Your office cabling is an important part of your computer network. It's what connects all your devices, and it needs to be structured to do so properly. There are many different types of structured network cabling to choose from, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide which type is best for your business, here's everything you need to know about some of the most common network cabling options available today.
Structured network cabling
Energy, data and voice
There are three types of cables: power, data, and voice. Power cables are used to transmit electricity; data cables are used to transmit information over a network; and voice cables are used to transmit sound. Each type requires a different type of cable due to the different voltages they carry, their length, and their shielding requirements.
The first step in choosing the right cable is to determine whether you need a power or data connection (or both). If your application only requires one type of connection, then you can go ahead with just that type – no need to buy multiple types at once!
Plenum Cable
The term "plenum» refers to the air chambers of a building, such as those found in basements and attics. Plenum-type cable is used to wire these areas because it is fire-resistant and flat. Flat cables are not allowed in data centers or residential buildings due to their ease of getting tangled.
Patch panels
A patch panel is the hardware that connects a network cable to a computer. There are two types of patch panels: patch panels and cross-connect boxes (also known as punchdown boxes). A patch panel is the best ally of structured cabling and one of the types of computer network components.
A patch panel is a box with rows of ports that can be used to connect cables to network devices such as PCs and servers. A cross-connect box contains several openings for connecting cables, but does not include any active electronic components or circuitry; this means that you will need a separate device (such as a switch) to be able to use it.
100% copper or fiber connections
The choice between copper and fiber optic cabling is a matter of personal preference. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but most businesses can meet their needs with either one. To better understand how these options fit into different environments, you can consult articles on computer networks.
Copper
Copper has been used in networking since its inception, so it is well known and understood by most professionals. It is also significantly cheaper than fiber optic cable, making it easier for some companies to implement structured cabling solutions in their offices or data centers. However, copper cabling is not as fast as fiber-based systems: it can only transmit data at 1 Gb/s (gigabits per second), while newer standards such as 10GBASE-T allow speeds of up to 10 Gbps to be achieved over copper cable.
Optical fiber
Fiber optic cables offer significantly higher bandwidth than traditional copper cables. This allows businesses that rely heavily on high-speed internet connections (such as those using cloud services) to greatly benefit from using them instead of traditional cabling systems, as they won't experience congestion due to high traffic volumes, as would occur with regular telephone lines. Furthermore, there are innovations in fiber optics which are further expanding their possibilities.
Cable ducts and trays
Structured cabling is an art. There are two ways to run cables through a building according to regulations. telecommunications in buildings and ICT networksCable trays and conduits. Conduits are metal tubes that can be installed in the walls, floors, and ceilings of a building. They can be used for electrical and data cables, but can only carry one type of cable at a time.
Cable trays are made of aluminum or steel, so they're strong enough to support multiple types of cabling at once, but they're also more expensive than conduits because they require more labor-intensive installation processes, such as cutting into concrete floors or wall studs (the vertical wooden supports that hold up walls).
Cable trays also typically don't work well with fiber optic cabling, as this type of equipment needs additional protection from environmental factors such as moisture or extreme temperatures; however, if you have an older telecommunications system comprised entirely of copper cables, this may not matter much, as long as you don't plan on upgrading it anytime soon.
You can have a better network by using the right type of structured cabling
The first step is to choose the right cabling and install it correctly, which means making sure that the cables are installed in a structured and orderly manner. This will help you avoid problems like signal loss and interference later on when you try to get your network up and running.
Once you've chosen the type of cable that suits your needs, installation should be relatively straightforward - just follow these simple steps. First, run all cables through conduits or cable trays (if possible). Then, connect them directly to their respective ports on patch panels or switches using punch-down tools or crimping pliers - be sure not to cross any pins during this process.
Lastly, test everything before moving forward with any further work! You don't want to be surprised when all those hours spent setting everything up finally pay off.
Conclusion: Structured network cabling
We hope you found this article useful and that it helped you gain a better understanding of structured cabling. Structured networks are a great way to ensure your business continues to run smoothly even when things get hectic. If you need help with your own network or would like more information on how we can help, please contact us today.
