Data Cabling - Category 5e, 6, & Fiber Optics

Most important differences - Network cables:

More information

Terminations:

Patch panels- Terminations are made on the back of patch panels. The plug-in port, (insert for connectors on "patch" cords), is located on the front of the panel to allow someone to have easy access to each connection. These panels come in a variety of sizes, determined by the number of ports: 12-Port, 24-port, 48-port, and 96-port panels. The termination process is the most important part of data cabling. If connections aren't properly terminated then the system will have problems. Slow information speeds can be the result of an improperly terminated cable.

RJ45 Jacks - Terminations can also be made on single-port jacks. The internal components of single-port jacks are the same as the ports on patch panels. These jacks are also known as modular plugs and/or RJ45 ports. RJ45 refers to the pin assignment relative to the wires in the cable. There's 8-pins in each jack because there's 8 single wires in each cable (this is a Telecom Industry Association standard). There are different jacks for each category of cable (Cat: 5, 5e, 6, & 7a) and each of these are designed to allow for maximum speed transfers.


BE AWARE:

• Many contractors are using knock-off panels, & low-end category 5e inserts / jacks, as well as cheap cables
• Some contractors use substandard equipment - remember to ensure that your installer is using CATEGORY 5E, OR CATEGORY 6 jacks, panels, & cables
• Careless cabling techniques - splitting pairs, not terminating on a sturdy surface, not Audit Scanning, not securing cables properly, pinched cables, or splicing cables
• That your technicians should be certified, insured, and following all electrical and safety codes
  
  
  

Infrastruture:

Testing - This step is imperative. There's two ways of testing and the first method can be done using a continuity checker. This checks to make sure that the terminations are properly punched down so that information can be sent and received by each device. However, most cabling companies and/or electrical contractors only use this method and they never use the second, and more thorough, method and that is audit scanning. Audit scanning is the final and most important step in the entire process because it tests the cables maximum performance. Cheap panels, jacks, cables, and poor connections will be shown in scanned results. Scanning can also show if a device's components are malfunctioning.