Robust supporting infrastructure for the data system is imperative for any company. In case some questions are troubling you regarding the data cabling installation, this set of Frequently Asked Questions would help.
If you are setting up or moving an office, you will need an efficient and reliable data cabling company for laying down the right supporting infrastructure for the data system. Appropriate data cable installation is essential for proper functioning of your office. Answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) regarding the data cable installation would invariably help you.
Q. How much money I will have to shell out for getting a cabling system installed?
A. Generally, you’ll need to spend something between £25 and £120 per point, if installing a 100 point cabling network. This cost includes patch panels, outlets, cables, tray work and installation man hours (depending on installation complexity and cable/connector grade selected) but not the active hardware such as switches or routers, etc.
Q. How will I know that the installer is right for the job or not?
A. Make sure that the installer is certified for installing major manufacturers’ cabling systems. Established manufacturers’ cable systems come with proper warantee. Such authorised installers offer active data installations.
Q. Is it essential for the network cabling installer to have an expertise and experience in this field?
A. Of course it is essential. Though some electricians and telephone engineers possess required knowledge in network cabling but they are very few, hence it is best to go for professional installers. Ask probing questions and discuss the cabling performance or network speeds and cross talk, attenuation and return loss with them. Get details as to what kind of tester they use, the frequency range it scans at, its compliance with Cat5e or Cat6, the supplier of their cables and components and whether they would support the installation and come with warranty.
Q. What kind of cable and connectors should be there in my cabling network?
A. Cables and connectors of at least Category 5E standard should be used. Higher standards such as Cat6 and Cat6a are also available.
Q. What is a Cat5e cable?
A. Cat5e is an enhanced version of Cat5 with specifications for far end crosstalk and offers the usable bandwidth of 100 MHz. 10BASE-T, 100 BASE-T and 1000BASE-T networks can be used with this cable.
Q. What is a Cat6 cable?
A. Cat6 comes with more stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. 500 MHz of usable bandwidth is offered by this cable. 10BASE-T, 100 BASE-T, 1000BASE-T & 10000BASE-T networks are compatible with Cat6a.
Q. What should I go for – Category 5e or Category 6?
A. The faster the data cable, the better it is. However, the decision depends on the requirements of your business. 5E category cable is generally ideal for most business needs. If properly installed, the system will provide a throughput of 100Mbps, and in some cases 1000Mbps, backed by manufacturer’s warranties. Correctly installed category 6, backed by warranty, will guarantee 1000Mbps.
Q. Are Cat6 cables compatible with Cat5e applications?
A. Yes. Cat6 is equipped with backward compatibility, i.e, it is compatible with all previous standard applications and thus with Cat5 & Cat5e applications.
Q. Can desktop computers and the telephones be supported on the data cabling Active Data Installations install?
A. They can be supported. Modern data cables have been designed with latest technology and work with low frequency voice circuit’s right up to Gigabit networks.
Q. What do Mbps and Gbps exactly mean?
These units are used to measure data transfer rates.
Mbps = Megabits per Second.
Gbps = Gigabits per Second.
Q. What does MHz stand for?
MHz stands for Megahertz and refers to the frequency at which the cable transmits data.
Q. Should I use Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH) cable?
A. Yes, especially the air conditioned buildings. LSOH is a compound used for making the sheath of a cable which prevents the emission of toxic halogen gases, in case of a fire within the building. ADI’s project managers will graph out the right cabling solution.
