Copper & Fiber Optic Network Data Cabling

Proper installation of data cabling (network cabling) is imperative for successful businesses.

Businesses of all types have few stand alone devices, and data cabling is necessary to interconnect them.

There are two main types of network data cabling, copper and fiber optic.

Commercial Grade Network Cabling: Providing commercial grade network cabling throughout a business office involves the installation of a collection of connectors, connecting hardware and cables using unshielded twisted pair (UTP), screened (foil) unshielded twisted pair (F/UTP), shielded twisted pair (STP), or multi-mode or single-mode fiber optics

Unshielded Twisted Pair Wiring: UTP cables come in a variety of grades for different applications.

Screened (Foil) Unshielded Twisted Pair Wiring: Category 6A F/UTP cabling prevents alien crosstalk through a cable shield.  The cable design resists deformation and allows less restrictive installation practices.  The smaller cable diameter offers a greater pathway fill density.  Connectors in flat, angled and keystone versions are designed with simple grounding in mind.

Shielded with Foil Twisted Pair Wiring: S/FTP cables are copper cables well suited for network cabling in buildings that are exposed to high electrical interference or frequent radio transmissions.

Fiber Optic Wiring: Fiber optic network cabling is very common for data centers and back-b one cabling. Fiber optic cabling is available in single-mode and multi-mode forms.  A mode is the path a ray of light follows while traveling down a fiber cable.  Multi-mode fiber allows more than one mode of light. Common multimode core sizes are 50 µm and 62.5 µm.  Single-mode fiber allows for only one pathway, or mode, of light to travel within the fiber. The core size is typically 8.3-10 µm.

Copper Cabling: Standards are designated as Category 5e, Category 6, Augmented Category 6, Category 7, Class D, Class E and Class F and FA This numbering system refers to the specifications defined by committees of ISO, ATM, TIA, CSA, CENELEC and JSA/JSI. The ANSI / TIA / EIA-568 standard, for example, is a telecommunications cabling standard for commercial buildings covering Category 5e, 6 and 6A.

Data Transfer Speeds: As the categories grow from 5e to 7, the speeds of data transfer over network cabling increases as well as the headroom for advanced network applications. For instance, Category 5e network cabling is rated to 100 MHz, standards compliant Category 7 cables provide 600 MHz data transfer rates and Class FA go to 1000MHz.

ECS is an authorized Cabling Installer located in Seattle, WA & Portland, OR.

ECS provides local technicians for on-site work installing and servicing a variety of voice/data equipment, ie; Avaya Aura Servers, Gateways, Messaging, Telephones, Firewalls, Ethernet Switches, Low Voltage Cabling, WiFi, CCTV, POS, Paging, etc. 

ECS provides services in the states of Washington & Oregon, primarily in the greater Seattle & Portland areas.

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