electronics | Progressive Office Cabling

Upgrading To Cat6 Cable

26 Jul 2014

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

Distinguishing between Cat5 and Cat6 Network Cables

12 Jun 2014

Stu Kushner

Network cables connect and transmit information between personal computers, storage area networks and routers. You can now find various models of cables. Your choice may depend on configuration and topology of the system’s architecture. The most common variety is known as twisted pair cable in local area networks. Numerous Ethernet networks use this type of cable. It is composed of four pairs of fine wires or conductors. Each pair is entwined several times to prevent obstruction from other cables and devices.

The CAT5 or Category5 is an example of twisted pair cable

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.

How Does Structured Cabling Work?

10 Nov 2023

Stu Kushner

Cabling Network Cabling, Data Cabling,cat5 cat6 cabling is an essential component in your network. It also has a long life span, from 15 to 20 years, so it may be necessary to replace your network equipment at least three times during the life of the cabling configuration. Cable installation is roughly 15 percent of the total network outlay. So it is advisable to invest in premium cabling systems, particularly to reduce maintenance costs and downtime while also achieving improved network performance. Entrepreneurs are always advised to look at the long-term scenario and acquire the best cable installation available.

Uninterrupted Flow of Information

There is no doubt regarding the importance of a structured cabling system in the operations of a business organization. This complete system with related hardware provides far-reaching telecommunications; it has a broad range of uses like supplying phone services or transmitting information through a network of computers. Each structured cabling system is unique depending on a number of factors, including the architectural formation of edifices that houses cabling installation, cable and connection components, equipment variety that cabling supports, configuration including upgrades and retro-fitting, requirements of clients, and manufacturers’ warranties.

The assembly that has been planned carefully and installed according to this plan ensures an unbroken network of information and communications. Aside from this advantage, structured cabling facilitates sharing of resources, enables smooth operations, and adapts to evolving technology. In fact, it is expected to last longer than computer servers and network switches. The types of network installations are the Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN).

Cabling installation firms design and install LAN systems consisting of data and voice as well as support equipment for computer networks and mainframe programs of PCs. All installations must comply with state and city codes together with manufacturers’ specifications.

Other Benefits

Structured cabling offers users more flexibility. It takes the place of multiple wiring systems with a single and cohesive infrastructure. This conveys data in various formats ranging from voice to video. You only need to plug the correct adapter into the socket whether you want to connect a computer, telephone or fax machine.

It affords users peace of mind since each cabling comes with full on-site warranty, covering component or performance faults. It is also possible to make changes in a matter of minutes. This built-in ensures that your organization can be very cost-effective. Furthermore, structured cabling has the capacity to hold high bandwidth, guaranteeing that you've invested in a solution that fully supports new applications. In other words, your cabling infrastructure will not become obsolete within the next few years.

Take care to deal only with cabling companies that employ highly competent technicians and make use of superior cable management equipment.

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.

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

RJ-45 Connectors Made Easy

18 Apr 2013

Stu Kushner

What is the difference between a Cat5 and a Cat6 RJ45 connector?

The easy answer is: they are both cable connectors with a standard network plug and socket, often called an “Ethernet jack”.

Cat 5 and Cat 6 are UTP, or Unshielded Twisted Pair cables. The difference defines the cables as Category (Cat) 5 or Cat 6 UTP cable. Both are terminated by RJ45 connectors.

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

A Guide to Network Cabling

22 Mar 2013

Stu Kushner

Cat 6 While WI-Fi and other wireless network technologies have improved greatly over the years, nothing beats the reliability and performance of a wired network in your home or business. One challenge that people face is what kind of cable they need for their needs.

Although there are dozens of network cable types, the fact is only 3 types of network cable is commonly used in home and small business networks: Category 3 (Cat3), Category 5 (Cat5), and Category 6 (Cat6).

What is “Alien Crosstalk”?

8 Mar 2013

Stu Kushner

Network Cabling, Data Cabling No, it’s not ET calling home. “Alien Crosstalk” is defined as “unwanted signal coupling from one balanced twisted-pair component, channel, or permanent link to another”.

Alien crosstalk is not generally affected by common noise from motors, transformers, or florescent lighting fixtures. Alien crosstalk is specified as “a parameter for cabling to approximate the energy present when all cabling pairs are energized”.

Shielded or Unshielded Cat6 cable?

22 Feb 2013

Stu Kushner

cat6-cabling,data cabling, With high bandwidth applications and network systems venturing into factory environments, the need for shielded Cat 6 cable has increased. In these new areas of installation, the environment where the network cable is run has large amounts of EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interference). Although Cat 6 cables have improved cable twist to reject noise and handle gigabit Ethernet this by itself is not enough for high EMI environments. A shielded Cat 6 cable helps in high EMI installations. These high performance cables ensure the data within the cable will be protected from EMI, resulting in higher speeds and better data transmission.

Grounding Necessities for Shielded Cat 6 cables

Shielding helps protect the data from electromagnetic interference from outside sources that could alter or weaken the signal traveling through the copper in the cable. The shields of the two connectors are electrically tied together by the drain wire. However, they will only become grounded if the jack they are placed in has its shielding tied to ground. If you are setting up a network with Category 6 shielded cables, you should use Cat 6 shielded couplers and jacks.

Installation caveats

Category 6 and 6a cable must be properly installed and terminated to meet specifications. The cable must not be kinked or bent too tightly (the bend radius should be at least four times the outer diameter of the cable). The wire pairs must not be untwisted and the outer jacket must not be stripped back more than 1/2 inch (1.27 cm).

All shielded cables must be grounded for safety and effectiveness and a continuous shield connection maintained from end to end. Ground loops develop when there is more than one ground connection and the difference in common mode voltage potential at these ground connections introduces noise into the cabling.

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