CHOOSING THE RIGHT STRUCTURED DATA CABLING COMPANY

There are a growing number of competitors in the Canadian communications industry. The industry is now bringing in nearly $68 billion in revenues. It has also grown at a 2 percent clip over the 5-year period dating back to 2013.

Many startup businesses and existing corporations are looking for the right data cabling company. Read on for tips on how to choose the best company. Explore topics such as technical support, installation, and more.

Send an email or fill out a form and measure the company response time. This may seem obvious but it is a very simple and efficient way to filter out unreliable providers. As a rule of thumb if a company can’t handle incoming sale requests odds are they will also struggle to deliver a good customer experience. It also indicates that the business you are dealing with is small and doesn’t have a big team and probably won’t have a project manager in charge of your project. If calls are going straight to a voicemail system and you are not getting a prompt call back the same logic applies.

This is the first step in doing your homework on prospective options. Ideally, you can also narrow down the list based on professional referrals. Good providers should not hesitate to put you in contact with recent projects they completed to get feedback.

The best companies in the structured data cabling industry are well organized and have dedicated staff with deep technical knowledge coordinating projects.

Your contact should be able to answer any questions you may have and should be able to advise you on the different types of cables and any building code requirements that may apply to your specific business location. A stable network providing a reliable connection, maximum data throughput and high speeds depend heavily on the type and quality of the material being used.

Do not be afraid to ask contractors what type/brand of material they are using and ask the difference with each option. This is one way that you can verify that the company meets your performance needs and is knowledgeable in their field.

For example, ask which category of cable is installed. Newer devices like IP cameras, or high-speed WiFi usually require category 5 cabling or higher (category 6). Most serious cables brand names will meet or exceed the specifications for a category of cable so it’s important to ask which brand will be used and to make sure they are tested and meet the specification of their category.

The best companies also offer category 6 or 6a voice and data network cabling. These two categorizations are known to reduce interference and signal noise. In addition, the category 6 specifications allow for transmission over longer distances at a higher throughput or speed that can reach up to 10,000 Mbits per second.

Also, inquire whether the cabling is suitable for the environment it is being installed in. For example, certain environments have special requirements. The space above the acoustic ceiling in a regular office setting is called the plenum space and require a different rating of cable called FT6 or plenum cables as per building code regulation. In some cases, cabling that is exposed to hazardous chemicals, outside environment or electromagnetic interference needs to be more robust.

Make sure the connectors that are used match the category of cables you select. A mismatched of connectors can dramatically reduce your network performance.

As Warren Buffet famously said the price is what you pay and value is what you are getting in exchange for that price. If someone provides a quote that’s well below market prices you should be vigilant and ask for explanations. Installing the wrong type of cables or working with a business that uses low-quality materials can have a long term price tag that’s much higher than the price quoted. Experienced cabling companies should be able to provide a quote with a fixed priced in most business settings.

Another important facet of cabling installation is the quality of the cabling used. Ask the contractor for the technical specification sheet of the cables and connectors they use. Make sure they are using the right category (Cat5e, Cat 6, Cat 6a) the right type of cables (FT4/riser, FT6/plenum) from a well-known brand.

Cabling quality is a valuable way to control long-term costs. The intent is to install high quality and durable cabling at the onset and avoid having to upgrade or replace your network frequently.

Choosing the right cabling company is an important milestone for your business. Selecting the right company means high transfer speeds and reliable connections.