Archive for ‘January, 2014’

Cat6 Cabling Installation: What It Takes

What a tidy Cat6 cabling installation takes

Good network cabling is largely invisible once a home is finished. Behind that simplicity is a sequence of decisions: where the connections are needed, how the cable routes will be built, how each run will be identified and tested, and how the cables will be organised at the equipment rack.

This article began as a short 2014 look at that process. The four photographs below illustrate cable organisation and rack preparation; they were supplied by Smart Nest and are credited accordingly. They are not presented as photographs of a Mirror Edge Networks installation.

1. Plan the endpoints before the walls close

The first task is to map the devices and rooms that need a wired connection. Depending on the home, that might include televisions, media players, wireless access points, control equipment and network points for workspaces. A properly planned layout considers where each cable starts and ends, the equipment-rack location, access for future maintenance and how the network will support the wider AV system.

The cable specification should follow the project requirements rather than be chosen simply because one cable type appears in an older article. For a whole-home project, our home network and Wi-Fi design service brings the cabling plan together with the equipment and coverage plan.

2. Install and identify the first-fix cables

During first fix, cables are run to their planned positions before the finishes conceal the routes. Each run needs a clear label at both ends so that the team can identify it later. After installation, the runs should be checked against the design and tested as appropriate for the job before the next trades cover the routes.

Once first fix is complete, other trades can continue with joinery, painting and finishes. The installer then returns to dress the cables and complete the rack.

3. Group the cables neatly at the rack

Cables arriving at the rack are grouped by destination and purpose. Planning the route and leaving sensible access for future service makes the finished installation easier to understand and maintain.

A cable comb can help create even, orderly looms. Reusable hook-and-loop ties can hold the groups together without making future additions unnecessarily difficult. The exact dressing method depends on the rack and cable layout.

4. Terminate, test and document

The cables are then brought to their planned termination points and connected to the appropriate network equipment. Clear port labels and an as-built record make later troubleshooting, upgrades and changes far simpler than an unlabelled bundle of cables.

Neatness is only one part of a professional result: the cabling must also work as designed. The original photographs in this article are courtesy of Smart Nest.

Planning a new build or upgrading an existing property? See our home networks and Wi-Fi work, or contact Mirror Edge Networks to discuss the infrastructure your project needs.