Definitions | Progressive Office Cabling

Cat5e Cat6/6a Cabling,cable installations

What is Certification and is it really necessary?

10 Aug 2015

Environmental Problems with Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6A Cable

Cable must be installed so that external environmental factors do not have an effect on the performance of the network. Problems can occur at the patch panel punch down, at the wall plate jack and anywhere along the cable itself. Maybe an inadvertent kink is in the cable. Or there is a snag in the cable as it got pulled across a rough surface in the rafters above the drop ceiling. Or maybe the cable got too close to an electric line. Any one of these issues can degrade the performance of an individual cable.

There are two basic kinds of testing that is performed during the installation of cabling:

Continuity Testing

Certification

Continuity Testing

Continuity Testing is a test to insure that the wires in the connectors at the faceplate and at the patch panel are connected up correctly. There are 4 pairs of wires and each wire is color-coded. So, as the technician is connecting everything, a particular sequence is required. If a wire is connected in the wrong order, the cable will fail. This is a basic wire-mapping test. If this test fails, the connector and wires are re-examined and re-terminated. All of our cable installations include continuity testing.

But the only way to insure and guarantee full speed to every cable is to do Certification Testing on each cable.

Certification

Certification Testing is a performance test that utilizes a precision device that sends a signal from one end of the cable to the other. This test is the only way to test the data-carrying capacity of each cable. For example, Cat6A cable is rated to run at 10G/sec. But if you have an issue, the cable will work but it might be running at a slower speed. It passes the continuity test but it's not performing at 100%. Certification will find the fault, pin-pointed to its exact location so that our technician can fix it, retest it and fully certify it as 100% top-speed rated.

The Fluke DSX-5000 is a very expensive test device that we employ to test and certify our cabling jobs. It costs about an extra $10 per cable to get everything tested and certified. But without this test, we can't guarantee top speeds throughout your network. And, considering that most cabling projects have a useful lifespan of 15 - 20 years, this investment upfront is very cost-effective. It means you will have full speed to every device for the entire lifetime of your cabling infrastructure.

Certification includes a PDF report showing every cable and the test results.

Do you have an upcoming cabling project?

Cable Basket Trays – Uses and Benefits

25 Jun 2015

Stu Kushner

Cable basket trays are described as go-to solutions for routing and supporting numerous cable runs. The wired frame Structured cabling, Data Cabling, DC enhances air circulation and cable ventilation. This can be appropriate beneath desks, elevated floors, or hanging tray systems. You can assemble basket trays for intersections, horizontal sections, mounting braces, hardware, and tray cutters.

The cable basket tray made of welded steel wires is considered the most popular support for copper and data cabling. The basket is light-weight and easy to install with complete array of cable tray accessories. Solid basket trays are recommended for heavier wires. These baskets are fabricated to withstand natural elements. Although the material is not solid steel, it is capable of protecting cables from corrosion and last longer.

Cable Distribution and Management

The cable basket makes possible efficient dispersal and management of cables. This process is accomplished by arranging cables inside the basket trays instead of pulling them through pipe lines. The act of yanking is certainly harder and time-consuming rather than using baskets. Laying down wires in the basket take only minimal time and ensures that cables are distributed evenly around the structure.

The baskets can be stretched along the building just like pipes. However, baskets are open facilitating easier access to the cables. At the same time, it provides sufficient protection to the network cabling system. Cable baskets are lighter with easier functions compared to trays which are quite bulky. Technicians can finish more installations in one day because of fast installation.

Installation Guidelines

Incidentally, it is important to make sure that cable trays should be installed as an inclusive system. The tray should be complete with all the supports mechanisms, fasteners, guards, connections, flexible vertical and horizontal spice plates. You have to mount cable trays so the joints will be accessible for inspection and modification. Support systems are needed so the distance does not go beyond the required measurements. Install intermediary support devices in case the weight of the cable is more than tray rungs’ load capacity.

Erect supports from channel members, twisted rods and other accessories provided by the cable tray manufacturer. Organize the supports in bar or wall-bracket models as called for by the application. Make sure to take away sharp border s from cable trays. You can attach the tray to the spice pates but use square neck-carriage bolts and self-locking nuts. The cable tray should support the building structure. Finally, mount the cable trays with sufficient space to allow access for the installation of network cables.

