Network Cabling FAQ

Pricing depends on the drop count, cable type (Cat6 / Cat6a / fiber), pathway difficulty (open ceiling vs hard ceiling vs conduit), and what's included on the back-end (patch panels, rack work, test certification). We quote line-itemed by drop and pathway so you can see exactly what's being installed. Call (731) 324-4161 or send a project request for a written quote.

For typical office use with 1 Gigabit Ethernet at the desk and Cat6-fed access points, Cat6 is fine and saves money. Cat6a is the right call for high-density WiFi 6E / 7 backhaul, 10 Gigabit Ethernet runs, or any drop where you'd rather not re-pull in 7 years. We'll quote both and explain the trade-off when you don't have a strong preference.

Yes, every drop. We use a Fluke DSX-8000 cable analyzer and run a permanent-link or channel test per TIA/EIA-568. You get a signed PDF report by drop, plus the native LinkWare files if your IT team wants to look at raw data. The certification is included in our standard pricing, not an add-on.

For straight TI / build-out projects with a defined scope, we typically start within 1-2 weeks of contract signing. For larger new-construction RFP work, we schedule per the GC's master sequence. For urgent service calls (down cabling, failed drops), same-week response in most cases.

Yes. We're set up for Davis-Bacon compliance, certified payroll, and the documentation standards typical of federal, state, school district, and county projects. We've quoted public-sector RFPs across West Tennessee.

Both. We handle the full physical install: pulling Cat6 / Cat6a from the IDF to each AP location, mounting the AP (ceiling tile, drywall, wall, or pole), terminating the PoE end, and verifying the link. AP commissioning (SSID config, RADIUS, VLAN, controller setup) is typically handled by your IT team or MSP. If you don't have an MSP, we can recommend partners.

We do those when the project warrants it — warehouses, schools, hospitals, hotels, and multi-floor offices where AP placement matters. We use Ekahau Sidekick or NetAlly EtherScope to map signal coverage and produce a PDF heat map with AP-count recommendations against your floor plan. The output is right-sized to your space, not oversold.

Yes. Fusion splicing with Sumitomo or Fujikura splicers (we also do mechanical splicing for emergency or temporary work). OTDR testing on both wavelengths for single-mode (1310/1550 nm) and multimode (850/1300 nm), with full PDF traces and loss-budget calculations.

Yes — we schedule around the customer's operations as needed. For active offices that can't be disrupted during business hours, we plan the noisy pull work (above-ceiling, drilling, conduit) for evenings or weekends. There may be an after-hours rate adjustment depending on the work.

We can install to warranty spec for Panduit System Plus, Leviton Atlas-X1, CommScope SYSTIMAX, Belden DataTuff, and Hubbell Premise Wiring. When the spec calls for end-to-end use of one manufacturer's components, we coordinate the warranty registration as part of project closeout.

Generally no — we focus on commercial work. We'll occasionally do high-end residential when it's a structured cabling job (whole-home network with patch panel and proper documentation), but we're not set up for typical "hang one cable" residential calls. If you're a homeowner looking for that work, we can recommend a residential-focused installer.

Yes. We carry general liability and workers' comp at the limits typical for commercial cabling work, and we provide certificates with the additional-insured endorsement that your contract requires. Let us know during the quote stage and we'll have it ready before mobilization.

Yes, when the spec or the AHJ requires it. We install J-hook, cable tray, ladder rack, EMT conduit, surface raceway (Wiremold and equivalent), and Innerduct for fiber pathways. We size pathways per NEC 800 fill rules so the install passes inspection the first time.

Common failure modes on a Cat6 / Cat6a test: insertion loss out of margin (usually means cable too long, kinked, or wrong category), NEXT or PSNEXT failure (usually means a bad termination or untwisted pairs at the jack), return loss failure (usually means impedance mismatch at termination or a damaged section of cable). All of these would show up on the Fluke DSX report with a FAIL stamp and the specific parameter.

Yes. If your IT team is seeing weird link issues on specific drops, or a system has degraded over time, we test the existing cabling to pinpoint the problem (failed link, NEXT degradation, environmental damage, animal damage in plenum). We can also do test-only jobs on existing systems that need certification for a warranty submission or an audit.

Per-drop test certification PDFs, a summary roll-up report, native Fluke LinkWare files, as-built drop maps (where each cable terminates at the wall and at the patch panel), label key, BOM with serial numbers of major components, warranty registration confirmation, and final invoice.