Structured Cabling for Improved Design, Installation, Maintenance
May 19, 2016
Imagine that you did not have distributed power and power outlets in your home and office. This would mean that every time you wanted to connect a new device like a desk light or a printer to power, you would have to run an extension cord down to the breaker panel which is often located in the basement.
The first IT networks were connected in this way with patch cords. Structured cabling and standards governing these were developed later to make life a lot easier. Structured cabling can be defined as a cabling infrastructure that offers a standardized and organized method to cabling that enables IT network changes to be made easily.
Structured cabling standards not only define fixed connection points similar to power outlets in a house or office, but also a series of subsystems that simplify installation, design, maintenance and operations of IT networks.
Three major cabling standards groups (CENELEC, TIA and ISO/IEC) produce standards for structured cabling in campuses, data centers, commercial offices and more. The standards specify types of components and cabling that are to be used in different environments. Typically standards include:
- Modular connectors.
- Fiber optic cabling.
- Categories 6 and 6A.
The planning and implementation of IT networks has been simplified greatly by standardization of fiber and copper cable performance categories, connectors and design guidelines.
The concept of structured cabling has become so popular that other non-IT applications, including high definition audiovisual, security and Building Automation Services have adopted the concept to ensure that devices can be swapped or upgraded without the entire cabling infrastructure having to be changed.
Things have progressed rapidly since the structured cabling solutions took hold in our work and living spaces, and the benefits have made them integral to our society.
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5 comments
I installed computers back at a previous employer’s office three decades ago and there’s no comparison between how easy it is now putting everything together to what it was like back then. Probably the biggest difference is how many things are wireless (keyboards, printers, etc.). However, the cords/cables are so much easier no.
Technology is incredible. The stuff we take for granted now was science fiction not long ago. Just imagine If I brought a person from 1956 to 2018. What would he think?
When it comes to things like office electronics—computers, faxes, cell phone boosters, etc., you want to know there is an industry standard so you don’t have to check 20 manuals every time you’re installing new devices. Data cabling installation is a lot easier when there are industry standards. Structured cabling basics should be that—basics, not headache-inducing ordeals for you or anyone in your office.
You know technology seems to advance every day in huge ways. This blog shows how there are not only ways to make your cell phones perform at peak efficiency (fast data speeds, clear calls, etc.) with things like cell phone boosters and DAS installation, but accompanying items like structured cabling too that make it even better.
I’m not sure if this relates, but I remember the early days of cable television and what a hassle it was trying to run cable into another room and another television. I also remember the hassle of trying to add a second phone (on the same number) in your home. Structured cabling has made life a lot easier for people. This sounds like a no-brainer, but are there applications for structured cabling in cell phone boosters and DAS design?