Whenever we try to set up a new office environment or revamping an old one, some whole new installations are made and a few things are required to be replaced.
However, improper installations of Ethernet cables not only disable network performance but also lead to new problems like maintenance headaches and hidden costs.
Here are some steps that you should avoid while working with networking cables:
1. Not preparing for the future:
In case you have some cabling in your place for your desktop and if you need to switch your business to a new location and require new cabling, then you need to decide what type of cable you require to install. While laying the cables, labour cost remains the most expensive part, but it’s also important to choose a reasonably high-end cable, which sounds costly but will last for years to come.
2. Using different cabling for voice & data:
Some of you might be using the same cables for data and voice. If so, then you must put a check on yourself. Well, for the transfer of data, you require twisted pair cable which is quite expensive, but it’s necessary to use the cables according to your needs. Voice is not that much tricky and hence can work with a single pair of wire for the purpose, while in case of data, cables are required in bulk to ensure smooth flow of data.
3. Ignoring cabling management resources:
Cabling management resources are getting expensive now, but it can also save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Not planning for the future needs of your company can be the biggest networking mistake. Running network cable does not just end with the initial installation. You may require adding some more cables, to make a host of other modifications or updates, So it’s better to avoid it during the setup stage.
Also, cable management prevents hanging cables, which can stretch and cause physical stress on the core of the cable.
4. Not testing the infrastructure of the cabling:
When you are done with installing the cables, all you need to check, if the cable is working properly or not. This involves the checking of the length and the specifications of the cables as per the requirement. Like if you are given the 1 Gbps speed, then first you must verify that cable will support the data or not.
5. Avoiding following codes and ordinances:
During the installation, it’s really important to follow codes, as missing them can lead to risky situations that can cause harm to humans and properties. In case of low voltage cabling, you need is codes, then it poses risks and one might need to replace their cables. Hence, while you begin with your work, make sure to hire some contractors who have complete knowledge about cabling and can help you get through the installation systematically.
6. Running Cable Close to Noisy Products:
Noise can be caught by data cabling more than electrical wires. Such as using fluorescent lighting, cell phones, motors, are similar things that can make a magnetic interference. So it can break the cabling infrastructure and, you must avoid these hazards to make network cabling smoother to use.
7. Not running the cables when you need one:
Many people use mini-switches when they need to add a port or two, and you might have found the data bottlenecks slow down your overall network. As, cables are less expensive than they were in the past, so you might as well run an extra cable unless there is a compelling reason not to.
8. Activating Your Network without Testing it First:
While you are finished running cabling, don’t forget to test it with the appropriate tools, to make sure that the cables are working well. In case, cables are not verified, you may get some errors that can cause problems with data transmission and many safety concerns.
9. Not following laws/codes/ordinances/standards:
It doesn’t matter what kind of cabling you are undertaking, whether you are installing network cables on walls, floors, or elsewhere. You must be aware of federal, state, and local standards, codes, laws, and ordinances.
Also, Federal and international standards bodies such as EIA/TIA offer in-depth network cabling standards and practices to follow during any cabling project. Ignoring them can let you face many problems in the future.
10. Running cable in parallel with electrical cables:
For data cabling, all you require is UTP(Unshielded twisted pairs) to achieve its targets. The critical component of the communication chain is generated by the low voltage that is running through the cables. If you run this unshielded cabling in parallel to the electrical cables that the magnetic field gets disrupted and the communication becomes noisy and garbled.
Surely these measures may help you to avoid any unnecessary harm and damage while you are dealing with Network cables on your own. The more you are careful with the quality of Ethernet cables being used and hiring people working on them, the more are the chances to avoid any risks.
Networks Cables Blog 