Map your network
Drop data, Wi-Fi and camera points onto a building plan (upload your own, or use our sample) and we draw every cable run and size the switches & rack — or switch to List mode to type out each room and its points.
Pick a point type, tap to place · drag to move the cabinet
How your cabling powers the whole system
Structured cabling is the physical backbone every Homeview device runs on. Get it right and your cameras, alarm, access control and Wi-Fi all share one reliable network, managed from a single app.
One backbone for every device
AI cameras, Ajax alarm hubs, access readers and Wi-Fi access points all connect back to the same structured network, so the whole Homeview ecosystem stays fast, stable and easy to manage.
Power and data over one cable
PoE switches power cameras, access points and VoIP phones down the same cable that carries their data, so there is no need for a separate power supply or local socket at each device.
Reliable links for the single app
A certified wired backbone keeps every camera and device talking to the app and to one another, so verified clips, scenarios and status updates arrive without dropouts.
Built for camera-verified alarms
Solid PoE drops to each camera and Ajax hub keep verification and 24/7 ARC signalling flowing, so alarm events arrive with the video evidence that supports a police response.
What to consider before you cable
Good cabling is invisible when it works and expensive to redo when it does not. These are the things worth getting right at the design stage so the network supports you for years.
Choose Cat6A to future-proof
Cat6 handles today's needs, but Cat6A gives you headroom for 10G speeds and higher-power PoE++ devices, so the cabling outlasts the equipment plugged into it.
Respect the 90 m link limit
Each permanent cable run should stay within roughly 90 m from the cabinet to the outlet, leaving room for patch leads inside the 100 m channel. Longer reaches need a switch or fibre uplink partway.
Site the comms cabinet well
Put the cabinet somewhere cool, dry, accessible and close to mains power. Good ventilation and easy access make every future change, upgrade and fault-find far simpler.
Keep clear of mains interference
Route data cables away from mains power, fluorescent lighting and motors, and cross them at right angles where they must meet. Separation protects signal quality on every run.
Certify and test every termination
Each socket should be terminated to standard and tested with a certifier, not just plugged in and hoped for. Test results prove every link performs and give you a baseline for the future.
Label and document everything
Label both ends of every cable and keep a record of what connects where. Clear documentation turns a future fault or change from guesswork into a five-minute job.
Build in headroom to grow
Add a few spare data points, spare switch ports and spare cabinet space now. Pulling extra capacity during the first install costs a fraction of revisiting it later.
Plan your network backbone with us
Book a free survey and we'll design structured cabling sized for your building today and ready for everything you add tomorrow.
The boring infrastructure everything brilliant runs on
The designer above sketches data points and cabinet positions — but cabling is the one trade where doing it properly once beats doing it cheaply twice. Here's what professional structured cabling involves, and why it's the foundation under your cameras, Wi-Fi, phones and everything still to come.
Why Wi-Fi isn't a cabling strategy
Wireless is wonderful at the last three metres and miserable as a backbone: walls, interference and distance turn 'should work' into buffering and dropouts. A cabled point delivers full speed, every time, forever — and counter-intuitively, good cabling is what makes great Wi-Fi possible, because every access point needs a wired home run. Cable the building, then let Wi-Fi do what it's good at.
Cat6, Cat6A and doing it once
Category cable is cheap; installing it is the cost. That's why we design headroom in: Cat6 comfortably runs today's gigabit networks, Cat6A adds a path to 10-gigabit and drives PoE equipment with less heat over long runs. The right choice depends on distances, what's on the ends and how long you'll keep the building — a conversation we have at survey, not after the walls are closed.
One backbone for data, cameras, phones and doors
Modern buildings converge on the network: IP cameras, access control, VoIP phones, Wi-Fi and workstations all ride the same structured cabling, powered over the cable itself with PoE. Design it as one system and you pull cable once, power devices without local sockets, and add or move anything later by patching — not by calling anyone back with a drill.
Labelled, tested and handed over like it matters
The difference between professional cabling and a bundle of wires is what happens at the ends: a tidy cabinet, every run labelled at both ends, terminated to standard and tested — so the network is maintainable by whoever touches it next. We hand over documentation, not mysteries, and it's the reason our cabinets still make sense a decade on.
