Structured cabling is the foundation of your computer network. They run behind wall jacks, under carpets, and up through ceilings. The cables are like blood vessels for an organization’s data flow throughout its building.
With this much importance placed on them, having a professional installation of structured cabling is crucial to ensure that they will provide reliable service for years to come.
Having an inexperienced employee fumble through your building will leave you with a jumbled mess of wires, a stricter time troubleshooting problems, and most likely a big headache in general.
If you are looking to create a home or office computer network, you will need to install structured cabling. To do this yourself is nearly impossible, as it requires a lot of technical know-how and specialized tools.
The best option for most people is to hire a Structured Cabling Specialist. Some of the basics about looking for a Structured Cabling Specialist:
Do Your Research
When choosing a cabling specialist, it is always best to know about the company and its employees before signing any paperwork.
Find out what certifications they hold and if they belong to any professional associations. If possible, call a customer or two in your area and ask them about their experience with this company.
The Technician’s Experience
Ask about the technician’s experience. It is advantageous for them to have specific training in the type of cabling installed.
For example, an experienced TVI (video surveillance) cabling company will likely be more knowledgeable than a general structured cabling company when installing cables for security cameras.
Smaller is Better
A small cabling company will have fewer employees, which means better communication and more focused attention on your project.
It is also likely that they are more specialized than a larger franchise. If these smaller companies don’t have any projects currently going on, they will be able to put their whole effort into your project.
Control the Job
A good cabling company will allow you to provide as much input as possible during a job’s design, installation, and testing stages.
The more involved you are, the easier it is for you to see that they are doing what you want to be done. It would help if you controlled what areas are cabled, how they have been installed, and the placement of wall plates.
Once you have picked out your materials, tell them exactly how you want it done to get what you were expecting.
When Everything is New
If everything in your building is new (walls, plenums, etc.), a cabling company will most likely have to run brand new cables.
It will cost you extra, but it’s a necessary investment to get the most out of your network. Keeping that in mind, going with a small, specialized cabling company may save you money in the long run.
They may still have to run brand new cables, but they will charge fewer labor hours than a large franchise company.
The Company’s Reputation is a Good Indicator
A company’s reputation is a good indicator of the quality of service. An excellent structured cabling specialist will care about having a positive reputation with their customers and the local community.
They will also likely have an online presence, meaning that you can check their ratings on sites like Yelp or Google Places before calling them to come out for a consultation.
You don’t need to make an expensive decision here. Just make sure that you choose someone who will do the job right, rather than taking the cheapest bid because it’s all about the price.
Your network is too important for that! Make sure to contact your local cabling specialist for a consultation as soon as possible.
Even if you aren’t sure how to use your network or what all those blinking lights on the equipment rack mean, they will be able to identify the weak spots and opportunities for improvement so that you can get a clear picture of where you need to take your business.
The Bottom Line
When selecting a company to do your cabling, keep all of this in mind. You want a quality job that will last for years to come, but you also want it done quickly and efficiently.
Having an experienced technician is the first step to ensuring that your network runs at optimum performance.
Conclusion:
Choosing a structured cabling specialist for your commercial structured cabling may seem like a daunting task, but it is pretty simple when you know what to look for.
Some companies are simply better equipped than others to handle this type of work, so you must find one that will meet your needs.
When you have a dedicated company like House of I.T working for you, the process will go as smoothly as possible, and you will be happy with the results for years to come.