Click here to enlarge imageBut Bumback says one of the key, and surprising, findings of the survey is that the 45-54 age bracket has become the largest segment of the home network owner population.
"The major change is the age group," says Bumback. "Everything is on track with what we expect. We expect the home network owner to adopt other technologies more readily than the average household."
Bumback says In-Stat/MDR believes the older market is reacting to the needs of their tech-savvy late-teen children, plus home networking products are becoming easier to install and manage. The segment accounts for 28% of all home networked households in the U.S.
"They push for this," Bumback says, referring to the teen-agers. "They have multiple PCs, networking from broadband. They want faster Internet speed."
And In-Stat/MDR believes wireless will definitely play a big part in future home networks. The survey reveals that 20% of the people planning home networks are considering wireless. Bumback says the surge in wireless networking equipment sales, and the availability of low cost home routers to enable broadband sharing shows that this technology is gaining wider acceptance.
With all of the apparent interest in home networking, the need for top-notch home cabling infrastructures is also expanding. The Siemon Company says installers should be prepared to expand their business into the residential market, if they haven't done so already.
The Siemon Residential Certified Installer program is designed to show home network designers and installers how to address the needs of the individual homeowner. It also shows installers how to ensure that their practices conform to TIA/EIA and ANSI standards.
"There are so many services available to homeowners today, and a properly cabled home is the key to suing these services to their fullest potential," says Mark Catrone, corporate training manager for The Siemon Company.
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
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