here are some things to consider about wiring:

· Make sure your cable or DSL router has enough switched ports for all of your equipment. If you're buying a new router, it almost certainly has switched ports. Some older "hubs" have unswitched ports. If you have one, consider replacing it. With unswitched ports, all the data running through the hub goes to every device on the network. Switched ports direct data to the device it's intended for, ignoring the rest. The benefit? More speed and fewer problems from data "collisions" on your network.

· When considering how many ports you need, keep your entertainment system in mind as well as your computer network. An increasing number of home-entertainment systems require network interfaces to stream video from the Internet or MP3 and video files from a home-network server.

· Think ahead when buying Ethernet cable. We recommend Cat 5e or Cat 6, which will handle the ultra-fast network speeds that will soon be standard as home-entertainment devices join computers in connecting to the Internet.

· Keep cables away from electric or magnetic fields that can interfere with performance.

· Keep cables out of reach by pets and small children. Some pets will bite into cables - not good for the pet or the cable. And small children love to pull on things, which can lead to big problems from small hands.

· Consider connections to your home-entertainment system as well as networked computers when deciding where to install your cabling. Even if you don't need to do it yet, some day you'll want to be able to connect all these devices.

· As home entertainment systems and computer networks become more sophisticated, the wiring that connects everything together has become more complex as well. If you plan to tackle the job yourself, in store electronics professionals can advise you on what you'll need and how to install it. Or you may want to consider having your home-electronics wiring done by a professional. We can help you make the right choices.

· Twisted Ethernet wires must be trimmed close to the punch-down point to ensure adequate protection from stray electrical signals;

· Jacks should be mounted firmly into the wall or patch panel;

· Cables should not be bent severely or crushed beneath over-tight cable ties; otherwise, wires may be broken inside the insulation which, in turn, creates invisible defects.

· Make sure every wire, connection jack or fixture is labeled in a legible, accessible way. Label everything at both ends of the connection and adopt a concise naming schematic. Having to trace and hunt down wires when during network service can take time, which costs you money and perhaps downtime during migrations or upgrades.

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(John Ward has owned and operated Applewood Plumbing Heating & Electric for more than 34 years. He is a master plumber and recognized as an industry leader for his knowledge and ethical business practices.)