Organizing a MESS of Ethernet, Video & Phone wires.

[kcflhrc]

I have been doing telephone/data wiring for 37 years. I can see from some of the photo's posted some peoples idea of neat wiring is definitely not my idea of neat wiring. A patch panel for the Data and a 66 block for the voice will do you just fine. Some people don't understand what VOIP actually is. Voice Over IP, ie voice packets over a data connection. So true VOIP would run over the Cat 5 wiring. Those structured media panels are pretty much over priced junk.

 

[k0ua]

I have been doing telephone/data wiring for 37 years. I can see from some of the photo's posted some peoples idea of neat wiring is definitely not my idea of neat wiring. A patch panel for the Data and a 66 block for the voice will do you just fine. Some people don't understand what VOIP actually is. Voice Over IP, ie voice packets over a data connection. So true VOIP would run over the Cat 5 wiring. Those structured media panels are pretty much over priced junk.

Well I see your 37 years and raise you my 37 years (isn't that a coincidence). And I pretty much agree with you..I have build PBX and Data systems with over 2000 cables of both voice telephony (digital and analog) and patch panels by the hundreds. And yes I know how to make them pretty.

But As of a few months ago, I sell insurance now, so I guess I have forgotten all that stuff.

 

[ultrarunner]

I was always making things pretty at work and then IT would switch something out and leave a rats-nest...

I gave up and the tangled web in the cubicals is amazing...

 

[cqaigy2]

I was always making things pretty at work and then IT would switch something out and leave a rats-nest...

I gave up and the tangled web in the cubicals is amazing...

That would be a big no no where i work. But then we are responsible for end to end and everything in between.

 

[dstig1]

Well mine from my photo aren't connected to much of anything yet, so judge away on neatness, but everything is coiled up, taped, and labeled for now. "When I get there" it will all be routed neatly and punched down as required. And the extra wires will remain coiled until and if they are needed. I have like 3 wires connected right now - Coax to one TV, Ethernet to the main PC/wireless router, and the incoming feed from the source out at the shop. Everything else is just in a holding pattern for now. I have plans for cameras, so that is the bulk of the wiring. Wireless is nice for a lot of things, but I am well aware of the difference in both reliability and speed with wired vs wireless, even with the newer wireless stuff that I have. Wired still makes a ton of sense for serious, solid network connections. And probably always will in my lifetime.

 

[ultrarunner]

That would be a big no no where i work. But then we are responsible for end to end and everything in between.

It's a hospital with no dedicated full time onsite IT

The IT firm does most of the upgrades on weekends... if there is a problem which I can't handle they will talk me through it and it is only me by default... but I have no IT training... just some good problem solving and many times problems are rudimentary.

I loved to use the velcro straps to bundle and appropriate length patch cords... neatness counts in my book.

Back in the day... like 20++ years ago the big issue was each floor was a loop and if one device was taken out the entire floor would be down... 99% of the time it was a disconnected or damaged connection.

All that old cable is still there plus the Cat5e that went in around 2000 and now we just recabled again in preparation for a merger... with wifi going in everywhere for paperless medical records.

 

[kcflhrc]

Well I see your 37 years and raise you my 37 years (isn't that a coincidence). And I pretty much agree with you..I have build PBX and Data systems with over 2000 cables of both voice telephony (digital and analog) and patch panels by the hundreds. And yes I know how to make them pretty.

But As of a few months ago, I sell insurance now, so I guess I have forgotten all that stuff.

Yes sir, congrats on 37 years. Started in 1979, right out of High School. I'm currently doing Fiber to Prem installs but have been a PBX tech up until 10 months ago. I sill do PBX work but there isn't much of that work any more. Legacy Nortel and Avaya

 

[k0ua]

Yes sir, congrats on 37 years. Started in 1979, right out of High School. I'm currently doing Fiber to Prem installs but have been a PBX tech up until 10 months ago. I sill do PBX work but there isn't much of that work any more. Legacy Nortel and Avaya

Actually mine is more like 36 or even 35 years.. but I didn't want to seem wimpy up front.. I have been selling insurance for about 9 months now, and there was another short break in there too and I went back to Windstream for a while. But I finally guess I am done with telecom.

 

[kcflhrc]

Actually mine is more like 36 or even 35 years.. but I didn't want to seem wimpy up front.. I have been selling insurance for about 9 months now, and there was another short break in there too and I went back to Windstream for a while. But I finally guess I am done with telecom.

Interesting that you turned to the Insurance Industry because I get requests from Insurance Companies all the time from my Monster Resume wanting me to sell Insurance based on my experience. No where on my resume does it mention anything about sales other than I was a Pre Sales Engineer for a while.

 

[k0ua]

Interesting that you turned to the Insurance Industry because I get requests from Insurance Companies all the time from my Monster Resume wanting me to sell Insurance based on my experience. No where on my resume does it mention anything about sales other than I was a Pre Sales Engineer for a while.

My wife has been in the Insurance business for many years, and I joined her. We specialize in Medicare supplements and advantage plans. Taking the state insurance exam was not a lot of fun for an old geezer like me. Nor is the constant certification test that the various companies require, but I guess if it was easy everyone would want to do it.