Data Cabling,Structured Cabling,Washington DC

How Improper Cabling Causes Network Issues – Part 1

5 Sep 2018

Data Cabling Structured Cabling Washington DCYour employees are dissatisfied by their company’s network performance, and it is affecting their productivity. A number of factors must be taken into consideration. How many users are attempting to use resources simultaneously? Have you taken into account how much the use of devices has grown? Is your network equipment sufficient to meet demand? Answering the above questions will help, but network issues may be directly related to your company’s structured cabling.



Outdated Cabling


In many instances, the age of your structured cabling system may be responsible for poor network performance. 15-year-old cabling may have met standards when it was installed, but now it may be unable to handle the ever increasing network traffic needs of your company.


An internet service provider (ISP) provides the cable that provides the connection from your company’s network to the internet. When this backbone component fails to meet today’s bandwidth standards, bottlenecks may occur.


In situations where you are attempting to operate at speeds that are too high or carry excessive bandwidth via a cable that not rated for the capacity, it will be noticeable to users and their productivity will decline, hampering business operations.



Quality of Cabling


Cabling manufacturers rate their cables in terms of capability and performance. For example, CAT6 and CAT6a cabling have different capabilities, CAT being an abbreviation for category. A manufacturer must meet the performance standards set by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) for each category of cabling.


Cabling that exceeds minimum standards will attain higher network speeds without having to upgrade your cabling. In contrast, for cabling that only meets the minimum standards, the company network speed will be unable to expand much beyond the rating of the cable.


It is helpful to understand cable standards and ratings. Even though a cable is labeled Category 6A, it is not automatic that it meets the minimum performance standards of this category. The brand name and manufacturing quality will play a big role in the cable’s output.


Part 2 will discuss Compatibility, Patch Cords, and Poor Installation.



Progressive Office Cabling


Founded in 1986, Progressive Office’s success has been a direct result of years of commitment to seeking solutions on behalf of our clients in the Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Pittsburgh and New York City areas. Efficiently working together, Progressive teams get cabling installed and operating as fast as possible while minimizing disruption and downtime. Call our toll free number (800) 614-4560 today.


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structured cabling, Data Cabling, cabling tester

Facts about Data Cable Testing

6 May 2015

structured cabling, Data Cabling,  cabling testerTesting always plays a vital role in the process of installing new cables or servicing existing ones. Regular testers for data cabling include length, wire crimper map, attenuation, return loss, and DC loop resistance.



Complex Cabling Needs


Cabling infrastructure requirements have become more complicated. More standards are being developed for cabling professionals in testing and troubleshooting copper and fiber cables. And there are special requirements as well as downsides in the implementation of new  technologies. From 10BASE-T to 100BASE-TX to 1000BASE-T and now to 10GBASE-T. It is now more crucial to keep in step with the most up-to-date techniques in cable testing too. In short, cable testing infuses a higher degree of assurance that installed cable links will attain the preferred transmission capacity for your data communications.



Cabling Tester Categories


Cable testing instruments have been manufactured with unique features for specific tasks. Costs, performance, and applications vary. These depend on the required functions. The three main functions are certification, qualification and verification. Although certain attributes overlap, each category answers a particular testing prerequisite.


Certification facilitates conformity to standards defines by the industry. These are instruments signal a “Pass” or “Fail” towards data testing compliance within standardized industry norms. These testing instruments will find out whether a cable link conforms to a category or class such as Cat6 or Cat5e. It is the last step required by most structured cabling installers towards approval of a new  installation.


Qualification determines if the existing cable is capable of supporting specific network speeds. This special class of testers is supposed to meet the up-and-coming requirements of network technicians who troubleshoot data networks. These testers perform checks to make a decision on whether a present cable link supports the requirements for fast or gigabit Ethernet. With these instruments, network technicians can identify and isolate cabling issues. While Continuity testers do not perform the series of tests set down by these standards and are not  considered certification tools.


Verification makes sure that cabling connections are correct. This type of tool performs a continuity test. It guarantees all wires in the cabling link have been attached properly to termination points at each end. For twisted pair cabling, there is an appropriate pairing of the wires. Such testing tools also confirm wire pairing and find out installation flaws such as split pairs. These can also help in troubleshooting by working with a toner to pinpoint a certain cabling link. These testing tools do not give out any information regarding bandwidth and data integrity.


If you need your cabling tested or certified, contact us!

cable testing, Network Cabling ,Data Cabling

Cable Testing And Certification

12 May 2014

cable testing, Network Cabling ,Data Cabling Cable testing and certification are obviously complicated terminologies that may be difficult for laypeople to understand. Nonetheless, it is important to become familiar with these functions since they have become common fixtures in your homes. It does not matter whether you are simply making repairs or installing new cables, testing always plays an essential role. Testing offers a degree of assurance that the links provide the necessary transmission capacity that supports data communications.


Cable testing implements have been designed with multiple features for a variety of tasks. However, these differ in terms of costs, performance and applications. Testing can be classified into certification and verification. Certification is vital because it ensures conformity of the cabling system to industry benchmarks. Certification instruments decide whether a particular connection complies with ISO or TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association) guidelines. In fact, it is the final step completed by structured cable manufacturers before granting warranties for new installations.


In this technology domain, certification is acknowledged as proof of professional status. The Fiber Optic Association (FOA) oversees adherence to certification requirements and authorizes schools to grant training that meets its standards. FOA programs are created and maintained by experts in the fiber optic enterprise.


Certification indicates that you have accomplished specific performance criteria established by the certifying organization. It includes knowledge, skills and abilities either through training or through experience acquired over the years.
Certification is not simply an ordinary license; it is official consent to do business within a particular jurisdiction. The majority of states in the country require licensing for service providers installing communications cabling. Be sure to check your local area and find out the requirements for licensing. Testing and Certification are the foremost steps in the cable installation process, and it is imperative that all components are tested carefully.


It is not enough to plug in the network equipment set-up and find out if it works properly. Certification is needed to prevent unnecessary and costly improvements or refurbishment in the future. Network examination and certification of all new installations as well as existing networks are provided for the whole infrastructure.


Incidentally, you also need to learn that in communications cabling, standards delineate the kinds of cabling, yardsticks that define cabling, connections, cabling architecture, and testing prerequisites. These standards can minimize downtime and installation costs. At the same time, standards capitalize on system availability and prolong the life span of cabling systems. Lastly, paradigms allow manufacturers to create systems that will accommodate current technologies and equipment without difficulty. The bottom line is to find the company that can do these things for you efficiently.