From first call to a patched, tested network
Free survey
We walk the building, count and place outlets around how spaces are used, plan containment routes and find the right home for the cabinet.
Design & quote
A written quotation with point counts, cable specification, switch and cabinet sizing — and the why behind each choice in plain English.
First fix
Containment and cable runs installed — the disruptive part, sequenced around your working hours where the building is occupied.
Second fix & testing
Outlets terminated, cabinet dressed and patched, every run tested and labelled, PoE budgets confirmed against what's plugged in.
Handover & growth
Documentation handed over and spare capacity left where you'll want it — adding the next camera or desk becomes a patch lead, not a project.
The things everyone asks about cabling
How disruptive is it in an occupied building?
First fix is the noisy part, and we plan it around you — out-of-hours, floor by floor or in school holidays for education sites. Containment routes are agreed in advance so there are no surprise holes.
Cat6 or Cat6A — what should I pick?
Cat6 serves most offices and homes handsomely; Cat6A earns its premium on long PoE runs, camera-heavy sites and anywhere flirting with 10-gigabit. We'll recommend per-run rather than upselling the whole building.
What is PoE and why does it matter?
Power over Ethernet sends electricity down the data cable, so cameras, access points, door readers and phones need no local socket. It halves installation cost for those devices and puts their power in the cabinet where it can be backed up.
Can you tidy up our existing cabinet?
Yes — remediation is a service in itself. We trace, test, label and re-dress existing installs, replace failed runs, and turn the cupboard nobody dares touch back into documented infrastructure.
How many points should a room have?
More than you think and cheaper than you fear: the expensive visit is the one for a single extra cable later. We design spare capacity into the count — desks, TVs, APs, cameras — while the walls are already open.
Does old cabling need replacing?
Not always. Testing tells the truth: sound Cat5e still carries gigabit for many uses. We test what exists, keep what passes, and target replacement where it actually limits you.
Will you certify and document the install?
Every run is tested and labelled at both ends, the cabinet is patched legibly, and you receive documentation of what goes where. It's the difference between infrastructure and archaeology.
Can it feed CCTV and door entry too?
Ideally it should — cameras, intercoms and readers are network devices now. One structured backbone feeding security and data is exactly how we design when we install both, and it's noticeably cheaper than parallel systems.
What does it cost?
Pricing follows point count, cable specification and how hard the routes are — which is what the designer above estimates. The survey turns it into a fixed written quote with no allowances left vague.
Planning works or an office move?
That's the moment cabling is cheapest. Sketch it above, then book the free survey and we'll design the backbone properly.
Frequently asked questions
A structured cabling project covers the design, installation and certification of a unified network backbone, typically Cat6 or Cat6A data cabling, network points, patch panels and a tidy comms cabinet. It also takes in Wi-Fi access point cabling and Power over Ethernet (PoE) runs so cameras, phones and access points draw both data and power from a single cable. Everything is planned around your floor plan and future needs, whether for a Clacton home office or a business across Essex and Suffolk.
Cat6 reliably supports gigabit speeds over standard distances and suits most homes and smaller offices. Cat6A is rated for 10-gigabit speeds across the full 100-metre run and offers better shielding, making it the stronger choice for larger premises, busy networks or any installation you want to future-proof. During the free survey the right grade is recommended for your building and usage rather than over-specifying.
Yes. Every data link is tested with calibrated equipment and you receive certification confirming each run meets the relevant Cat6 or Cat6A performance standards. As an SSAIB and BAFE approved installer established in 1997, work is carried out to recognised industry standards with neat cable management and clear labelling, so faults are easy to trace later.
Yes, that is one of the main advantages of structured cabling. PoE infrastructure lets a single cable deliver both data and power to 4K turret cameras, wireless access points and door entry systems, removing the need for separate power supplies. This makes it straightforward to add monitored CCTV, with 24/7 Alarm Receiving Centre cover and police response, onto the same network later.
Call 01255 436150 to arrange a free, no-obligation site survey at your home or business in Essex, Suffolk or Colchester, where requirements, cable routes and cabinet locations are assessed. You then receive a clear proposal, and finance is available to help spread the cost. Nationwide coverage is also offered for commercial cabling contracts.