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Xetra Networks was recently hired by a startup company in Kearny Mesa (92123) whose business was just starting to take off. It was an office of about 10 people and they were all a little stressed as they needed to get situated in their new office space fast. Impact their business’s operations from downtime was not an option. They were in need of network data cabling – fast!

They had ordered a T1,   but hadn’t realized that the office they had just leased had no computer cabling and the T1 was scheduled to be installed the next day.

After explaining to us their cabling needs and time constraints, we promptly got to work surveying the office space and developing a plan to get their office cabled, tested, and ready for their new T1 line.  We ran a new  25 pair trunk to the MPOE (minimum point of entry) to give the  ability to extend the demarc and bring the new T1 into their suite. The 25 pair cable will leave them plenty of room for the future growth.  In the corner of their office we installed a small telecom backboard and a Chatsworth 19″ inch relay rack to house their 24 port patch panel that terminates all the office cat5e cabling, and all of their other network equipment. We tested all connections, labeled all the outlets,  and finished their office cabling in a day, just like we promised. Not every job we do is a big one, but we treat each of them with the same level of efficiency, attention to detail, and professionalism that people have grown to expect from Xetra Networks.

Wall Mount Equipment Rack and Punch Blocks for small office cabling

Posted in: Recent Project, Uncategorized by Structured Voice & Data Cabling on March 7, 2010 | No Comments

Cheap Cable – cost effective solution or disaster in the making?

We all know that a structured cabling system is the most vital part of a network infrastructure. It is important to realize however, that saving a few bucks by selecting a second-rate cable or manufacturer is a commonly made mistake during network construction. While some cable manufacturers may offer what seems to be the same cable for half the price, remember that old saying: if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you are being offered the same category and length of cable for half of what you usually pay, logic alone should tell you that the quality has to differ just as much as the price does. By that same token, just because a cable is more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean that it is of better quality. It is important to understand the difference between overpaying for a cable and underpaying for a cable that has the bare bones minimum requirements (if that) to meet compliance standards. Quite possibly it will end up costing you more in the long run should you encounter problems with the cable. Times are tough, and it’s no secret that we are all looking to save money, it is essential however, to consider the total cost of ownership rather than just initial installation cost when it’s time to choose a cable manufacturer.

Are you really getting what you pay for?

Total cost of ownership includes:

• Initial cost of cable
• Installation cost
• Repair and Maintenance costs
• Testing costs

 Even if it means spending a little more at the initial time of purchase, in the long run you will be saving yourself time, money, and the headache of dealing with bad cables. Without a warranty, and a reliable manufacturer to turn to, all the repair and replacement costs are left for you to pay for. The cost of tearing out and replacing bad cables far surpasses the cost of initially buying quality cables , and the savings gained by purchasing inferior cable will obviously be lost should you have to replace them.  Don’t let yourself fall victim to a second rate cable.  Look for a manufacturer that meets your budget and has positive feedback from other customers and installers. Don’t allow one of the lesser known online stores and manufacturers dupe you into buying low quality cable with their desirably below average prices.

Select a manufacturer that has:

• A Good reputation – 
• Adheres to standards like UL,ISO 9001, TL 9000, ANSI, TIA, EIA, etc. 
•  Reasonable prices – Don’t shop with blinders look for value not just cost.   
•  Warranty available – Typical warranty is 20+ years if properly installed

Where does such awful cable originate?

Cheap, low quality cable is the result of a few contributing factors. First, the cost of materials has been on an incline over the past few years. Some shady manufacturers have used this as an excuse to skimp on copper usage during the manufacturing process. Cutting corners and using less copper has resulted in incorrect cable construction. There have also been reports of some manufacturers using materials other than copper as a cheaper alternative, such as steel or aluminum clad in copper. These factors can all result in a cable that is more prone failure even though it may look exactly the same.  Some manufacturers will even forge a compliance stamp, category rating, and even fire rating onto the cable without actually meeting the compliance standards for that specific type of cable. Considering that more people are killed in fires by smoke inhalation rather than the fire itself, can you imagine the legal ramifications and risk to human life of a raging fire burning fake plenum rated cable and pumping toxic fumes throughout an office building?

What to Do

Do your research, and keep in mind that the cable that you buy is a long term investment that should be carefully selected.

Take a look at the cables below, can you see which cable is the imposter? 

These are three different RG6 Coaxial Cables typically used in CCTV and residential video distribution. Two of them are from reputable cable manufactures and one is from a overseas manufacturer. While at first glance they may look the same, cables #1 & #3 are high quality cables with plentiful and tightly wound shielding members and larger cores. In contrast, the shielding on the overseas cable #2 is thin and used sparingly and feels like exactly what it is, substandard cable. The cable also lacks any marking denoting listing status or class type.  In all likelihood, the cable never underwent any type of testing  or certification for adherence to any performance or safety standards. 

Posted in: Uncategorized by Structured Voice & Data Cabling on July 20, 2009 | No Comments

Recently, Xetra Networks was appointed to cable a large corporate office building in downtown San Diego (92101).  The business owner required both voice and data connections in every office throughout the building.

After careful evaluation of the building layout, a detailed design plan was formulated for proper cabling of the office.
Beginning at the central termination point, Using CAT6 plenum class cabling, we began the office cabling by running the cable throughout the building to each outlet drop where it was terminated by RJ-45 keystone jacks. After connecting and testing connections between the keystone jacks and the newly installed patch panel, it was time to connect to the existing patch panel in the network closet where the network server was housed. Cable was run through a conduit within the ceiling from the network closet back to the office, pulled through the drop ceiling and ending up back at the central termination point. After final testing and clean up, the business owner was highly pleased with the end result, and was even surprised how quickly we got everything completed. At Xetra networks we understand your time is valuable, that’s why we strive to make every job we do as quick and efficient as possible while maintaining the quality you expect from our team of Xetra networks voice and data cabling experts.

Posted in: Uncategorized by Structured Voice & Data Cabling on May 21, 2009 | No Comments

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