Data Cabling courses

[gumbygaz]

Just wondering if anybody has any courses they'd recommend for my IT Technician to go on. We've always got the electricians or LEA to do the data cabling, but would like top bring it in house to save money, and hopefully improve the quality of the installs.

I've seen this City & Guilds one - TNS Data Structured Cabling Training Provider

Are there better/cheaper ones that anybody would recommend from past experience?

 

Cheers

[timbo343]

Do you really need to go on a data cabling course? We do all the data cabling runs here and not been on any courses for it. The first time I did cabling was when I was an apprentice and ran cabling around commercial offices and between buildings.

[win]

I would recommend buying the equipment and then watching youtube vids. It just takes a bit of practice which can be done in the comfort of your own office.

[plexer]

Physically installing and terminating the cable is pretty straightforward for anyone with a bit of practical ability however if you wish to be able to certify that the installation meets the requirements of the standards for the equipment then you will need to buy/rent the relevant test equipment and understand how to operate it.

 

The biggest issue with running the cabling is the H&S side of it as well as things like asbestos awareness.

 

Ben

[Sagima]

CNet trained our guy up - he was happy with them. He's now tasked with upgrading all the school's fibre. We also sent him on a cheery picker course so he could do outside stuff too.

[Dkeen94]

I have never done a course and i used to do cable runs in my previous job. Just takes a little common sense and practical ability!

[andyturpie]

I want to start, but I get frustrated by crimping the plugs on as the wires seem to move away from the connectors. Anyone got any tips lol?

[GREED]

+1 for all said above, doesn't really need a course just some practice and guidance. Even now when I don't done it in 3 years, quick search for what the combination is and then can get on!

[plexer]

I want to start, but I get frustrated by crimping the plugs on as the wires seem to move away from the connectors. Anyone got any tips lol?

 

Patch leads are so cheap I never bother making those but if you do then make sure you are using the correct connectors and correct cable for them then the main thing is to trim the conductors to the correct insert able length and make sure the ends are square.

 

For the jacks you have 2 options mainly a punchdown version or ones from the likes of Panduit where they effectively self terminate.

 

Ben

[Davit2005]

I want to start, but I get frustrated by crimping the plugs on as the wires seem to move away from the connectors. Anyone got any tips lol?

 

A real pain, to be honest I only terminate plugs on cables for special purposes if a special length needs to be made in an emergency.

 

Infrastructure cabling should always be terminated either in a patch panel or wall jack.

 

As with others I have never had any training, most experience was attained on the job with an experienced cable guy.

[jmak]

CNet trained our guy up - he was happy with them. He's now tasked with upgrading all the school's fibre. We also sent him on a cheery picker course so he could do outside stuff too.

 

I want to go on a cheery picker course

[timbo343]

I want to start, but I get frustrated by crimping the plugs on as the wires seem to move away from the connectors. Anyone got any tips lol?

 

make sure you make each of the 8 wires straight as possible to get the twist out of them and line them up next to each other before you put them in the RJ45 plug and push them right in as much as possible.

 

If you have to use infrastructure cable stretch/pull the middle stuff out these much as possible.

 

Also try and make a memorable saying out of the colours. I seem to know it off by heart for some reason. Orange/white,orange. Green/white,blue. Blue/white,green. Brown/white,brown.

Edited November 10, 2014 by timbo343

[gumbygaz]

Ok cool, will probably look at that route. Part of the thinking was to add to my techies CV, but learning on the job not a bad way to go!

What testing equipment would you recommend out of interest? We've got a crimper and punch tool and one of these very cheap gizmos..

 

Is that all we need, or is there a Fluke one that would work better for us?

 

Cheers for the advice though guys!

[Gaz]

Ok cool, will probably look at that route. Part of the thinking was to add to my techies CV, but learning on the job not a bad way to go!

What testing equipment would you recommend out of interest? We've got a crimper and punch tool and one of these very cheap gizmos..

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27492[/ATTACH]

 

Is that all we need, or is there a Fluke one that would work better for us?

 

Cheers for the advice though guys!

 

It depends how much cabling you have to do, that is OK for the odd run but if you are cabling a whole room then this would be better. Peak Electronic Design Limited - Atlas IT - Network Cable Analyser - Model UTP05 I've got the standard version but you can buy more terminators and effectively turn it into the ultimate version.

[timbo343]

Ok cool, will probably look at that route. Part of the thinking was to add to my techies CV, but learning on the job not a bad way to go!

What testing equipment would you recommend out of interest? We've got a crimper and punch tool and one of these very cheap gizmos..

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27492[/ATTACH]

 

Is that all we need, or is there a Fluke one that would work better for us?

 

Cheers for the advice though guys!

