2012-04-03

Six Largest Mistakes Made when Hiring a Cabling undertaker of a package deal

Cabling of data and voice systems is often ignored by many fellowships until the last slight just before relocation or new building takes place. Many data systems professionals view it as a low priority or something that just takes away from their funds for real network components such as servers or software. however having a state of the art easy to carry on cabling law is just as leading as good dependable servers on a network. Cabling is the backbone of any computer network; it ties all the components of the network together therefore it should receive as much right consideration as any other network component.

Mistake estimate one - Blindly choosing the lowest bidder

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This is the most base mistake made when installing voice and data network cabling. Often the lowest bidder is the undertaker of a package deal who is the smallest, has the least caress or the one that made a mistake on their bid. Prior to development this decision you should know your contractor. Find out how long they have been in business, visit some of the large installations they have done and by all means go visit their offices and warehouse. A site visit to their office will tell you most of what you need to know about an organization. Make sure your undertaker of a package deal has completed jobs of similar scope and size.

Mistake estimate two - choosing the business goods that will be installed

Many fellowships have tried to standardize on a single institute of cabling system. Some of the larger business are Belden, Comscope, Ortronics, Amp and Leviton. You can't go wrong with any of these big names. however It managers and corporate executives get hung up on trying to standardize because they believe it will make things easier for the It staff. The reality of the situation is that if you select any of the larger names the only components that might not be interchangeable are the faceplates. Of procedure there are operation criteria as well and they all claim to be the best. Do your own research and select a institute that you feel has a strong firm that will be there to stand behind their goods should you even need to make a warranty claim

Mistake estimate three - Paying too much for the latest cabling technologies

The fact is that today's network components and network components of the hereafter cannot exceed the specifications of Cat 5E and Cat 6 cabling components. merge this with the fact that the midpoint firm moves every 3 to 4 years. You will find it hard to advantage from hereafter proofing a building you don't occupy. Look at you current infrastructure, what equipment or applications do you plan to add or upgrade? Is Gigabit or 10 Gigabit Ethernet an choice for you in the near future?

Mistake estimate four - Not using universal wiring

The Eia/Tia and Bicsi both advise a universal wiring platform for your Communications Infrastructure. In the old days the midpoint setup would consist of a single voice grade cable for the phone law and a single data grade cable (Cat 3, Cat5, Cat5E or Cat 6) for their computers. This of procedure dedicates the usability of these cables to one law type. This is additional exacerbated by the termination method used. Voice cables were traditionally ended on 66 style blocks (66m1-50), which are not user amiable and wish a extra tool and cross connect wire to make changes. Telephony fellowships have made a killing for years just performing Mac work (Moves, Adds and Changes) because a customer was unable or unwilling to brave the telephone closet and perform the Mac work themselves.

The convention of using a true universal wiring platform is now the proper for all reputable cabling contractors. A Universal Wiring Platform is made up of all data grade components that are downward compatible for all voice applications. A base installation would consist of 3 kind 5E or kind 6 cables all ended on a 110 type Patch Panel. At the wall plate all cable would be ended on the matching grade of 8 position modular jack (incorrectly know as an Rj-45). This institute not only allows for maximum flexibility were the customer could have 3 computers or 3 phones or 2 computer and 1 phone or any configuration that works for their application. The point is that now the customer is in unblemished operate of their cabling infrastructure and does not need to pay a undertaker of a package deal to come out every time they move an office. In the long run this will also save you money on the wide cabling law as it will shift and flex to meet your needs without having to bring in your cabling contractor. Remember, having the undertaker of a package deal in after building has completed will involve them pulling out ceiling tiles and standing on desks while you are trying to do business. The elimination of the disruption alone makes it worth while.

Mistake estimate five - No Cad pre installation and post installation Cad drawings.

Most customers admittedly have no idea what their cabling platform will look like when they sign the paperwork. They rely on their undertaker of a package deal to "just do the right thing". Do not make this mistake, if you don't understand how your infrastructure will work or what it should look like, don't sign. Your undertaker of a package deal should have the potential to take your building blue print and overlay his cabling plan on top of your electrical plans. This will give you a optical representation of what you are paying for and allow you to ask questions. Likewise, after the job is unblemished you should receive what is called an "As Built Drawing" showing all of your communications outlets with a standards based numbering system. Some undertaker of a package deal will even contribute a scale elevation plan showing were your patch panels are and how much room you have left in each rack for growth and or other equipment. This should be in case,granted to you both hard copy and in AutoCad format for your architect to merge into your final building As Builts.

Mistake estimate six - Not getting a institute before the job starts.

This seems to be all over the board, some citizen have no institute plan what so ever. Some will pay ,000 for an engineering firm to write a specification were they charge by the pound for the spec. Don't be fooled that a large spec is a good spec. Often a specification filed with time fascinating exercises for the bidding undertaker of a package deal and unnecessary pricing breakouts will only preclude good contractors from bidding on your project. What you want is a spec that clearly defines your realistic requirements, requires basic qualification with references and does it as speedily and naturally as possible. Do not try to write a spec that will cover every contingency, you will drive your undertaker of a package deal away and you will only confuse the process more. Once you have prime your undertaker of a package deal based on an apple s to apple comparison, you can always and should always sit down to discuss the project and other options that they recommend. One more thing, always, always have the undertaker of a package deal contribute you with a parts list with quantities, not personel prices, just quantities. This will help you weed out the contractors that did their homework when you start to correlate their list of parts.

Mistake estimate six - No cable management

All cabling systems will look organized before they are used, that's easy. Show me that cabling law after 6 months and I will tell you if the allowable wire administration was used. "Used" being the key word here. Remember, you can have the best wiring administration in the world, if you don't strictly enforce its use with your It Staff, you will have a mess. That said, your undertaker of a package deal must contribute you with a good design. My hint is, listen to your contractor, they know more than you do about this. Then, go visit some of the sites that are done the way they recommend. See how they look after being used a few months. Ask the customer how easy it is to keep organized. Don't underestimate the value of this step. If your patch panels are a mess and you can't consequent changes in a rapid and orderly fashion then you would have been good off paying your undertaker of a package deal to do the Mac work for you.

Six Largest Mistakes Made when Hiring a Cabling undertaker of a package deal

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