Network Planning
Network drop locations for the garage, supporting workshop, office, home theater, and future apartment conversion.
Infrastructure
- 2” PVC conduit from house to garage (10GbE fiber planned)
- Network cabinet in mechanical room
- Smurf tubing (ENT) throughout both floors for cable management
Main Floor Drops (10-11 total)
Mechanical Room (Network Hub)
- 2 drops - Network switch, NVR/server
- Distribution point; all runs terminate here
- Small rack or structured media panel
Lift Bay Area
- 2 drops near lift column area
- Use: Diagnostic scan tools, alignment equipment, laptop
- Located near the 20A outlets planned for lift bay
Workbench Area
- 2-3 drops at 48” height with workbench outlets
- Use: Desktop computer, 3D printer, diagnostic equipment
- One drop under bench for hidden equipment
Garage Door Camera Drops
- 3 drops - One per bay, routed to soffit/eave
- Use: PoE cameras covering driveway + side approaches
- Route conduit to exterior before drywall
Main Floor Wireless AP
- 1 drop ceiling-mounted, center of floor
- Use: PoE wireless AP for main floor coverage
- Location: Between bays 2 and 3 for balanced coverage
Loft Drops (12-16 total)
Office Area (Near Dormer Window)
- 3-4 drops at desk height
- Use: Desktop/workstation, dual monitors, docking station, VoIP phone
- Wall plate with 4 ports + 2 coax for flexibility
Home Theater Wall (Full AV Setup)
- 4-6 drops behind entertainment center
- Use: Smart TV, AV receiver, gaming console(s), streaming box, NAS access
- Low-voltage bracket with 6-port plate + 2 coax
- Conduit to ceiling for future projector option
Loft Wireless AP
- 1 drop ceiling-mounted
- Use: PoE AP for loft coverage
- Location: Central ceiling for theater/office coverage
Loft Camera Drops (Rear Coverage)
- 2 drops routed to rear dormers/eaves
- Use: PoE cameras covering backyard/rear approach
- Complements front-facing garage door cameras
Future Apartment Infrastructure
- 2-3 drops in likely kitchen/bath area
- Use: Smart appliances, future streaming, in-wall tablet
- Pull cable now while walls are open
Camera Coverage
| Location | Coverage Area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bay 1 soffit | Driveway approach | Main entry view |
| Bay 2/3 corner | Side yard | Covers walk door side |
| Opposite corner | Other side approach | Full perimeter |
| Rear dormer 1 | Backyard left | Loft exterior |
| Rear dormer 2 | Backyard right | Loft exterior |
Total: 5 camera drops
Smurf Tubing Strategy
Run initial cables through smurf tubing for protection and future expandability.
Tubing Sizes
| Size | Capacity | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4” ENT | 3-4 Cat6A | Single drops, camera runs |
| 1” ENT | 5-8 Cat6A | Multi-drop areas (theater, office) |
| 1-1/4” ENT | 10-12 Cat6A | Main trunk from mechanical room |
Layout Strategy
- Main trunks (1” or 1-1/4”): Mech room to each major area (lift bay, workbench, loft office, loft theater)
- Branch runs (3/4”): Junction points to individual wall plates
- Camera runs (3/4”): Dedicated runs to each camera location
- Spare trunk: One empty 1” run to each floor for future unknowns
Best Practices
- Leave pull strings in all runs after pulling cables
- Stay under 40% fill for easy future additions
- Use junction boxes at corners (avoid continuous bends)
- Label both ends of every smurf run
- Keep interior and exterior (camera) runs separate
Installation Approach by Floor
Main Floor
Standard wall routing through stud bays:
- Drill through studs for horizontal runs
- Use appropriate hole saws (1-1/4” for 1” ENT, 1-1/2” for 1-1/4” ENT)
- Drill center of stud to maintain structural integrity
- Do not notch studs for low-voltage runs
Loft (Truss Cavity Routing)
The loft knee wall space is conditioned (insulated at roof line) and accessible behind drywall, making it ideal for cable routing without drilling into trusses.
Horizontal trunk runs:
- Run main trunks along the length of the garage in knee wall truss cavities (both sides)
- No drilling into trusses - lay tubing in open cavity space
- Support with hangers clipped to truss webs (not screws through chords)
Cross runs:
- Route through space above flat ceiling (between ceiling drywall and roof)
- Ceiling is partial: flat center with sloped sides
- Allows runs to cross the loft without wall penetrations
Drop points:
- Drill through wall top plates only to reach outlet locations
- Minimal structural impact - plates handle this easily
Access panels (4 recommended):
- Install 2 access panels per knee wall side
- Locate at junction points for future cable pulls
- 14”x14” or larger for hand access
- Consider paintable panels to match wall finish
Vertical chase to main floor:
- Route from loft to mechanical room via interior wall cavity near stairwell
- Alternative: surface-mounted chase in mechanical room if needed
Cable Specifications
| Category | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cat6A drops | 22-27 | Future-proof for 10GbE |
| Coax (optional) | 4 | Office + theater (antenna/cable backup) |
| Camera runs | 5 | Exterior-rated or in conduit |
- Cat6A recommended over Cat6 (minimal cost difference, 10GbE capable)
- Use plenum-rated if running through enclosed spaces
- Shielded (STP) optional but good near electrical runs
Installation Sequence
- Before drywall: Install all smurf tubing runs
- Pull cables: Run initial cables through tubing with pull strings
- Exterior cameras: Install conduit to soffit before siding
- Low-voltage brackets: Install in walls at each drop location
- Terminate: Punch down in mechanical room patch panel
- Test: Certify all runs before closing walls
- Label: Mark all runs at patch panel and wall plates
Parts List
- 1000ft Cat6A bulk cable (or 2 boxes of 500ft)
- Low-voltage brackets (12-15)
- Keystone jacks and wall plates
- 24 or 48 port patch panel
- Cable management for mechanical room
- Exterior-rated conduit fittings for camera runs
- Smurf tubing: 3/4”, 1”, and 1-1/4” ENT
- Pull strings
- Access panels for knee walls (4x, 14”x14” or larger)
- J-hooks or hangers for truss cavity support
Related Documents
- Electrical Planning - Power circuits and outlet locations
- Mechanical Room - Network cabinet location
- Utilities & Conduits - Underground conduit from house