Does The Cabling In Your Dental Office Meet Best Practices?
Today, CAT6 is the most commonly used form of network cabling used for dental offices because CAT6 is composed of 4 pairs of copper wire for higher performance. It was designed to support Gbps Ethernet that can transmit one gigabyte per second for better performance, reliability and security.
Computers are connected through Ethernet cabling. CAT6 is the 6th generation of twisted Ethernet cable. This standard is defined and specified by TIA/EIA, an organization that defines best practices in the design, creation, and management of structured cabling systems.
CAT6 is completely backwards compatible and can be used for any application where you normally use CAT5e cables. CAT6 cable also has more stringent specifications for system noise than CAT5e. This results in better quality signals with fewer errors.
CAT6 cables have been in use for a few years now and they have the ability to support a 10 Gigabit network. CAT6 offers benefits like fast speed and improved security. You’ll also save on costs as you add more computers to your network.
Should You Install CAT6 Structured Cabling Yourself?
Even if you have experience installing this type of cabling, CAT6 is more difficult than others to install. And there’s a reason for that. CAT6 conductors are twisted tightly and there’s more insulation so you must be very careful when cutting this type of cabling. There are standards for the maximum length of solid horizontal cabling between jacks and attached devices. If you don’t understand the regulations or ignore best practices, your system may not work as designed and you could face years of expensive repairs.
Should A Cabling Assessment Be Completed First?
Before spending money on structured cabling, you should consult with a network specialist who can help you overcome complications or problems. With jobs like this, there are always unexpected issues that can crop up. But by working with experienced pros, you can eliminate much of the guess-work.
The team at Symtec has experience installing Cat6 cabling and we know what types of problems to look for. We’ll complete an assessment first and outline all the important factors before moving forward. That’s your best bet if you need to get the job done right and within your budget.
There are 6 essential things to consider:
1. What Speed Will You Require?
Most run at 70-80 Mbps with a maximum of 100 Mbps. The speed for network cables differs so this is an important consideration. Since the world is moving toward the use of smartphones, wide-screen TVs, tablets, laptops, gaming systems, etc., you should prepare for all types of new equipment.
2. Will You Need More Than One Wireless Network?
Most dentists today want the ability to use mobile devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones throughout their offices. But you must provide a separate network for your guests. Your IT provider can set up your wireless network after installing your cabling, thus ensuring that everything works well and is compatible.
3. Is Your IT Security Adequate?
Your IT provider will ensure you use a WPA setup to secure your wireless connection. This can be only used on the computers you connect to your network and by turning off the wireless network’s broadcasting. Wireless systems typically come with security turned off. So, this is important to check for.
4. Will You Need Wireless Adapters?
Each of your computers will need a wireless adapter for your wireless network. Most desktops don’t come with them, although laptops and notebooks do. This means you’ll need to add a USB adapter or PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) for each system.
5. Are There Any Distance Limitations?
The accepted distance limitations for UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cabling (up to 1 Gbps) is 100 meters (328 feet). If you need distances greater than this, it’s essential that you use CAT6A or better.
6. Could Electrical Wiring Cause Interference?
Network cables, including CAT6, use wiring with two conductors twisted together to cancel out any electromagnetic interference. But if they are installed in close proximity to electric cables, this raises the chance that there will be interference. You could end up with an inferior signal or slow-running network.
Don’t Go IT Alone
Structured cabling is such an integral part of your IT network so it’s vitally important to have everything expertly installed and tested. This is the easiest way to ensure ultimate performance and that you’ve met best practices.
What To Do If Your Dental Office In Utah Or Idaho Needs Cabling
Contact SymTec to get an estimate on the cost of installing cabling. We can inspect your office layout and factor in the number of computers to ensure everything is up to code and will provide you with years of reliable service.
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