Wired vs. Wireless Home Automation
Both hard-wired and wireless home automation systems are available. Early in the planning phase, you should decide which makes the most sense for you. Structured wiring consists of cables that get snaked through the walls of your house with outlets in convenient locations. The only wire involved with wireless technology is the power cord.
Since wireless technology can be susceptible to interference, most people in the home automation industry agree that structured wiring is more reliable. Structured wiring is more expensive to install, and once it's in, it's difficult to move if you decide you want a different access point for the control panel or touch screens.
Given the choice, most professionals will choose wired technology for home automation, simply because of its reliability. The best time to install the structured wiring needed is during the initial building of a home or during a big remodeling project that will expose the walls anyway. Currently, CAT-5 or CAT-6 networking cable is what is being used. If you run the cable to all the rooms in the house, then it's easy to add components on to the system at a later date (without tearing open the walls).
If you don't have any major renovations planned in the near future, wireless technology will probably prove more cost efficient for you. Though it may not be the preferred choice, advances in the technology are making it more reliable all the time.
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