WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOICE AND DATA CABLING WITH PRO TIPS FROM THE PROS

While network cable is the most basic and inexpensive piece of equipment in a network, it is also the most critical. Your computer equipment, no matter how advanced or powerful, is useless unless it has a reliable voice and data cable connections between devices.

All businesses require considerable voice and data cabling that is strategically important. Drilling, cutting wires, and connecting jacks may appear to be a large task when installing voice and data cabling in a business, but there's more to it than that.

Voice and data cabling connects your end device, such as a PC, phone, printer, or fax, to the rest of the world of technology, allowing it to be used in your business. Cabling must be done correctly from the start in order to avoid problems. Cabling is a hardwired, faster, and more secure version of WiFi, in the same manner, that WiFi allows you to use computers and cell phones.

"Most of the time, it's the cable and the infrastructure that cause connectivity issues," says Troy McIsaac, sales manager at Total Communications Inc. "Interference may occur if the cabling is not installed properly. The interference could be caused by a light, a kinked cable, or a radius that has been bent too much, putting the cable at risk. Even if it still functions, it does not function as it should, and most people are unaware of this."

All client relationships are represented by our solutions team. They develop solutions for present and potential clients, which can include everything from phone systems to new network infrastructure. You're the glue that clasps the office together, managing tasks, producing bids, placing orders, and communicating with customers. We're searching for folks that have strong written and vocal communication skills, are detail-oriented and have a passion for technology.

At Method Technologies all client relationships are represented by our solutions team. They develop solutions for present and potential clients, which can include everything from phone systems to new network infrastructure. You're the glue that clasps the office together, managing tasks, producing bids, placing orders, and communicating with customers. We're searching for folks that have strong written and vocal communication skills, are detail-oriented and have a passion for technology.

Here are a few voice and data cabling advice from the experts at Total Communications:

It is critical to plan.

"People underestimate the impact of bad cabling on a network," McIsaac explains. Technology is continually developing, from Cat5e to Cat6, Cat6A, fiber, and so on, allowing a business's premise wiring to be more future-proofed. Each cable has a specification; the higher the specification, the longer the cable will endure and the more things it can accomplish.

Cat6 and Cat6A are the new industry standards, capable of transmitting data at speeds of up to 1000 mbps. However, in order to choose which cable is best for you, consider your wants in five years rather than just today. Rather than recalling your firm in a few years, opt to cable for expansion and to extend the life of your network cables.

Cutting corners in order to save money on installation will cost you more in the long run.

McIsaac advises, "Get it right from the start." "When it comes to voice and data cabling, we see two things a lot in our industry: (1) someone who wants to save money and buys a package of wires without understanding the implications, or (2) a builder or general contractor who hires an electrician to run cable because it's cheaper." This isn't a long-term cabling solution.

Only if a corporation adheres to industry norms and criteria, as well as guaranteeing that network equipment (switches, routers, and firewalls) has the necessary capabilities to support the arrangement, is it a viable cabling solution.

According to McIsaac, they've had to replace cabling based solely on the design, because the prior business that conducted the work didn't understand the requirements of voice on a network versus data on a network, and the significant variances that exist.

Check your system's performance.

McIsaac advises that your voice and data cabling be inspected and tested on a regular basis to ensure that it is up to code. Get your cabling checked out by a pro and tested again, especially if you're moving.

Ascertain that your installers are certified and capable of delivering certified end-to-end solutions. You should also ask for printouts of test results demonstrating that the cable meets the manufacturer's specifications. Most installers merely connect the wire; testing, on the other hand, generally necessitates a significant investment in equipment, which most general electricians lack. It's also a good idea to see if the company provides an installation warranty; some companies, such as Total, provide a 25-year installation warranty to their consumers.

McIssac claims to have repaired two jobs in the last year when other businesses' installers failed to test the cables, resulting in more than 90% of the wires failing the test. "Just because you plug something in and it connects doesn't mean it's a decent cable," he continues.

Tests should be performed every eight to ten years, but if anything significant occurs, such as network faults or renovations, the test should be repeated, even if it was previously completed.

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