House Showcases Network of the Future with Leviton Connectivity
When technology radio commentator Ron Rosberg, aka the “Gadget Guru”, decided to build his dream home he envisioned more than just a house. He wanted a place he could use to showcase the latest in home technology. After three years of planning and building, his dream was realized. The house, referred to by Rosberg as the Technology Lake House, is located on the shores of Clear Lake in Northern California, approximately 120 miles north of San Francisco. Aside from the impressive exterior features, the 4,400 sq ft house, 3-bedroom guest suite, and 6-car garage, the home’s interior features more network connections than some office buildings.
Building a comprehensive home network
When Rosberg arranged for the remote-accessible cameras, wireless lighting system, flat screen TVs and music controls in every room, it became obvious that the house needed a strong network infrastructure to serve as the backbone. That infrastructure also needed to integrate seamlessly with the multiple systems involved. That's where Leviton came in. In addition to the Leviton electrical outlets that were already installed in the house, Rosberg also decided on Leviton connectivity for its ease of use and organization.
Eric Cox, President of 20/20 dB, Inc., handled the structured wiring installation for the Technology Lake House project. With help from Leviton Network Solutions’ staff, he chose the Leviton products he needed to build a network that could support such a broad array of devices. In addition to the networking products, Cox also chose a Leviton 51110 series surge protection panel to safeguard the hightech equipment in the home against harmful power spikes.
“I didn’t want miles of cable stuck behind coats in a closet,” Rosberg said. “The way you [Leviton] design makes it a nobrainer for nice and easy installation.” Instead of being piled in a closet, all the Ultra High Flex HOME 5e® and 6 Patch Cables, Twist & Mount Patch Panels, Premium CATV Modules, and Telephone Input Distribution Panels are organized neatly into three 42" Structured Media® enclosures for the main house and two in the garage for the guest suite.
Cox used QuickPort® wallplates, 3 GHz F-connectors, and Tool-Free CAT 5e and 6 HOME connectors in each room to connect all of the equipment. “There are five to six cables per room, so I like to use QuickPort connectors to color code the ports for the client so there’s less confusion and they know what cables plug into what port,” Cox said. Lowering the margin of error was particularly important for this project since Cox lived about three hours from the job site. “Proper labeling allows me to troubleshoot from afar; it helps me identify and solve a problem over the phone,” Cox said.
Also important for this project was a network that could be easily upgraded to support the latest technology over the coming years. Leviton connectivity helped Cox prepare for what might be needed five years down the road. “Each room in the house has a network feed for future demands and access to the Internet via a hardwired line,” Cox said. By using the Leviton QuickPort line, he will be able to easily make changes in each room as the home’s network needs evolve.
What’s next for the Technology Lake House
Though Rosberg moved in beforehand, the house was officially finished in early 2012. He is already keeping his eye out for new technologies to feature in his house, but for now he has “a very livable and very enjoyable” high-tech home.
