QuestionI'm just preparing to install structured wiring (copper) in a new house. The walls are all open, so it's now or never for a clean & easy install. FTTH is coming in the next few years, so I'm wondering if I should make any provisions for fiber optic IN the house.
I understand that they'll interface OK with my copper when it happens - but I'm trying to future-proof the place for 10 - 20 years. What do you think will happen when everybody has FTTH? Will we have to upgrade our in-the-walls cabling?
I'm going to a lot of trouble to get my wiring inside the walls. Most rooms have multiple low voltage drops. I'll be really annoyed if I end up snaking new cables around the edge of the rooms in a few years! I know we can't know the future - I'd just like to improve my odds a little.
What would you do in my position?
I know this is a bit off-topic, so feel welcome to direct me to a more appropriate place for this post.
AnswerIf you have the means to outfit your home with optical, I'm not going to say "don't do it". Future proofing is a tricky thing, especially the way the technology is advancing. My best advice would be to utilize conduits as much as possible to accomodate the possibility of having to "re-snake" cabling. Optical cabling isn't required (as far as I can tell) to be permanently secured in the way that power cabling is (romex, etc...). This also goes for any other cabling, be it audio/video interconnects, ethernet, HDMI, etc.
Having one or more 1.5 to 2" tubes with your low level wiring can be a godsend when it comes to installs, removals, and repairs. One thing to make sure of is to have enough space in the conduits. Never fill them more than 50%, or you'll start running into issues getting cables in & out of them.
I hope this helps you out a bit.
