Network Cabling

Top 5 Considerations for Choosing Network Cabling Companies:

1. Experience

How long has the company been in business? This will impact the reliability, not only of the products they carry but also the services that they provide. Remember that you may need customer support should the cables have any potential difficulties or if they need upgrading or replacing.

Experience also shows that they will be knowledgeable about the products you may need. This assists in the purchasing process and the accuracy of orders and deliveries processed by the cabling company you are considering. Furthermore, their experience shows that they hold a higher likelihood of being in business for years to come.

2. Client Portfolio

Have a look at their list of prior customers with which they have done business. Do they have a substantial number of clients? How about testimonials (quotes) that tout the virtues of their products and services? This should give you a solid guideline of what you can expect from a particular network cabling company with respect to quality and dependability.

If the company has serviced any big names of brands or corporations you recognize, this adds even greater validity to the perceived credibility of their operation. This does not necessarily mean that every client listed was satisfied, but it does show that the cabling provider has been trusted by entities who have a substantial degree of dependence on network connections.

3. Local Presence

Ideally, you will probably prefer to select a company that operates within a general locality near your company’s location. If your company has multiple locations, you may wish to select a cabling provider that is stationed close to your main headquarters.

A local presence is not entirely necessary, however, given that the network cabling company can travel and/or ship their products and services to you with fast enough turnaround to meet your timeline and other demands. The need for a local presence is not a dire one, but again, it is a bonus if the data cabling company happens to be local.

4. Customer Support

This almost goes without saying when it comes to choosing a company for any product or service, but it is worth pointing out. Premium quality customer support is beyond essential. If your network is vital to the primary functions of your business, then you will need responsive tech support.

You will need immediate answers when you run into issues or concerns. The customer support should also be clear with communication and quick to resolve any problems that you may encounter with the cabling they supply for your network.

5. Track Record

It is preferable to select a company that has a name in the business of network cabling, if you are going to get desirable results in terms of quality and support. Word of mouth from others in your industry is a great way to get a feel for the public perception of the network cabling companies you are considering. Choose the most reputable one with the most competitive rates.

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The Quality of the Product

The quality of the products themselves that the network cabling company carries is obviously the very first and foremost concern. The main cable that connects computers and peripherals to a network are Ethernet cables. These are sorted into multiple categories such as:

• Cat 3 Ethernet Cables: suitable for 10MB data and voice
• Cat 5 Ethernet Cables: suitable for voice and 10/100MB data
• Cat 5E Ethernet Cables: higher grade Cat 5 Cable for 10/100MB and Gigabit Ethernet; resists cross-talk
• Cat 6 Ethernet Cables: higher gauge wired cable similar to Cat 5E cable; superior to Cat 5E for a Gigabit Ethernet connection
• Cat 7 (or “Class F”) Ethernet Cables: less common, shielded cable that can handle up to 600Mhz

When selecting a network cabling provider, make sure they have a variety of quality and price levels, so that all of your wiring for networking needs can be properly accommodated.

Company Knowledge of the Product and Applications

It is vital that the company you choose is fully knowledgeable about the products that they carry. In order to serve your needs properly, they should be expected to have a broad and detailed understanding of computer networking and I.T.

Not only should you anticipate proper support of the products carried, but also the applications for which their products can be utilized. When you communicate the setup you will have, they should be able to ask the right questions to ensure that the products you order are a match for your application. They will also be able to instruct you on the quantity you should order and give you a total prior to finalizing the order, so that you may verify that it is within the confines of your company’s budget for networking supplies.

Customer Service

In addition to understand the product, it may seem to go without saying that the company should be polite and helpful. The quality of customer service may vary from one company to another, and you should not be afraid to select a company to do business with based on how they interact with you.

If the customer service representatives you encouter are responsive and respectful and seem organized, this is a good indication of a sense of attention to detail. That will like translate into the care that is associated with the other aspects of your order.

Competitive Pricing

Finally, once you have found a company that has met the aforementioned criteria, you should compare and contrast their price point against the competition. If they are in the same general range, plus or minus a negligible amount, you should place the order with the company you trust based on a few factors.

When two companies have similar pricing, make the final decision based on the standpoints of the company that: has quality products, is thoroughly knowledgeable about their products and client applications, offers superior customer service and has fast shipping.

Do not hesitate to ask a company that you already respect to meet a certain preferred price range. It is very possible that they can match or beat the pricing you have been offered by the competition. They may also have discounts and packages that provide data cabling at a reduced rate per cable as a result of buying a certain number of cables.

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1. Network Reliability Affects Revenue

The need for reliability in your company’s voice and data network is directly linked with a need to fulfill the prevention of profit loss. Most companies rely heavily on the internet connection, intranet connection, and the hardware peripherals connected via your network cables.

While some offices use wireless for certain connections, Ethernet is faster and preferable for signal quality and consistency. Almost all business organizations will need Ethernet and other types of network cables to configure their networks properly.

2. Crosstalk Must Be Avoided for Proper Data Speed and Stability

Cross talk is the bleeding of an electrical signal from one wire or cable into another adjacent wire or cable. This can cause many undesired effects such as data errors, delays, and complete network slowdowns. When you purchase network cabling, make sure that you purchase the right types and the accessories needed to ensure they are properly shielded to minimize crosstalk issues.

3. Installation Requires Much Work and Labor Charges

There are many steps involved in the installation of network cabling. At their hefty hourly rates, the labor charges for I.T. experts to install this precious resource into your business buildings can add up quickly.

Certainly, it is worth the investment, but it is not a process to take flippantly. Getting the right products from your network cabling company the first time is the key to keeping the expense down to a reasonable budget range.

4. Upgrading is Expensive and Time-Consuming

Get the best, most reliable (and most expensive, if necessary) network cabling solutions the first time. Do not try out the budget, low grade cables first, in hopes they will “suffice.” Again, when it comes to I.T. department’s rates and the productivity you need from these employees for other important duties, you cannot afford to cut corners or the quality of your network’s wiring. It also takes a substantial amount of time to replace network cables and the downtime of the network can cause revenue loss issues.

5. Signal Degradation/Loss (Attentuation) Occurs in Some Long Cables

The quality of the signal in your cables can degrade or be lost entirely over long distances. This is obviously unacceptable, and not something your I.T. department wants to discover after a full installation has already been completed.

Purchasing the best quality cables in the first place, again, is the best prevention mechanism. You should also research the right cables for your setup. Contact the customer support at the network cabling company if you are unsure.

6. A Poor SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) can Also Affect Signal Quality

The ratings for Signal to Noise, or “SNR” vary from one cable to another. Noise can cause interference which also in turn can create network stability and speed issues. Your I.T. department should try to order network wiring that boasts a Signal to Noise ratio that is as low as possible - even if the network setup budget must be adapted accordingly.

7. Client Satisfaction is affected by Network Quality

Finally, your clients will be receiving phone and internet communications, files and other critical data. You cannot afford to disrupt this transfer due to an entire set of poorly selected network cables. The revenue losses associated with losing clients is immeasurable.

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