Friday, February 10th, 2012

Network Cat5 Cat6 Cabling 6 Point Buyer Guide

When you need Network Data Cat5 Cat6 Cabling for your company or small business, there are a few things you need to know in order to properly utilize the application of these communication tools.

It always will prove useful to consult with professionals when looking to wire your building or office for voice and data cabling.

Discussed here are 6 points you need to know about network and voice structured cabling.

1. For office cabling, it must first be determined what exactly your requirements are for network cabling.

Do you need cabling for voice and do you require cabling for data?

How many computers are in your network?

Note: Locations or drops include employee workstations as well as common area applications such as fax machines and conference phones.

If there is more than one, it will require a network, with a server and properly ventilated server room, in order for the network computers to work together and give you efficiency in the work place.

You may require video and data in your conference room.

2. Not all cabling is alike.

For telephone usage, a Cat (or category) 3 is common.

However, Cat5E is now the standard for phones for your network.

Cat6 for your network data is used when very large files eg cad drawings are being sent.

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3. The type of cabling for network cabling and wiring in your business varies in of itself.

It’s important to consider what you can afford now, but also to consider if it will be sufficient with room to grow.

It’s logical to purchase the most you can afford now, rather than have to restructure and expend more costs later with an upgrade.

Remember that technology is always growing.

Cat 3 is rarely used anymore with Cat5E being used for voice.

Cat 5E for fast Ethernet carries up to 100 Mbps.

Cat 5E cable is an enhanced version of Cat 5 that adds specifications for far end crosstalk, and has superseded Cat 5 specification.

Category 6 is used for gigabit connections.

Most businesses chose Cat5E.

Note: Both Category 3 and Category 5 have a maximum segment length of 100 meters (325′).

4. Consider Plenum versus non-Plenum. Plenum Cabling is structured cabling and is required under building codes for plenum commercial spaces.

Plenum rated cable has fire-resistant & slow burning casing that emits very little smoke. The space between the structural ceiling and the raised floor or under a dropped ceiling is usually considered plenum. The plenum space is typically used to house communication cables for a buildings telephone and computer network, and allows for a cooling and ventilated environment.

No high-voltage powered equipment is allowed in the plenum space. It should be determined if your building requires this cable by inquiring with your building manager.

Plenum is 30% to 40% higher in price, if not required by the building management company then standard network cabling will suffice.

5. Options and Requirements. When considering all the options and requirements to fit your network structured cabling needs, in order to have adequate office wiring, the best results for the future growth of your business is to utilize cabling installation for data and voice applications at one time, rather than over a series of installations, which will cut your costs.

6. Cost. A rule of thumb, depending on the factors above ie Cat5E vs Cat6, plenum or non-plenum, and length of the cable runs, with material and labor the cost should be $125 to $150 per cable run or drop.

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