We interviewed three structured cabling technicians from our parent company, Nova Voice & Data Systems, based on questions we received from our customers, YouTube fans, and Facebook followers. During this Q&A panel, they discuss the skills and knowledge they use in installing phone systems and data network infrastructure. The entire discussion was about an hour long, so we broke it up into 4 videos, labeled by topic.
Our network cabling technicians are speaking from the context of working in the United States and specializing in solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, non-profit organizations, and municipal buildings. There may be some differences in industry practice compared to government contractors, cable television carriers, telephone companies, or other countries.
Part 1: Network Cable Termination Standards and Color Code
- The importance of network cable color codes and wire sequence standards
- Using the T568B color sequence vs. T568A
Part 2: Working as a Network Cabling Tech and How to Build Job Skills
- Job description for data network cabling (low-voltage structured cabling)
- Hard skills and soft skills needed for a network cabling technician job
- Tasks performed by network cabling technicians
- How to get into the structured cabling field
- Structured cable job training
- When to use shielded cable
Part 3: Using Twisted Pair Ethernet Cable, Fiber Optic Cable, and Coaxial Cable
- Characteristics of twisted pair Ethernet cable, fiber optic cable, and coaxial cable
- Maximum distance of Ethernet cable
- When to use fiber optic cable
- Differences between coaxial cable and twisted pair Ethernet cable
Part 4: Patch Panels, Cable Bundling, and Cross-talk
- Purpose of a patch panel
- Can a patch panel be reused?
- Cross-talk and large cable bundles