I caught up with Ivan Rostas of Stratus Integrated Systems recently, an early fan of Smart Wiring when we still called it structured cabling. He had a great story to tell.
Ivan did the Smart Wiring course way back in 2004 and began promoting it on his web site which then caught the eye of Metricon builders – whose homes he’s been cabling ever since. That’s thousands of houses in three states of Australia.
Once we introduced The Home Wiring Essentials booklet he started using that too and says its been a great resource to use with customers to help explain the benefits of wiring a home.
“Wireless is great, but you must wire for wireless too to get the most out of the handheld technology at home, such as phones, tables, watches – VR glasses – and whatever’s next!” he said.
Ivan was a pioneer when it comes to ‘future proofing’ modern homes with the Cat 5/5e/6/6a copper networks that he’s installed into Metricon homes from the start.
“Those home data networks have added value and utility to those homes in that they can best utilise the internet services that were only envisioned at the time their homes were built.”
But of course tech keeps changing and designing the wiring networks of the smart home isn’t any different. Ivan said his company moved from desktop-bound software to cloud based platforms a decade ago.
“We found the various new web solutions wanting, and in particular design and CAD were bound to either PC or Mac dedicated software. We’ve now developed MarkApp.cloud, a platform to aid the marking-up of house plans we think will appeal to a whole new generation of electricians.”
It’s a great journey and confirms our vision of smarter homes wired for what ever technology throws at it. All those homes Ivan and his team cabled years ago are still ready for the future I’m glad to say.
Cheers, John Fennell