Posts by Mark

What cable category should you choose?

Now its Cat 6, but there is also Cat 6A, it used to be Cat 5 and Cat 5E. How do I choose? The simple answer: choosing the right cable depends on the application. While CAT6 and Cat6A are the same gauge of copper wire, Cat 6A is more precisely manufactured with tighter tolerances and twist rates to meet more stringent cable specifications.

If you want to talk future-proofing your network, Cat 6A is it and is recommended by industry standards for all new deployments. Truthfully, it will provide peace of mind for supporting the latest LAN applications.

Currently (2024) here in Canada Cat 6A is quite a bit more expensive, depending on manufacturer it can be double the cost or more per box. So, if you’re working on a tighter budget and only need to support Gigabit speeds and lower levels PoE, with no plans to deploy more advanced applications, Cat 6 is certainly a very good option.

To help determine the cable category need, a few simple questions might ascertain the answers:

• What performance speed are you supporting – 1G, 2.5G, 5G, or 10 Gigabits?
• Have you deployed level 5 or 6 Wi-Fi on your network?
• Is insertion loss a concern? (It increases with heat and distance)
• What class of PoE needs to be supported?

Cat 6 will work for most network drops quite well: Servicing PCs or other AC powered devices, Cat 6 may be all that is needed on 1G networks. But the Backbone cabling between data closet switches, cabling to newer Access Points, or PoE devices needing 60W plus would be better served with Cat 6A.

Either way a conversation with your Network Cabling Technician will answer your questions.

Does it matter?

Unfortunately, here in Ontario, Canada our technicians are not required to be licensed or certified and to be honest they also go by several titles: Cabling Technicians, Cabling Specialists, Telecom Installers. So, who do you choose?

The key to finding the right technician, specialist or installer is to ensure the individual is Certified by a reputable institution of the trade. One that is certification-based with worldwide acceptance, and also promotes recertification and continuing education.

Two such reputable institutions are the Fiber Optic Association and BICSI.

These institutions are part of the development and setting of worldwide standards of competency and ethics for both Fiber Optics and Structured Cabling systems. Both institutions offer Knowledge and Skills based certifications to create knowledgeable ICT professionals who perform duties in compliance with industry best practices, methodologies, standards, and codes.

These certifications also teach the knowledge along with demonstrated skills in the installation of copper, fiber optic cabling and wireless systems used to support networks. These networks make up your LANs, telephone systems, CCTV, security, HVAC, DAS or building management applications, industrial systems, and electrical distribution management systems, etc.

Both institutions also offer separate certification for Fiber-Optic cabling because as a trade it has its own best practices, standards and codes.

Because these are registered institutions, FOA and BICSI are able to share an individual’s certifications via LinkedIn under featured Licenses & Certifications.

Mark Hall of Premises Cabling is a Certified Premises Cabling Technician(CPCT) and a Certified Fiber Optic Cabling Technician(CFOT): https://lnkd.in/gkA5tzXR

Power over Ethernet has become a key part of wireless networks, smart buildings and enterprise networks. Why? Because Power over Ethernet simplifies the the delivery of electrical power to connect devices to the Local Area Network (LAN). And this is done by using the same Ethernet cables. This simplifies the device installation and maintenance process by not needing an electrical plug and power brick.

A simple example of this is a Wireless Access Point, it is powered and connected to the LAN via a PoE switch. There is no need for separate wiring, AC electrical circuits or receptacles to power the device.

Many enterprise type networks have come to rely on PoE to bring electricity over the existing network cables to power devices, such-as Access Points, IP Phones, PTZ security cameras and other devices. A major aspect of PoE that has been changing every few years is the increased need for device power. As these devices increase the number of frequency bands, features or options, the demand for more power also increases.

As network designers and integrators build and modify their Networks, they must be conscience of two main physical aspects. Max PoE power draw on their switches and having the correct Category cable installed to support the PoE device.

PoE has tremendously grown since the IEEE standards were created in 2003 and it is obvious that it’s use will only increase in the coming years. Some believe the PoE type 4 is the last standard change. But is it.??

It is a reminder that investing in quality cabling is crucial for future-proofing office networks. A trusted Network Cabling Specialist or Technician will assist with choosing the correct cable to meet the needs of a growing network.

