Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Should I install category 5e or category 6?
A. As in most cases in our technology driven world, we are always promised that faster is better. However, category 5e will in the vast majority of cases be perfectly acceptable to most business needs. Correctly installed systems will guarantee a throughput of 100Mbps backed by manufacturer's warranties. In some cases throughput of 1000Mbps will be achieved. It is therefore imperative to understand your business requirement before making a decision. Category 6, if correctly installed and backed by warranty will guarantee 1000Mbps.

Q. When and why should I have fiber optic cable installed?
A. Copper structured cabling solutions are designed to work up to 100metres in length which includes all fly and patch leads. Going outside of theseset lengths can lead to degradation in data rates, and in extreme cases can flood the network with retries causing slow network speeds. Multimodefibre solutions are better designed to work up to 2 Km in length. In a nutshell, the design and structure of the site will normally dictate the type ofcable to be run.

Q. What should I receive at the end of an installation?
A. All installations are accompanied by a complete set of test results for every cable. It is also helpful to have floor plans marked to show outlet positions. Smartpac Structured Cabling Solutions are accompanied by a 25 year warranty, are fully documented and are 100% tested.

Q. Why are test results important to me?
A. Test results will show the "state" of the cable at time of installation, should there be a problem with any outlet in the future these test results allow a base line audit to take place.

Q. Should my cable system be documented?
A. There are no laid down rules for documentation, however, larger installations gain enormous benefits from having full installation plans, cabinet layouts and patching charts. At the very minimum a schematic diagram should be available in the event of network additions or for maintenance purposes. hardware.com provide a specialist service to document existing networks and provide an "intelligent infrastructure management" solution for cable networks.

Q. What is low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) cable and should I use it?
A. LSOH is constructed in such a way so that in the event of a fire within the building the cable will not emit any toxic gases. If the building has air conditioning that re-circulates air it would be advisable to choose this option. Smartpac Structured Cabling Engineers will assess your needs and design the right cabling solution.

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