Ethernet in Bathroom ?

[PolarBear]

This is rather off the wall and I apologise in advance . . . .

My wife is currently remodelling our bathroom (I mean the room with bath, shower etc.)

Right now, the walls are stripped back to the plaster before being tiled. It would be an ideal time to add an Ethernet socket. (In fact, it's now or never !)

But I a really can't think of any reason for an Ethernet socket in a bathroom - can anyone else think of a good reason to do this ?

 

[System Error Message]

it is off the wall literally. The only reason you'd put a cable there is to have VOIP phones or maybe a "smart" toilet . an internet controlled toilet/shower lol. Perhaps you want an internet camera in there .

 

[KenZ71]

VOIP phone, maybe

Streaming music player, maybe

 

[sfx2000]

But I a really can't think of any reason for an Ethernet socket in a bathroom - can anyone else think of a good reason to do this ?

Just because - bragging points

Given the opportunity, I would absolutely do it...

 

[somms]

Bathroom smart TVs are a thing now...

 

[sfx2000]

Bathroom smart TVs are a thing now...

yikes!

 

[TonyH]

yikes!

At my house. iPAD on WiFi is enough.

 

[sfx2000]

At my house. iPAD on WiFi is enough.

Hehe, TMI

But having a wired bathroom, total geek credibility

 

[System Error Message]

I think what everyone is saying you can add a touchscreen (tablet) to be wallmounted and have a smart bathroom a bit like what you'd get in star trek. Just make sure theres no backdoor or anyone hacking in . Pretty sure you cant tell siri to turn on the lights or the shower even if you did plug the lights to a controller board. Seeing as it is a bathroom i dont think water mixes with electronics. Aside from playing music having a screen also means watching video.

Theres also the reverse case of adding a bathroom to a datacenter or your computer work area.

 

[azazel1024]

I think the biggest issue you'd run in to with a bathroom would be WHERE.

If you think you'd ever add a TV in there, add an Ethernet jack roughly where a TV would make sense. You could also add one for a wired audio streamer. I think the issue I would personally have is, I've never seen a bathroom with calf height outlets in them, they are all over the vanities. So if you add an Ethernet jack, it is going to add more easily visible wall clutter and anything plugged in to it is likely to added that much more having the wire strung across the room.

I've added an Ethernet jack to all but four rooms of my house (not including closets). One is my living room, which I may still add one once I redo the built in shelves and cabinets flanking my fireplace. The other three are the bathrooms. I just see no reason. I can't say I never listen to music in the shower, but cranking the volume on my cell phone is fine, or if taking a nice relaxing bath, which with 3 kids under 8 never happens for me (and for my wife it only happens when I am playing defensive back for half an hour with the kids)...again, don't really need a sound system in the bathroom for that, headphones are back to the cell phone set a little quieter is fine.

I do need to add an Ethernet jack outside at some point though. Entertain enough outside it would be nice to occasionally unplug my airport express, carry it and the speakers outside and plug it back in outside.

 

[Cloud200]

I have done this before in a few clients residences.

You don't put the Jack in plain site.
You place it inside the vanity or wall unit. Odds are the most common use for the port would be a light or media control panel, phone, smart TV.
Two out of three can be installed in most door panels of large cabinets and the third is fine if you have it done neatly.

 

[sfx2000]

Going back to OP - no worries about dropping an ethernet port into the bathroom - might come in handy someday with the Internet of Things - the cost is pretty low since you've already got the walls torn apart...

The big thing is to ensure that anything that uses mains power - those should all be on a GFI circuit - it's a safety thing, similar to the kitchen, and perhaps the utility room (Washer/Dryer/Deepsink).. just basic safety there.

For any gear in the bathroom - humidity is probably the big concern, along with basic water resistance to splash proof things..

 

[Ronv42]

At work there are two Ethernet ports above the row of urinals and two on each side of the sink row. Don't know what they are going to use them for but they put them in 4 years ago when they remodeled. Maybe IOT's for sensing is the soap is out or air freshener.

 

[PolarBear]

Some good ideas here !

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts !

PolarBear

 

[sfx2000]

At work there are two Ethernet ports above the row of urinals and two on each side of the sink row. Don't know what they are going to use them for but they put them in 4 years ago when they remodeled. Maybe IOT's for sensing is the soap is out or air freshener.

For a while, it was popular to have those little LCD screens with ads/news/etc... might have been in the plan at some point...

 

[farfromuman]

You will definitely need one for a Smart Mirror.

http://digg.com/video/smart-mirror

 

[Alan Harvey]

You could put one in for if you wanted to put a server in there I have a Server in my 3rd Bathroom also made it my server room Which 3rd Bathroom never gets used and never will

 

[hobara]

You could put one in for if you wanted to put a server in there I have a Server in my 3rd Bathroom also made it my server room Which 3rd Bathroom never gets used and never will

Agree..