category 6 cable | Progressive Office Cabling

Network Cabling ,Data Cabling,CAT2 6A UTP

Issues to Avoid with Cat6a Cables

22 Dec 2014

A newly popularized cable is Cat6a. It is the new “cable on the block” which has prolonged the life of copper cabling. Cat6a has the shielded twisted and untwisted pairs with different advantages and features. It supports Gigabit Ethernet up to a hundred meters. However, you need to understand and cope with several issues.

Contentions

The size of Cat6a cable is larger than Cat5e. Copper is inherently unreliable due to Bit Error Rates or BER. This is why manufacturers have designed Cat6a cables with a smaller cross-section. It takes up less space in the tray. Yet, this space is needed to minimize crosstalk between cabling pairs. The protective shield in Cat6a cable adds to the expense.

Electricity and Mechanical Facets

Aside from the electrical issues, Cat6a Untwisted Pair (UTP) is fabricated with bigger conductors. It has more rigid twists compared to Cat5e and Cat6 and these heavier conductors plus large and stiffer jacket combines to make for more difficult cable installation. Besides, the external diameter of the UTP means that the Cat6a cable takes up more room in the trays and conduits.

Electrical and mechanical issues should not be overlooked since this can affect performance. The physical stability of Cat6a is essential to its transmission performance. Cat6a can be more sensitive to degradation of signal compared to Cat5.

These may be produced by the following:

Cable twisting generates signal reflection.

Excess insertion pressure on cables can cause poor connector performance.

Weakness of RJ45 (communications) connectors.

For example, if the cable is wedged in a door or compressed or squeezed by a heavy object, can result in sporadic network problems which may not be easy to detect. Nevertheless, Cat6a functions at enhanced specifications compared to Cat6 UTP. Considering all of these issues it may seem that fiber cable will become the ultimate future for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. It is up to users and the market forces to make the choice.

Handling Cat5/Cat5e Cabling

19 Nov 2014

Stu Kushner

cat 5e,Network cabling, cables, Atlanta GA Information Technology specialists have to choose the kind of cable to utilize for their networks. Cat5 has been one of the main choices for decades. This is because Cat5 supports 10/100 Ethernet which includes Fast Ethernet. In recent years, Cat5e has become the dominant choice for new cabling projects. And Cat5e cable is also backwards compatible. Your computers, phone and other network devices will work on Cat5e cable.

One handling issue is the electrical interference

Fundamentals of Structured Cabling Systems

15 Nov 2014

Stu Kushner

structured cabling, Network Cabling, Data Cabling The structured cabling system is a comprehensive structure of wiring and the related hardware involved. This system ensures a complete and reliable telecommunications infrastructure. This network has several but mostly for providing telephone services or conveyance of data over a computer network. This type of cabling system also connects to the internet at the demarcation point.

A quality structured cabling installation has these common elements:

It must fir the architectural configuration of the building that hosts cabling installation

It made up of cable and connection fixtures

It connects equipment that cabling is setup to support

Can be designed to enable retrofitting and upgrading

Meets the objectives and requirements of the business

Is backed by a guarantee by the manufacturer and the installer

As installers, we use standardized techniques in the completion and upkeep of cabling systems. This is important to guarantee satisfactory system performance on a technically complicated infrastructure. The benefits of adhering to these standards are that they insure stability of connectivity after setup.

Structured cabling installations may include:

Entrance facilities

Perpendicular and horizontal backbone conduits or cables

Horizontal lanes

Work area facilities

Equipment areas

Telecommunications racks and cabinets

A cabling connector refers to the mechanical device used in connecting a cable to a device or from one cable to another. The connector provides the coupling device that can minimize losses. For fiber, it permits light signals to move from one connector to another. On the other hand, copper enables electrical impulses to be conveyed. It is important to properly align these connectors to prevent connectivity breaks. Likewise, it should insure the efficient transmission of data. Connectors are crucial to the reliability of the total telecommunications network.

There are six subsystems in the structured platform. These are entrance facilities, equipment rooms, backbone cabling, telecommunication rooms and enclosures, the cabling, and the work area. The first consists of cables, network boundary, hardware for connection, security devices, and equipment attached to the network cabling. Backbone cabling consists of subsystems that provide inter-connection between telecommunication, network equipment and access facilities. Quite often these are the higher speed cabling components such as Cat6 and fiber that connect among the switches of an office.