The chart below highlights the basic changes to the IEEE PoE standard types and the power assigned to each.

Written by
Mark Hall
Premises Cabling
Network Cabling Contractor | Certified Premises Cabling Technician 

A certified fiber optic technician is a professional who works with fiber optic cables used in telecommunications and networking industry. They are responsible for installing, maintaining, troubleshooting and testing fiber optic systems. These technicians primarily deploying fiber optic cables to transmit data, voice, and video signals over long distances with high speed and reliability.

They can work in various settings, such as homes, communities, commercial buildings, hospitals and universities. Fiber optic cables provide faster and more reliable internet, television and telephone services than traditional cables.

CFOT^® – Certified Fiber Optic Technician – is the primary FOA certification for all fiber optics applications. CFOTs have appropriate knowledge, skills and abilities in fiber optics that can be applied to almost any job requiring design, installation, or operation and for almost any application – outside plant, premises(inside plant), manufacturing, etc. The FOA CFOT certification is based on an extensive knowledge of fiber optics technology and application as well as demonstrated skills in appropriate tasks. Most Certified Fiber Optic Technicians work in the industry as contractors or installers. Consultants, network designers, estimators and trainers would also be expected to have such credentials. 

Mark Hall of Premises Cabling is a Certified Fiber Optic Technician.

For more information regarding the FOA CFOT certification.

Certified Premises Cabling Technician – CPCT – is a certification for installers and operators of premises cabling networks as offered by the Fiber Optic Association – FOA. Premises Cabling or Premises Wiring refers to the structured cabling systems that are used within buildings for LANs, telephone systems, CCTV, security, HVAC or building management. A structured cabling system could be a combination of copper or fiber-optic cablings, distributed antenna systems (DAS for cellular and WiFI) and other applications like industrial systems, electrical distribution management systems, etc.

FOA CPCT certification is a skills based certification and includes all types of infrastructure for premises cabling and communications – copper and fiber cabling and wireless systems. CPCT certification is based on knowledge, skills and abilities, it is this knowledge of cabling and wireless technology and standards along with demonstrated skills in the installation of copper and fiber cabling system that is used to support networks. Most Certified Premises Cabling Technicians work as contractors and installers.

Mark Hall of Premises Cabling is a Certified Premises Cabling Technician.

More information regarding the FOA CPCT certification.

ICT stands for Information and Communications Technology

The type of systems that fall into this category are: Voice/Data/Audio/Video Technologies, Electronic Safety & Security, All Fiber- and Copper-Based Distribution Systems and Infrastructure, Wireless Networks, Data Center Design, Outside Plant Cabling, and Design, Integration & Installation of Telecommunications Distributions.

ICT contractors and professionals are trained and certified in the installation, design and project management of such systems respectively. Generally certified ICT contractors and professionals are required to maintain certification, accreditation or licensing through continuing education.

See for example the Fiber Optic Association or BICSI.

Electricians are licensed for high voltage cabling installation, so with all due respect to our electrical trade friends, we recognize their talent. Ultimately, electricians do not work with technology, networking, or data, they work with electricity. 

Certified Premises Cabling technicians work with technology, networking and data, they install the networking or structured cables to industry standards. So the truth is you should never hire an electrician to handle your network cabling job, just as you would never hire a Cabling technician to perform an electrical job.

Each profession is different and in the end hiring an electrician to preform a network cabling job will not save you money.

The more common network cable category used in offices to date is the Twisted-pair Category 5e cables, also called CAT5e. This was the industry standard for unshielded twisted-pair cables (UTP) for in-home and small business networking.

However as internet services and computers have gotten faster over recent years the latest industry standard for commercial office space has changed and the Cat6 or Cat6A cables are becoming the latest standard. Cat6 cables support more than double the transmission speeds of Cat5e(100mhz). A Cat6 cable will support a minimum frequency of 250mhz and Cat6A will support a frequency of 500mhz.

IN basics, Premises Cabling refers to the network cabling systems that are used for LANs, telephone systems, CCTV, security, HVAC or building management. A network cabling system could be a combination of copper or fiber-optic cablings. The network cabling system has backbone and horizontal service cabling that runs from a central location such as a server room, possibly through telecom closets and then to the individual desktops or devices. A network cabling technician should follow the industry standards for grounding and bonding, general install, labelling and verification.