Are you Ready for 2gb Internet?

13 Jun 2015

Stu Kushner

Your city might be poised for a dramatic increase in Internet speed into your office. Right now, you might have DSL Internet running on Cat5e cable at speeds of up to 25 - 30mb. But 2gb Internet is coming. New high-speed fiber optic networks are being built that will bring 2gb Internet to your office's network. It's coming.

So, are you ready for it?

The answer to that question lies primarily in the cabling that exists in your office. Most offices in the US have Cat5e cabling. Cat5e is not even fully capable of handling 1gb speeds and will likely create speed issues at the desktop as users demand more bandwidth from advanced online and desktop applications. Cat5 cable is even slower. So, you will first need to figure out what kind of cable you have. The best way to do this is to look at the cable. Go to you wall closet or server room and look behind the patch panel. The patch panel looks like this.

And behind the panel is a bundle of cables. These cables have writing on them that describe the type of cable.That might look like this.

You should be able to see printed right on the cable the words "CATEGORY 5" or "CATEGORY 5E". If it says, "CATEGORY 6" or "CATEGORY 6A" than you are fine. Otherwise, you have cable that will not fully support 2gb Internet speeds into your office. Cat6/6A cabling is designed for 2gb and higher throughputs of data.

But getting ready for 2gb Internet is not just about the cable. You need the right cable and you also need the Cat6 compatible connectors, patch panels and a faster switch too. So, now you have a big decision to make.

The Big Decision

What should you do? Recabling an office is a big deal. It's disruptive and it's expensive. But, wait. Is it really such a big expense and does it need to be disruptive? The cost of installing Cat6 cabling in an office is about $175 - $250 per drop. Each computer will need one drop. And you might have a few printers on your network too. So, the cost is about the same as a cheap computer monitor. And the boost in productivity will go on for many years to come.

Will it be disruptive? We can install new cabling in parallel to your existing network at night and on weekends. The switch-over is a weekend job too. Then we finish up by pulling out all of the old cable. That's called demolition. It might get a little dusty. But our team will do it's best to keep things as tidy as possible.

So, are you ready for 1gb Internet? If the service is available and you want a free on-site survey, contact us. We will be happy to come by and look at your office and prepare a Proposal for you at no charge and no obligation. If you aren't sure about the availability of 1gb Internet, contact us and we will find out for you.

Is it Practical to Use Cat6 Cable?

26 Apr 2015

Stu Kushner

cat 6,structured cabling, Data Cabling Data volume has grown extensively. Also, the processing capacity to users continues to get grow. Specialists in data management forecast that information production will be 44 times larger in five years with enterprises needing to process and safeguard 80 percent of the new data.

Data Cables

For these reasons, you might need to become more familiar with different types of cabling. There is Category 5 (Cat5) cable but it is only capable of transmitting 1000 megabits data rate per second on an Ethernet network. Transfer of data demands are increasing due to new and more sophisticated applications. That is why many companies prefer to work with Category 6 (Cat6) cables. Cat6 has a maximum data transfer of 10,000 megabits per second. Cat6 is also backward compatible which means your Cat5 connectors will plug i and work (at the lower speeds).

Future Proofing

Cat6 infrastructure guarantees that your system will be relevant well into the future. This allows users to easily cope with any modifications, new features or technological developments. The Cat5 standard has been used for a long time. However, your enterprise needs adequate bandwidth to handle these continuing and future changes. It is not merely a possibility or “let's say” situation. It is to be anticipated as the online experience continues to progress.

Demand for Cat6 escalates as the world-wide web is now offering premium video streams, online applications, highly-responsive and media-heavy portals. If you decide to upgrade to a more reliable network, consider Cat6 cables. It is fast becoming the new standard in this industry.

Downsides

Cat 6 is more costly compared to Cat5e cables. On average, we are finding that projects cost about 20-25% more. This is because you are not guaranteed full speed unless all the components operate at gigabit speed. So, you need Cat6 cable, connectors, patch panels and Gigabit switches too. If one part is not rated as gigabit, the network will run at Cat5e speeds. Call or contact us to help you make this decision.

Nevertheless, experts say Cat6 will sooner or later surpass Category 5e. And the initial upfront costs will pay future productivity gains for many, many years to come.