Horizontal cabling connects from the desktops and phones to the telecommunications rooms and enclosures. The maximum horizontal cable length should be at no more than 100 meters. These desktop components extend out from the wall plate connection end of the horizontal cabling system to the equipment in the wall closet.

Call us if you need troubleshooting or if you have a need for cabling at your office due to expansion or relocation of your firm. We do free on-site surveys and quotes.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Cat6 cabling?

7 Nov 2014

Stu Kushner

network cabling,cat6 cable As the price of Cat6 cable has come down, the answer is yes. You get 500% more speed for about a 25% higher price. Unless you really just don't need more speed, go with Cat6.

Category6 or Cat6 cables have established standards for the Gigabit Ethernet. This variety is backward compatible with Category 5 and 5e as well as Category 3 cable. Cat6 facilitates computer networks by providing high-speed data transfer rates. Performance can be described as optimal if other components within the network are also running at gigabit speeds.

What are the upsides?

Cat6 is fast. It has the capability to handle maximum speed performance of 250 MHZ. The network includes Gigabit Ethernet along with 10-Gigabit Ethernet. With complementary routers, interface cards, switches, and patch panels a complete gigabit network is possible. Information Technology professionals are aware that Cat6 cable provides exceptionally fast network performance and gigabit speeds.

The composition is similar to Cat5 Cable. There are eight wires which are coiled together forming four pairs. With Cat6, each pair of wires is designed to be insulated from the others so it can produce twice the communications capacity of Cat5 and Cat5e. Cat6 cables plugs and ports are compatible to Cat5 and Cat5e. It may not have the same maximum speed of the computer cable but it will still function.

You can upgrade to Cat6 cable if your current network is not performing at a productive speed in retrieving and saving your data files. Even small enterprises are now thinking of installing this model because it is fast emerging as the industry standard.

However, Cat6 cable is more expensive. It will surely be a waste of resources in cases where greater data speeds are not needed. That is why some users opt for Cat5e which is less expensive while still providing splendid performance.

At the same time, you are not guaranteed 100 percent full speed. Sometimes, there is a misconception that purchasing a Cat6 cable will offer users the whole gigabit bandwidth on your network. The truth is Cat6 cable will only generate full speeds if all of the components in the network can function at gigabit speed. In case a single part (network card, patch panel, switch or connector) is not gigabit rated, the network may work at the slowest speed of the slowest component device.

You might be persuaded to buy Cat6 without really understanding if it will really produce the desired impact on the network. This is why it is essential to learn everything about the product before you make a decision.

Call us at 202-462-4290 before you decide so that you can get a free on-site analysis that will pinpoint your network cabling needs.

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

CAT5E/CAT6 Cable Repair & Patching Techniques

15 Aug 2014

Stu Kushner

Network Cabling,Crimp Tool , Data Cabling Network cables are said to be the “arteries and veins” of the communications network. The cabled system is a highly consistent platform for setting up infrastructure since the connectivity is very reliable. It is also easy to troubleshoot. However, it is not really fail-safe. Cables can get warped and sometimes snagged in ceilings. The connectors can also get broken if they are pulled to hard at the wallplate.

It does not matter whether it is Cat5e or Cat6. Cat6 is considered a better choice although, for some, cost prohibitive. When you look at it,

Upgrading To Cat6 Cable

26 Jul 2014

Stu Kushner

Upgrading to Cat6 Cable: Requirements for a Corporate Office

Technology continues to evolve and adapt to corporate requirements. Data volume has increased significantly and processing capacity demands faster access. IT managers have predicted that data production will be 44 times larger five years from now. And enterprises have to process and protect that data. Moreover, the amount of data in your business network system grows constantly.

Until recently, this was accomplished using the Cat5 cable. However, limitations is now causing some problems because it has a maximum data rate

Advantages Of Using Cat6 Cables

22 May 2014

Stu Kushner

Cat 6 Category 6 or Cat 6 network copper cabling is the preferred infrastructure for Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet. It has a maximum performance of 250 MHz, or 500 MHz for the more contemporary Cat6a standard. This type of cabling may be utilized for a maximum distance (end to end) of 100 meters, or 55 meters for the 10 GBASE-T networks. Aside from support for higher performance, Cat6 includes more rigid specifications for crosstalk and system noise. Although Cat6 is anticipated to surpass Cat 5 and Cat 5e cabling soon, all three cable varieties are still widely used for network installations.

