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Saturday 16 December 2023

Homes need to be built for better internet

 Improved internet requires the construction of suitable homes.

Many homes are being constructed, yet inadequate knowledge of internet infrastructure and a desire to reduce expenses result in subpar connectivity.

Written by Joanna Nelius

On December 8th, 2023 at 7:00 PM GMT+5 there were a total of 79 comments and all of them were new.

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The Verge illustration credited to Sisi Kim.

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Constructing for the future

Up until a couple of months ago, my dwelling lacked the modern conveniences that characterize smart homes constructed within the past five years. The allure of symmetrical 1GB fiber internet at an advantageous $100 price point proved too great to resist in comparison to my prior apartment's asymmetrical cable service providing half-speed for equivalent cost. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous setbacks during its setup comparable to those faced by a hurdler on track and field day – from missing gateway ports necessary for fiber connectivity to frustratingly intermittent robot vacuum connections whenever cleansing tasks took place beyond close proximity with our router through no fault of its own despite costing over $1,000! Only thanks largely due ethernet ports affixed throughout each room combined with exceptional performance exhibited by Asus gaming routers was relief granted and misery avoided thus far; sadly lacking recourse remains regarding constricting cabling reminiscent enough resembling dread-inducing Lovecraftian deities challenging sanity behind metal panel secured deep inside closet disturbing more often than not every plausible technological workaround attempted going forward it seems...

Recent discoveries reveal that relying solely on Wi-Fi is not enough to power the "smart homes of the future" due to our use of inexpensive and fast construction materials. Although engineering and architecture firms have begun incorporating ethernet wiring into their building blueprints, this only marks the beginning of a home's digital infrastructure. Unfortunately overlooked are both appropriate placement for pre-built internet hubs within structures, as well as utilizing proper materials during construction processes.

Let me give an example using my new home which features an "internet hub". All the ethernet and coax cables were inserted through the walls and end at a specific nook where cable and fiber enter into the house. The modem/router provided by our ISP is kept inside this designated space, covered with a flimsy metal plate securely screwed onto each corner of the wall.

According to a recent blog post by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), prioritizing the development of superior digital infrastructure over fixing physical infrastructure would lead to better long-term economic growth, national security, competitiveness, and environmental benefits. As part of this effort, ITIF recommends installing wired Gigabit fiber internet in buildings and residences while also considering materials that minimize obstruction of Wi-Fi signals.

Multiple architects, civil engineers and project managers in Orange and Los Angeles counties unanimously agreed that materials capable of penetrating Wi-Fi signals are not typically taken into account unless the structure is large enough to be an office building or warehouse. In such cases, telecom technicians may be called upon primarily for wiring purposes. However, these professionals have discovered that construction costs can be reduced significantly by incorporating ethernet wiring during residential building projects.

To improve internet connectivity, it is necessary to construct homes with better infrastructure.

Many homes are under construction, however due to insufficient knowledge about internet infrastructure and the desire to reduce expenses, they lack reliability when it comes to internet connectivity.

For the first few months, I hadn't experienced living in a modern "smart home" that was constructed within the last five years. The availability of symmetrical 1GB fiber internet at $100 enticed me as it provided better value than my previous apartment's 500Mbps asymmetrical cable plan. However, setting up this new system proved to be an uphill battle riddled with obstacles similar to those encountered by track and field hurdlers- such problems ranged from missing fiber gateway port issues to losing connection when robot vacuums tried cleaning too far from routers (one costing around $1k). Fortunately, having ethernet ports available throughout all rooms helped make things easier along with using off-the-shelf Asus gaming router models; unfortunately though there remains one persisting issue: behind a metal plate covering what seems like a never-ending bundle of cables lurks something resembling Cthulhu which continues driving most - if not all -of my frustrations even now & going forward!

New research reveals that relying on Wi-Fi alone is not sufficient for powering the "smart homes of the future" due to our long-standing practice of using inexpensive and rapid building materials. Even though more engineering and architecture firms have started incorporating ethernet wiring into their plans, this still constitutes only a portion of a home's digital infrastructure. The placement location as well as construction material used for pre-built internet hubs are frequently overlooked factors to be considered.

At ankle level, behind a metal plate in the wall is undoubtedly the ideal location for placing a router. Joanna Nelius / The Verge's image depicts this setup perfectly.

My new home serves as a prime example with its innovative feature, an "internet hub." All ethernet and coax cables in the walls lead to a specific nook, which is also where cable and fiber enter. The internet service provider's provided modem/router occupies this particular alcove covered by a shaky metal plate secured on each corner of the wall through screws.

Thanks to my career as a tech journalist, I'm fortunate enough to possess the know-how needed to troubleshoot problems on my own. However, for many people out there, setting up an internet system is like trying to decipher a foreign language. Not everyone has this particular skill set in their repertoire and it can turn moving into a new place from exciting into stressful - particularly if you work remotely and rely upon reliable access the web in order earn income.

In order to prevent our homes from consuming Wi-Fi signals, companies must assume the expense of selecting materials that can better penetrate through Wi-Fi or refrain from placing fiber connection points directly inside walls.

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