Installing your own WiFi network or whole house audio/video systems can be quite challenging. Here are a list of local IT companies that I've talked to. They're all different in their specific services offered, but they will all do a competent job for basic network upgrades. Be forewarned. While technology costs keep declining for some manufactured products, labor costs keep climbing especially for such specialized skills. Don't expect services from these folks to be inexpensive.

These folks are very experienced with over 20 years bringing WiFi to challenging hotel environments. The owner recently sold off his larger companies and lives in Rancho Santa Fe. They do:

• WiFi design and monitoring
• Inside cabling
• Whole home audio
• AV integration (single remote control, etc.)

Contact Bill Yung at (858) 365-WiFi, Bill@rsfnetworks.com, Website: https://rsfnetworks.com/

Large company in business for 29 years. Does both commercial and high end/large home integration. Capabilities:

• Electrical with on staff electricians
• Lighting design, controls and installation
• Network design, cabling, monitoring
• WiFi design and monitoring
• Security video
• Security system design and installation, hand off to monitoring company
• AV design and installation
• Whole house control systems

Contact Ron Roberge (Integration Sales) at 858-999-6115, ron@sdlightworks.com, Website: https://www.sdlightworks.com/

Medium sized company that mostly does commercial building integration, but also does high end/large homes. They recently helped Mille Fleur with a technology upgrade. Capabilities:

• Network design, cabling and installation
• Wifi Design and installation
• Access control systems
• Security cameras

Contact Joe Russell (Founder, CEO) at 619-823-7400, sales@inbuilding.com, Website: https://inbuilding.com/

This is a high end/large home/commercial AV integrator that also does network integration. They have so far helped 20+ covenant homes connect to RSF Connect. Capabilities:

• AV design, construction, installation
• Lighting control systems
• Network design, installation
• WiFi design, installation
• Home automation
• Whole home audio
• Custom home theaters
• Gate and home access solutions
• Security cameras

Contact Willie Dent (CEO) at 760-931-9922, wdent@kiwiav.com, Website: https://kiwiav.com/

Small company that's been around for 24 years that mostly does IT consulting. These are the long time consultants that the RSF Association uses for their information technology. Needless to say, they are very familiar with RSF Connect. In the past, they've worked with residents to get AT&T fiber pulled to various covenant houses. Capabilities:

• Hosted help desk
• Network cabling design, installation
• Wifi design, installation, monitoring
• Security cameras

Contact Ryan Rossiter (CEO) at 858 717-3929, sales@TransPacCG.com, Website: http://www.transpaccg.com/

Small company that has helped lots of local residents interface with RSF Connect including some new house builds. Capabilities:

• AV design, installation
• Network design, cabling, monitoring
• WiFi install and monitoring
• Whole house control systems
• Lighting control systems
• Security cameras

Contact Steven Mangan (CEO) at 619-818-7121, steve@ca-ahs.com, Website: http://www.soundautomation.net/

These come from a discussion forum thread about integration companies:

Apollo: "Yes, I can recommend DJ Nelson. He's a local high school student living in the Covenant that has expertise in all of the home components of WiFi, connected TVs, etc. He's my son, and he's set up his own business to do this work and his website is: https://techied.me/ He's worked with a few clients already on their Race setup, as well as doing computer work, website work, etc."

Frank Creede: "I used AAV integration (Travis Benelli, travisbenelli2@yahoo.com, 1 (760) 224-2270) to run the fiber from our AT&T box on the side of the house to the modem location inside. It took them 2 hours, $300 and two cuts in the drywall. You need to schedule them at least 4 hours before Race shows up to do the installation. I have used them for mounting TVs, running Cat-5 and HDMI cable in the past. They can set up WiFi routers/access points as well."

Phil Trubey: "Here's another integrator who came recommended via a resident. Darryl Jay at 619-987-8800. He's done several Rancho installs recently helping out with post Race fiber installs. He does WiFi, cabling, AV installs, and all the tech stuff like Internet connected thermostats, etc. Fair pricing."

Karfageniiy: "I can advise Cleveroad, a year ago I turned to them for it consulting service, I am very satisfied with the result of cooperation."

Gosia: "I highly recommend Audio Impact! Used them multiple times, with bigger projects too. Not the cheapest, however, work has been done in timely manner. Knowledgeable and willing to help even after hours."

mdee: "I recommend "Simply Wired." They're professional networking generalists and specialize in professional grade installation, wire concealment, etc."

I'll finish off this article with one important thing you want to get right: cabling. If you are retrofitting or installing new network cable, make sure you use Cat 6 or Cat 6a cable. Since new house wiring will probably be used for the next 25 years or so, you shouldn't install Cat 5e, which tops out at 1 Gbps, and certainly never Cat 5, which no one should be using anymore. If you have Cat 5e in your walls, it'll work fine at gigabit speeds, so no need to upgrade now, but it won't be able to make the leap to 10 Gbps when that day comes. And I can guarantee you that within the next 25 years, people will be using 10 Gbps Internet connections (don't worry, RSF Connect will be able to easily upgrade to 10 Gbps when that time comes).

As you can see from the chart, Cat 6 cable does work at 10 Gbps, but only at lengths up to 55 meters (think 55 big paces). For 10,000 sq ft+ houses, you'll have runs that exceed 55 meters, and thus you should be using Cat 6a (or Cat 7 or fiber) for at least those runs. The cost difference isn't huge between the cable types once you include installation labor, so opting for Cat 6a for new installs may be prudent.