Patch Cables and Twisted Pair Cabling

21 Mar 2015

Stu Kushner

The patch cable is used to link up two network devices. This type of cabling is usually a Cat6 or a Cat5e cable tha Cat5e ,Cat6/6a Cabling,patch cables t connects personal computers to the wall plate or provides the short interconnects among the switches, routers and the patch panels in the wall closet or Server Room. These make use of stranded wires instead of solid to increase flexibility. It also lessens the risk of cracking when you unplug the cable. There is also a variety of Ethernet patch called the crossover cable. It is used to hook up two PCs together and sometimes to interconnect switches.

Ethernet Systems

Ethernet systems ensure adaptable and economical methods of conveying voice, data, and multimedia over integrated networks. In fact, Ethernet patch cords have become very common. These wall to wall cables gave rise to the growth of generic and structured cabling systems. Today, these are used practically for all networking components regardless of industry or application. However, there are concerns that you need to consider. Whereas modular attributes and profusion of patch cables denote absolute universal use, there are differences that can reduce interchangeability. Some of the disparities originate from various wiring configurations of cable conductors and connector pins.

Twister Pair Cables

For this type of cabling, two conductors are coiled to prevent electromagnetic interference (commonly known as EMI) that comes from external (usually electrical) sources. One example is the electromagnetic radiation caused by uncovered twisted pair cables or UTP as well as cross talk produced by adjacent electrical wires. The process of shielding generates a conductive barrier to lessen these electromagnetic waves. It also creates a conduit for conduction so that currents and data can traverse freely. Shielding can be applied on individual pairs or as a group of pairs.

Twisted conductor pairs form a secure circuit. The voltages carry the same magnitude or amplitude. However, one is positive while the other is negative. Incidentally, crosstalk takes place if the electromagnetic field turns out a signal that is too big or strong and intereferes with a nearby pair. The sound is like a fusion of the two fields by means of a swap of the energy between them. Certain components of these signals are passed on to each other during this exchange of energy.

As a result, here is an ensuing increase in the level of “noise”. External sources of EMI and RFI create signal interference in a similar manner. These cause distortion of the signals that go to your office and communications equipment.

Overall, these are the things that you should take into account with regards to twisted and patch cabling.

Please feel free to contact us if you need help with your office cabling project!

Structured Cabling,Washington DC New York City

Basics of Riser Cables

6 Mar 2015

Stu Kushner

Structured Cabling,Network Cabling Data Cabling Riser cables were designed for non-plenum vertical applications like between the floors of multi-story buildings. They are also described as backbone cables. These cables serve as the main conduit of a distribution system for data, video or voice. It originates from the point where communications go in through a particular edifice. This cable comprises part of the structure backbone. Other components of this facility are the cable corridors, telecommunications cabinets, equipment rooms, correlated hardware, and support facilities. This cable variety must be fire resistant in accordance with electrical codes. Nonetheless, specifications are not as stringent compared to plenum cables.

Understand its Uses

Riser cables may be used for different forms of data communications which also includes CCTV video access. It is ideal as well for voice communications. One major concern is that requirements vary for each service. Hat is why planning can sometimes be quite complicated. Building managers are often pressed to predict their requirements given limited time and expertise. Quite often they will recommend creating split riser systems for multiple applications which follow parallel routes through the corridors, closets, and equipment areas.

How do you select the medium?

Perhaps, the primary concern is to stay within budget. You can expect system designers to resort to trade-offs in delivering a broad assortment of services within the backbone system. Other factors that may influence their design are the following:

Provide an adaptable medium in relation to supported services

Identify the necessary useful life span of backbone cabling

Consider the technical needs of users

Standards are on hand to serve as a guide in the design of riser cable systems. There are appropriate benchmarks for optical and copper cable backbone structures. Some of the backbone cable categories include:

Copper-shielded and unshielded twisted-pair or UTP cables

Coaxial and twin axial cabling configurations

Single mode and micron multimode optical fibers

Physical locations supporting riser cables take into consideration the telecommunications service entrances and adjacent equipment rooms containing the main cross-connect. This can extend to the telecommunications closets that serve a particular location, intermediate cross-connects that serve a number of telecommunications closets, or horizontal cross-connects for a remote telecommunications closet or just one level of the building. The telecommunications cabinet is the point of interaction between backbone systems and parallel (same floor) wiring.