 

That's all we use (well something like). Make sure you have got:

a good pair of crimpers,

a decent krone tool (punch down tool),

wire cutters,

permanent marker,

insulation tape/gaffer tape (to tape cables together),

I recommended getting some cable rods (sometimes a golf ball too, this needs a hole drilling in it to fit the rods, they go over and obstacles great)

Dust mask,

Safely goggles/glasses,

Gloves,

Ladders,

Various sizes of cable ties,

and a knife.

You might want to get a label printer too.

 

I've started to label network sockets up CabNum/PatchPanel/PortNumber (10/A/24) and then at the cabinet, ive written on the patch panel which Room and Port it goes to so that way I can go to either the port and know which cab/patchpanel/port is at fault, or if working at the cabinet, I can identify the port in the with the information on the patch panel. Just have to remember to number up the ports in the room too as well as giving them a sticker.

 

Also, ive started labelling up phone sockets with their extension and DDI (if they have one).

 

Once you have done a few you will be away.

[gumbygaz]

Nice one thanks, good advice. Think we'll give it a go and go down that route then.

[mikeyd101]

+1 for learn yourself, go slow and steady and check everything twice, get some equipment as mentioned, the only thing i'd add is check which standard your currently using and stick with that 568A or 568B and the most common.

 

Also if you pulling cable, pull more than you need for future expansion, depending on the number of cables we pull we always pull at least a couple of extra.

 

I have been trying to convince my boss to invest in fibre installation kit, but its quite pricey and a bit more tricky to install, but i'm up for giving it a go.

Edited November 11, 2014 by mikeyd101

[timbo343]

+1 for learn yourself, go slow and steady and check everything twice, get some equipment as mentioned, the only thing i'd add is check which standard your currently using and stick with that 568A or 568B and the most common.

 

Also if you pulling cable, pull more than you need for future expansion, depending on the number of cables we pull we always pull at least a couple of extra.

 

I have been trying to convince my boss to invest in fibre installation kit, but its quite pricey and a bit more tricky to install, but i'm up for giving it a go.

 

Just to expand on this.. B is usually the most common which is OW/O, GW/Bl, BlW/G, BrW/Br. The A standard is GW/G, OW/Bl, BlW/O, BrW/B. Most of the testers will let you know if you have it wrong.

 

We have this one Universal System Cable Tester | Cat.5e/Cat.6 Cable Testers | Network Testers | Tools & Testers | Shop By Type | Videk | Network Systems and IT Solutions. Cheap and cheerful and means you can test yourself.

[Muz]

Cabling is something you learn through experience - definitely doesn't warrant a course.

[kearton]

Contrary to what others here think, I WOULD advise you do a course if you're doing cable runs regularly. It's not just about how to terminate. You need to know/understand about things like bend radius and distances from power and crossing power etc etc. An old employer sent me on a Krone Cat5 course back in about '97. I could probably do with a refresher...

[oggster]

Contrary to what others here think, I WOULD advise you do a course if you're doing cable runs regularly. It's not just about how to terminate. You need to know/understand about things like bend radius and distances from power and crossing power etc etc. An old employer sent me on a Krone Cat5 course back in about '97. I could probably do with a refresher...

 

I can only agree with this. I did a similar city and guilds course years ago (which I passed) and have found it really useful. It mainly helped when evaluating contractors and testing their knowledge.i knew what the answers should be but if they didn't know what they should they would be rejected. Knowing the theory is far more valuble than just when using it when calling yourself.

Edited November 21, 2014 by oggster

[plexer]

Just to expand on this.. B is usually the most common which is OW/O, GW/Bl, BlW/G, BrW/Br. The A standard is GW/G, OW/Bl, BlW/O, BrW/B. Most of the testers will let you know if you have it wrong.

 

We have this one Universal System Cable Tester | Cat.5e/Cat.6 Cable Testers | Network Testers | Tools & Testers | Shop By Type | Videk | Network Systems and IT Solutions. Cheap and cheerful and means you can test yourself.

 

In the UK we use the B standard as B is for British, A is as you've guessed for American.

 

Ben

[plexer]

You can use basic tools that will tell you that the cables are connected in the right order and there are no breaks but if you actually want to certify the installation meets the specs then you need something like the fluke testers used by pro installers although these can also be hired if you're doing your installs at the same time.

 

Otherwise something like this Ideal R156002 could be a possible alternative.

 

Ben

[m25man]

Is that all we need, or is there a Fluke one that would work better for us?

 

If you want to make a profession of it you will need a Fluke DTX and have it calibrated regularly.

Without a fully documented and properly prepared report for each run you would never get paid in the contract business.

 

For in house use with half decent validation and reporting the Cable IQ kit is the one you need.

 

As for the rest, if all you want to know is that you managed to crimp or punch 8 wires down in the correct order £20 on eBay will buy you all you need.

 

Nothing less than the full monty here....

[snagrat]

In the UK we use the B standard as B is for British, A is as you've guessed for American.

 

Ben

 

Although this isn't the reason it's called A and B, but easy to remember.