Fast and Credible Performance

Most IT experts recognize this type of copper cabling for its speedy network performance due to its ability to deliver gigabit data transmission speeds. It has a parallel structure similar to Cat5 and Cat5e. These copper cables have eight wires coiled as one to form four pairs. The major difference is that one pair of the Cat 6 cable wires does not touch the others, so it can produce twice the transmission capacity of the two other models.

It is also backward compatible. The plug and port of Cat6 cable is the same as the 5 and 5e models. Thus, it can be plugged into any outlet that supports these cables. For instance, you can use the Cat 5 connection for a Cat 6 cable although it will not produce the full speed of the Cat 6 cable.

Resistance to Heat and Flexibility

Copper cables are second to silver in terms of effective conductivity, but among non-precious metals, these wires can cope with a broader load of electricity with less need for insulation. Furthermore, copper cabling has more resistance to heat, which eliminates overloading problems. They are impervious to corrosion despite their shiny surface. Copper is also more pliable, so it can be twisted without the risk of splitting. In fact, copper is used in fabricating thick wires for applications where very thin wires are required. It can also be part of an upgrade if you are looking forward to a more optimal network. Copper Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 are the industry standards for most small to medium sized offices.

There are certain problems that deserve consideration. Such as copper cabling failure in high-performance wiring systems. Users may also need to contend with poor component performance, such as bad cable segments or connectors that do not comply with specifications. However, these problems are frequently the result of human error. So the choice of copper cabling is still a good one.

Should you upgrade your Cat5 cable to Cat6 or Cat6a?

23 Mar 2014

Stu Kushner

A business decision is approaching. Most companies have Cat5/5e cable in their offices. And it has served well in providing reliable data access to servers, peripherals and the Internet. Cat5/5e runs at speeds up to 1gb (also known as 1000Base-T). Cat6 runs at 10gb but has sorter runs. Whereas Cat5 can have cable lengths of up to 100m, Cat6 maxes out at 55m. This number falls to 37m in a hostile environment. To achieve full 100m cable lengths maximum while minimizing the risks of crosstalk, it is advisable to install Cat6a cable.

Ultimately, this decision is about costs vs. gains. And before a decision can be made, it is critically important to determine if your existing cable infrastructure is running into bottlenecks that cause traffic slowdowns at the desktop for your users. Internet might only needs about 5 - 25mb of bandwidth. But if your office has a lot of workstations and/or a group of users that are utilizing data-intensive publishing or graphic applications, you might need more speed. We have sophisticated network monitoring tools that can determine the traffic across your network. If we determine that you are using all available bandwidth, than your decision will be based on solid information.

Cat6 and Cat6a will boost your network speeds to 10gb/sec. Can you afford to upgrade to Cat6/6a? If the costs justify the expense, please contact us. We will send out one of our top network cabling technicians to analyze your network and determine if this upgrade option is a good idea for your office. And if it is, we will follow up with a proposal all at no cost to your firm.

Data Cabling ,Cat5e ,Cat6/6a Cabling,Network Cable Rack

Should we upgrade to Cat6a or to Cat7 cabling?

10 Nov 2023

Stu Kushner

Cat6a is a much more established standard than Cat7. It is easier to install and has less connectivity issues. We are not going to recommend or bid on a Cat7 solution. Cat6a can run at speeds of up to 10-Gigabit so if that is acceptable for the next 10 years, than we recommend Cat 6a or go to fiber.

We were asked to bid on a cabling project that was fairly straight-forward. It involved replacing the existing Cat5e cable with either Cat6a, Cat7 or fiber cable. The site was an open, standard modern office with a drop ceiling and hollow office walls. The client needed 64 single drops to existing faceplates, three new 24-port patch panels and patch cables.

The need for higher speeds by the client was created by a demand for faster access to larger files from the Server. This potential client was involved with heavy drafting and multimedia applications that require more bandwidth through the cabling system. Cat5e yields up to 1000Base-T, 1-Gigabit, data transfer speed.

The challenge is in deciding on which type of cable to use. Cat6a and fiber are very standard solutions. But Cat7 is not at all a standard installation yet (and might not ever be one). The problems with Cat7 are that the cable is very heavy,

Cabling Issues

11 Apr 2013

Stu Kushner

data cabling,,DC One of the most important things about cabling is to purchase cable not just for what you’re using now but for what you may run in the future. A rule of thumb is to install the highest-grade cable that your budget allows.

The standard is Ethernet. That means there are two basic types of cables to use: copper Ethernet and fiber optic Ethernet. Copper Ethernet cabling is generally used to connect the data center equipment to the end-user, while fiber optic cabling is used to network the infrastructure and to

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