Hosa CAT-625BK Cat 6 Cable
House-of-worship designers and architects are going to find a changed landscape when they look at how cabling and wiring have evolved for audio and video systems. For starters, there’s going to be a lot less wire in their futures, thanks to the rapid uptake of networked AV systems, particularly sound systems. That’s going to make planning for wire runs considerably easier and, collaterally, less costly for their clients.
At the same time, though, they’ll likely need to put wire in more places than before to provide for considerably expanded AV systems reaching into more locations in a building.
“Less wire overall, but it has to go more places,” observes Joel Guilbert, technology development manager at Dale Pro Audio in Queens, N.Y. “That’s the new model for cable now.”
Joel Guilbert, Technology Development Manager, Dale Pro Audio, Queens, NY
It’s all about Cat-6
Cat-6 cable is virtually the standard now for networked audio, and its quality, from key providers like Belden, is uniformly high even as prices have dropped steadily in recent years. The fact that dozens of channels of audio can now be run over a single strand of Cat-6 cable is the reason for the massive reduction in the amount of cable needed for most projects. Thus, where and how that cable is run also presents designers and architects with more options. Less cable means wiring can be far less obtrusive visually and aesthetically. If the cable is run through open spaces, though, plenum-rated Cat-6 is mandated.
Belden 1872A Cat6e 6-Conductor Network Cable
... where and how that cable is run ... presents designers and architects with more options. Less cable means wiring can be far less obtrusive visually and aesthetically.
On the other hand, when multiple strands of wire necessitate the use of conduit, that conduit can be smaller, and easier to hide or paint to camouflage. And Guilbert recommends that designers take advantage of the reduction in cabling needed to feed audio and video systems by running additional “dark” cable during installation. This builds in capacity for future system expansions and new speaker locations.
The slimmed-down wiring requirements wrought by the shift to networked media also mean that clients will be expecting more audio in more places. Provisions should be made to run cable pretty much everywhere that sound (and eventually video) will be needed, from vestibules and lobbies to cry rooms and overflow areas. This will also have a healthy effect on the quality of a church’s sound, as audio systems no longer have to throw as far to be intelligibly heard.
Provisions should be made to run cable pretty much everywhere that sound (and eventually video) will be needed, from vestibules and lobbies to cry rooms and overflow areas.
Power-over-Ethernet
There is, however, another consideration for cabling in the networked era. Many of the nodes on these networks, such as active speakers, will require AC power. That’s provided using Power-over-Ethernet (PoE). This is any of several standards that pass electric power along with data on Ethernet cabling, allowing a single cable to provide both data connection and electric power to devices on the network. But this one-two punch of signal and power on a single cable offers a huge potential for flexibility. For instance, Guilbert says, inexpensive adapters like Dante’s AVIO, which adds analog, AES3, and USB audio channels, can turn almost any space into a plug-and-play cry room or overflow space, just by adding a powered speaker. In areas of renovation projects of older buildings where electrical outlets might be few and far between, PoE can save thousands of dollars in electrical contractor costs.
In areas of renovation projects of older buildings where electrical outlets might be few and far between, PoE can save thousands of dollars in electrical contractor costs.
“It’s important to include [network] switches that include PoE capability in the network design, or if that’s not feasible then use a power injector,” if existing network switches do not have PoE capability, Guilbert advises. “Network devices increasingly need their own power, so providing for this from the start will save a lot of time and money later.”
It’s not inconceivable that a project may still need to use some copper wiring. For instance, PA systems that utilize passive (i.e., externally powered) loudspeakers will use copper wire from the amplifiers to the speakers, and analog FOH and monitor consoles will likely operate more efficiently using copper from the stage boxes. Copper-based wiring infrastructure may also be called for at churches that do not have any IT staff the can call on and prefer to stick with analog systems.
“Network devices increasingly need their own power, so providing for this from the start will save a lot of time and money later.” Joel Guilbert, Technology Development Manager, Dale Pro Audio, Queens, NY
Copper prices have dropped precipitously since last year, but any unit savings will likely be offset by the amount of wires needed vs. Cat-6. Copper is also more prone to deteriorate if exposed for any length of time to moisture. (However, properly jacketed cable of any type tends to be among the most durable infrastructure in any project.)
On the low down
Because network cables can carry so much data in a much smaller amount of space, it’s a solution that tends to get around any aesthetic qualms voiced by pastors or committees. Essentially, “if you can’t see it, it isn’t there” is the tag line.
“We’ve seen plenum-rated Cat-6 passed through very small holes in support columns in cathedrals, and you just don’t know it’s there unless you’re looking for it." Joel Guilbert, Technology Development Manager, Dale Pro Audio, Queens, NY
“We’ve seen plenum-rated Cat-6 passed through very small holes in support columns in cathedrals, and you just don’t know it’s there unless you’re looking for it,” says Guilbert. “Cat-6 comes in a number of colors now, and if you do need to run it in conduit, it's smaller conduit and it can be painted.”
So cable infrastructure planning is getting easier and less expensive, thanks to the shift to networking. But it’s still one of the architectural and design elements that need to be very close to the start of any project.