Riser cable systems in multiple-story buildings need to pass through equivalent closets making use of connecting conduits between the floors. Said design provides each floor access to the backbone and allows circuits to be distributed to all levels. The conduit and sleeves should go higher than the floor level by at least an inch and fitted with fire-stopping material. These should also adhere to electrical codes. The riser or backbone cable system essentially acts as the core of telecommunications infrastructure.

Data Cabling,Structured Cabling, Cabling Design-Washington DC

Things to Avoid in Running Network Cabling

28 Feb 2015

Stu Kushner

What can cabling that has not been installed properly do?

network cabling,Data Cabling It can lead to a lot of negative outcomes such as paralyzed network performance, maintenance troubles and hidden costs. Network cabling can be especially troublesome if it is installed by individuals without the proper knowledge and tools. When it comes to twisted pair cabling, there are many factors that you need to consider.

In the past, many companies installed different cable systems since twisted pair cabling was expensive. At present, full installation is still costly although a greater part of the expense is labor since raw cables is not pricey. Cable management is another concern.

Data Cabling ,Cat5e ,Cat6/6a ,Cabling ,Structured Cabling

Network Infrastructure Planning

28 Jan 2015

Stu Kushner

What is a network?

The network is classified as a group of hardware and software components that connect devices within a company and link that entity to other companies in the world-wide web. The hardware for networking consists of network interface cards, computers, routers, switches, patch panels and cables. Software refers to network services and protocols that facilitate communications. The hardware components should be installed and configured before the software and operating systems are initiated. Network communications serve as the core foundation of the whole system. It makes up the services that build the network’s framework. The key is to determine the infrastructure based on the objectives that you have set so the architecture can scale up as a companies needs grow.

The Operating Systems

Begin by understanding the current setup. This will allow you to establish how to plan for your operational targets and objectives. Draw a full map of the current network. Include these all cabled connections, server information, location of devices in the network, and all of the users. Complete this inventory first. Then, proceed with reviewing all available information in combination with the future goals. This will enable you to fully understand the required changes needed for deployment.

The operating systems or OS installed on computers make up the primary software components in a cabling infrastructure. The OS contains protocols that facilitate network communications. It also consists of applications and services that secure the data. Conventional features include connectivity, security, control of access, and routing/switching functions. There should an existing network before installing servers to support applications. These consist of file, print, web, messaging, application, and database servers.

Meticulous Planning

Document the physical hardware and software components

Decide on the actual location of each components.

Determine configuration requirements.

Buy, assemble and mount the hardware.

Install and configure your OS, apps as well as other software.

Be sure to understand the network’s physical design. If there are multiple heavy or data intensive workloads, servers will need more bandwidth and connections to deal with the data traffic. Network resources need to allocated among the numerous applications which mean that vital applications can affect performance considerably. Planning becomes an integral component of development and should be specific to the business plans.

Keep track of existing workloads and use performance results as a reference. There should be proper tests to determine the performance of your network. Speculation is not advisable because that can cause mistakes and overspending.

As always, Progressive Office is available to assist with project planning. Please call or email us anytime.

Structured Cabling,,Office Cabling.connectors

Important Facts About Cabling Infrastructure

23 Jan 2015

Stu Kushner

Network cabling that has not been installed properly may result in various communications issues. Even minor problems such as a connector that has not been terminated properly can prevent Power over Ethernet from performing well.

Wiring Standards

See to it that you use appropriate wiring patterns which are T568a and T568b. Refrain from bringing together T568a and T568b in the same cable. And always use premium quality Cat6 or Cat5e cables. We prefer solid over stranded wire.

Essential Issues in Design of Structured Cabling Systems

13 Jan 2015

Stu Kushner

Structured-Cabling,Data Cabling Structured cabling systems (SCS) refers to the local area network cabling system designed exclusively to fit a company's requirements. It combines data, voice, video, and management systems sometimes including alarm and security. SCS insures that all of this information is transmitted promptly and efficiently. The structured cabling system normally includes transmission products with engineering design rules that create a stable transmission system.

Network Foundation

The structured cabling system is said to be the groundwork of a successful building and office setup. It is also the fundamental foundation on which all other equipment relies on.

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