Block Structured Cabling
Larger block cabling systems include multiple distribution points, allowing cables to be installed across multiple buildings, floors and areas.
Due to the relative complexity of adding additional extensions, block cabling is no longer the preferred cabling system for UK telephone systems, as CAT5e strcutred cabling is much easier to adapt as staff move around.
Block cabling allows telephone signalling to travel long distances. Most digital telephones can operate at cable distances of over 500m (analogue devices can work at more than 3 times this distance). This has a distinct advantage over CAT5e which has a regulated length of 90m.
Structured Cabling for Large Sites
Indeed, many large sites such as School campuses still have requirements for block cabling to link buildings that are beyond the reach of standard CAT5e installations.
Digital telephones still operate perfectly well via old 1308 cabling systems, and if you continue to use TDM technology instead of VoIP, your business probably won't need to upgrade it's telecoms cabling. Normally in these cases, we simply replace the socket face plates to accept the Rj11 phone connections after testing.
We provide free site cabling surveys as part of our phone system consultation.
If you need advice on cabling or a free phone cabling survey, please call us, email us or use our easy online contact form
CAT5 & CAT5e Structured Cabling
Structured cabling systems have been installed in thousands of businesses in the UK to provide a convenient and easy method of managing the connection and relocation of voice and data devices.
Modern telephone systems are designed to be fitted within the CAT-5 communications cabinets in the comms room, along with ethernet switches and other netwoking equipment.
The telephone extensions can be "patched" to thier locations in the same manner as computers, making it easy for IT managers to re-patch devices when staff relocate, without having to reconfigure the phone system or add more cabling.
CAT5e socket Most structured cabling installations provide double sockets to each user. One is used for a computer, the other for a telephone.
Most CAT5 cables are unshielded, referred to as unshielded twisted pair (UTP). The twisted pairs reduce noise and improve signal and data quality.
Category 5 was superseded by Category 5E to support ethernet networks with data transfer speeds up to 155 Mb/s, with a maximum distance for each CAT5e cabling of 90m.
CAT5e Structured Cabling for Data and Phone Systems
CAT5e supports voice, data and video connection and is therefore a very flexible method of adding cabling infrastructure to a building.
We provide free site cabling surveys as part of our phone system consultation.
If you need advice on cabling or a free phone cabling survey, please call us, email us or use our easy online contact form
CAT6 Cabling
CAT6 cabling is installed in the same manner as CAT5e cabling, and looks virtually identical, still providing the flexibility of a structured cabling system.
CAT6 is the cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols that are backward compatible with the CAT5e and earlier cable standards.
CAT6 features stringent specifications for crosstalk and system noise. The cable standard provides performance of up to 250 MHz and is suitable for 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX (Fast Ethernet), 1000BASE-T / 1000BASE-TX (Gigabit Ethernet) and 10GBASE-T (10-Gigabit Ethernet).
Category 6 cable has a reduced maximum length when used for 10GBASE-T.
CAT6a cable, or "Augmented" CAT6, operates to 500 MHz and has improved crosstalk characteristics, allowing 10GBASE-T to be run for the same distance as previous protocols.
CAT6 cabling can cost up to 30% more than equivalent CAT5e cabling systems. If you need advice on cabling or a free phone cabling survey, please call us, email us or use our easy online contact form.
