Data Cabling
Data and telecommunications are one of the most expensive assets of your business is extremely important for businesses and companies to run efficiently and profitably. Its’ availability, security and redundancy depends on the structure and effectiveness of your companies’ cabling and wiring solution (infrastructure). We can design and deploy a cabling structure that is built to grow along with your needs and sustains additions, changes and future moves.
Network Solutions can help you with:
- Structured Cabling (Cat 5 and Cat 6 and Cat 6A)
- Network Cabling (installation of new or repair to existing)
- Phone and data cables to patch panel, phone system and socket
- Test and repair faulty cabling, phone, and data sockets (phone jacks, phone points)
- Expand existing phone and data cabling infrastructure
- Install phone, data, EFTPOS, modem, ADSL, security and network points (sockets, jacks)
- Install data racks and patch panels
- Relocate phone systems to new premises
- Cabling for security system and fax points (fax sockets, fax jacks)
- Connect new phone lines including PSTN, ISDN and VoIP Lines
- Connect Cable, NBN or ADSL services
Put simply, your data cabling is the network of cables, usually concealed within your walls/fitout, that allow you to connect two or more network devices together. It is worthwhile considering not just your POS when you are installing your data cabling, but also any other network devices you may need to run, such as security cameras, customer wifi networks, audio/video systems etc.
Your cabling and network infrastructure is the most important part of your network and it is vital that you get this right at an early stage. While everything else, including routers and switches can be easily changed, the cabling and infrastructure is an entirely different matter. Running new cables in a busy restaurant causes all sorts of headaches.
Comms Box
This is one area where most restaurants fall down and they end up hiding all the equipment in behind the POS terminal. It is important to have a secure and spacious cabinet to house your broadband modem, router, switches and any other network equipment you may have. Ideally it should have restricted access so that only the right people can access it.
Patch Panels
Patch panels are placed in your comms cabinet and and it is where all of you cables throughout the restaurant will come back to. The cables are terminated (connected) to the back of the patch panels so that it is easy to connect network cables in and out. Sometimes you might see loose cables just being connected to a switch which is not good practice. Even if you only have a small network, a small patch panel inside your comms area is a must have. Another important point – make sure they are clearly marked so you know where the cables behind the panel run to.
Cabling
All of your network devices need to be connected by cable back to the comms cabinet, specifically back to the patch panels within the comms cabinet which should be clearly marked. There are a few important considerations here. First, if possible, run two cables to each location, each one terminated to a wall plate as it is possible that one cable could get damaged over time and you will be very relieved to have a backup. Secondly, use the highest spec cable as possible. As of today CAT6 cable, while not being the most recent standard, is the best option to use.
Network Points
The cables are terminated to network points, which are fitted to the wall close to the area where you need the network. It is important to terminate the cables to a network point and not having loose cables lying around a bar counter or similar. These will run directly back to your patch panel, and should be clearly marked.
