Structured Cabling
Fiber, Coax
When installing or servicing structured cabling, our Prime Data Communications team checks conduit bends, pull boxes and joints to verify that the bend radius is optimal. Structured cabling pulls through tightly bent elbow fixtures are always back-fed. Where raceway or rack transitions expose cable, flexible conduit is recommended for protection.
Cat 5, Cat 5e, Cat 6
We install Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 on a daily basis. One of the big questions for teams making decisions is which structured cable to use - is what amount of data does your network need to handle during peak-periods? Cat6 enables gigabit Ethernet - which can be ideal if your volume of transmitted data calls for gigabit performance. That said, to achieve true gigabit Ethernet speeds, every single component of your network needs to be gigabit rated. Think: switches, hubs, network interface cards.
Cat5e can still support gigabit speeds; and, frankly, its often more economical and performs just as well in many (though not all) environments. Where you’ll see the difference with Cat6 (the cable certified to handle gigabit Ethernet) is in transmission performance. If your environment is inhospitable to twisted pair cabling (with interference from power lines, lights, or manufacturing equipment), then Cat6 ought to be your cable of choice.
• CAT5: supports 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T network standards - networks running at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps - rated at 100Mhz
• CAT5e: (Cat5 enhanced) works like Cat5 but includes an upgrade that reduces crosstalk (bleeding of signals due to induction, slowing network transfer speeds), and can support gigabit ethernet (1000BASE-T) - networks running at 1000 Mbps - rated at 350Mhz, making it well suited for networks planning to upgrade to gigabit ethernet
