Well ‘Smart Wiring’ is really a generic term that covers anything from control of home automation, to high speed data services. Probably the best descriptions is to talk about ‘Hard Wired’ and ‘Wireless’ components with a well set up new home using both.
A typical modern home can now have multiple laptops, tablets, smart phones, network enabled gaming consoles, network printers and many simpler devices that can all use a wireless network. You will also find media streaming devices such as media centre PC’s designed to plug into your TV/Theatre for music and photos.
Entertainment, including; HD video, surround sound and gaming applications requires speed and integrity of signal. Wireless can struggle to deliver the required signal, especially when multiple applications are occurring simultaneously.
Hard Wiring
The thing that makes your wiring ‘Smart’ is a main router served by the incoming connection from the street. From the main router individual cables run on separate circuits to each room that you want to serve. A separate cable should be used to serve the Wireless Router is you want to locate it away from the main router.
The main router should be kept away from extremes of heat so is best located in a cupboard rather than the garage.
I would suggest you use Category 6 cable, which has 8 wires and can carry a 1 gigabit/sec. The wiring can be used for distributing a phone line to rooms and sending video signals from room to room.
Wireless
Wireless router speeds have improved over the past few years, so its probably worth getting a new router rather than moving your existing unit to your new house.
Although your ISP controls how fast your Internet connection delivere, a faster speed router does help with the internal network performance. This is important with multiple devices accessing the wireless simultaneously.
Costs
Expect to pay around $120 per data point, so it’s going to be cheaper to buy a $50 ‘switch’ to run multiple devices in one room than have multiple points.
Adding smart wiring to a 2 storey house after the build will be difficult.
If you are building a single storey house it should be relatively easy to add smart wiring after the build. In that case it may be worth getting a price from a specialist installer before your Selection/Pre-Start Meeting.
For more posts about getting the details right see Selection
More Electrical Planning including 24 pages of Check Lists in the ‘Selection / Pre-Start Guide’