So I have done a few prewires in the past few months.
I usually include the following:


TV locations: several Cat6 and Coax
Speakers: Several 16/4 & 16/2 depending on application, Vol Ctrl, etc.
Keypads: Cat6 throughout the house for Savant, Control4, etc.
Alarm wiring. 22/2, 22/4, etc. (smokes, motion, keypads, contacts, etc)
Camera: Cat6, (a few siamese if customer wants analog).
Network/WAP's: Cat6 at various locations.
Phone: Cat6


Those are the general purposes for wiring and thats all that customers ask for.

Am I missing anything?? Maybe there are additional purposes that I am not aware of or missing?

But generally, its TV, Speakers, keypads, alarm, camera, network and phone.

What are you guys prewiring for?

Just thought I'd see what others are doing these days...

Thanks!

How are you getting audio back from your TV's?
Digital over coax?
Using optical / ARC via HD BaseT?

At this point customers are not asking for it, but you should be pulling optical fiber to every display and data cluster. Over the long haul I think that fiber will be cheaper and more effective than copper.

A few other applications to consider:

- touch screens
- motorized shades
- door stations / doorbells
- garage door control
- ZAPS (for Control4)
- misc control (fireplace, pool, etc.)

And, of course, cables (cat6, coax, fiber) to bridge from the demarcation point to the rack.

Also, conduit at key locations.

A few basement to attic runs of coax and a CAT5 or two never hurts for dish and antenna, or even a conduit. That way if additional wiring of any type is need to a room on the second floor it’s a piece of cake.

I forgot to add that I do wire for shade control. Either a Cat6 for POE shades or some 16/2 for powered shades. I add a Cat6 for fireplace control. I do put in a Cat6 for Intercom (ie: DoorBird, etc).

I will start to install fiber tho... That is a great suggestion.

Thanks Guys !!

What about some smurf tube?

On the shades in bedrooms you might want to consider a 16/4. If you end up with a dual roller for sheer and blackout you can power them separately.

BTW, I never run a single cat6 anywhere. Cameras, waps, zaps, touch screens, door stations, fireplaces, etc. all get a spare. This has not only saved my ass due to cable failure, but has also saved the day when needing an extra cable for unplanned use down the line.

We ran an RG11 from the side of the house to the can for antenna distribution on our last rough-in. Couldn't put in on the roof due to very strict height limitations.

We're using 1 1/4" smurf anywhere we think we might need something in the future.

We're starting to run a dedicated cat from displays to head end for ARC.

My sales guy pushes fiber. I'll go with it, but I don't see the point. I think it's the exception, not the rule.